Flying into Ho Chi Minh City: Tan Son Nhat (SGN) airport guide
Tan Son Nhat (SGN) is southern Vietnam's main gateway. Terminals T1, T2 and the new T3, who flies here, domestic connections, getting to District 1 from under $1, lounges, Fast Track — and the new Long Thanh airport. Everything in one place.
Forty million passengers a year. Three terminals instead of two — T3 opened in April 2025. Vietnam Airlines, the low-cost carriers and dozens of international airlines fly in here from across Asia, the Gulf and beyond. And a brand-new airport, Long Thanh, is coming online 40 km out of town — first flights late 2025, commercial Phase 1 in 2026. Landing in Ho Chi Minh City, or heading straight to Mui Ne, Vung Tau or Da Nang? Read on.
Everything is here: the three terminals, getting into town from under $1, airport services, connections and current 2026 prices.
Tan Son Nhat (SGN) — the basics
Tan Son Nhat (Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport) serves both Ho Chi Minh City and the whole south of Vietnam. Until 1975 the city was Saigon, which is why the IATA code is SGN, not HCM.
It is only 7 km to Ben Thanh square in the heart of District 1 — 20–30 minutes by taxi when the roads are clear. In Friday rush hour the same trip drags out to 45–60 minutes. The upside is obvious: the airport is almost downtown. The downside too — it is boxed in by the city with nowhere to expand. That is exactly why Long Thanh is being built.
The full Vietnamese name is Sân bay quốc tế Tân Sơn Nhất. The code SGN is on every boarding pass, but drivers and locals still say "Saigon airport." For the city itself, see the full Ho Chi Minh City guide.
The terminals: T1, T2 and the new T3
There are three terminals, and they are easier to mix up than you would think — especially since T3 opened in 2025. Most domestic flights moved there, while the old T1 was left to the budget carriers.
Terminal 1 (T1) — domestic, old
The airport's oldest building. Now that mainline domestic flights have moved to T3, T1 mostly handles low-cost and smaller regional carriers. It is a bit cramped: a couple of cafés, a few shops and the Le Saigonnais lounge (04:30–23:00).
Terminal 2 (T2) — international
This is where every international flight lands, from the Gulf carriers to the East Asian and intra-ASEAN routes. Built in 2007, it is noticeably more comfortable than T1:
- 12 boarding gates with jet bridges
- Several lounges (Orchid Lounge, Lotus Lounge, SASCO)
- Duty free past passport control
- Exchange counters and ATMs by arrivals
- SIM-card kiosks right at the exit
The ground floor of T2 is arrivals and the way out to the city; the first floor is departures — check-in, passport control, gates. Hard to get lost: signage is in English.
Terminal 3 (T3) — domestic, new
Opened 19 April 2025. It covers 112,500 m², with a roof that echoes the flowing lines of the ao dai and floor-to-ceiling glass. Everything inside is new and spacious.
Since May 2025 all Vietnam Airlines domestic flights run from here, and Bamboo Airways since August. Flying to Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phu Quoc or Da Nang with those carriers? You want T3.
Inter-terminal shuttle
You can't walk between T3 and the other terminals. The only option is the free shuttle bus.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Hours | 04:30–00:10 |
| Frequency | Every 20 minutes |
| Journey time | 15–20 minutes |
Where to catch it: T1 at columns B17–B20, T2 at columns B12–B16, T3 at columns 17–20 on the ground floor. Overnight (00:10–04:30) the shuttle doesn't run — it is taxi or Grab only.
Getting from the airport to central Ho Chi Minh City
Seven kilometres on the map. Twenty minutes on a Sunday morning, fifty on a Friday evening. The distance is trivial, but Ho Chi Minh City traffic more than makes up for it. Five options, from cheapest to most comfortable.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 152 | 5,000 VND (~$0.20) | 30–50 min | Backpackers, light luggage |
| Bus 109 | 20,000 VND (~$0.80) | 30–45 min | Budget travellers |
| Grab (car) | 90,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6) | 20–40 min | Most travellers |
| Taxi (Mai Linh / Vinasun) | 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) | 20–40 min | When Grab won't load |
| Private transfer | from $10 | 20–40 min | Families, groups |
Bus 152 — the cheapest
Runs from the airport to Ben Thanh square (Ben Thanh Market, District 1). A ticket is 5,000 VND (~$0.20), service 06:00–18:00. It is a plain city bus with no luggage hold, so a big suitcase is a squeeze. Pay the conductor in cash.
Bus 109 — the tourist bus
Yellow, air-conditioned, with a luggage hold and a driver who gets by in English. 20,000 VND (~$0.80), running 05:30–01:00, every 15–20 minutes. A clear step up in comfort from the 152.
Grab — the sweet spot
Grab is the local Uber. You see the price before you book and pay by card or cash. A GrabCar into District 1 comes to 90,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6); a GrabBike, if you are solo with a backpack, is about half that. Once you have your bags, walk out of the terminal and turn right: the Grab pickup zone is marked with green signs.
Taxi — Mai Linh and Vinasun
Grab not loading? Take a taxi, but only from the two trusted firms. Mai Linh runs green cars, phone 38 38 38 38. Vinasun is white with a red-and-green stripe, phone 38 27 27 27. On the meter, District 1 works out to 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8), plus a 10,000 VND toll.
Private transfer
Travelling with kids or in a group? Book a transfer ahead. A sedan is from $10, a minivan from $15. The driver meets you with a name board in arrivals. Book on Klook, KiwiTaxi, 12Go or through your hotel. For getting around once you have checked in, see the Ho Chi Minh City transport guide.
Skip the airport queue in 5–10 min
In winter, immigration lines run 60–90 min. With Fast Track you’re met at the aircraft and taken through the priority lane. Arrange it before you fly.
Telegram managerOnward to Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Vung Tau and beyond
Ho Chi Minh City works as a hub for the whole south of the country. You don't even have to go into town — you can strike out for the coast right away.
| Destination | Transport | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mui Ne (bus) | Sleeper bus | 4.5–5 h | 220,000 VND (~$9) |
| Mui Ne (transfer) | Private car | 5 h | from $80 |
| Phan Thiet | Bus | 4–4.5 h | 160,000 VND (~$6.40) |
| Vung Tau (bus) | Bus | 2.5 h | 140,000 VND (~$5.60) |
| Vung Tau (ferry) | Via the centre | 1.5 h | 350,000 VND (~$14) |
| Da Lat | Bus | 7 h | 250,000 VND (~$10) |
| Nha Trang | Flight | 1 h | from 500,000 VND (~$20) |
Mui Ne / Phan Thiet: buses leave from Mien Dong bus station. Get there from the airport on bus 119 (6,000 VND) or by Grab (around 100,000 VND, 30 minutes). Sinh Tourist, FUTA and The Sinh Tourist run daily. Sleeper buses have reclining berths, air-con and Wi-Fi. Buy tickets at the station or on 12Go.asia.
Vung Tau: the fastest way is the Greenlines DP fast ferry from the Bạch Đằng pier in the centre. It runs every 1–2 hours, 06:00–16:30. You do have to reach the pier first (30 minutes by Grab).
Da Lat: FUTA and Phương Trang buses from Mien Dong. The mountain-pass drive is scenic but seriously winding. Prone to car sickness? Fly instead: a domestic hop from T3, 45 minutes, from 400,000 VND.
Nha Trang and Da Nang: flight only — there is no direct overland link. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air fly from T3 or T1. Nha Trang is an hour, Da Nang an hour and twenty. VietJet runs sales from 99,000 VND.
Services at Tan Son Nhat airport
Lounges
| Lounge | Terminal | Hours | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orchid Lounge | T2 | 06:00–02:00 | Priority Pass, from $30 |
| Lotus Lounge | T2 | until last flight | Vietnam Airlines business, SkyTeam Elite Plus |
| SASCO Lounge | T1 / T2 | — | Priority Pass, from $35 |
| Le Saigonnais | T1 | 04:30–23:00 | Pay at the door, from $30 |
A single visit is $30–45 and buys you 2–3 hours. Priority Pass is accepted at SASCO and Orchid. One hack: there is a free shower in T2 opposite gate 25 — no need to buy a lounge just for that.
Duty free and shops
SASCO Duty Free has 20-plus counters past passport control in T2 — perfume, spirits, tobacco, Vietnamese coffee and souvenirs.
Worth buying here: spirits (Vietnamese rum, whisky) at city prices or a little below. Cheaper in town: Trung Nguyên Legend coffee is 250,000–350,000 VND at the airport but 150,000–200,000 VND in a supermarket. Souvenirs, nuts and spices are cheaper at Ben Thanh Market or in a Winmart.
Currency exchange and ATMs
Exchange counters sit at the T2 arrivals exit, with rates 2–5% worse than in town. Change the minimum — 200,000–300,000 VND, enough for a taxi and a SIM. Do the rest at the gold shops on Lê Lợi or Nguyễn Huệ in District 1, where rates are best.
ATMs are at every T2 exit. The withdrawal limit is 3,000,000 VND per transaction, with a 30,000–50,000 VND fee. ACB, HSBC and Citibank charge the least.
SIM cards and Wi-Fi
Viettel, Mobifone and Vinaphone kiosks sit at the T2 arrivals exit. A tourist SIM with 3–5 GB for 30 days is from 100,000 VND (~$4); bring your passport. Or set up an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) before you leave home. Airport Wi-Fi is free in all terminals, in 30–60-minute sessions. More detail in the Vietnam SIM-card guide.
Luggage storage
T2 has left-luggage counters on the ground floor, to the right of the exit. A small locker is from 40,000 VND (~$1.60) a day, a large one from 100,000 VND (~$4), plus a 100,000–300,000 VND deposit refunded when you collect. T3 skips the classic lockers for Luggo — app-based storage and bag delivery.
Fast Track and VIP services
In high season the passport-control queue can run an hour or more. Don't want to wait? Two options:
- Fast Track: from $35 — priority immigration clearance
- VIP Meet & Greet: from $50 — greeting with a name board, fast-track and baggage help
Book at least 4 hours ahead. Providers: Fast Track Vietnam, Klook, GetYourGuide.
Food and cafés
T2 has Highlands Coffee (coffee from 45,000 VND), Pho 24 (a bowl of pho for ~80,000 VND) and fast food. Expect a 1.5–2x markup over city prices. T3, being new, has more choice. And note: there is no point buying water before security — it will be taken off you. After security, a bottle is 15,000–20,000 VND (~$0.60–0.80).
Flying to SGN: international hubs and direct routes
Where the direct flights come from
Tan Son Nhat has dense direct service across Asia and the Gulf. From most of the world the smart move is a single connection through one of the region's big hubs. The most useful gateways:
| Hub | Carriers | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore (SIN) | Singapore Airlines, VietJet | Europe, Australia, the Americas |
| Bangkok (BKK) | Thai, VietJet, Vietnam Airlines | Cheap intra-Asia connections |
| Doha / Dubai | Qatar Airways, Emirates | Europe, the Middle East, Africa |
| Seoul / Taipei | Korean Air, EVA Air | North America via East Asia |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | Cathay Pacific | One-stop from many long-haul cities |
Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air run plenty of nonstop regional flights themselves — Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney and more. From Europe or North America, a one-stop itinerary through a Gulf or East Asian hub is almost always the cheapest and simplest.
Finding a good fare
Compare fares on Google Flights or Skyscanner, then book direct with the airline where you can. Buy 2–3 months out and set a price alert — long-haul fares to SGN swing a lot by season and by hub. Flexible on dates? A midweek departure is usually noticeably cheaper.
Domestic flights within Vietnam
SGN is also the busiest domestic hub in the country. From T1/T3 you can reach almost any Vietnamese destination in an hour or two:
| Route | Flight time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| SGN → Da Nang | 1 h 20 min | Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo |
| SGN → Nha Trang (Cam Ranh) | 1 h | Frequent, from 500,000 VND |
| SGN → Phu Quoc | 1 h | The island beach hop |
| SGN → Da Lat | 45 min | Faster than the winding bus |
| SGN → Hanoi | 2 h 10 min | Vietnam's busiest air corridor |
Connecting through SGN
Tan Son Nhat stitches together routes across Southeast Asia. Have a connection here? Here is what you need to know.
Minimum connection time
| Connection type | Minimum |
|---|---|
| International → international (T2) | 2–3 hours |
| International → domestic (T2 → T1/T3) | 3–4 hours |
| If you need a visa on arrival | +1 hour to either |
The international-to-domestic switch is the slowest. You clear immigration, collect your bags, leave T2, shuttle to T1 or T3, re-check the bags and pass security again. Budget at least 2 hours, up to 3 in high season.
Overnight connection: the airport is open around the clock, but after midnight the cafés and shops shut. The shuttle stops from 00:10 to 04:30 and lounges close by 02:00. Dull, but survivable.
Transit without a visa: if you stay airside and don't clear immigration, you don't need a Vietnamese visa for a same-day connection. Want to head into town between flights? Check your entry rights first — many nationalities get a visa exemption (15–45 days), and everyone else can apply for the e-visa (up to 90 days) before flying.
Hotels near the airport
An 8-hour connection, overnight on top? Easier to book a room nearby. Within 1–2 km of Tan Son Nhat:
- Ibis Saigon Airport — from $40/night, 500 m from T2, free Wi-Fi
- Tan Son Nhat Hotel — from $50/night, 90 rooms, quiet garden
- The Airport Hotel — from $35/night, a 5-minute Grab from the terminal
- Dot Hotel — from $25/night, budget option, 20 minutes' walk from T3
A Grab to any of these is 5–10 minutes.
Getting set up in Vietnam?
SIM, visas, transfers, tours — our manager sorts it out for you, in English.
Message the managerLive boards and useful contacts
Check departures and arrivals on the official site:
- Departures board: tansonnhatairport.vn/flight-info/departures
- Arrivals board: tansonnhatairport.vn/flight-info/arrivals
Handier still: Flightradar24 or your airline's own app (Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo). The boards update in real time, with push alerts for delays.
| Contact | Number |
|---|---|
| Airport information | +84 28 3848 5383 |
| Airport police | 113 |
| Ambulance | 115 |
Long Thanh — the new international airport
Long Thanh International Airport (Long Thành International Airport) is opening in phases 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City, in Dong Nai province: the first flights ran in late 2025, with commercial Phase 1 following in 2026. Over time it is set to absorb most of the region's international traffic.
Which international flights shift to Long Thanh in 2026, and when, isn't fully settled yet. Before you book, check the arrival airport: SGN (Tan Son Nhat) or the new Long Thanh code.
In practice, if you travel in the second half of 2026, your international flight may land at Long Thanh rather than Tan Son Nhat. The transfer into town gets longer (40 km instead of 7) and pricier. Domestic flights, though, stay at Tan Son Nhat — that is what T3 was built for.
Common mistakes at Ho Chi Minh City airport
- Confusing the terminals. There are now two domestic ones: Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo are in T3, some low-cost flights stayed in T1. Always check the terminal on your boarding pass.
- Not allowing time for the shuttle. You can't walk between T2 and T3. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes, 15–20 minutes each way. Budget at least 40 minutes.
- Changing too much cash at the airport. Rates are 2–5% worse. 200,000–300,000 VND covers a taxi and a SIM; change the rest in town.
- Taking an unofficial taxi. Touts at the exit ask 300,000–400,000 VND — double the fair price. Use Grab, or find the Mai Linh / Vinasun desk.
- Not setting up Grab in advance. Download the app and add a card before you fly. There is airport Wi-Fi, but why waste time on it after a long-haul flight?
- Forgetting the visa queue. Doing visa on arrival? Add another hour, more in high season. Better still, sort your e-visa online before you go.
- Landing with no cash. Buses take cash only. Grab takes cards, but carry $50–100 in cash as a backup.
- Ignoring the traffic. Flight at 18:00–20:00 and you're in District 1? Leave 3–4 hours ahead, not 2.
FAQ — Ho Chi Minh City airport
What is the airport in Ho Chi Minh City called?
Tan Son Nhat (Tân Sơn Nhất), IATA code SGN. Locals still say "Saigon airport" — same place.
How many airports does Ho Chi Minh City have?
One for now — Tan Son Nhat (SGN). Long Thanh, 40 km out of town, is opening in phases: first flights in late 2025, commercial Phase 1 in 2026.
Is there luggage storage?
Yes, in T2 on the ground floor, to the right of the exit. A locker is from 40,000 VND (~$1.60) a day. T3 uses Luggo (app-based storage and bag delivery).
Is there a smoking area?
In T2, before security — yes, look for the smoking-area signs. Past security, there is nowhere to smoke.
How early should I arrive?
Three hours for an international flight, two for a domestic one. Changing terminals? Add 40 minutes for the shuttle.
What are exchange rates like at the airport?
2–5% worse than in town. Change the minimum (200,000–300,000 VND) and do the rest at the gold shops in District 1.
How do I get to Mui Ne?
No direct option. Either a transfer from the airport (from $80, 5 hours) or a bus from Mien Dong station (220,000 VND, 4.5 hours). Reach Mien Dong by bus 119 or Grab.
Can I buy a SIM card?
Yes. Viettel, Mobifone and Vinaphone kiosks are at the T2 exit. A SIM with 3–5 GB for a month is from 100,000 VND (~$4); you'll need your passport. Or set up an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) before you fly.
Information current as of July 2026. Prices and schedules change, so cross-check tansonnhatairport.vnand the airlines' own sites before you book.
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