Vietnam's busiest gateway, serving Ho Chi Minh City.
Opened
1930
Location
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN/VVTS) is the largest and busiest airport in Vietnam, serving the country's commercial capital, Ho Chi Minh City. It handles both international and domestic traffic, consistently processing over 38 million passengers annually before the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced travel volumes.
Originally built during the French colonial era and expanded significantly during the Vietnam War when it served as a major U.S. military air base, the airport has since been converted entirely to civilian use. Its infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with rapid passenger growth, leading to chronic congestion.
A new terminal (Terminal 3) has been under development to relieve capacity pressures, and a new Long Thanh International Airport is planned northeast of the city to eventually absorb overflow traffic. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways use Tan Son Nhat as a primary hub.
Terminals
The airport operates two main terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights, with a third terminal under construction.
Getting to & from
The airport is connected to central Ho Chi Minh City via taxi, ride-hailing services, and public bus, with a metro link under future planning; the city center is approximately 7–8 km away.
Airlines here
Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways are primary hub carriers, alongside numerous international airlines including Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Emirates.
Notable facts
- ›Tan Son Nhat served as one of the busiest military airports in the world during the Vietnam War era.
- ›It is located entirely within the urban area of Ho Chi Minh City, limiting runway and terminal expansion.
- ›The airport has frequently exceeded its designed capacity of around 28 million passengers per year.
- ›Long Thanh International Airport is being developed to supplement and eventually partially replace Tan Son Nhat.
- ›The airport's ICAO code VVTS reflects Vietnam (VV) and Tan Son (TS) in its designation.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
