Welcome to Vietnam! The moment you step off the plane in Ho Chi Minh City, the vibrant energy is palpable. You’re about to embark on a journey filled with incredible food, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes. But first, you have to navigate the airport.
Picture this: After a long flight, the only thing standing between you and the vibrant streets of Ho Chi Minh City is a seemingly endless immigration line. Your excitement quickly fades into fatigue as you wait. This is a common reality at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), the busiest airport in Vietnam.
But what if you could bypass the biggest hurdle—the seemingly endless immigration line—and start your vacation hours before everyone else?
As your dedicated travel consultant, I’ve created this definitive guide to not only help you understand the entire arrival process at Tan Son Nhat but also to reveal the secret to a truly VIP arrival experience. We’ll cover everything from pre-flight preparations to navigating the terminals and, most importantly, how you can use an Expedited Entry Service at Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport to make your arrival smooth, fast, and completely stress-free.
What to prepare before arriving at Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport – Tan Son Nhat
A smooth arrival begins long before you land. Having your documents and key information in order is the first step to a hassle-free experience. Here is your essential checklist:
1. Your Passport:
This is non-negotiable. Ensure your passport has at least six months of validity from your date of entry into Vietnam. It should also have at least two blank pages for the visa and entry stamps.
2. Your Vietnam Visa:
Depending on your nationality, you will fall into one of three categories. Make sure you know which one applies to you and have the correct documentation ready.
E-visa: If you applied for and received an e-visa online, print a physical copy. While digital copies are sometimes accepted, a printed version is the official requirement and prevents any issues with your phone’s battery or connectivity.
Visa-Free Visitor: Citizens of certain countries can enter Vietnam without a visa for a specified period. Confirm your eligibility and the duration of your stay before you travel.
Visa on Arrival (VOA): This option is only for those who have obtained a Visa Approval Letter from a registered agency before their trip. You cannot simply show up and get a visa. If you are using this method, you absolutely must have the VOA letter printed and ready.
3. Accommodation and Trip Information:
Have the full name, address, and phone number of your hotel or first night’s accommodation readily accessible. Immigration officials may ask for it, and you’ll need it for your transport.
4. Customs Regulations:
Be aware of what you can and cannot bring into Vietnam. Key allowances for tourists include:
Currency: You can bring in up to US$5,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) without declaring it.
Alcohol: Up to 1.5 liters of spirits (over 20% alcohol content) and 2 liters of other alcohol.
Tobacco: Up to 200 cigarettes.
Prohibited Items: Do not bring illicit drugs, firearms, anti-government materials, or pornography into the country.
About Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport – Tan Son Nhat (IATA: SGN, ICAO: VVTS)
Tan Son Nhat is the main gateway to southern Vietnam and the country’s largest airport. Knowing its basic layout will help you feel more comfortable upon arrival.
1. Location:
The airport is conveniently located in the Tan Binh District, only about 6-8 kilometers from the bustling city center (District 1).
2. Terminals:
There are two main terminals:
Terminal 2 (International): This is where you will arrive on your international flight. It handles all incoming and outgoing international traffic.
Terminal 1 (Domestic): This terminal is for flights within Vietnam. The terminals are a short walk from each other, but it’s important to know you’ll be starting in T2.
3. Transport to the City Center:
Once you exit the terminal, you have several reliable options to get to your accommodation.
Public Bus: The most budget-friendly option. Look for Bus 109 (yellow) or Bus 152. The cost is extremely low (around 20,000 VND), and the trip takes about 45-60 minutes. This is a great choice for backpackers and those with light luggage.
Taxi: The most common choice. To avoid scams, head to the official taxi ranks and only use reputable companies like Vinasun (white with green and red stripes) or Mai Linh (all green). The fare to District 1 should be between 150,000 – 250,000 VND, and the trip takes 20-30 minutes, depending heavily on traffic.
Ride-Hailing Apps:Grab is the dominant ride-hailing app in Vietnam. You can book a car through the app for a fixed price, which avoids any negotiation. Follow the signs to the designated ride-hailing pickup area on the ground floor.
Private Transfer: For ultimate convenience and peace of mind, you can pre-book a private car service. Your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a name sign.
How to navigate Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport for e-visa holders and visa-free visitors
If you have your e-visa or are from a visa-exempt country, your path through the airport is relatively straightforward. Here are the steps you’ll follow:
Deplane and Follow the Blue Overhead Signs: After leaving the aircraft, you’ll proceed down a long corridor. Look up and follow the bright blue signs for ‘Immigration’ (Quầy Nháºp Cảnh).
Immigration Checkpoint: This is where you will present your passport and printed e-visa (if applicable) to the immigration officer. They will check your documents, stamp your passport, and officially welcome you to Vietnam.
Baggage Claim: Proceed downstairs to the baggage claim area. Look for your flight number on the screens to find the correct carousel.
Customs Check: After collecting your bags, you’ll walk through the customs area. If you have nothing to declare, proceed through the green channel. If you have items to declare, use the red channel.
Exit the Airport: You are now officially in Vietnam! You’ll emerge into the arrivals hall, where you can find currency exchange counters, SIM card vendors, and the exits to your transportation.
Note for e-visa holders and visa-free visitors to navigate Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport
While the process seems simple, the major challenge you will face is at the Immigration Checkpoint. Long queues are a common issue worldwide, and Tan Son Nhat is no exception. Depending on the time of day and how many flights have landed at once, you could find yourself waiting in line for 30 to 90 minutes.
After a long flight, this wait can be exhausting and frustrating. It’s the single biggest delay standing between you and the start of your Vietnamese adventure. You’ll see hundreds of fellow passengers all waiting in the same slow-moving lines. This is the primary pain point for most travelers, but as you’ll soon discover, it’s one you can completely avoid.
How to navigate Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport for visa-on-arrival holders
For those using the Visa on Arrival (VOA) service, your journey has an extra—and often very time-consuming—step.
Deplane and Find the VOA Counter: When you enter the terminal, do NOT go to the main immigration queues. Instead, you must first look for the sign that says “Landing Visa” or “Visa on Arrival.” This counter is located before the main immigration checkpoint.
Submit Your Documents: At the VOA counter, you will need to submit your passport, your printed Visa Approval Letter, your completed NA1 form, and one passport-sized (4×6 cm) photo.
Wait and Pay: After submitting your documents, you will need to wait for the officers to process your visa. When your name is called, you will approach the counter to pay the visa stamping fee in cash. The fee is US25forasingle−entryvisaorUS50 for a multi-entry visa.
Immigration Checkpoint: Once you have your passport back with the visa sticker inside, you can then proceed to the main Immigration Checkpoint to get your entry stamp.
Baggage Claim & Customs: From here, the process is the same: collect your luggage and proceed through customs.
Note for visa-on-arrival holders to navigate Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport
The VOA process presents two major opportunities for long queues and stress:
The Landing Visa Counter: This area can become very crowded and chaotic. You are entirely dependent on the speed of the officers and the number of people applying at the same time.
The Immigration Checkpoint: After waiting for your visa, you still have to join the regular immigration line with all the e-visa and visa-free passengers.
Furthermore, the VOA process has strict requirements. Forgetting any of these can cause significant problems:
No Photo? You will have to use the on-site service, which costs extra and takes more time.
No Cash is a Trip-Stopping Mistake: This cannot be overstated. There are absolutely no ATMs or credit card facilities at the VOA counter. Without pristine US dollar bills or Vietnamese Dong on hand, you simply cannot pay the stamping fee and will not be able to enter Vietnam. This mistake derails the plans of many unprepared travelers.
Incomplete Form? You’ll have to step aside and fill it out, losing your place in the queue.
This “double queue” and the potential for document-related issues make the VOA process particularly stressful for many travelers.
The Secret to Skipping the Queue: Expedited Entry at Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport
So, how do you bypass these queues and the associated stress? The answer is simple and effective:
By using our Expedited Entry Service at Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport.
This premium service is designed to get you from the plane to the arrivals hall faster than anyone else, transforming your arrival experience from a stressful ordeal into a seamless VIP transition.
How does the Expedited Entry Service at Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport work?
Our service is tailored to your specific visa type to provide the most efficient assistance possible.
For E-visa and Visa-Free Visitors:
When you arrive, one of our professional team members will be waiting for you at the arrival gate holding a sign with your name. They will greet you, and then personally escort you away from the massive crowds and take you to the priority immigration lane. You’ll bypass the regular queue entirely and get your passport stamped in just a few minutes.
For Visa-on-Arrival Holders:
This is where our service truly shines. Our agent will meet you at the gate and take all your VOA documents (passport, approval letter, photo, and form). You can then relax in a designated seating area while our agent handles the entire visa stamping process for you—including paying the stamping fee on your behalf. Once your visa is ready, our agent will return with your passport and escort you through the priority immigration lane. You skip BOTH the VOA queue AND the immigration queue.
What are the benefits of using the Expedited Entry Service to avoid queues at Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport?
Reclaim Your Time: Don’t waste the first hour of your vacation in a queue. That’s time you could spend checking into your hotel, savoring your first bowl of authentic pho, or exploring the city while other passengers are still waiting for their passport stamp.
Eliminate All Stress and Hassle: No need to worry about paperwork, language barriers, or navigating crowded halls. We handle everything.
Enjoy Personalized VIP Treatment: Being greeted by a friendly face who knows exactly what to do provides incredible peace of mind.
Start Your Vacation Immediately: Get to your hotel, enjoy your first bowl of pho, or start exploring the city while others are still standing in line.
Perfect for Everyone: This service is ideal for business travelers on a tight schedule, families with tired children, elderly passengers, or anyone who values their time and comfort.
How to book the Expedited Entry Service to avoid queues at Ho Chi Minh City’s Int’l Airport?
Booking your VIP arrival is easy:
Visit our website: Navigate to the Expedited Entry Service booking page on vietnamimmigration.org.
Fill out the form: Provide your flight details, arrival date, and personal information in our simple and secure online form.
Complete the payment: Pay for the service via our secure payment gateway.
Receive confirmation: You will get an instant confirmation email with all the details of your service.
Is it safe to book the Expedited Entry Service through vietnamimmigration.org?
Absolutely. We understand that trust is paramount when booking travel services online. Here are several reasons why you can book with complete confidence:
✅ Over 15 Years of Experience: Our domain, vietnamimmigration.org, has been operating since 2008. We have over a decade of specialized experience in helping travelers with Vietnamese immigration procedures. You can verify our history here: https://www.whois.com/whois/vietnamimmigration.org/
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee: We stand by the quality of our service. If for any reason we fail to deliver on our promise, we offer a full refund. You can review our policy here: https://www.vietnamimmigration.org/refund-policy/
✅ Verified Customer Reviews: Don’t just take our word for it. See what thousands of satisfied customers have to say about our service on the independent review platform Sitejabber: https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/vietnamimmigration.org
Tips for a Smooth Arrival at an Int’l Airport in Vietnam
Whether you use our expedited service or not, these final tips will help ensure a smooth arrival:
Have your hotel address written in Vietnamese. This can be very helpful for your taxi or Grab driver.
Download offline maps. Having Google Maps or Maps.me available offline can be a lifesaver.
Be aware of your surroundings. Politely decline offers for transport from unofficial touts in the arrivals hall.
Keep your baggage claim tag. Don’t throw away the sticker on the back of your boarding pass until you’ve matched it to your luggage and have left the airport.
Your trip to Vietnam should be an incredible experience from the very first moment. By being prepared and choosing to start your journey with our Expedited Entry Service, you’re not just buying a service—you’re buying more time, more comfort, and the perfect, stress-free beginning to your adventure.
The moment your plane touches down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), the vibrant energy of Ho Chi Minh City is almost within your grasp. You’re dreaming of fragrant pho, bustling markets, and the rich tapestry of Vietnamese culture.
