Tan Son Nhat International Airport

The over-300-year Ho Chi Minh City is a cultural, political and economic center of the country so that it is one of the top destinations for tourists and businessmen. Along with Noi Bai and Da Nang, Tan Son Nhat International Airport is one of the top three airports in Vietnam. The airport welcomed more than 41 million domestic and international passengers in 2019. The airport provides modern facilities and professional services. I hope that this ultimate guide to Tan Son Nhat International Airport helps passengers who are going to be at the airport as much as possible. Read more about Tan Son Nhat Airport Arrival Tips if you are about to land the airport for the first time.

General Information

Location: Truong Son Street, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. CLICK HERE to see the location of the airport on Google Maps. It is about 8 km from Ben Thanh Market in District 1.

Website: https://www.vietnamairport.vn

Email: tia-feedback@vietnamairport.vn

Tel: +84 28 3848 5383

Total area: 1,500 ha (608.95 ha for civil aviation, 894.05 ha for military aviation).

Operated by Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

Capacity: 41 million passengers (28 million domestic passengers and 17 million international passengers) per year.

Airport level: C (according to IATA level of service standard).

Navigation facilities: Control tower, radar, airport lightning including approaching lights, sequent flashing lights, runway threshold identified lights, PAPI lights, threshold and runway end lights.

Security and safety: CCTV, automatic fire alarm & fighting system, terrorist attach prevention system, access control system, full power backup generator system, 24/7 first aid services, security screeners, etc.

Other facilities and services: Free Wifi, bus and taxi station, car service, first-aid service, ATM, banks.

Landing area and apron

2 runways: 25R/07L: 3,048m x 45.72m, PCN: 85R/B/W/T and 25L/07R: 3,800m x 45.72m, PCN: 63R/B/X/T.

15 taxiways with minimum with of 22.86 m and PCN 61/R/B/X/T.

Apron with a total area of 42.26 ha, 64 parking stands (52 comercial aircrafts and 12 overnight aircrafts), able to accommodate A380, B747 and similar aircrafts.

Surrounding area

The surrounding area has a total area of 140,000 m2, elevated road system, garden and parking area.

Passenger terminal

Domestic terminal

The domestic terminal has a total area of 40,948 m2, 124 check-in counters, 1 transfer counter, 1 oversized baggage counter, 21 boarding gates, 4 passenger boarding bridges, 6 sets of arrival conveyor belts, 3 sets of departure conveyor belts.

Domestic terminal – departure hall

Domestic terminal – departure hall covers the ground floor and first floor of the domestic terminal’s building. On the first floor, there are lounge areas and 1st – 14th boarding gates. On the ground floor, there are departure hall A, departure hall B, automated check in kiosks, information desk, car service, baggage packing service, lounge areas, security check, ticket counter, bus and taxi stands, 15th – 21st boarding gates, coffee shops, restaurants, ATM, bank, shopping areas, toilets.

Domestic terminal – arrival hall

The arrival hall – domestic terminal is located on the ground floor. It includes baggage claim area, arrival hall, lost and found and shares the same services with departure hall, including car service, information desk, ticket counter, bus station, taxi station, coffee shops, shopping areas, restaurants, ATM, bank, post office, first-aid service, toilets.

International terminal

The international terminal has a total area of 108,921 m2, 100 check-in counters, 1 transfer counter, 19 boarding gates, 11 passenger boarding bridges, 7 sets of arrival conveyor belts, 1 set of departure conveyor belts, 19 migration passport control counters, 21 immigration passport control counters, 20 customs check counters, 7 pre-scanning customs check counters.

Arrival hall – International terminal

Arrival hall has lost and found, information desk, transfer, car service, baggage claim, customs, immigration, landing visa and share services including bus station, taxi station, coffee shops, shopping areas, restaurants, toilets, ATM, first-aid service, currency exchange with the departure hall.

Departure hall – International terminal

The departure hall consists of automated check-in kiosks, information desk, baggage package service, lounge area, GST refund, ticket counter, overload baggage, customs, emigration, security check, self baggage drop, 8th – 27th boarding gates. Services include coffee shops, shopping areas, restaurants, first-aid service, currency exchange, children’s play area, sleeping box, shower, smoking room and spa. The departure hall covers the ground floor and the third floor of the international terminal’s building.

Restaurants and coffee shops

Restaurants serves Vietnamese traditional foods such as Pho noodle soups, Banh mi, fast foods including hamburbers, pasta, pizzas, French fries, fried chicken, etc. The coffee shops offer lots of delicious drinks including coffee, soft drinks, fresh juices and smoothies, ice creams, baked cakes and many others. The prices are a little higher than in other restaurants and cafes in the city. However, all the foods and drinks are tasty and safe, the staff is professional and speak Engligh very well.

Read more about Top Restaurants and Coffee Shops at Tan Son Nhat International Airport

Simcard, 3G, 4G

It is easy to purchase sim cards, top up cards, 3G/4G packages at any simcard stall at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Mobifone, Vinaphone, Viettel, VN Mobile are popular telecomunication providers in Vietnam.

Read more about A Guide to Sim Card, 3G/4G in Ho Chi Minh

Bus station

There are direction boards to the bus station outside the building of the terminals. There are four buses stop at Tan Son Nhat Airport: Bus #152 from Tan Son Nhat to Ben Thanh Market, Trung Son Residential Area, Bus #109 from Tan Son Nhat to 23/9 Park, Bus #119 from Tan Son Nhat to Mien Tay Bus Station, Bus Avigo from Tan Son Nhat to Vung Tau Bus Station. Read more about How to catch a bus from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Ho Chi Minh City Center.

Taxi stand

At the taxi stand, there are many operators, drivers and taxis waiting for passengers. They will help you to catch a taxi to your destination. Saigontourist, Vinasun, Mai Linh are good taxi brands which providing polite drivers, good cabs and reliable taximeters.

Read more about How to reach the center of Ho Chi Minh City from Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Car service

Besides buses and taxis, passengers can choose to take private cars to their destinations (Ho Chi Minh City’s center, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Mekong Delta). These car companies also provides tours to Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Mekong Delta. Song Viet and Hoa Mai are two popular companies providing private car services at the airport.

ATM

Vietcombank, Shinhan, HSBC, Techcombank ATM machines are available for passengers who would like to withdraw cash.

Locker room

Operating hours: 7:00 – 23:00.

Prices of baggage storage at Tan Son Nhat International Airport: VND 27,500/luggage/1 hour (duration < 10 hours), VND 275,000/luggage (duration 10 – 24 hours), VND 275,000/luggage/1 day (duration > 1 day).

Regulation:

• No poisons, explosives, gases, flammables, radioactive, other dangerous things.
• No responsibility for money, jewelry, precious metals, gemstones, valuable documents and papers.
• Payment right after filling the form.
• No refund if customers get luggage earlier.
• Locker room keeps the luggage maximum 48 hours after the returning time. Customers must pay an extra fee for the extra time.
• Luggage compensation limit is VND 4,200,000.

History of Tan Son Nhat International Airport

Before Vietnam War

In 1920, Tan Son Nhut Airfield with unpaved runways was built in Tan Son Nhut Village, Tan Binh, Gia Dinh Province by the French colonial government. The first flight from Saigon – Hanoi took off in 1921 and it lasted 8 hours and 30 minutes.

At the end of 1933, the first Air France flight from Paris to Saigon lasted one week.

By mid-1956, a 3,000 m concrete runway had been built with U.S. aid in order to replace the old runway. The airfield was known as the principal international gateway in South Vietnam.

During the Vietnam War, Tan Son Nhat Air Base was an important facility for the Republic of Vietnam Air Force and the U.S. Air Force. It was one of the busiest military airbases in the world between 1968 and 1974.

According to an aviation expert, the land area of Tan Son Nhat was 3,600 ha.

After Vietnam War

In recent, the total land area of the airport is about 1,500 ha including 850 ha for civil use and the remaining part is operated by the Ministry of Defence.