A Guide To Navigate At Tan Son Nhat International Airport (TSN) Ho Chi Minh City

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (TSN IA) is the largest international airport in Vietnam in terms of both area and terminal capacity. It serves as a crucial gateway connecting Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with domestic destinations as well as international countries. The airport is located in Truong Son Street, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Visitors coming to HCM City often choose to stay in hotels located in District 1 – the city center, or District 3 – near popular attractions. The following are estimated distances from TSN to these districts:

• Tan Son Nhat Airport to District 1: 7km
• Tan Son Nhat Airport to District 3: 5km

Tan Son Nhat International Airport has two main terminals:

• Terminal 1 (T1) for Domestic flights (40,948㎡)
• Terminal 2 (T2) for International flights (115,834㎡).

It is easy to walk from the T2 to the T1 in less than 5 minutes.

TERMINAL 2 – INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

The International Terminal – T2 at Tan Son Nhat Airport is almost three times larger than the Domestic Terminal. The four floors of the area are bustling 24/7.

View on Map

• 1st floor: International arrivals hall, transit counters & baggage claim, waiting lounges, shopping areas, spa, ATM, restaurants, currency exchange, first-aid service, toilets.

Outside: Bus stop to the city center, car park.

• 2nd floor: International arrivals hall, immigration area, visa-on-arrival counters, currency exchange, shopping, restaurant.
• 3rd floor: Departure terminal, check-in counters. Amenities: spa, currency exchange, sleeping box, children’s play area, toilets.
• 4th floor: Amenities such as cafes, restaurants, spas, waiting lounges, and shopping areas.

To move between floors in Building T2, you can use the elevator or escalator.

 

WIFI AND SIM CARD

Wifi: The airport Wi-Fi “Free Wi-Fi TanSonNhat Airport” or “TSN Free Wifi Express” is accessible at both domestic and international terminals.

Sim card:

• Vietnamese sim cards can be easily purchased near the exit of the airport terminal, you can also find this service on the 2nd floor.
• The functions of a sim card include receiving calls, making phone calls, and using internet data. When you purchase a sim card, the staff will assist you in registering for a mobile network package with one of the mobile network providers in Vietnam, such as Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone, Vietnamobile, etc.
• Price range: 180,000 – 350,000 VND (8-15 USD), depending on the package you choose:

– Your SIM card can be used for internet data only or for both calling and internet data.

– Typically, the package will be valid for 1 week or 30 days.

Currency exchange:

There are 3 ways for you to exchange Vietnamese Dong (VND):

• You can find currency exchange counters both in the departure hall and arrival hall of the international terminal. You can purchase cash or make a transfer to your account. The exchange rates are updated regularly.
• Withdraw money at an ATM at the airport or on the streets of Saigon (you can easily find ATMs at the airport or find ATMs near you on Google Maps from BIDV, Techcombank, Vietinbank, MSB, Agribank…).

At the hotel you stay at. You can ask at the reception desk.

TRANSPORTATION TO THE CITY CENTER

It is very convenient to travel from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to the city center as it is only a little over 7km away. You can choose from various means of transportation such as private transport, taxis, buses, etc.

Private transport

If you use a private airport transfer service, you just need to go straight to the entrance. This service is provided by a travel agency or a transport service you booked.

The driver will wait for you at the arrival hall with your name on a card. He/she will assist you with your luggage and take you to your hotel.

Taxi

Taking a taxi from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to the city center will cost around 200,000 VND (9 USD). Airport taxi drivers may have fixed rates or charges based on the taxi meter. Some Taxi brands at TSN IA:

• Mai Linh Taxi: (028) 38 38 38 38
• Futa Taxi: (028) 3 18 18 18
• Ben Thanh Taxi: (028) 38 260 260

Booking online

If you book a car/motorbike with a technology driver through phone applications like Grab, Bee, or Gojek, to ensure your safety, you should verify the car license plate and the driver’s name and photo displayed on the app.

You will need to walk to the designated pick-up location at the airport. The final price will be shown before you confirm the booking, usually ranging from 110,000 to 250,000 VND (approximately 5 to 11 USD), depending on the traffic demand.

Bus

It is easy to find the signboard indicating the bus pick-up location. It includes Column 12 across from the international terminal and Column 4 across from the domestic terminal. To travel by bus from Tan Son Nhat Airport to downtown Saigon, you can choose from the following 4 bus types:

Bus no. 152: Tan Son Nhat Airport – Ben Thanh Market – Trung Son Residential Area

• Bus color: Green
• One-way fees: 5,000 VND (about 0,2 USD)
• Working hours: 5:15 am – 7 pm
• Frequency: 12 – 21 mins/turn

Bus No. 109: Tan Son Nhat Airport – 23/9 Park

• Bus Color: Yellow
• One-way fees: 12,000 VND (0,5 USD) for distances under 5km, and 20,000 VND (0,8 USD) per passenger for lengths over 5km.
• Working hours: 5:45 am – 10:15 pm.
• Frequency: 15-30 mins/turn
• This bus route will quickly transport passengers to the city center in just 45 minutes. It is considered a good bus choice from Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Bus no. 119: Tan Son Nhat Airport – Western Bus Station

• One-way fees: 12,000 VND (0,5 USD) for distances under 5km, and 20,000 VND (0,8 USD) per passenger for lengths over 5km.
• Bus color: Yellow
• Working hours: 4:00 am – 9:00 pm
• Frequency: 15 – 30 mins/turn
• The bus is new and of high quality, similar to bus 109. It is assembled and designed to accommodate passengers with heavy luggage.

Bus no. 49: Tan Son Nhat airport – City center (District 1, District 2)

• Bus color: Yellow
• One-way fees: 40,000 VND (about 1,7 USD)
• Working hours: 05 am – 01:30 am the next day

Frequency: 20 – 30 mins/turn

TERMINAL 1 – DOMESTIC TERMINAL

In case you also need to move from Ho Chi Minh City to another city in Vietnam, you can check for the information at Terminal 1 – T1.

The domestic terminal T1 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport consists of two floors:

• 1st floor: The arrival hall for domestic flights, shopping areas, ATMs, restaurants, banks, and toilets.

Outside: Bus stops to the city center, taxi.

• 2nd floor: Domestic departure hall, waiting lounge, shopping area, spa, ATM, restaurant, bank, toilet.

To move between floors in building T1, you can use the elevator or escalator.

HOTELS NEAR TAN SON NHAT AIRPORT

Bluesky Serviced Apartment Airport Plaza 5*

• This is an ideal accommodation for couples, families, business travelers, or groups of friends.
• Location: 1km from the airport.
• Tel: 028 3848 9358
• Food: The area surrounding the apartment complex is surrounded by many famous restaurants such as Bun Cha Hanoi, Tokyo Deli, Korean Restaurant, Chinese Restaurant, Tipiki, and more.
• Rooms: The rooms are spacious, airy, and equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, flat-screen TV, kitchen, microwave, refrigerator, etc.
• Facilities: The apartment offers 24-hour reception, luggage assistance, an outdoor pool, spa, gym, sauna, and more.

Ibis Saigon Airport 4*

• Location: 500m from the airport.
• Tel: 028 3848 5556
• Food: The hotel offers two restaurants, Oopen and The Hub Saigon, which are very convenient for guests. There is also a Starbucks café on the ground floor of the hotel and a Highlands Coffee in the adjacent building.
• Rooms: Ibis Saigon Airport Hotel provides 273 rooms, including standard rooms, studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom serviced apartments for long-term rental. All rooms come with a kitchenette and fully equipped amenities.
• Facilities: TV, WiFi, elevator, fitness room, sauna, swimming pool…

In addition, there are also some famous hotels near Tan Son Nhat international Airport known for their quality and service, such as First Hotel 5*, Prague Airport Hotel 3*, Erato Boutique Hotel 3*, The Airport Hotel 4*…

WHAT TO BRING

As for the weather in HCM City, it is generally warm and humid throughout the year with two main seasons: The dry season from Nov to Apr and the rainy season from May to Oct. You should check the Ho Chi Minh weather during your trip to make sure bringing the necessities.

EMERGENCY

Emergency phone numbers:

• 112 – Search and Rescue
• 113 – Police
• 114 – Fire protection and prevention
• 115 – Ambulance

The Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

This is part of the high-quality Vinmec hospital chain owned by Vingroup conglomerate. It is considered the top healthcare address for the residents of Ho Chi Minh City.

• Location: 208 Nguyen Huu Canh, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Website
• Tel: 028 3622 1166

Vietnam France Hospital – FV

Phap Viet Hospital is the first medical facility in South Vietnam to achieve JCI quality certification. Furthermore, the hospital is renowned for its internationally standardized healthcare services, committing to delivering high-quality medical services with patient-centered care.

• Location: 6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan Phu, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: 028 5411 3333

List of big pharmacies in HCM City

• ECO Pharmacy
• Phano Pharmacy
• An Khang Pharmacy
• Pharmacity
• Long Chau
• Medicare