If you are visiting Tan Son Nhat airport for the first time and are concerned about getting to the city center. We’ve got you covered. Read on to gather all the information about Tan Son Nhat airport and the most convenient ways to get into the city center for a pleasant trip.
Read also:
- Top 14 Things To Do at Night in Ho Chi Minh City
- 7 Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh Any Time of the Year!
- Ultimate Vietnam Travel Guide for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang
- 14 Must-try Local Dishes in Ho Chi Minh City
About Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Tan Son Nhat Airport is located in the Tan Binh district, about 8 kilometers from the center of Ho Chi Minh City. This is the largest international airport in the South and one of the busiest airports in Vietnam.
The airport handles around 15 million domestic travelers and 13 million foreign passengers yearly. Tan Son Nhat International Airport currently serves six domestic airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Pacific Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and VASCO, as well as nearly 40 international airlines. Currently, this international airport has two main terminals to serve travelers: Domestic Terminal (T1) and International Terminal (T2).
Domestic terminal
Tan Son Nhat airport’s domestic terminal is 22,000m2 in size, with two main floors, the ground floor (GF) and the first floor (1F). There is also a rooftop space for management functions as well as other airport services.
(source: vietnamairport.vn)
The ground floor is divided into a domestic arrival hall, a check-in counter, and a checked baggage collection area. After landing at Tan Son Nhat airport, get your checked baggage, go through security, and proceed to the front doors (A1-A3) to grab a bus or taxi.
Check-in counters are located on both sides of the ground level for guests departing from Tan Son Nhat airport. Six different entrance gates (D1-D2 on the left and D3-D6 on the right) are set up independently for each domestic airline.
- Vietnam Airlines: D1, D2 gate area to counters A, B, C, D
- Jetstar Pacific: check-in goods E, F, gate D1, D2
- Vietjet Air: D3, D4, D5 (near the motorbike parking lot) to counters I, J, and CZK
- Bamboo Airways: D1 and D2 gates to the counter
After finishing the procedure, continue to the back of the line for a security check before proceeding to the first floor – the Tan Son Nhat domestic station’s waiting area.
International terminal
(source: vietnamairport.vn)
Compared to the domestic terminal, the international terminal is roughly three times larger and has many more functional sections. Terminal T2 has a total useable area of more than 115,834 m2. It is separated into four distinct floors, which include:
- Ground floor: Arrival hall to the international terminal, check-in counter, baggage claim, and airport exit.
- Floor 1: international arrival hall, immigration processes area, visa counter.
- Floor 2: International terminal departure hall, where check-in processes are carried out.
- Floor 3: Utility services such as cafes, restaurants, and entertainment.
You’ll enter the first floor’s center for international flights (1F). You then go to the ground floor after passing through the connecting desks and customs checkpoint. Finally, you proceed to areas A1 and A2 of the arrivals hall, where you can exit and catch the automobile.
Electronic notice boards will be set up in exit areas A1 and A2 to alert approaching flights. You can actively pick up your family or customers based on this time.
To check-in, pick up your luggage, go through check-in security, follow exit procedures, and then go through customs clearance, you must first proceed to gate floors D1 and D2 of 2 (2F) – take note that the ground floor, first floor, and second floor are all in this order. If you require it, currency exchange services are on both sides of the immigration check-in desk. When all formalities are finished, take the escalator or elevator to the ground floor (GF) or first floor to reach the concourse areas near the boarding gate (1F).
Business class passengers and VIP airline members will use the third-floor section. Although there is a somewhat expensive cost, general users can also use this area.
Here are three ways to get from Ho Chi Minh Airport (Tan Son Nhat) to the City Center.
Private car (with driver)
Traveling via private cars, like taxis, is a quick and convenient option. However, a private car will appear more polite and luxurious than a taxi. Furthermore, if you book a car ahead of time, you won’t have to wait long and worry about not being able to book a car. Another advantage over conventional taxis is that you can order and use the service beyond 10 PM.
There are numerous ways to reserve private transport, but Viator is a good place to start. This website will provide you with information about services and pricing. You can select the type of car you want. Furthermore, you may check previous customer evaluations about the service to select the most suitable and satisfactory service.
Taxi
Traveling a taxi to the city center is the quickest and most convenient option for large groups or families with young children. It takes 5 or 10 minutes to get to the city center from roughly 8 kilometers if you hire a taxi. However, if you take a taxi from Tan Son Nhat airport to the city center, remember that traffic delays are prevalent in Saigon.
Whether it is rush hour or not, the cost will often be 60,000 VND (~2.55 USD). Many taxis are parked there when you exit the airport door. You can reserve a car there or call the phone numbers listed for such providers. The following taxi services are authorized to pick up clients at Tan Son Nhat Airport.
- VinaSun Taxi: 028.38.27.27.27
- Anh Duong Taxi: 028.38.27.178
- Mai Linh Taxi: 028.38.29.8888
- Airport Taxi: 028.38.1113.113
- SAVICO Taxi: 09.80.88.99.21
- Vina Taxi: 028.38.111.111
- Hoang Long Taxi: 0283.830.2514
- Petroleum Taxi: 028.38.35.35.35
- Saigon Gas Taxi Petrolimex: 028.5.124.762
Note: These taxi services are only open until 22:00, and it may be challenging to book a car during particular rush hours.
Public bus
Bus travel is ideal if you have minimal luggage and want to save money. It costs relatively little because it’s public transportation. Depending on the route’s congestion, it will take 30 to 45 minutes to go by bus to the city center. But it’s important to remember that most buses here only accept Vietnamese currency, so you’ll need to change money first. You can exchange currency at the airport or use one of the ATMs to get Vietnamese Dongs.
When you arrive at the airport, grab your luggage and head to the front entrance, between gates A1 and A3 at T1 or A1 and A2 at T2, to catch the bus. You only need to wait at the bus stop for the appropriate bus and board it. A driver’s assistant will be there as you board the bus to sell your tickets. Just let the driver know where you want to go, and he or she will drop you off there or as near as feasible.
You could take four bus routes from Tan Son Nhat Airport. Pick a suitable bus route based on where you wish to go.
152 BUS
- Route: International Arrival Terminal – Domestic Arrival Terminal – Hoang Van Thu – Nguyen Van Troi – Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Ben Thanh Market – Tran Hung Dao – Trung Son Residential Area.
- Operating hours: 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM daily
- Frequency: 1 trip for every 12 – 21 minutes
- Fare: 6,000 VND/person (~0.26 USD)
109 BUS
- Route: Tan Son Nhat Airport (International Terminal) – Tan Son Nhat Airport (Domestic Terminal) – Truong Son – Tran Quoc Hoan – Hoang Van Thu – Nguyen Van Troi – Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Ham Nghi – Ben Thanh market – Pham Ngu Lao – Park 23/9.
- Operating hours: 12 AM – 11:40 PM daily
- Frequency: 1 trip for every 30 minutes.
- Fare: 12,000 VND (~0.52 USD)/person (under 5 km) and 20,000 VND (0.85 USD)/person (over 5 km).
119 BUS
- Route: Tan Son Nhat International Airport – Truong Son – Tran Quoc Hoan – Hoang Van Thu – Xuan Dieu – Xuan Hong – Truong Chinh – Ly Thuong Kiet – Bac Hai – Thanh Thai – Nguyen Tri Phuong – Nguyen Chi Thanh – Nguyen Thi Nho – Hong Bang – Kinh Duong Vuong – Mien Tay Bus Station.
- Operating hours: 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day.
- Frequency: 1 trip for every 15 – 30 minutes.
- Fare: 12,000 VND (~0.52 USD)/person (under 5 km) and 20,000 VND (~0.85 USD)/person (over 5 km)
49 BUS
- Route: International Arrival Station – Domestic Arrival Terminal – Truong Son – Tran Quoc Hoan – Hoang Van Thu – Nguyen Van Troi – Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Le Duan – Cong Xa Paris – Dong Khoi – Dong Du – Hai Ba Trung – Ton Duc Thang – Ham Nghi – Ben Thanh Market – Pham Ngu Lao – Nguyen Trai – Le Lai – Nguyen Thi Nghia – Cach Mang Thang 8 – Dien Bien Phu – Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Nguyen Van Troi – Phan Dinh Giot – Truong Son – International Arrival Station
- Operating hours: 12 AM to 11:25 PM the next day.
- Frequency: 1 trip for every 30 minutes.
- Fare: 40,000 VND/person (~1.7 USD)
So, above are the best services that we can suggest for you. Please carefully read the provided information so that you may select the mode of transportation that is most appropriate for you. We wish you a safe and enjoyable journey.
TourTeller’s Pick! – Handpicked Best Tours in Ho Chi Minh
