The relocation of residents affected by the construction of Long Thanh International Airport is facing a funding shortfall of VND2.51 trillion (US$103 million) due to bureaucratic obstacles. The government had approved a total budget of VND22.86 trillion for the relocation project, with the aim of disbursing it by the end of the previous year. However, VND2.51 trillion could not be disbursed on time due to regulations preventing the government from doing so.

In response, the government proposed extending the disbursement deadline until the end of 2024 to the National Assembly. Unfortunately, this proposal was rejected because the funds were part of previous financial plans, and the books had already been closed, according to Vu Hong Thanh, chairman of the assembly’s economic committee. To access the funds, the government now needs to seek lawmakers’ permission to utilize the same amount from a new plan, using contingency funds in either 2023 or 2024, as explained by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong.

Chairman of the National Assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue, emphasized the need for the government to present a specific proposal for lawmakers to consider. The estimated cost of Long Thanh International Airport, located in the southern province of Dong Nai, is VND336.63 trillion, with a designed capacity of 100 million passengers per year. The first phase of the airport, capable of accommodating 25 million passengers, is scheduled to be completed by 2025.