Welcome to Vietnam! After a long flight, you’re finally in Vietnam! The last thing you want is for the excitement of exploring Ho Chi Minh City to be delayed by the reality of a long airport queue. Before you can dive into the delicious street food and rich culture, you must first navigate your port of entry: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN).
As a seasoned travel expert, I can tell you that a smooth airport experience sets the tone for your entire trip. Unfortunately, long queues at immigration are a global travel reality. With Vietnam welcoming a staggering over 9.2 million international visitors in the first five months of 2025 alone, Tan Son Nhat is busier than ever, and the immigration lines can be daunting. After a long flight, the last thing you want is to spend another hour or more waiting in a crowded hall.
This guide is your key to a seamless arrival. We’ll walk you through everything from pre-flight preparations to the moment you step out of the terminal, ready to explore. Most importantly, we’ll reveal how you can bypass the biggest bottleneck—the immigration line—and start your Vietnamese holiday like a true VIP.
A successful and stress-free arrival begins long before you board your flight. Getting your documents and details in order is crucial. Here’s your essential pre-arrival checklist.
Ensure your passport has at least six months of validity from your date of entry into Vietnam. Immigration officials are strict about this rule. Also, check that you have at least two blank pages for the visa and entry/exit stamps. It’s a good practice to carry both a physical and a digital copy of your passport’s information page.
Vietnam offers several entry options. It’s vital that you understand which one applies to you.
Vietnam has opened its e-visa program to citizens of all countries and territories. This is the most popular and recommended method, granting a 90-day, multiple-entry visa. For a detailed walkthrough of the application process, you can visit this comprehensive e-visa guide. Once approved, print a copy to present upon arrival.
⚠️ Note: A different arrival procedure applies to Chinese e-passport holders. Please see the special instructions in the airport navigation section below.
Many nationalities can enter Vietnam without a visa for a specific period. As of the latest updates:
For the most current information and any recent changes to the visa-free list, we highly recommend visiting Vietnam Immigration Information.
This option is now less common for tourists and is typically reserved for specific cases, such as entering for business purposes via a sponsorship letter or arriving from a country with no Vietnamese embassy. It requires a pre-approved “Visa Approval Letter” from an authorized agency. The Visa on Arrival (VOA) counter is also a must-visit place for Chinese e-passport holders. Although they hold a Vietnamese e-visa, they are required to take an extra step to exchange their e-visa for a loose-leaf visa at the visa on arrival counter. The officers will stamp on the loose-leaf visa instead of the passport. So keep the loose-leaf visa safe too.
If you’ve reviewed the options and realize you need a visa, don’t let the application process add stress to your travel planning. Applying for a Vietnamese visa (both e-visa and visa on arrival) through a trusted expert ensures a hassle-free process. You’ll benefit from a simple, streamlined application form, a fast turnaround time, and the peace of mind that comes with a 100% success rate guarantee—or your money back.
Ready to get your visa sorted in minutes? Apply for your Vietnam Visa Online here.
Have the name, address, and phone number of your first night’s accommodation readily available. You may be asked to provide this on your arrival card. It’s also wise to have a digital or printed copy of your return or onward flight ticket, as immigration officers may ask for proof of your intention to leave the country.
To avoid any issues at customs, it’s crucial to understand the rules about what you can bring into the country.
The most important regulation to remember is the duty-free allowance for personal belongings. You can bring items into Vietnam without paying tax if their total value is less than 10,000,000 VND (approx. US$400). This limit applies to the combined value of all items you are carrying, not just one category. If you exceed this amount, you must declare them at the “Red Lane” and may have to pay import duties.
These are considered personal effects. You can bring a reasonable quantity for personal use. For example, one or two bottles of perfume and your personal makeup kit are fine. Bringing a large quantity could be flagged as a commercial import. The value of these items counts toward your 10,000,000 VND total allowance.
Do not bring narcotics, weapons, explosives, or anti-government/pornographic materials into Vietnam.
Tan Son Nhat is not just an airport; it’s the main international gateway to Southern Vietnam and the busiest airport in the country.
As Vietnam’s primary aviation hub, SGN handled over 16.2 million international passengers in 2024, and that number is steadily increasing in 2025. This immense volume is a testament to its extensive network. The airport serves as a critical link to the rest of the world, with dozens of airlines operating hundreds of daily flights. Key international routes connect Ho Chi Minh City with major hubs across Asia, including Singapore (SIN), Bangkok (BKK), Seoul (ICN), Taipei (TPE), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), and Tokyo (NRT). Beyond Asia, there are regular long-haul flights to and from major cities in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne), Europe (Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul), and the Middle East (Doha, Dubai). This constant flow of arrivals from around the globe means the airport is consistently busy, making the immigration hall a significant bottleneck, especially during peak hours.
For a seamless transition from the airport to your accommodation, especially after enjoying a VIP arrival service, you have several excellent and comfortable options.
The ultimate in convenience and highly recommended. You can pre-book a private car service where a driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, ready to handle your luggage and take you directly to your hotel. Many hotels also offer their own transfer services. This is the most stress-free option, typically costing between US$19 – $25.
Reputable taxi companies like Vinasun and Mai Linh are readily available. A trip to District 1 will cost approximately US$6 – $10, which includes the airport toll. Ensure the meter is running to avoid any confusion.
Services like Grab are very popular and efficient. You can book a premium car through the app for a comfortable ride. The cost to District 1 is usually between US$5 – $7. Simply follow the app’s instructions to the designated pickup point outside the terminal.
If you have your e-visa or are entering under a visa exemption, your path is relatively straightforward.
Arrival Immigration Checkpoint → Baggage Claim → Customs Check → Exit
The main challenge you face is the queue at the Arrival Immigration Checkpoint. After a long flight, waiting for 30, 60, or even 90+ minutes in a crowded hall can be exhausting. This is where your dream trip can get off to a frustrating start.
If you are a Chinese citizen traveling with an e-passport and holding a Vietnamese e-visa, your arrival process has a mandatory extra step. When you deplane, do not go directly to the main Arrival Immigration Checkpoint.
You are required to first visit the Landing Visa counter (also called the Visa on Arrival counter). Here, you will show your e-visa and passport to an officer, who will then issue you a separate loose-leaf visa. After you have this loose-leaf visa, you can then proceed to the Arrival Immigration Checkpoint for your entry stamp.
If you are using a Visa Approval Letter, you have an extra, crucial step at the beginning of the process.
Visa-on-Arrival Counter → Arrival Immigration Checkpoint → Baggage Claim → Customs Check → Exit
You face two potential queues: first at the VOA counter, and then again at the immigration checkpoint. This can easily add hours to your arrival process. Furthermore, forgetting any of the required items—the photo, the form, or the exact cash for the stamping fee—can cause major delays and stress.
So, how do you bypass these lines and the associated stress? The answer is simple: a VIP Arrival Service.
This service is designed specifically for travelers who value their time and want to begin their vacation with ease and comfort. It turns a potentially stressful process into a seamless, prioritized experience.
The process is incredibly smooth and efficient.
As you walk towards the immigration hall, a professional staff member will be waiting for you, holding a sign with your name on it. This immediate, personal welcome is a relief after a long flight.
Your personal guide will then escort you directly to a priority lane at the immigration checkpoint. You will bypass the long, winding queues of regular passengers.
If you are a VOA holder, the service is even more valuable. Our staff will take your documents (passport, approval letter, photo, and stamping fee) and handle the entire visa-pickup process for you while you relax. They will deal with the paperwork and queues at the VOA counter on your behalf.
Once your visa is ready and your passport is stamped at the priority immigration lane, you are free to collect your luggage and exit the airport.
Booking your VIP experience is a simple, three-step process:
The service is comprehensive and designed to handle the most time-consuming parts of your arrival.
For US$45 per person, the service includes:
When choosing a service provider, trust and reliability are paramount. Here’s why you can be confident in Vietnamimmigration.org:
Your journey to the incredible country of Vietnam should start with excitement, not exhaustion. By preparing in advance and choosing to use a VIP Arrival Service, you trade the queue for comfort, the wait for a welcome, and the hassle for a holiday that begins the moment you land.
If you are still unsure about any part of the arrival process or have specific questions about your situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team of experts is ready to provide a fast response and ensure you have all the information you need for a smooth journey.
Contact Us Now for a Fast Response
Infographic: Navigating Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport Start Your Vietnam Trip Faster An insider’s guide to navigating Tan Son Nhat (SGN) airport and bypassing the infamous queues. Your Arrival Path The steps for entering Vietnam depend on your visa type.
SGN Airport Arrival Guide Arrive at SGN Stress-Free Navigate Tan Son Nhat (SGN) airport like a VIP. This guide shows you the standard process and the fast-track solution to start your Vietnam adventure without the long queues.
Welcome to Vietnam! The excitement of starting your journey in the vibrant, bustling hub of Ho Chi Minh City is a feeling like no other. From the incredible street food of District 1 to the poignant history of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a memorable adventure awaits.