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Tan Son Nhat Airport’s Terminal T3 Officially Welcomes First Passengers

On the morning of April 17, 2025, the T3 domestic passenger terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) officially welcomed its first commercial flight - Vietnam Airlines flight VN1286 from Ho Chi Minh City to Van Don, carrying 105 passengers.

This marks the initial operational phase of the T3 terminal, which was constructed with a total investment of 11 trillion VND. The project is expected to ease congestion at Tan Son Nhat Airport and improve service quality for domestic passengers.

First flight departs from T3

From early morning, the T3 terminal was fully operational and bustling with activity. Passengers were guided by Vietnam Airlines staff and airport personnel to complete check-in, security, and boarding procedures smoothly.

At 6:55 AM, flight VN1286 took off, marking the first commercial flight operated at T3.

According to a Vietnam Airlines representative, the airline will gradually transition its domestic flights to depart from T3, aiming for full operation at the terminal by April 30, 2025.

Meanwhile, Vietjet also announced its plan to gradually shift domestic operations to T3 by the end of this month.

Other carriers such as Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines will continue to use the current T1 terminal.

Modern infrastructure, ready to serve

As the project investor, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) stated that T3 was designed to handle 20 million passengers per year and constructed within 20 months — the fastest construction timeline for any airport terminal in the country.

The facility features spacious check-in counters, automated baggage systems, modern security checkpoints, and advanced boarding gates. Many passengers noted that the new terminal offers a significantly improved travel experience compared to the older T1 terminal.

Dining areas, souvenir shops, information counters, and business lounges are already in full operation. Notably, the food court and shopping zones were busy on the first day, with competitive prices and a wide variety of offerings.

Passengers using services on the opening day praised the terminal’s clean design, clear signage, and helpful support staff.

T3 is expected to significantly relieve pressure on T1, which has long been overloaded, particularly during holidays and peak travel seasons.

Toward full operations by April 30

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, from now until April 30, flights from Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air will gradually shift from T1 to T3. Full operations for both airlines are expected to commence from April 30, 2025, in conjunction with Vietnam’s celebration of Reunification Day.

This milestone marks not only a leap in infrastructure development but also a step toward improving the travel experience and reinforcing Ho Chi Minh City’s role as a major aviation hub in the region.