Tan Son Nhat airport’s new terminal operational despite incomplete flooring

Nguyen Duc Toan, director of the T3 Terminal Project Management Board, explained that the rushed construction schedule required for meeting the handover deadline meant that some work had to continue even after the terminal opened.

“We are working to complete the section of stone flooring at the terminal,” he said.

About 50 percent of the terminal's stone flooring has been completed, while the remaining sections are being worked overnight after daily flight operations conclude.

He said that three main steps remain, including injecting silicone into expansion joints expected to be completed within the next ten days, grinding, and polishing.

Given that the terminal is now operational, construction is restricted to a narrow nightly window of some three hours, from midnight to early morning, in order to avoid disruption to passengers and flight schedules.

“We are fully aware of our responsibility to maintain the trust of both the investors and the passengers. We are committed to completing the stone flooring work by the end of June,” Toan affirmed.

The T3 terminal officially opened on April 19, marking a significant step forward in the modernization of Vietnam’s transportation network.

T3, which spans 112,500 square meters with one basement and four above-ground floors, incorporates smart airport technology.

Air passengers can use chip-based citizen ID cards or the VNeID app to complete check-in, baggage drop, security clearance, and boarding procedures through automated electronic gates.

The terminal, designed to serve 20 million passengers annually, and handle up to 7,000 passengers per hour during peak times, is equipped to accommodate aircraft from code C to code E.