Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has evolved from humble beginnings to become the country’s busiest aviation hub. The airport’s origins date back to the early 1920s when French colonial authorities established a small airfield with unpaved runways near the village of Tan Son Nhut. This modest facility was later expanded in the 1930s, setting the foundation for what would become Vietnam’s premier international gateway.
By mid-1956, with American aid, a 7,200-foot runway had been constructed, transforming the airfield into South Vietnam’s principal international gateway for what was then called Saigon. During the Vietnam War, Tan Son Nhat became one of the busiest military airbases in the world, with Continental Airlines operating over 30 Boeing 707 military charters weekly between 1968 and 1974.
Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, the facility initially served as a dual-purpose airfield before transitioning to the civilian airport we know today. Growth was relatively slow in the early post-war decades, with the airport handling fewer than 8 million passengers when a new international terminal was added in 2007. Since then, passenger traffic has surged dramatically, increasing by more than 500% to reach approximately 41 million passengers in 2023, far exceeding the airport’s designed capacity.
In response to growing congestion, Tan Son Nhat has undergone several expansions. In 2007, the new International Terminal (Terminal 2) was opened at a cost of over $250 million. The domestic terminal (Terminal 1) reached its maximum capacity of 8 million passengers in 2010, and by 2013, the entire airport had reached its full capacity of 20 million passengers—two years earlier than predicted. December 2014 saw the completion of domestic terminal expansions, increasing its capacity to 13 million passengers annually. In 2017, the Vietnamese military ceded 21 hectares of land to allow for the construction of 21 new aircraft parking spaces, bringing the total to 72 parking positions by 2018.
SGN Quick Facts and Statistics
- IATA Code: SGN (derived from the city’s former name, Saigon)
- ICAO Code: VVTS
- Location: Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Distance from City Center: Approximately 7 km (4 miles)
- Airport Size: Covers a significant urban area within Ho Chi Minh City
- Passenger Traffic: Approximately 41 million passengers in 2023
- Global Ranking: 50th busiest airport in the world (as of December 2023)
- Regional Ranking: 4th busiest in Southeast Asia
- Capacity: Approximately 50 million passengers following the opening of Terminal 3 (April 2025)
- Terminals: Three terminals (T1, T2, and T3)
- Notable Route: The Ho Chi Minh City–Hanoi route is the busiest in Southeast Asia and the fourth-busiest in the world, serving around 11 million passengers in 2023
- Hub Airlines: Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and VASCO
- Focus City For: Pacific Airlines and VietJet Air
Terminal Facilities
Terminal 1 (Domestic Terminal)
Terminal 1 primarily serves domestic flights and consists of two floors. The first floor houses the arrival hall for domestic flights, shopping areas, ATMs, restaurants, banks, and toilets. Outside the terminal, travelers can find bus stops to the city center and taxi stands. The second floor contains the domestic departure hall, waiting lounges, shopping areas, spas, ATMs, restaurants, banking facilities, and restrooms. Passengers can move between floors using elevators or escalators.
After a renovation that was completed in December 2014, the terminal’s capacity was boosted to 13 million passengers per annum. Currently, the terminal serves most domestic airlines, though some domestic operations for specific carriers have relocated to other terminals.
Terminal 2 (International Terminal)
Terminal 2, opened in 2007, is almost three times larger than the Domestic Terminal, with four bustling floors operating 24/7. The terminal’s design and facilities reflect modern international standards, offering enhanced comfort and convenience for travelers.
On level 1, passengers will find immigration booths, the Visa On Arrival counter, and a transit counter. Arriving passengers and those connecting to domestic flights proceed through immigration before taking escalators or elevators to the ground level, where baggage claim and customs are located. Level 2 houses check-in counters and baggage inspection checkpoints, while levels 2 and 3 contain lounges such as the Rose Lounge and Le Saigonnais Lounge.
Terminal 2 provides various services including currency exchange booths, information counters, bus stops, and taxi stands. The terminal is designed to handle international flights efficiently with modern amenities for departing and arriving passengers.
Terminal 3 (New Domestic Terminal)
The newest addition to Tan Son Nhat is Terminal 3, which opened in April 2025. This five-story terminal has further increased the airport’s overall capacity to approximately 50 million passengers annually. Terminal 3 primarily serves domestic flights and features modern design elements and enhanced passenger amenities.
Airport Amenities and Services
Tan Son Nhat International Airport offers a range of amenities and services to enhance the passenger experience. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout both domestic and international terminals, accessible through networks like “FreeWifi TanSonNhat Airport” and “TSN Free Wifi Express.” Although these connections may occasionally drop, users can simply reconnect by opening their browsers.
The airport houses numerous ATMs operated by various banks, including Vietcombank, Vietinbank, BIDV, ANZ, CitiBank, and Shinhan Bank. Terminal 2 features five ATMs near columns 14 and 3, while Terminal 1 has six machines at the D2 entrance. Currency exchange services are available in both the departure and arrival halls of the international terminal, with rates updated regularly.
For dining options, food courts in both terminals serve vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals in Vietnamese and Western styles, with restaurants typically operating until 11 PM. Shopping opportunities include duty-free shops in the security area and check-in hall, though the selection is more limited compared to major Asian hubs like Singapore Changi or Hong Kong International Airport.
The airport features eight VIP Lounges where business class passengers and airline VIP members can enjoy premium services in a tranquil atmosphere. These lounges offer diverse cuisine options, cocktail bars, and quick pastries. For busy travelers, the lounges provide a productive working environment with high-speed Wi-Fi, printers, scanners, photocopiers, and fax machines. Relaxation amenities include bathrooms with massage machines and sleeping areas to help passengers recover from exhausting flights or prepare for their next journey.
Medical services are available for travelers needing assistance, and visa services can be arranged for eligible passengers at the Visa On Arrival counter, provided they have obtained prior approval from Vietnamese border control authorities.
Airlines and Routes
Tan Son Nhat International Airport serves as a major hub for several Vietnamese carriers and hosts flights from numerous international airlines. The airport functions as a hub for Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and VASCO, while also serving as a focus city for Pacific Airlines and VietJet Air.
In total, approximately 37 airlines (3 domestic and 34 international) operate flights to and from Ho Chi Minh City. The airport offers direct connections to major cities across Asia, including Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore. European destinations include Helsinki, Frankfurt, Moscow, and Paris, while direct flights also serve Australian cities like Melbourne and Sydney. Travelers from North America and Western Europe can easily access Ho Chi Minh City via connecting flights through regional hubs such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, or Seoul.
The domestic route between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi is particularly significant, ranking as the busiest air route in Southeast Asia and the fourth-busiest in the world, serving approximately 11 million passengers annually. Other busy routes from Tan Son Nhat include flights to Da Nang, Hai Phong, Tanh Hoa, Hue, Singapore, Bangkok, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and Seoul.
International carriers serving the airport include well-known names such as Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines. Most international flights operate from Terminal 2, which can accommodate wide-body aircraft and provides necessary facilities for international arrivals and departures.
Ground Transportation
Travelers have multiple options for reaching Ho Chi Minh City’s center from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The distance is approximately 7 kilometers, making for a relatively quick journey depending on traffic conditions.
Buses
Several bus routes connect the airport to downtown Ho Chi Minh City:
- Bus No. 109: Connects the airport to Saigon Bus Station, with service from 5:30 AM to 22:15 PM. This high-quality bus accommodates passengers with heavy luggage and reaches the city center in approximately 45 minutes.
- Bus No. 152: Runs from the airport to Ben Thanh Market and Trung Son Residential Area, with fares starting at 12,000 VND (0.5 USD) for distances under 5 km and 20,000 VND (0.8 USD) for longer journeys.
- Bus No. 119: Connects the airport to Western Bus Station, using modern vehicles similar to Bus 109.
- Bus No. 49: Serves the city center, including Districts 1 and 2.
The bus stops are conveniently located to the right after exiting the arrival hall. Buses offer an economical option for reaching downtown, with most journeys costing between 12,000-20,000 VND (0.5-0.8 USD).
Taxis and Ride-sharing
Taxis provide a convenient door-to-door service from the airport. Traditional taxi brands such as Vinasun and Mai Linh operate alongside Grab, a popular ridesharing service in Southeast Asia. A taxi ride to the city center typically costs around 200,000 VND (9 USD) and takes approximately 15-20 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
When using metered taxis, fares start at approximately 160,000 VND for travel within one district. Ride-hailing services like Grab typically charge around 150,000 VND for similar distances, though prices may increase during peak hours. Flat-rate taxis charge higher fares, starting from 250,000 VND for a 7-seater car to District 1.
In addition to the base fare, passengers should expect to pay an airport vehicle usage fee (10,000 VND) and an airport operation service fee (starting from 7,000 VND depending on vehicle size).
Private Transfers
Many hotels and travel agencies offer private airport transfer services, which can be arranged in advance. Upon arrival, drivers typically wait in the arrival hall with the passenger’s name displayed on a card, assist with luggage, and transport travelers directly to their accommodations.
Future Transportation Links
The airport is expected to be served by Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 4B in the future, which will connect to Lines 4 and 5, providing service to the southern and eastern areas of the city. However, the construction timeline for this connection remains uncertain.
Future Development and Long Thanh International Airport
Despite various expansions, Tan Son Nhat International Airport faces significant limitations due to its location within Ho Chi Minh City’s urban core. In 2015, the Vietnamese National Assembly identified several challenges that make continued expansion problematic:
- Economic viability concerns, with an estimated US$9.1 billion needed for comprehensive upgrades including a new 4,000-meter runway and passenger terminal
- Airspace overlap with nearby Bien Hoa Airport, which serves national defense purposes
- Tan Son Nhat’s dual role as both a commercial airport and strategic defense location
- Urban encroachment limiting physical expansion possibilities
- Environmental and noise concerns affecting surrounding residential areas
To address these constraints, Vietnam is constructing a second airport for Ho Chi Minh City: Long Thanh International Airport. Located approximately 40 kilometers east of the city center in Dong Nai province, Long Thanh is being built on a massive site covering about 100 square kilometers—more than ten times the size of Tan Son Nhat.
The $20 billion project is being developed in three main phases:
- Phase 1 (2021-2026): With an estimated cost of $7.8 billion, this phase includes two runways and the first terminal building. Upon completion in early 2026, the facility will open with an initial annual capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo.
- Phase 2 (2026-2035): An additional $4.8 billion will be invested to double passenger capacity to over 50 million, with two more terminals and a third runway.
- Phase 3 (After 2035): The final phase will cost approximately $7.2 billion and add a fourth runway and terminal, bringing total designed capacity to over 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually.
Once Phase 1 is completed, Long Thanh will operate alongside Tan Son Nhat. Vietnam Airlines and most international carriers are expected to relocate to the new facility, while Tan Son Nhat will likely continue serving low-cost carriers and some domestic routes.
Transportation infrastructure to support Long Thanh is also under development, including the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway (completed in 2015) and a planned light rail connection. A new rail line measuring 37.35 kilometers with 20 stations has been finalized, connecting Thu Thiem in Thu Duc city to Long Thanh International Airport, with a potential extension to Ben Thanh to link with the Ho Chi Minh City Metro.
Despite its distance from the city center, Long Thanh represents Vietnam’s vision for a world-class aviation hub capable of meeting the country’s rapidly growing air travel demand. As one of the fastest-growing commercial air markets globally, Vietnam’s passenger traffic is projected to reach 78.3 million in 2024, with international traffic increasing by 33% to 43.5 million.
While Long Thanh prepares to take flight, Tan Son Nhat continues to serve as Vietnam’s primary international gateway, adapting to increasing demands and maintaining its crucial role in connecting Ho Chi Minh City to the world.
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