Do You Need the Airport Fast Track in Vietnam?
If you’ve been on TikTok and Instagram, searching up Vietnam, you might have seen lots of posts talking about the busy Tan Son Nhat Airport and how you need to get the Airport Fast Track.
But do you really need it?
We didn’t get the airport fast track, and it was fine. We didn’t miss the flight. Let’s break down our flights, and some tips on how to determine if you need the service or not. Also, I may get a small commission if you use my link to book your airport fast track at no cost to you. This helps me to pay for the upkeep of this website, thank you for your support!
What’s the Airport Fast Track for?
The Airport Fast Track is advertised to travelers to get through Immigration in Vietnam faster. Think 15 minutes instead of 1.5 hours of waiting time.
If you’ve seen viral TikTok videos telling you that they had to arrive 4-5 hours early at the airport, it’s mainly because of how long the immigration line is in Tan Son Nhat International airport.
They can cost around $30 USD per person! If you’re on a budget or you’re paying for family, the cost can easily stack up (especially if you buy them on the way back too!)
Our Flight Details
MEL – SGN: Arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport around 10:55pm. Immigration line took 1.5 hours
SGN – HAN: Arrived at Tan Son Nhat Domestic Terminal around 7pm, flight was at 9:05pm. No problems.
HAN – DAD: Arrived at Noi Bai International Airport around 6:30am, flight was at 8:40am. No problems.
DAD – SGN: Arrived at Da Nang International Airport around 3:20pm, flight was at 5:20pm. No problems.
SGN – MEL: Arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport around 6:30pm, flight was at 10:30pm. Immigration line and security check took 1 hour. The longest part was waiting in line for bag drop.
Do You Need the Airport Fast Track for Domestic Flights?
Nope! We never used them, and we didn’t need to, because there’s no immigration line to clear.
Things to Consider
Check-in Counters
Check-in counters open 3 hours before boarding time. This means that it doesn’t matter if you get to the airport 4 hours before your flight, you will not get in any earlier to Immigration.
Flight Delays
All of the flights we took were delayed. This can work in your favour if the immigration line is long, but sometimes they don’t let the passengers know the flight is delayed until closer to departure time, so be very careful!
Security Checks
After getting through immigration, you also have to go through security checks. Make sure you comply with their instructions (shoes off, laptop out, pockets empty) and with carry-on regulations (less than 100mL of liquid, no restricted items, etc) so you can go through the security check smoothly.
Arrival vs Departure
For arrival, it may be worth it to get the airport fast track, especially if you’re arriving during the airport’s peak hours. However, if you arrive early for your departure, you don’t need to get the airport fast pass. This can save you around $30 USD per person.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport vs Other Airports
If there’s an airport you need to consider getting fast track, it’s Tan Son Nhat. Other airports would be nowhere as busy, which means you won’t take as long to line up during immigration.
Klook.comHow to Avoid Buying the Airport Fast Track?
Of course, if you want to avoid buying the airport fast track, waiting in line for at least at hour is a given. However, hopefully these tips will help you avoid waiting in line for too long.
Book Flights with Departures Outside Peak Hours
Fortunately, our flight from Ho Chi Minh City was late at night, which meant it was outside peak hours. Try to book flights that depart late at night or early morning to avoid waiting too long in Immigration lines.
Avoid Layovers
Landing in Ho Chi Minh City but planning start your trip in Hanoi? Make sure you have plenty of time between flights, or if that’s not possible, consider booking your flight to Hanoi for the next day instead.
Most likely, since you’re coming from an international flight and moving to domestic, you’d need to get your luggage and then check them in again. This can be a pain, especially if you came from a long flight. Avoid the stress.
Line Up Early at Check-In Counters
What some people do is once they know the check in counter for their flight, they line up already, even though it’s not open yet. If you’re that early at the airport, this is something to consider if you want to quickly get to the Immigration line after dropping off your bags.
This is the part that took us the longest, because the line gets long fast.
When to Buy Airport Fast Track
You’ll be arriving during airport peak hours
If your flight arrives during peak hours, it’s a good idea to book the airport fast track. During this time, lines can take up to two hours, sometimes even more, depending on how many flights arrive at the same time.
You have a connecting flight
I would actually advise against doing this in the first place, especially in Tan Son Nhat International Airport, where it can get really congested during immigration. But if you have a connecting flight that’s less than 3 hours, it’s a good idea to buy the airport fast track (e.g. You’re arriving in HCMC, but have a connecting flight to Da Nang in 2 hours). It’s a possibility that you might have to check out your bag and then check them back in for the connecting flight.
You have a scheduled activity after arriving
I would also advise against this, personally after arriving somewhere I want to just relax at the accommodation haha. But if you have something scheduled later in the day, consider buying the fast track!
You’re impatient/don’t want to line up long
If lining up is not your favourite thing, and you’re willing to pay $30 USD to get out of the line sooner, then it’s a great idea to get the airport fast track!
Final Verdict
Hopefully these tips can help you avoid having to pay for the airport fast track. However, if you’re unsure, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you’re worried about missing your flight, please buy the airport fast track for your peace of mind.
✈️➡️ Buy airport fast track here
You might also like these articles:
😵💫 Read all about my experience flying domestic in Vietnam
🌍 Do you need an eVisa? Here’s everything you need to know
🤔 Flying with family? Should you book private airport transfer or just use Grab?
