Tan Son Nhat International Airport (IATA: SGN, ICAO: VVTS) (Vietnamese: Sân bay quốc tế Tân Sơn Nhất) is Vietnam’s largest international airport in terms of area (800 ha or 1,977 acres compared with 650 ha or 1,606 acres of Hanoi’s Nội Bài International Airport and Đà Nẵng International Airport).
Tan Son Nhat Aiport Transfer services
It has a handling capacity of 25
million passengers per year, compared with the of Hanoi city - Noi Bai
airport of 8 million passengers and Da Nang’s 6 million passengers. It is also the largest
airport of Vietnam in terms of passengers handled (with a number of 17,538,000
passengers per year in 2012, accounting for 46.6% of Vietnam’s air passenger
traffic), serving Ho Chi Minh City as well as the rest of southeastern Vietnam. Its IATA code, SGN, is derived from
the city's former name of Saigon.
Ho Chi Minh
City's Tan Son Nhat InternationalAirport (SGN) is the usual
destination for those coming to the south of Vietnam. Flying from USA or
Europe usually involves a stop-over in Asia or the Middle East, be it Seoul,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai etc. so be prepared for a long haul.
Arriving
When you arrive at the Immigration desks, all that is usually required from you
is your passport (with visa inside - if required) and your incoming flight
number. See the article about VOA
if you have to collect the Visa at
airport. That's it. If you have anything to declare to Customs, when you go
downstairs you should declare them and fill out a separate form.
Leaving the International terminal building, the ATM area is at the right hand end. You will find 4 / 6 working ATM's, some with a maximum withdrawal of 4,000,000 Dong. Do not live the terminal without 300,000/500,000 Dong, it is the only legal currency in Vietnam and you will need it for paying food and taxi. The currency exchange shops inside the terminal are ok, with some currency better than some banks.
Taxis are located on the left part of the terminal, the cost to
most hotels in District 1 is from 140,000 to 160,000 dong. Do not use USD as it
is an opportunity to get ripped off. Please use only the two most reliable taxi
company, Mai Linh, with
car and van white and green, and the white Vinasun more frequent in HCMC. Depending on
the hours taxi may be waiting at the curb, ignore any name apart the two
mentioned, when one arrive the manager will magically appears and will ask for
destination giving you a slip of paper with the taxi number.
You can also pay in advance at the Taxi counter before going out
of the airport but it will not be cheaper. Make sure you get a metered
taxi!! The rates are regulated, and are based on distance and time waiting
while en route. Read the cost on the meter to make sure you are not getting
ripped off. The airport exit toll fee is 10,000 vnd and the driver should pay
it but they always add 10/15.000 vnd at your hotel arrival. People (touts) may
try and grab you and direct you to their taxi, and give you a rate of $12-15
plus. Don't do it, get a metered cab instead.
The cheapest way is to take public city Bus # 152 parking in a lane few steps away on the right side from the Arrival's entrance. It takes you downtown to the Bus Station on the opposite side of the traffic circle from Ben Thanh market, at a cost of 5,000 VND + 5,000 VND if your luggage weighs 10kg or beyond. It runs every 20 minutes from 6 am until 6 pm.
An Airport
counter for car rental is available at the Arrival terminal but you need a
Vietnam driving licence. This counter belongs to Southern Airport Corporation.
if you need somewhere to store your bags for whatever reason, turn to the right as you exit the International terminal and head to the end of the building. You will find a staffed luggage storage area. You can leave your baggage there for as long as you need, cost is around 23.000 VND per hour.
Departure
Taking a taxi to the airport should cost the same as leaving it, so please follow the tips on the previous section. The airport fee is not paid arriving at the airport (only leaving) so if the driver will try to ask for it with the usual fake receipt just mention you have already paid it when arrived.
The airport departure tax is now included in the price of your ticket. After check-in, the first thing you hit is Customs with Immigration following. The security check follows. Make sure you don't have any sharps, excess liquids etc with you as they will be confiscated.
After the security check upstair there is free wifi courtesy of Illy Caffe, careful with the Illy Cappuccino, the best in Vietnam but even more expensive than Starbucks in Seattle. A bottle of water is the same, 2,5 USD, a world record. Also Burger King has free wifi both outside the terminal and upstair, the password is the same, add tsn to the name.
Tan Son Nhat
airport is fairly small and although there are duty frees on sale the range is
limited. If you want to buy any local specialities, buy before you go to the
airport since you have more choices in the city center. Know the limits
(especially liquids) applying to both checked in and carry on items. Even more
so if transiting another country. Be aware that certain countries prohibit the
import of certain goods, foods etc. Check before you buy. No point buying only
to have it confiscated on arrival at your destination. If you buy DVD there is
the possibility that they x-ray the luggage and ask for a fine, so it is better
to forget about them.
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Useful information. thank you
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