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Tan Son Nhat International Airport is Vietnam's largest and busiest international airport, located in Ho Chi Minh City. The airport was first built in the early 1920s when the French colonial government constructed a small airport with unpaved runways, known as Tan Son Nhat Airfield, near the village of Tan Son Nhat. By 1956, with US aid, a 7,200-foot runway had been built, and the airfield near Saigon became South Vietnam's principal international gateway. During the Vietnam War, it was an important facility for the US Air Force and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force. The airport has been continually upgraded and expanded over the years to accommodate increasing passenger demand, with plans for a new super airport at Long Thanh announced in 2015.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original builders | French Colonial government |
| Year of construction | 1930s |
| Original purpose | Commercial airport |
| Original name | Tan Son Nhat Airfield |
| Original location | Village of Tan Son Nhat |
| Original area | 1,800 m2 (19,000 sq ft) |
| Runway length | 7,200 ft (2,190 m) |
| Number of terminals | 2 |
| Number of cargo terminals | 3 |
| Number of parking spaces for airplanes | 72 |
| Number of passengers in 2017 | 6,769,823 |
| Number of passengers in 2020 | 20 million |
| Number of passengers in 2025 | 25 million |
| Number of flights during peak hours | 850 |
| Average daily capacity | 130,000 passengers |
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What You'll Learn
The French built the original airport in the 1930s
Tan Son Nhat International Airport has its origins in the 1920s when the French colonial government built a small airport with unpaved runways. Known as the Tân Sơn Nhứt Airfield, it was located near the village of Tan Son Nhut. The airport was expanded in the 1930s by the French Indochinese administration, who built the original terminal covering an area of 1,800 m2 (19,000 sq ft).
The airport was initially built for commercial flights between Saigon, France, and Southeast Asia. However, during World War II, it was converted into a transport base by the Imperial Japanese Army. After the war, the airport resumed its role as a commercial airport, serving domestic and international flights from Saigon.
In the mid-1950s, with US aid, a 7,200-foot (2,190-2,200 m) runway was constructed, and the airfield became known as South Vietnam's principal international gateway. The airport continued to be expanded and upgraded, particularly as the US military presence in Vietnam increased. By 1972, the terminal had grown to 10,800 m2 (116,000 sq ft) in space, with a capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year.
Tan Son Nhat Airport has played a significant role in the history of aviation and military operations in the region, and it continues to be a vital hub for international travel in Vietnam today.
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It was expanded with US aid in 1956
Tan Son Nhat International Airport was first built in the 1930s by the French colonial government, which constructed a small airport with unpaved runways, known as Tan Son Nhat Airfield, in the village of Tan Son Nhat. The airport was initially built for commercial flights between Saigon, France, and Southeast Asia.
In 1956, with U.S. aid, a 7,200-foot (2,190-metre) runway was built, and the airfield near Saigon became South Vietnam's principal international gateway. The expansion of the airport in 1956 was part of a series of expansions that occurred between 1954 and 1975, during which time the airport became one of the busiest in the world.
The year 1956 also saw the headquarters of the French 'Vietnamese Armée de l'Air (VALA)' moved to Tan Son Nhat. The airfield was run by the South Vietnamese Department of Civil Aviation, with the RVNAF as a tenant located on the southwest side of the airfield. In June of that year, the RVNAF established its headquarters at the base, and the 2nd Transport Squadron, equipped with C-47s, was established.
The United States' involvement in the expansion of the airport in 1956 was part of its increasing military role in Vietnam. This role continued to grow, and during the Vietnam War, Tan Son Nhut Air Base was an important facility for both the U.S. Air Force and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.
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It was one of the world's busiest military airbases from 1968 to 1974
Tan Son Nhat Airport was constructed by the French in the 1920s or 1930s as a small airport with unpaved runways, known as Tan Son Nhat Airfield, near the village of Tan Son Nhat. It served as Saigon's commercial airport, providing flights to and from France and within Southeast Asia. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army used the airport as a transport base.
From 1968 to 1974, Tan Son Nhut Airport was one of the busiest military airbases in the world. During this period, it played a significant role for both the US Air Force and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force. The airport was a target of major communist attacks during the 1968 Tet Offensive, which was successfully repelled with the help of the United States Air Force 377th Security Police Squadron and the US Army's 3/4 cavalry. Despite being outnumbered, the Security Police killed nearly 1,000 enemy combatants.
Tan Son Nhat Airport was critical in maintaining the American/South Vietnamese relationship, as it housed a Defense Attaché Office (DAO) following the Paris Peace Accords of 1973. The technical assistance provided by DAO personnel and civilian contractors was essential for the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF). Continental Airlines operated up to 30 Boeing 707 military charters per week to and from the airport during this period.
Pan Am schedules from 1973 indicate that during the last days of South Vietnam, Boeing 747 service was operated four times a week to San Francisco via Guam and Manila. The airport was also the site of a communications intelligence facility established by a 92-man unit of the US Army Security Agency in May 1961. This facility operated under the cover of the 3rd Radio Research Unit and was the first full deployment of a US Army unit to South Vietnam.
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It is Vietnam's largest and busiest international airport
Tan Son Nhat International Airport, located roughly four miles (7km) from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, is Vietnam's largest and busiest international airport. It is controlled by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and has undergone several expansion projects to accommodate increasing demand.
The airport's origins date back to the early 1920s when the French colonial government constructed a small airport with unpaved runways, known as Tân Sơn Nhứt Airfield, near the village of Tan Son Nhut. In the 1930s, the French expanded the airfield, which served as Saigon's commercial airport, offering flights to and from France and within Southeast Asia.
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army used the airport as a transport base. After the war, the returning French forces militarized the airport, and in 1956, the headquarters of the French 'Vietnamese Armée de l'Air (VALA)' was moved to Tan Son Nhat. With U.S. aid, a 7,200-foot (2,190-2,200 m) runway was constructed, transforming the airfield into South Vietnam's principal international gateway.
During the Vietnam War, the airport, then known as Tan Son Nhut Air Base, served as an important facility for both the U.S. Air Force and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force. Between 1968 and 1974, it was one of the busiest military airbases in the world.
Today, Tan Son Nhat International Airport continues to play a crucial role in Vietnam's aviation industry. It has three cargo terminals, with a combined handling capacity of 700,000 tonnes of cargo per year. The airport has also undergone significant expansions to meet growing demand, with the domestic terminal being expanded in 2014 and the construction of a new T3 domestic terminal approved in 2020 to increase passenger handling capacity. In April 2025, the airport opened Terminal 3, increasing its total capacity to approximately 50 million passengers.
Despite being Vietnam's largest and busiest airport, plans are underway to replace Tan Son Nhat International Airport with a new super airport, Long Thanh International Airport, expected to be completed by 2025. This new airport will be located about 40 km (25 mi) east of Ho Chi Minh City and will initially have a capacity of 25 million passengers per year.
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A new airport, Long Thanh International, will replace it
Tan Son Nhat International Airport was first built by the French in the 1920s and 1930s, when the French colonial government constructed a small airport with unpaved runways, known as Tân Sơn Nhứt Airfield, near the village of Tan Son Nhat. It was expanded by the Americans during the Vietnam War, when it became one of the busiest military airbases in the world.
The new airport will be the second airport to serve the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area and will relieve the increasing traffic, demand, and congestion at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The existing airport will continue to serve international and domestic flights until the completion of Long Thanh International Airport.
To ensure smooth connectivity, several major transport links are being developed alongside the airport project. These include expressways, a light railway, and a proposed metro line linking Long Thanh Airport with Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was first built in the 1930s by the French colonial government of Indochina.
The airport was known as Tan Son Nhat Airfield and was located near the village of Tan Son Nhat.
The airport was built to serve as Saigon's commercial airport, offering flights to and from France and within Southeast Asia.
