Vietnam is set to experience a significant spike in air traffic as the country prepares for its five-day Reunification Holiday, expected to welcome nearly 800,000 international visitors, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.
From April 30 to May 4, Vietnamese airports are forecast to handle approximately 5,000 international flights, averaging 830 flights per day. This marks a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. The busiest international airports are anticipated to be Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, followed by Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, along with Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc airports.
Domestically, the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City remains the primary traffic center. Tan Son Nhat Airport alone will account for 70% of all domestic flights, with over 5,000 flights scheduled throughout the holiday period. The high-demand Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route is also seeing substantial growth, with more than 1,200 flights planned, representing a 16% increase from 2024.
Vietnamese airlines, including Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air, are ramping up their operations, scheduling over 7,500 domestic flights, offering around 1.5 million seats. This is a 21% increase from the previous year. Tan Son Nhat Airport is enhancing its operations to accommodate the influx, increasing flight frequency to 46 flights per hour between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., compared to the usual 40 to 42.
In response to the surge in demand, several airlines are boosting their flight schedules, with night flights set to increase by approximately 20%. Although Tan Son Nhat’s new Terminal T3 has been completed ahead of schedule, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet will continue to operate most of their domestic services from the existing Terminal 1 for the time being.
Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi is also preparing for an influx of passengers, with around 370 domestic flights scheduled for the peak day of the holiday, expected to serve approximately 68,000 passengers. To enhance efficiency, the airport has introduced biometric identification technology through the VNeID mobile app, designed to expedite domestic flight check-ins.
As the country gears up for the peak holiday travel period, authorities are emphasizing measures to manage the increased passenger volume and ensure smooth operations across the nation’s airports.
