Ho Chi Minh City airport sets 10-year passenger record on 4th day of Tet

Airport authorities said the airport operated 1,037 take-offs and landings that day, including 962 passenger flights.

More than 170,000 travelers passed through the airport, about 50,000 higher than an average day and roughly 15 percent above the same period last year, surpassing initial forecasts of around 165,000 passengers.

Inbound traffic dominated in the afternoon, with nearly 100,000 arrivals, mostly from popular destinations in central Vietnam such as Da Nang, Hue, and Vinh.

Outbound traffic topped 70,000 passengers, including holidaymakers and workers returning home after the holiday.

In previous Tet seasons, daily averages ranged from 115,000 to 120,000 passengers.

On Thursday, the third day of Tet, the airport already served over 151,000 passengers on 922 flights, showing a sharp rise in demand.

At the domestic arrival hall, long lines of passengers stretched from baggage carousels to the terminal lobby, while departure areas were crowded with families and young travelers taking advantage of the remaining holiday days.

Some domestic routes recorded nearly full seat occupancy.

A key factor in preventing severe congestion was the operation of the new T3 Terminal, inaugurated on April 19, 2025.

T3 Terminal on Friday handled 459 flights and nearly 67,000 passengers, helping relieve pressure on T1 Terminal.

Local carriers including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Vasco, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways now operate from T3 Terminal, while Vietjet primarily uses T1 Terminal.

The international T2 Terminal also ran near full capacity, serving about 60,000 passengers on more than 300 flights.

Officials said additional staff were deployed for security checks, check-in counters, baggage handling, and traffic control at airport entrances.

Measures such as biometric identification, flexible opening of extra counters, and expanded baggage carousels helped ease pressure during peak hours.

Authorities warned that passenger volumes could remain at or above current levels in the final days of the holiday as residents return to Ho Chi Minh City and the southeast region.

Travelers were advised to verify flight and terminal information, bring proper identification, and arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

At Da Nang International Airport in central Vietnam, large crowds were also reported on Friday afternoon as passengers returned to Ho Chi Minh City.

Tran Minh Tuan, a construction worker flying back from Da Nang, said: “The airport was busy, but everything was smooth. It wasn’t as congested as I feared.”