Summary of Services Location in Tan Son Nhat International Airport
- Free Wi-Fi Access (Arrival, Departure, and Public – Domestic and International)
- ATM (Arrival, Departure, and Public – Domestic and International)
- Restaurants (Arrival, Departure, and Public – Domestic and International)
- Information Counters (Arrival and Departure – Domestic and International)
- Transportation – Car rental, Bus, Taxi (Arrival – Domestic and International)
- SIM Card – Mobifone, Viettel, Vinaphone (Arrival – International)
- Currency Exchange (Arrival and Departure – International)
- Duty-free (Arrival and Departure – International)
- VAT Refund (Departure – International)
- Post Office (Arrival and Departure – Domestic)
- Spa and Massages (Departure – Domestic and International)
- Lounges and Rest Zones (Departure – Domestic and International)
- Medical (Arrival and Departure – Domestic and International)
- Smoking Room (Departure – Domestic and International)
- Mobile Charging (Departure – Domestic)
- Luggage Lockers (Arrival – International)
———————
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Airport Tips and Facts
- Travel got you down? A massage station at Terminal 1 airside (Sen Viet Spa, opposite Gate 10) offers professional spa and massage services. A foot spa at the International Terminal can relax those little piggies.
- Free shower facilities can be found at Terminal 2 airside, opposite Gate 25.
- Smokers can cut loose at smoking sections in both terminals. At the domestic side, you’ll find it airside opposite Gate 14; over at international, it’s also airside opposite Gates 15 and 18.
- The airport has free Wi-Fi; look for the “FreeWifi TanSonNhat AirPort” network and connect.
A left luggage station allows you to leave your bags behind for a short layover. You’ll find the counter near Columns 13 and 14 at the International Arrivals area; expect to pay about 27,500 dong per piece per hour for a maximum of ten hours; and 275,000 dong per piece per day. The counter is only open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Location
Where is Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport situated?
The airport of Vietnam’s largest city is located just northwest of the city centre. The centre of Ho Chi Minh City is formed by Da Kao, Ben Nghe, Ben Thanh and Pham Ngu Lao, these wards are part of District 1 (Quận 1).
How many terminals does Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport have?
The airport has two terminals, namely T1 / Domestic Terminal and T2 / International Terminal. Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport’s terminals are interconnected. If everything goes according to plan, the new Terminal 3 will open in 2024 with a capacity of 20 million passengers per year. Despite the airport expansion plans, growth opportunities are limited, due to the location in the middle of the city. For this reason, a new airport, called Long Thanh International Airport, is being built 40 kilometres / 25 miles east of Ho Chi Minh City. The opening is scheduled for 2025.
Accommodations
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Hotels near the airport
Looking for the best hotels near Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport? We have selected the best hotels near the airport in different price ranges. Take a look at our accommodations page for more information.
Ibis Saigon Airport, Ho Chi Minh City
Located in the Tan Binh district, Ibis Saigon Airport offers trendy rooms with free WiFi and is 500 metres from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It features a rooftop bar and outdoor swimming pool with views of the airport.
Căn hộ Orchard Parkview – Tan Son Nhat Airport Homestay, Ho Chi Minh City
Located 3.8 km from Tan Dinh Market, Căn hộ Orchard Parkview – Tan Son Nhat Airport Homestay provides accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, a bar and a 24-hour front desk for your convenience. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property.
Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
Looking for the best hotels in Ho Chi Minh City? We have selected the best hotels in the city in different price ranges. Take a look at our accommodations page for more information.
Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
Housed in a city’s landmark, Saigon Centre, Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City offers accommodation in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City with modern interior design. The property features an outdoor pool and children’s playground.
Ace Hotel Ben Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City
Ace Hotel Ben Thanh is in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, a 3-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market. It offers a 24-hour front desk and rooms with free Wi-Fi. Ace Hotel Ben Thanh Hotel is a 10-minute walk from Parkson Shopping Mall.
Tan Son Nhat Airport International Terminal (T2)
International Arrival
Full Guide: Arrival Tips at Tan Son Nhat International Airport
The greeter hall includes the ground and first floor. If you are in transit and you don’t need to check out of the airport, you should go straight to the Transfer Counter and wait in the lounges for your next flight.
If you want to check out, you can follow the direction to find your way to the Immigration or Landing Visa, if you haven’t applied for one via e-visa or at the embassy in your country.
Directions to Transfer Counter, Landing Visa, and Immigration
In the arrival hall which is one floor down from the immigration counters, you will first see the conveyor belt to claim your baggage and the customs area if you have any goods to declare.
Luggage Claim, Customs, Lost and Found
After you have done with the checking out procedures, at the kiosks, you can find information counters for help, currency exchange service, transportation service provider like car rentals, and bus ticket sales. In the public hall (outside of the terminal building, there are many fast-food restaurants and cafes, and luggage lockers on the east and west side of the hall.
Luggage lockers
From the main entrance, the taxi stand will be on your furthest left-hand side with both 4 seats and 7 seats of Mai Linh and VinaSun. In the opposite direction, the bus will parking right in front of the main entrance to the east (your right-hand side) in the second lane. That is also the way leading to the domestic terminal.
Taxi Stands and Bus Stations
| To have fun trips in Ho Chi Minh City, check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! |
International Departure
It is recommended to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight departure time. Most hotels from Ho Chi Minh City’s center are located about 30 minutes from the airport, so you will need to factor in the traveling time as well.
You can buy the flight ticket if you haven’t bought one in advance from Vietnam Airlines and VietJet or exchange VND Dong with other currencies at the departure halls.
Ticket counter and foreign exchange counter
After going through the baggage check, security check, and immigration there are lounges, VAT refund kiosks, spas, rest zones, duty-free shops, and restaurants for your convenience.
VAT refund kiosk and lounges
Immigration
Smoking room
Tan Son Nhat International Airport Map
Address: Truong Son, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
There are 2 separate buildings for international flights and domestic flights with a connected path on the ground floor in public hall. The total area of the guest terminals and parking lots is 54,800 square meters.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) – Domestic Terminal (T1) and International Terminal (T2)
You can see the at the end of this guide.
If you have come to the airport by bus, they will drop you off at the public hall in front of the international terminal. When stepping off the bus, turn left and follow the arrow to walk to the domestic terminal; or turn right to the furthest end and find stairways to the second and third floors where the departure hall of the international terminal is located.
Direction from International Terminal to Domestic Terminal
Direction to the international departure hall from the public hall
Popular destinations from Ho Chi Minh City
Below you can find a list of the most popular destinations from Ho Chi Minh City, based on the number of scheduled flights for this month.
Hanoi (HAN)
957 flights / month
Da Nang (DAD)
437 flights / month
Phu Quoc (PQC)
327 flights / month
Con Dao Island (VCS)
249 flights / month
Hai Phong (Haiphong) (HPH)
235 flights / month
Vinh (VII)
230 flights / month
Hue (HUI)
209 flights / month
Thanh Hoa Province (THD)
185 flights / month
Bangkok (BKK)
163 flights / month
Singapore (SIN)
162 flights / month
Da Lat (DLI)
159 flights / month
Qui Nhơn (UIH)
155 flights / month
Nha Trang (CXR)
155 flights / month
Seoul (ICN)
119 flights / month
Chu Lai (VCL)
112 flights / month
Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
101 flights / month
Pleiku (PXU)
75 flights / month
Buon Ma Thuot (BMV)
75 flights / month
Dong Hoi (VDH)
74 flights / month
Taipei (TPE)
64 flights / month
Tokyo (NRT)
60 flights / month
Bangkok (Don Muang) (DMK)
54 flights / month
Phnom Penh (PNH)
44 flights / month
Tuy Hoa (TBB)
42 flights / month
Ha Long (VDO)
32 flights / month
Hong Kong (HKG)
32 flights / month
Denpasar (DPS)
30 flights / month
Tokyo (HND)
30 flights / month
Manila (MNL)
28 flights / month
Osaka (KIX)
21 flights / month
Sydney (SYD)
20 flights / month
Siem Reap (REP)
19 flights / month
Melbourne (MEL)
18 flights / month
Busan (PUS)
18 flights / month
Sihanoukville (KOS)
15 flights / month
Dubai (DXB)
15 flights / month
Rach Gia (VKG)
14 flights / month
New Delhi (DEL)
14 flights / month
Doha (DOH)
14 flights / month
Johor Bahru (JHB)
11 flights / month
Mumbai (BOM)
10 flights / month
Ca Mau (CAH)
10 flights / month
Dien Bien Phu (DIN)
9 flights / month
Penang (PEN)
9 flights / month
Phuket (HKT)
9 flights / month
San Francisco (SFO)
8 flights / month
Frankfurt (FRA)
6 flights / month
Kolkata (CCU)
6 flights / month
Chiang Mai (CNX)
6 flights / month
Jakarta (CGK)
6 flights / month
Fukuoka (FUK)
5 flights / month
Istanbul (IST)
5 flights / month
Pakse (PKZ)
4 flights / month
Brunei and Muara (BWN)
4 flights / month
Nagoya (NGO)
4 flights / month
London Heathrow (LHR)
2 flights / month
Yangon (RGN)
2 flights / month
Paris (CDG)
2 flights / month
Qingdao (TAO)
2 flights / month
Guangzhou (CAN)
2 flights / month
Xiamen (XMN)
2 flights / month
Ahmedabad (AMD)
1 flight / month
Chengdu (CTU)
0 flights / month
Hyderabad (HYD)
0 flights / month
Taichung (RMQ)
0 flights / month
Tainan (TNN)
0 flights / month
Bengaluru (BLR)
0 flights / month
Shanghai (PVG)
0 flights / month
Kaohsiung (KHH)
0 flights / month
Show all
Ho Chi Minh Airport Money Changers
Money changers can be found at both terminals of Ho Chi Minh Airport: domestic terminal (Terminal 1) and international terminal (Terminal 2). However, for getting the best exchange rate you will need to go to Terminal 2.
Money Changers at Terminal 1
During our last few visits at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), we’ve found only one currency exchange office operating at the domestic terminal (Terminal 1). Foreign exchange at Ho Chi Minh Airport’s domestic terminal was offered by Vietinbank. Vietinbank can be found in the Arrival Hall which is located on the first level of Terminal 1.
However, we didn’t get a chance to check the rates offered by this money changer as the bank was closed during all our visits. Opening hours of Vietinbank at Tan Son Nhat Airport’s Terminal 1 are very limited as the bank is only open Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 11:30 and from 13:00 to 16:30.
As Vietinbank also has a branch at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, expect the exchange rates offered by Vietinbank at Ho Chi Minh Airport to be close to the ones offered by this money changer in Hanoi. Currency exchange rates at Hanoi Airport are worse than the best rates you can get at Tan Son Nhat Airport.
Money Changers at Terminal 2
There are several money changers operating at the international passenger terminal (Terminal 2) of Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). Some of them can be found in the public area on the ground level (Arrivals), right after passing customs area. However, the meeting point is outside the building and normally people are not allowed to enter the Arrivals from outside.
On the second level of Terminal 2 (Departures) you can also find 3 currency exchange offices. Two of money changers are located nearby, between the entrances to Departure Hall. Money changers operating here are:
- Representative of BIDV bank on the left
- EximBank currency exchange office on the right
EximBank also has another branch in Departures that can be found after passing check-in desks.
Even if both money changers have screens available, none of them is displaying current currency exchange rates. That’s actually a very common practice in Vietnam that is really inconvenient for customers.
However, EximBank at least has a printed list of official exchange rates that can be seen behind the window. For knowing the exchange rate offered by BIDV you need to ask the staff.
During our visit to Ho Chi Minh Airport, BIDV was offering 25,236 VND for 1 Euro when EximBank was giving more – 25,491 VND, which is about 1% more. Both EximBank currency exchange offices were offering exchange rates that were exactly the same as displayed on their website. The same can’t be said about BIDV though.
Best Money Changer at Ho Chi Minh Airport
If you are looking for the best money changer at Ho Chi Minh Airport, we would definitely recommend finding the counter of EximBank currency exchange. The exchange rate here is really close to the best you can find in Ho Chi Minh City.
Current foreign exchange rates offered by the best money changer at Tan Son Nhat International Airport can be found on the official website: EximBank Exchange Rates.
Dining at Ho Chi Minh City Airport
Ho Chi Minh City airport offers a broader range of dining choice from coffee shops to fast food restaurants, especially in the newly built international terminal. When passengers arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport and need something to satisfy their hunger or thirst, they have much to choose from. Those who only want snack or light meal can enter various food stalls and courts in different areas inside the airport to select packaged food like snack, cookies or sausages. Or if they like some traditional flavour, there is one Kinh Do kiosk and another Phaner bakery kiosk at international terminals for passengers to visit.
Photo : zingnews.vn
For passengers who prefer larger meals with adequate energy, there are many other bigger food stalls and restaurants inside tho fulfil their requirement. Skynet restaurant at internationals terminals could be an ideal choice. The restaurant offers diverse dishes from not only Vietnam’s cuisine but also international foods to cater to different tastes. And coffee at this place is also worth trying. Fast-food lovers, especially children, should visit KFC branch inside the airport for their favourite chicken dishes and enjoy irresistible flavour remaining on their fingers.
Passengers who value a tranquil atmosphere and sip a hot coffee or chocolate, Trung Nguyen Coffee shop at Tan Son Nhat Airport should be a perfect location. Like other Trung Nguyen branch in town, the coffee shop here serves guests delicious beverage, especially coffee and related drinks, which might cause passengers to be late for their flights because of enjoying their drinks until the last drop.
Facilities
Following the opening of its new international terminal in September 2007, HCM – Tan Son Nhat has two major terminal buildings with separate sections for international and domestic flights. Four jetways were added in the late 1990s prior to which aircraft had to use remote parking and passengers were transferred to/from the terminal by shuttle buses. The capacity of the new terminal, once fully completed, will be 8 million passengers per annum. After 2015, when Long Thanh International Airport is completed, Tan Son Nhat will serve domestic passengers only.
The Prime Minister of Vietnam by Decision 1646/TTg-NN has approved the addition of 30 hectares (74 acres) of adjacent area to extend the apron and to build a cargo terminal due to the rapid increase of passenger (which will reach to 11 million in 2007 and is expected to reach 17 million in 2010, compared to 7 million and 8.5 million in 2005 and 2006 respectively) and cargo volume at this airport
Arrivals and Departures are split across two floors.
The airport’s future
The current Tan Son Nhat airport is located inside the crowded city of Ho Chi Minh City, and a limited area for expansion and safety concerns would make it hard to upgrade in order to meet increasing demand. Following a recent decision by the Vietnamese Prime Minister, a new airport—Long Thanh International Airport—will replace Tan Son Nhat airport for international-departure use. The master plan for this new airport was approved in April 2006. The new airport will be built in Long Thanh county, Dong Nai province, about 50 km (31 mi) northeast of Ho Chi Minh City and 70 km (43 mi) northwest of the petroleum-focused city of Vung Tau, near Highway 51A. The pre-feasibility study for this project is under way. The Long Thanh International Airport will be constructed on an area of 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi), and it will have four runways (4,000 m x 60 m or 13,100 ft x 200 ft) and be capable of receiving the Airbus A380 jumbo jet. The project will be divided in two stages. Stage one includes the construction of two parallel runways and a terminal with a capacity of 20 million passengers per year, due to be completed in 2011. The second stage is scheduled for completion in 2015, leaving the airport with three passenger terminals and a cargo terminal designed to received 5 million metric tons of cargo per year. The total invested capital of this project is an estimated US$8 billion. Upon completion of Long Thanh International Airport, Tan Son Nhat Airport will serve domestic passengers only. Long Thanh International Airport is expected to be the leading airport on the Indochinese peninsula, and one of the busiest air transportation hubs in the southeast Asian region.
The above content comes from Wikipedia and is published under free licenses – click here to read more.
General Info
Country
Vietnam
ICAO ID
VVTS
Time
UTC+7
Latitude
10.81879710° 49′ 07.67″ N
Longitude
106.651856106° 39′ 06.68″ E
Elevation
33 feet10 meters
Type
Civil
Magnetic Variation
000° W (01/06)
Beacon
Yes
Operating Agency
CIVIL GOVERNMENT, (LANDING FEES AND DIPLOMATIC CLEARANCE MAY BE REQUIRED)
Near City
Hochiminh
International Clearance Status
Airport of Entry
Communications
TWR
118.7
130.0
GND
121.9
121.6
ATIS
128.0
APP
125.5
134.1
Communications Remarks
APP
SERVICES, 22 TRAN QUOC HOAN STREET, WARD NO. 4, TAN BINH DISTRICT, HCMC, VM.
APP
HOST NATION REPORTS APPROACH CONTROL UNIT IS CO-LOCATED WITH HOCHIMINH AREA CONTROL CENTER AT 10-48-14N 106-39-42E. APP CON TELEPHONE 848-844-1133, FAX 848-844-1133. ACC TELE 848-844-1132 OR 1153. MAIL GOES TO—SOUTHERN REGION AIR TRAFFIC
Runways
ID
Dimensions
Surface
PCN
ILS
07R/25L
12468 x 148 feet3800 x 45 meters
CONCRETE.
063RBXT
YES
07L/25R
10000 x 148 feet3048 x 45 meters
CONCRETE.
056RBXT
YES
Navaids
Type
ID
Name
Channel
Freq
Distance From Field
Bearing From Navaid
VOR-DME
TSN
TANSONNHAT
114X
116.7
At Field
–
NDB
TD
TANSONNHAT
–
358
6.3 NM
248.4
Supplies/Equipment
Fuel
100/130 MIL Spec, low lead, aviation gasoline (BLUE)
Remarks
CAUTION
WIP.
FUEL
(NC-100LL)
LGT
Rot Bcn opr hr avbl O/R.
RSTD
Two-way rdo with Tansonnhat Twr rqr.
The content above was published at Airports-Worldwide.com in 2010.
We don’t guarantee the information is fresh and accurate. The data may be wrong or outdated.
For more up-to-date information please refer to other sources.
Tan Son Nhat Airport Domestic Terminal (T1)
Even though the domestic terminal has 2 levels, the arrival hall and departure hall of domestic flights are all located on the ground floor; the first floor is for the waiting hall and jet bridges.
Domestic Arrival
At the domestic arrival, you can go straight to the baggage claim and out to the public hall. There are also the information counters to ask for help, car rentals, taxi stands, and avbus station outside in the public hall.
Domestic arrival
Domestic Departure
For flights within Vietnam, security check is needed without going through immigration. And just like the international departure, several convenient facilities like lounges, restaurants (fast foods and Vietnamese cuisine), massages, free mobile charging, and a smoking area are available in the waiting area.
It is recommended to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight departure time, particularly if you are flying budget airlines like Jetstar or Vietjet. The check-in counters at these carriers are very long. Most hotels from Ho Chi Minh City’s center are located about 30 minutes from the airport, so you will need to factor in the traveling time as well.
Lounges, spa, and free mobile charging in Tan Son Nhat Airport
Shops and restaurants in Tan Son Nhat Airport
Security check and passport control
Summary of Services Location in Tan Son Nhat International Airport
——————— You may also like: Travel time and taxi fares from Vietnam airports to city centerHow to take shuttle buses from Tan Son Nhat International AirportWhat to do on a Layover in Ho Chi Minh CityTop Attractions for Cabin Crew in Ho Chi Minh City |
Get your bus ticket to travel from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Ho Chi Minh city’s center
10 international airports in Vietnam
- Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Can Tho International Airport (Cần Thơ)
- Da Nang International Airport (Da Nang)
- Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong)
- Phu Bai International Airport (Huế)
- Cam Ranh International Airport (Nha Trang)
- Phu Quoc International Airport (Phú Quốc)
- Van Don International Airport (Quảng Ninh)
- Vinh International Airport (Vinh)
However, there are only seven of them serving international flights by now including Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh city), Noi Bai (Hanoi city), Danang (Danang city), Cam Ranh (Nha Trang city), Phu Quoc ( Phu Quoc Island), Cat Bi and Van Don airport and the others still deal with domestic routes, managing to be international hubs in the near future.
Ho Chi Minh City Airport Map
Map of Ho Chi Minh City Airport – Tan Son Nhat International Terminal has 3 levels, with the first 2 level for arrival and the 3rd level for departure.
Arrival Hall (Floor 1 and 2)
As you exit the airplane, you are on the second level of Ho Chi Minh City airport where Immigration office is located. If you need a visa on arrival, this is where you stop for immigration documents and visa pick-up. After that, proceed to level 1 by elevator.
Arrival Map of Floor 1 and 2 – HCMC Airport
On the first floor, is baggage claim and customs section. You will be collecting luggage and clearing customs before exiting the airport. Toilets are located to the far right and left of the level. Just outside of the Customs are many booths for currency exchange, where you can get some Vietnam Dong.
Departure Hall (Floor 3)
Level 3 is for departure and level 4 is for lounge area. After check in, you will be clearing customs and immigration – which usually takes less than 15 minutes. Afterwards come the security check and you can proceed to the boarding gate to catch your flight.
Departure Map of Floor 3 and 4 – HCMC Airport
Airport Lounges
You can get a good rest at the airport, courtesy of a couple of lounges and a dedicated sleep zone.
SASCO operates “Le Saigonnais” lounges in both Terminals 1 and 2 in Tan Son Nhat Airport. Both lounges allow unlimited access to showers, newspapers and magazines, and food to paying guests. You can prebook at the websites liked above.
- The domestic Le Saigonnais is located on the second floor opposite Gate 12, and charges 425,000 dong for three hours’ use of their facilities, which open from 4:30 a.m. to the last flight of the day.
- The international-side Le Saigonnais charges around 945,000 dong for four hours’ use of their lounge, which (unlike the domestic one) is open 24/7. You’ll find this lounge on the third floor, near the staircase to Gates 18-20.
A Sleeping Zone can be found airside at Terminal 2, on the second-floor hallway near Gate 27. Twenty-four sleep chairs are available free of charge, and 10 sleep boxes can be yours to use for US$ 7 for one hour, and US$ 4 for an extra 30 minutes.
You can prebook your Sleeping Zone nap online.
A comprehensive guide to the future new airport of Ho Chi Minh City
Long Thanh International Airport is the planned second airport of Ho Chi Minh City. Situated approximately 40 km east of the city centre, the airport will have enough space to eventually include 4 runways and serve over 100 million passengers annually. Such an ambitious size would put it up there with the largest airports in the world.
The new airport plan was announced as far back as 2004, and since then it has been plagued with delays. At this point land still hasn’t been cleared, and there has been ongoing funding and red tape issues that has held back the start of the project.
The latest update has the project starting construction in 2020 and operating with 1 runway by 2025. This page will be updated as the project progresses, and it includes an archive of major news updates.
Location
The airport is located in Tan Binh district, about 8km North of the city center. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get to the center of the city from the airport.
Domestic and International terminal
The domestic terminal used to be the old International terminal with 62 check-in booths. It is easy to navigate your way around, especially with only 3 domestic airlines being active.
The new international terminal was officially put to use in 2007, welcoming tourists and business travellers from all over the world. International terminals also have many modern facilities such as restaurants, convenient stores and currency exchange booths.
It takes approximately 10 minutes to get from one terminal to another so if you have a transit in Ho Chi Minh City, you will not be in any hassle.
Photo: vi.wikipedia.org
Long Thanh International Airport Design
In 2016 nine potential design plans were selected from an earlier architectural competition held by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV). These designs then went on public display in Hanoi, Da Nang, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City. All nine finalists can be seen here.
From this list three finalists were shortlisted as potential designs:
LT-03
LT-04
LT-07
The Transport Ministry chose the lotus-inspired design (LT-03) submitted by Heerim Architects & Planners Co.Ltd from the Republic of Korea.
According to Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho, the selected designs will be used in a feasibility report of the project, which will be submitted to the National Assembly in late 2019.
From Ho Chi Minh City Airport to city center
Taxis line up, with proper police regulation outside of the airport. A metered taxi ride to the city cost about US$5-7 or you can asked for a fixed rate ($4-6). Airport Taxi and Saigon Taxi are among the most popular and reliable companies. It is better that you line up to get the regulated taxi than waving one off the road to avoid scams. Check with your hotel in advance to see if pick-up can be arranged.
Local bus runs every half hour between the airport and Ben Thanh market (which is a 15 minute walk from the downtown area). Buses run between 6 a.m. and 6p.m. and ticket price is 30 cents. Though inexpensive and convenient, bus is not the best option when you have a lot of luggage.
Long Thanh compared to other airports
To get an idea of how big this airport will be, this is a comparison of other airports in Vietnam, competing regional hubs in Southeast Asia, and comparisons of cities in China. This includes Beijing (PKX), a new airport that will open later in 2019 that is built for 100 million passengers per year.
| Airport | Size (Sq KM) | Runways | Distance From City |
| Long Thanh | 50 | 4 | 40 KM |
| Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | 5.45 | 2 | 6 KM |
| Hanoi (HAN) | 2 | 45 KM | |
| Bangkok (BKK) | 32.4 | 2 / 3rd 2021 | 40 KM |
| Bangkok (DMK) | 2 | 27 KM | |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | 100 | 3 | 45 KM |
| Singapore (SIN) | 13 | 3 | 20 KM |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | 12.55 | 2 | 35 KM |
| Guangzhou (CAN) | 3 | 28 KM | |
| Shanghai (PVG) | 40 | 5 | 30 KM |
| Shanghai (SHA) | 26 | 2 | 13 KM |
| Beijing (PEK) | 23.3 | 3 | 32 KM |
| Beijing (PKX) | 26.79 | 4 (7 planned) | 46 KM |
Travelers’ Review Of Ho Chi Minh City Airport
Although being the largest airport of Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat Airport still has space for improvement. Still, numerous passengers who have visited this airport all appraised that this could be the best airport in term of services and infrastructures in Indochina peninsula.
Goods:
- Many passengers comment that the staff and officers at this airport are nice, intimate and courteous which is much better than at its counterpart Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. From immigration officers, security guardians to other staff, all of them keep friendly and helpful manner to each passenger they meet. Especially with international passengers, they are nicer and more courteous to show the hospitality of Vietnamese to foreigners.
- Spacious and airy hall for passengers to rest and wait for their flights, therefore guests do not feel too noisy and uproarious staying at this airport. There are also numerous comfortable couches and chairs for passengers to take a shot nap or sleep before the flights.
- Custom and flight procedure here are extremely rapid so passengers do not waste a lot of time stand at security court and check from head to toes. No fingerprints checking, fast immigration checking and stamping, and passengers can pass security gates fast.
- Common comment of passengers after being at Tan Son Nhat Airport is that the place is always clean. The housekeepers do a great job in keeping all halls, terminals and other areas in quality hygiene standard.
Bads
- One negative point of Tan Son Nhat Airport is the taxi service at the main entrance of the airport. There are many taxi companies operating at this area, but many of them are low in quality but charge customers higher than other, and even higher to foreigners. Passengers should only choose to travel by reputable suppliers like Saigon Air Taxi, Vinasun Taxi or Mai Linh Taxi.
- Another issue at this airport is there are plenty of petty thieves who take advantage of negligence of passengers to steal valuable items from them. The security team at the airport cannot cover all area, so each passenger should be a guardian themselves to keep an eye on their luggage.
- Also there are various shops and kiosks with famous brands are at this airport, kinds and diversity of products here are pretty low. There are only some model of products for each type of goods, and furnishing of shops here is totally nor as attractive as other shops outside
Why is there a going to be a new airport?
Tan Son Nhat (SGN) is the current airport that serves Ho Chi Minh City. It was first built by the French colonial government in the 1930’s. It was then expanded by the Americans during the war, where it became one of the busiest military airbases in the world. At the time the airport was on the northern outskirts of the city centre. Today the city has well and truly engulfed the airport as the urban sprawl continues north of the airport towards Cu Chi District.
It’s quite a spectacle to land at SGN as most big airports in the region have moved outside their city centres. If you are in an A-seat when landing from the east you get a great view of the city while flying over the skinny houses.
At a mere 5.45 sq km, Tan Son Nhat is one of the smallest airports compared to cities the same size. The new airport was meant to be open long before TSN reached its capacity, and also air traffic growth in Vietnam has grown faster than was predicted. There is military land on the northern side of the airport that currently hosts a golf course and resort.
Some of this land is being turned over to the airport to make extra space. The expansion will add another 246 hectares, bring the total size 791 hectares. At 7.91 sq km that is still small compared to other airports in the region, but it will buy some time while the new airport is being built.
The old airport will still operate, so Ho Chi Minh City will have two airports (like Bangkok and Shanghai). It’s not determined what airlines will fly from which airport. It may end up like Bangkok, where the old airport serves low cost airlines. Another suggestion has the new airport serving long haul or beyond-ASEAN flights. That though would be problematic for Vietnam Airlines, who fly long haul flights and then feed passengers into the domestic network. It would have to be like the Bangkok model, or grouped by alliances to allow seamless transfers with codeshared flights.
