Saigon 2007 : Tan Son Nhat Airport

Saigon....
5 Dec 2007

The arrival hall

The nite was just fell when we touched down the long and spooky runway of Tan Son Nhat. Local time showed 18:40 when we landed with SQ186 from Singapore.

On the right hand side of my window, there were silos—ex-war bunkers—which were functioned as operations barracks of the airports. Fire engines, securities and many logistics supplies are located underneath those silos.

the bunkers

Far on the right, it’s read “Tan Son Nhat International Airport” sign in a gloomy blue neon. The plane was arrived 10 minutes ahead of schedule, thanks to the tail wind pushed us faster than it supposed to be.

Commercial area

The arrival hall was a brand new showcase. HCMC would like to give a warm welcome to its guests. Immigration process took no longer than five minutes, served by fresh-grad youngsters from a government academy, I think. The immigration guy was chattering to his friend asking whether Indonesian visitors need no visa… (in Vietnamese but I can overheard and interpret it though). Seemed unsure, he stamped my passport anyway—yeah I got a good guy face, much more valuable than entry visa.

Down the escalator to baggage claim area, we picked up our load. A lotus flower neon box says “Welcome to Vietnam” catching everybody’s attention while waiting along the conveyor belts.

Baggage claim area

I heard it’s not recommended to take taxi from the airport and therefore we booked an airport shuttle from the hotel, it’s a minivan with large windows able to carry around 12 people (and quarter a ton of luggage for sure!). The 7 kilos distance to the downtown Ho Chi Minh was driven in about one hour amidst a busy-hour nightmare traffic.

Chaotic traffic on the way to downtown HCMC

The idea of this airport is pretty much similar with that of Singapore's Changi. Modern and simple. There's row for check in located in the main hall. The airline sign is indicated on a flat screen hang in above the counters. Unfortunately, there is no commercial area at the departure hall. There's only one fast food restaurant and the rest was nothing.

check in counters

boarding lounge

executive lounge for SQ passenger ; good food, nice view, cozy sitting


this indoor garden is pretty much similar with Changi


restaurant of all Asian delicacies, along with rows of souvenir shops at the 2nd floor after immigration check point

I am gonna miss this airport someday....