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Someone recently commented to me that TSN was the worst airport -regarding exit and entrance time - they had encountered in 40 years of travelling. I had to agree. Consistently 2 hours plus of queueing to get out and 1-2 hours to get in. - @ushfuhg

One person's experience

Not mine.

Of course, I fly business or first class whenever possible to avoid such conditions.

That cuts enough time off of the wait in line that I have plenty of time to enjoy the free lounge included with my ticket. It's a very special treat for my Vietnamese wife who has a hard time believing that all of the food and beverages are free.

When it's time to deplane anywhere in Vietnam, they always take care of business and first class before everyone else. We usually get the first bus on the tarmac to take us to the terminal to pick up our baggage, and priority travelers normally have their baggage unloaded from the plane first when flying Vietnam airlines.

Another option for someone who doesn't want to spend the money to travel business class is to pay for a fast track service that's about USD$30. It actually works and helps you save a lot of time going straight through line ups.

Another option for someone who doesn't want to spend the money to travel business class is to pay for a fast track service that's about USD$30. It actually works and helps you save a lot of time going straight through line ups. - @WillyBaldy

Yeah I use that when I first arrived at Hanoi in 2018 and it worked really well for me.

I've never heard of a similar service for outgoing flights, unless you are confined to a wheelchair and then it's usually provided free once you are inside the terminal.

Another option for someone who doesn't want to spend the money to travel business class is to pay for a fast track service that's about USD$30. It actually works and helps you save a lot of time going straight through line ups. - @WillyBaldy
Yeah I use that when I first arrived at Hanoi in 2018 and it worked really well for me.
I've never heard of a similar service for outgoing flights, unless you are confined to a wheelchair and then it's usually provided free once you are inside the terminal. - @OceanBeach92107

Yes that would be for the entrance part. For exit there's no such service as far as I'm aware.

@ushfuhg

As a regular traveler to HCMC I totally agree. Last week I spent 1 hour 40 minutes passing immigration to enter. Only positive was my bag was off the carousel (unattended), waiting for me and customs didn’t stop me for a further delay.

I have heard there is a new airport being constructed, which hopefully should relieve the congestion. Someone else may be able to enlighten us further about that?

Not really a practical suggestion when Business and First Class are an extravagance 95% of travelers can’t afford. Perhaps I could also buy my own plane. 🤑

Not really a practical suggestion when Business and First Class are an extravagance 95% of travelers can’t afford. Perhaps I could also buy my own plane. 🤑 - @Tony Bridle

it's all about what you value and also how well prepared a person is to live here in Vietnam.

I value the business class experience mostly because of my physical disabilities (two knee replacements and right charcot foot) and because it makes things much easier and even enjoyable for my wife.

I disagree that in general, 95% of "travellers" cannot afford business class.

I think the time has passed when this forum was pretty much exclusively the place for "budget" travelers to compare notes.

I think the figure you quote is only true because we are being inundated with very low income "retirees" and begpackers who enter the country without the means to fully support themselves in a decent manner for 3 months.

Any person with a reasonable retirement pension on top of social security (at least from the USA) can well afford business class on domestic flights within Vietnam, and usually on international flights arriving here when they have shopped well ahead for the best deal on airfares.

I receive a 100% disability compensation pension for my military service plus a very modest social security retirement benefit and it's always been possible for me (also because my wife is so good at helping me save money that I used to squander here).

There are retirees who are much richer than me who need to know that it's possible to take advantage of lower prices and increased luxury here.

We get a lot of people complaining that Vietnam doesn't have a retirement Visa, when the truth is, it doesn't have a "cheap" retirement Visa, and probably never will.

I'm not so much arguing with you, but we have an incredible amount of lurkers in this forum who collect their information without engaging in these threads.

I think it's important for people who might be called "middle class" retirees to know that they don't have to come to this country and do without, and they don't always need to get in line with the masses, as there are usually much more enjoyable options available.