Workers Race Around the Clock to Upgrade Lien Khuong International Airport
After three months of intensive construction, the runway and taxiway rehabilitation project at Lien Khuong International Airport has passed the halfway mark, with hundreds of workers maintaining round-the-clock operations to ensure completion on schedule.
Relentless Efforts on the New Runway
June weather on the Lam Vien Plateau is unpredictable, with sudden showers followed by intense heat. Yet at the construction site of the Lien Khuong International Airport Runway and Taxiway Rehabilitation Project, neither heat nor rain has slowed the pace of work.
Three months after excavation machinery broke ground on the aging runway on March 4, 2026, the strategic infrastructure project has achieved significant progress.
During a site visit on June 10, project management representative Nguyen Thanh Nhan described how contractors have maintained a spirit of “beating the sun and overcoming the rain” while working continuously under a three-shift, four-team schedule.
Under the scorching midday sun, hundreds of workers operate across multiple construction fronts. The roar of engines, sparks from welding operations, and constant machinery movement create a vibrant scene of nonstop activity.
Among them was Nguyen Van Trung, a veteran runway construction worker recently transferred from the Long Thanh Airport project.
“We are used to the conditions. We work until the job is done, not until the clock says so. Whenever required, we increase shifts and manpower. Everyone wants to see the project completed on time so the airport can reopen and make travel easier for local people,” Trung said.
His team of approximately 50 workers continues operating on the exposed runway surface even during the hottest hours of the day.
Progress Milestones Take Shape
Key infrastructure components have now largely taken form. From above, the new runway is becoming clearly visible, with approximately 1.8 kilometers of runway pavement already completed.
According to the project management board, close coordination between supervision consultant TEDI and the contractor consortium comprising ACC, VINADIC, and VINACONEX has helped maintain construction momentum.
- Several major work packages have reached advanced completion levels:
- Runway aggregate base layer: 100% complete
- Lower crushed-stone base layer: 98% complete
- Upper crushed-stone base layer: 96% complete
- Runway, taxiway, shoulder embankments, and drainage culvert systems: over 90% complete
Concrete Works Become the Critical Phase
The most technically demanding component remains the cement concrete pavement, which requires strict curing conditions and precise engineering standards.
While the M150/25 concrete layer was successfully completed on June 10, contractors are now focusing on the critical M350/45 runway surface layer, the structural component designed to bear aircraft landing and takeoff loads.
To accelerate progress, contractors have deployed machinery at full capacity:
- ACC Aviation Construction Corporation: 1,000–1,300 m³ of concrete per day
- VINADIC: 500–600 m³ per day
- VINACONEX: 400–500 m³ per day
At the same time, installation planning for airport electrical and navigation systems is progressing steadily. All electrical cables for the project have already arrived on site, while aviation lighting systems have been successfully procured and other key equipment packages are being finalized.
Construction Continues Through the Night
As temperatures cool after sunset, construction activity intensifies rather than slows.
Floodlights illuminate the runway while concrete mixers and dump trucks operate continuously throughout the night. Skilled workers manually level concrete in areas inaccessible to heavy machinery, maintaining a seamless workflow across the site.
To sustain this pace, the project currently employs 491 personnel, including management staff, engineers, supervisors, and skilled laborers.
The workforce includes:
- 453 construction workers directly engaged in field operations
- ACC as the lead contractor with approximately 300 workers
- Multiple teams working in rotating shifts around the clock
Racing Toward the August Deadline
With the project completion target set for August 25, 2026, the remaining two months represent the most critical phase of construction.
Despite the pressure, determination remains strong across the site. Words of encouragement, handshakes between supervisors and workers, and the optimism shown after long shifts all reflect a shared commitment to meeting the deadline.
Once completed, the upgraded Lien Khuong International Airport will be equipped to accommodate modern aircraft more safely and efficiently, strengthening connectivity between the Central Highlands and major domestic and international destinations.
“Although the project has faced numerous challenges during construction, timely support and problem-solving efforts from the Provincial People's Committee have enabled us to keep moving forward. We are fully committed to delivering the project on schedule.”
Nguyen Thanh Nhan
Project Management Board, Lien Khuong International Airport Runway and Taxiway Rehabilitation Project