And now you look at the scoreboard with impatience. Ho Chi Minh City (of course, there is no airport with that name, but there is Tan Son Nhat) attracts many tourists. Charters and low-cost flights fly here. Even the airport of the capital, Hanoi, is inferior to the Saigon hub in terms of passenger traffic. This is understandable. After all, from Ho Chi Minh City it is easy to get to all the famous Vietnamese resorts: Phan Thiet, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Islands. Planes fly from here to Cambodia (Siem Reap). But what awaits the tourist upon arrival? Is it possible to transit from the airport to the resort without stopping in Saigon? And how not to get lost in the largest hub in Vietnam? Read about it in our article.
History
When did this largest airport in Vietnam appear? Ho Chi Minh City (at that time the city bore the old name of Saigon) acquired its own hub in the early 30s of the last century. It was built by the French colonial authorities in the village of Tan Son Nhat,hence the name of the airport. During the Vietnam War, the runway served as a base for American aircraft. In 2007 a new terminal was built. He began to accept international flights. And the old building began to serve as a terminal for domestic transportation. These two buildings are separated by four hundred meters. There is no free shuttle between terminals. You need to overcome this path on foot or order a transfer for ten dollars. Now Tan Son Nhat receives about sixteen million passengers a year. It is planned to complete the construction of a new hub soon. From 2015, Ho Chi Minh International Airport will be located in the village of Long Thanh. At the same time, Tan Son Nhat will completely switch to servicing passengers on domestic flights.
How to get to Saigon from Russia
From Moscow Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo there are several regular flights to Ho Chi Minh Airport. The departure board does not indicate the name of the hub, but the name of the city of arrival. Numerous charters depart from major Russian cities to Saigon. But this only happens during the tourist season. A number of foreign carriers offer air tickets at a very competitive price. You will be able to fly with transfers in the cities of Europe or Asia.
Tan Son Nhat infrastructure
The capital of South Vietnam has a very comfortable, but not too spacious airport. Ho Chi Minh City is about nine kilometers from Tan Son Nhat. You can get to the city center by public transport. The international terminal has all the amenities and services required of a hubwith such a status. However, some of them are not located in the building itself, but on the street (for example, luggage storage and ATMs). There is a very decent duty free in the neutral zone, and a shopping complex is located across the road from the hub building. Wi-Fi is available only in business lounges, but sometimes it catches well in other rooms. So what should a Russian tourist do upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh Airport? First you need to go through border control. Then go down to the basement for luggage. After that, you should go through the green or red customs corridor. And finally, exit to the arrivals hall. All procedures usually take no more than 20 minutes. If you plan to travel in Vietnam by air, you need to exit the international terminal, turn right and walk 400 meters.
Can I get from Tan Son Nhat to the resorts
Unfortunately not. You need to leave Ho Chi Minh Airport and get to the bus station or railway station of the city. You may also have to spend the night in Saigon. Tourists are advised to go to famous resorts by bus. Very comfortable overnight sleeping buses depart from Ho Chi Minh City, in which the seats are equipped in such a way that they fold out almost horizontally. There are also tourist "open-bass". The cost of tickets for buses is low, and the cars themselves are comfortable, equipped with air conditioning and a toilet. Tickets are sold at travel agencies, as well as at receptions in large hotels. You can take a taxi to the nearby resorts (Mui Ne, Vung Tau and Phan Thiet). But this pleasure will cost an average ofone hundred dollars for the car.
Ho Chi Minh City: how to get from the airport
The proximity of the hub to the city center also determines the many bus routes. On the one hand, this is not bad - there is always the opportunity to get to Saigon, even late at night. Because of this, there are no hotels near the airport. But on the other hand, an inexperienced tourist can get confused and take the wrong route. Pham Ngu Lao is the most popular area among foreign tourists, where many hotels are concentrated. Route number 152 goes there. If you are interested in the Sholon bus station, then you need number 147. Public transport is extremely cheap. The trip will cost you less than a quarter of a dollar (three thousand dong). The bus stop is located to the right of the exit from the terminal. Taxi drivers will try to intercept you. On average, a trip by car will cost about ten dollars. It makes sense to hire a taxi only if you want to get to nearby resorts. But motor rickshaws are cheaper. But this is a convenient option for tourists who are not burdened with luggage.
How to get back
Also by bus or taxi. Ho Chi Minh International Airport consists of four floors. The first two are the arrival compartment. If you got here by mistake, don't try to get to the upper floors from the inside. It's impossible. There is no passage between the second and third tiers. You should go outside and climb the overpass. Vat Refund, or VAT refund, is located in the departure hall. After check-in for the flight, you can proceed immediatelyto the waiting area, go through border control and check out the duty free shop.
