Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which is 7 kilometers away from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to the North, is the largest airport in Vietnam. This airport is a gateway to many different parts of the world, as well as an important air traffic hub to the South of Vietnam and other countries within the region such as Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. In 2011, Tan Son Nhat International Airport accounted for two-thirds of the total number of international passengers using air transportation in Vietnam. At present, there are more than 40 airlines operating at Tan Son Nhat International Airport daily with 360 flights daily on average. In the near future, this figure is expected to reach as high as 400 flights per day.
After a major renovation in early 2000s, Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is currently the largest in terms of area and capacity airport in Vietnam. Along with Lien Khuong Airport (Dalat), Con Dao Airport (Con Dao), Phu Quoc Airport and several other local airports, Ho Chi Minh City Airport is under the management of Southern Airports Corporation (SAC), a state owned corporation.
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.
Flights to Ho Chi Minh City Airport
It is estimated that 3 domestic and 34 international airlines serve flights to Ho Chi Minh City.
There are direct flights from major cities in Asia (Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, etc.), Europe (Helsinki, Frankfurt, Moscow, Paris, etc.), Australia (Melbourne and Sydney). Those from North America or other countries in Western Europe can easily book a connecting flight via Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo or Seoul.
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.
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