Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is already experiencing congestion and flight delays, even before the anticipated peak travel period for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), which runs from January 21 to February 9.
On Friday, the airport saw long delays for several flights from noon to the afternoon, leaving passengers fatigued as they faced extended wait times. According to the airport’s operations center, 119,000 passengers and 836 flights passed through the facility that day, with 67,044 departing and 52,418 arriving.
The domestic terminal, in particular, was crowded, with approximately 64,000 passengers expected to pass through on Friday alone. Peak congestion occurred between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. By 5:00 pm, thousands of passengers were still waiting in Halls A and B, monitoring flight status updates on electronic boards in Hall B.
Several flights operated by VietJet Air faced schedule changes, resulting in significant delays. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and directed passengers to food and beverage areas to ease their wait.
Quan Nam, a passenger from Phu Nhuan District, recounted his experience with a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Originally scheduled for 1:25 pm, the flight was delayed multiple times, first to 1:40 pm, then 4:00 pm, and later to 5:30 pm, leaving him uncertain if there would be further delays.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam estimates that Tan Son Nhat will handle 820–900 flights daily between January 22 and 28, with the busiest day expected to be January 23, when 901 flights are scheduled. Passenger numbers during this period are expected to peak at nearly 150,000 per day, a 12.7% increase from the 2024 Tet holiday.
From January 29 to February 3, daily flights are predicted to range from 830 to 900, with February 2 seeing the highest number of flights (917) and January 29 the lowest (832). Passenger counts are expected to surpass 155,000 at their peak.
To manage the surge, the Southern Airports Authority advised passengers to Check flight schedules online in advance. Bring valid identification documents. Arrive at the airport no earlier than two hours before departure. Use online check-in services to reduce wait times.
Passengers were also reminded to follow luggage regulations and limit the number of people picking them up to avoid overcrowding.
Despite the challenges, authorities and airlines are working to ensure smoother operations during Vietnam’s busiest travel season.
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Source: Vietnam Insider