Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) - Helpful Guide for Arriving Passengers to Ho Chi Minh City (former Name: Saigon) Vietnam
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (IATA: SGN, ICAO: VVTS) located in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC in short or formerly Saigon) is the largest and busiest airport in Vietnam.
This Ho Chi Minh City Airport is about 6 KM (4 Miles) north of City Center District 1.
It typically takes 25-50 mins by car in the daytime depending on traffic conditions from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) to the City Center in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
At late-night, it takes less than 25 mins to travel between this SGN Airport and District 1 hotels.
Ho Chi Minh City Airport code is SGN, based on the city’s former city name Saigon (SaiGoN Airport).
Tan Son Nhat International Airport has two passenger terminal buildings:
International Terminal
Domestic Terminal
International Terminal at Ho Chi Minh City Airport
The new building at this Tan Son Nhat Airport is an International Terminal and handles all international arrivals and departures.
This International terminal building is a two-level modern and efficient terminal to handle International passengers at HCMC Airport.
Arriving international passengers after disembarking aircraft need to follow Immigration signs inside the terminal.
If you have a valid Vietnam Visa already stamped in your passport, then go directly to the Immigration counter.
If you have Visa approval on printed paper or looking for Visa on arrival, then go to the Visa on Arrival counters located on the left-hand side in the Immigration area before Immigration counters.
Get your visa stamped on your passport by filling up the form and paying the visa stamping fee in cash (US$ 25) at this HCMC Airport Visa on Arrival counter.
Once you clear Immigration, pickup you checked bags from baggage claim and clear the customs.
Just outside of Custom exit doors in the Arrival lobby are counters for Money exchange, Taxi counters, Private cars counters, and Mobile SIM cards.
Many counters sell taxi or private car drop-off, money exchange, and phone SIM altogether and provide a good deal.
If you don’t have any local Vietnamese currency VND (Dong), then we recommend changing some money here as Vietnam is still a cash country.
Outside the doors of the Arrival lobby (Secured area) is an open Air Arrival Hall where you will meet your Pre-book Car driver or friends or relatives.
This open-Air arrival hall at SGN Airport is open to the public.
Be aware of people approaching you directly for transportation or other solicitations in the Arrival Hall of this HCMC Airport.
A few Car companies have temporary stalls or counters here in the Arrival lobby as well.
Domestic Terminal at Ho Chi Minh City Airport
The older one-story building houses the domestic terminal, which is just adjacent to the International terminal building.
This building is modern from inside and houses domestic departures and arrivals in Ho Chi Minh City.
Once you disembark the plane at the Domestic terminal and reach the terminal building by airport bus, just follow the baggage claim signs.
Pick up your checked baggage and exit the terminal doors to take either a Cab or private Car or Grab car.
If you are getting a Grab or private car, then inform your driver the Pillar post number (all Pillars have numbers) you are standing at, to pick you up at this domestic terminal at HCMC Airport.
Transfer between Terminals at Ho Chi Minh City Airport
In case you need to transfer between International and Domestic Terminals then -
- Exit the Airport Terminal building doors
- For International to Domestic transfer - turn right and walk towards the domestic terminal building,
- For Domestic to International transfer - turn left and walk towards the International terminal building
- Transfer between terminals at SGN Airport at ground level via sidewalk aka footpath pathway.
- It takes about 5 minutes by foot (walking) from one terminal to other at this SGN Airport
More helpful transportation information below in this Ho Chin Minh City Airport guide for Arriving passengers.
Taxi or Car at SGN Airport |
Taxi at International Terminal - Ho Chi Minh City Airport: The main official Taxi queue is on your left when you exit through the main door on the ground floor of the terminal building. Usually, Vinasun and Mai Linh taxi operate from this Taxi stand at the International terminal st SGN Airport. You will TAXI sign on the Pillars or Column once you start walking left in the Arrival Hall. When you get in the taxi, ask the driver to turn the meter on. The fare to most hotels in District 1 should be around 8 USD - 10 USD which around 180,000 VND - 230,000VND. You will have to pay an extra 10,000 VND on the top to cover the Airport surcharge.
Once you clear the customs and enter the Arrival lobby, there are pre-paid Taxi counters for companies like: - Mai Linh Taxi Company - SASCO Travel - Song Viet All counters are vetted by the airport so just check on the price and arrange and pay for a taxi at the counter you choose. Please note that these counters are in the Arrival lobby before you exit the doors of the terminal into the Arrival hall. Once you pay for a car, the counter will issue you a receipt and will provide further instructions on how to get to your car. Someone will assist once you get out of the Arrival lobby into the Arrival hall to reach your car.
Please note that many Pre-paid car counters are also available in the public Arrival hall. We saw few Car counters at the Arrival Hall including SASCO, Song Viet and others. At these counters, prices may vary from 10 USD - 20 USD for district 1 depending on the Taxi Car company. Domestic Terminal - Main Taxi Line At the domestic terminal, SASCO is the only taxi company allowed to pick up passengers directly from the main taxi line. Follow the Taxi signs once you pick up your luggage from the baggage claim and exit doors. The taxi line is at the last island adjacent to the building once you exit the doors. The first lane will be private cars pickup, the second lane will be public transport like bus and the last one will be Taxi Pickup. you will see SASCO taxis in the Taxi queue once exiting the terminal building on the last island from the Terminal building. |
| Private Pre-Booked Pickup at SGN Airport | Private Car Pickup service at Ho Chi Min Airport: Arriving Passengers at SGN Airport can Pre-book private pickups such as: Car company will provide instructions at meeting point at International and Domectis Terminal at SGN Airport.
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| Ride App Cars at SGN Airport | Grab (Ride App) Cars at Ho Chi Minh City Airport: If you have data available on mobile then another great option is the GRAB app which is basically an UBER. GRAB car provides cheaper and very clean, friendly, and efficient transport from Airport as compare to other taxi or Car services. Book Grab via mobile app and wait for your car at the Pillar or Column number in the Arrival Hall. You will have to keep an eye on the cars and will have to search for a number plate matching make and model in the car traffic. The only issue we have faced is sometimes Cars are small and we had lots of luggage. Book a bigger or premium car if you have lost of luggage. Many Grab drivers do not speak English but they will follow the map to take you to your destination in HCMC. Grab will cost between 6 USD to 11 USD depending on the peak or non-peak time from Airport to District 1 in HCMC |
| Public Bus at SGN Airport | Yellow Bus No. 109 from Tan Son Nhat Airport to District 1 City Center (Ben Thanh Market): Yellow public bus is the cheapest option at SGN Airport with 20,000 VND (0.80 USD - less than a Dollar) fare. At the International Terminal, go to column number 12, cross the first lane and bus will be in the second lane island. SGN Yellow Bus has an area to store luggage in the middle of the bus. Yellow Bus 109 starts at International Terminal and stops at the Domestic Terminal on the way to the City Center. At the Domestic Terminal, Yellow Bus No. 109 stops between Column numbers 4 and 5 in the center island. Yellow Bus No. 109 operates from morning 6 AM till 12 AM (Midnight). If you have less luggage the Yellow Bus is a good option. You need to know the directions to your hotel from the stop at City Center (Ben Thanh Market). |
 | Private Arrival Transfer: Tan Son Nhat Airport to Ho Chi Minh City Hotels - $26.00 A professional reliable transport service offering private transfers from the airport to the hotel in modern air conditioned transportation. On time every time that you can rely on. |
