The T3 terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City officially opened today (April 19), showcasing a spacious, modern design and luxurious amenities. As the largest domestic terminal in Vietnam, it opened two months ahead of schedule.

The nearly USD 430 million project was developed by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), with construction starting in late 2022.

T3 is designed to accommodate up to 20 million passengers annually, raising Tan Son Nhat Airport’s total capacity to 50 million passengers per year.

The terminal’s architecture features a sleek, contemporary design with a gently curved roof extending from the terminal to the adjacent commercial and office complex. This design is inspired by Vietnam’s traditional ao dai dress, symbolizing elegance and grace. The roof’s layered structure allows for a variety of viewing angles and enhances the flow of natural light into the interior.

The top floor serves as the check-in area, enclosed by large glass walls offering views of the outside. The flooring is finished with high-quality stone.

Notably, the terminal is equipped with cutting-edge aviation technologies, including ACV’s self-service system allowing passengers to check in via shared-use kiosks and self-drop their baggage. From there, passengers can proceed to the boarding gates via E-gates.

Travelers can complete the entire check-in process using chipped ID cards or digital IDs (VNeID), including baggage drop-off, security checks, and boarding through automatic gates.

The Smart Airport model at T3 integrates biometric technology and artificial intelligence (AI), enabling passengers to complete procedures efficiently from check-in to boarding.

The terminal is outfitted with 90 traditional check-in counters, 20 automated bag drop stations, and 42 self-check-in kiosks.

Behind the check-in area is the bag drop system for luggage handling.

T3 is equipped with 25 security screening gates and multiple automated conveyor belts, helping save time during security clearance.

The waiting areas near the boarding gates are filled with amenities, including retail outlets and children's play areas. Large display screens provide flight status updates at each gate.

A walkway running along the departure gates offers an overhead view of the boarding area.

The Lotus Lounge for business-class travelers, operated by Sasco, is currently the only lounge in service at T3. A representative from Vietnam Airlines confirmed that the airline began operations at T3 today with flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

There are 27 boarding gates, of which 13 are connected by jet bridges and 14 served by shuttle buses.

The terminal also features 6 baggage handling islands for departures and 10 for arrivals.

According to ACV, by the end of April, all Vietnam Airlines domestic flights - except for those to Con Dao, Ca Mau, and Rach Gia - will shift to T3. Vietjet Air will follow with its domestic flights.

Nguyen Hue - Tuan Kiet