What to Expect at Vietnamese Airports: Ultimate Guide

Arriving in Vietnam for the first time can feel slightly confusing.

This is especially true if you land late at night.

You may not speak Vietnamese or have used a Vietnamese international airport before.

The good news is that the arrival process is relatively straightforward. In most cases, you simply move through a series of steps after landing. Start by leaving the aircraft and following the signs to immigration. Then proceed to passport control and collect your luggage.

Once you clear customs, you may exit the terminal. In typical cases, you will then leave the terminal area and continue your plans. If you miss a sign, ask staff for directions to arrivals or baggage claim.

This guide explains what normally happens from the moment your plane lands.

When arriving in Vietnam, you prepare to travel from the airport to your hotel.

If you are still preparing for your trip, you may also want to check our Vietnam E-Visa Guide.

Additionally, you may also review the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Card Guide.

What Happens When You Land in Vietnam?

For most international visitors, the process looks like this:

1. Leave the aircraft.
2. Follow the signs for Immigration / Passport Control.
3. Complete immigration formalities.
4. Collect your checked baggage.
5. Go through customs.
6. Enter the public arrivals area.
7. Get money, a SIM/eSIM, or other essentials if necessary.
8. Continue to your hotel or next destination.

The exact layout differs between airports, but the basic process is similar.

Vietnam’s main international gateways include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, while international flights also operate to destinations such as Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc.

If you are flying into Vietnam, it is worth having your arrival documents and first hotel booking ready before you leave home.

1. Leave the Plane and Follow the Signs

Once the aircraft reaches the gate, collect your belongings and leave the plane.

You do not normally need to worry about finding the correct immigration counter immediately. Simply follow the airport signs marked Immigration or Passport Control.

International airports in Vietnam have signs in English, so navigating the terminal is generally manageable even if you do not speak Vietnamese.

Do not follow signs for domestic transfers unless Vietnam is only a connection point for another flight.

If Vietnam is your final destination, you need to go through immigration before entering the country.

2. Immigration and Passport Control

This is usually the most important part of the arrival process.

At immigration, you present your passport.

You show the documents required for your entry status arriving in Vietnam.

Depending on your nationality and circumstances, you may enter Vietnam under a visa exemption or with a Vietnamese e-visa.

Vietnam currently allows citizens of all countries and territories to apply for an e-visa, with e-visas available for stays of up to 90 days and multiple entry.

If you are traveling with an e-visa, make sure the information on the visa matches your passport.

Before flying, check:

• your name;
• passport number;
• date of birth;
• nationality;
• entry date;
• permitted entry point;
• visa validity.

A mistake in your immigration documents can create problems at the border, so do not leave this until you are standing in the immigration queue.

You can read our full Vietnam E-Visa Guide before your trip.

3. How Long Does Vietnam Immigration Take?

There is no single arrival time that applies to every passenger.

Immigration can be relatively quick when there are only a few arriving flights, but queues can become much longer when several international aircraft arrive around the same time.

The difference can be significant during:

• weekends;
• public holidays;
• Tet;
• school holidays;
• major travel periods;
• late-evening arrival waves.

For this reason, do not schedule a very tight connection immediately after your international arrival unless you are comfortable with the risk of delays.

If someone is meeting you at the airport, give yourself some extra time rather than assuming that you will be outside the terminal within 20 or 30 minutes.

4. Do You Need to Show Your Hotel Booking?

Your hotel booking is not normally the main document used to enter Vietnam.

The key issue at immigration is whether you have the necessary permission to enter Vietnam, such as a valid visa or visa exemption.

However, it is still sensible to have your accommodation information available on your phone.

If an immigration officer asks where you are staying, you should be able to provide:

• hotel name;
• address;
• city;
• booking confirmation.

This is particularly useful if you are staying at a smaller hotel, apartment or guesthouse.

If you have not booked your accommodation yet, you can search for hotels in Vietnam before traveling.

5. What About the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Card?

The pre-arrival procedure is a separate issue from your visa.

If you are required to complete Vietnam’s pre-arrival declaration for your trip, do it before reaching the airport rather than trying to deal with it after landing.

Our Vietnam Pre-Arrival Card Guide explains who needs to complete it and what information is involved.

This distinction is important:

Visa → permission to enter Vietnam.

Pre-arrival procedure → information submitted before arrival when required.

Do not confuse the two.

6. Collecting Your Baggage

After immigration, follow the signs for Baggage Claim.

Airport screens should show your flight number and the baggage carousel assigned to your flight.

Keep your baggage tag until you leave the airport.

If your suitcase does not appear, do not leave the baggage area. Look for the airline’s baggage service desk and report the missing luggage there.

It is useful to have your baggage tag, passport and boarding pass available if you need to make a report.

If you are traveling with only hand luggage, you can simply continue toward customs after completing immigration.

7. Customs

After collecting your luggage, you normally proceed toward customs.

Vietnam has customs rules concerning goods brought into the country, including certain quantities of alcohol, tobacco and other goods. Regulations can change, so check the current requirements before departure if you are carrying anything that may need to be declared.

If you have nothing that needs to be declared, follow the appropriate passenger route.

If you are carrying goods that may require declaration, do not simply assume that they are allowed because you are traveling with personal luggage.

For a broader explanation of entry restrictions and customs, see our Vietnam Customs Guide.

8. When Are You Officially in Vietnam?

Once you have passed immigration and entered the country, you are officially admitted to Vietnam.

The airport process after that is mainly about collecting your belongings and getting yourself to your next destination.

This is why the most important things to have ready before landing are:

• passport;
• visa or proof of visa exemption, if applicable;
• pre-arrival documentation, if required;
• hotel address;
• phone with internet access;
• some way to pay for your first expenses.

You do not need to have everything perfectly organized before you land. You simply need enough information to get through the first few hours.

9. Getting a SIM or Internet Connection

If your phone supports eSIM, you may want to arrange connectivity before departure.

This can be particularly useful because you can turn on your connection as soon as you leave the aircraft.

If you prefer a physical SIM, international airports also have telecommunications shops and counters.

Before buying anything, compare the package with what you actually need. If you are staying for several weeks, a tourist package with a large amount of data may be more practical than repeatedly buying small packages.

Our Vietnam SIM and eSIM Guide explains the main options.

10. Getting Money at the Airport

You do not necessarily need to exchange all your money immediately after landing.

Vietnamese dong is the local currency, and ATMs are available at major airports.

A practical approach is to withdraw enough money for your immediate needs rather than converting or withdrawing your entire travel budget at the airport.

You can also read our guides to Vietnamese Currency: Cash or Card and ATMs in Vietnam.

11. Leaving the Airport

Once you have passed customs, you enter the public arrivals area.

This is where you will normally find:

• taxis;
• ride-hailing pickup areas;
• private transfers;
• airport buses;
• car rental or transfer services;
• hotel representatives;
• currency exchange;
• ATMs;
• shops and cafes.

Your best option depends on the airport and your destination.

For example, someone landing in Ho Chi Minh City may simply continue into the city, while a traveler arriving at Cam Ranh Airport may still have a considerable journey ahead before reaching Nha Trang.

If your final destination is Nha Trang, you can also look for Nha Trang hotels before traveling.

12. Should You Take a Taxi or Grab?

Grab is widely used in Vietnam and can be a convenient option for getting from the airport to your accommodation.

If you already have the Grab app installed and your phone has internet access, you can arrange your ride after collecting your luggage.

You can read our Grab Vietnam Guide for more information about using the service.

At airports, always follow the official pickup instructions shown in the app rather than accepting offers from random people approaching you inside the terminal.

If you have booked a private airport transfer, check the meeting instructions in advance. Some drivers wait in a designated area rather than directly outside baggage claim.

13. What If You Arrive Late at Night?

Late-night arrivals are common, especially on international flights.

The airport itself may still be operating normally, but your options outside the terminal can be more limited than during the day.

If you arrive late, it is worth arranging your first night in advance.

Have these details ready:

• hotel name;
• hotel address;
• airport;
• transfer method;
• driver or booking information, if applicable.

Do not rely on remembering the address.

Save it on your phone and, ideally, keep a screenshot available in case your internet connection does not work immediately.

14. What If You Have a Domestic Connecting Flight?

If Vietnam is your first entry point and you are continuing to another Vietnamese destination, you normally need to complete the international arrival procedures before continuing on a domestic flight.

The exact transfer process depends on the airport and your ticket arrangement.

For example, Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport has separate domestic and international terminals, while other airports have different terminal layouts.

If you are flying onward to another city, do not assume that a short connection will be sufficient simply because both flights are operated by the same airline.

Allow time for:

• immigration;
• baggage collection;
• customs;
• transfer between terminals if necessary;
• domestic check-in;
• security.

For more information about flying within the country, see our Vietnam Domestic Flights Guide.

15. What Should You Have Ready Before Landing?

You do not need a folder full of documents.

A simple arrival setup is enough.

On your phone

• passport photo page;
• visa or visa information, if applicable;
• pre-arrival confirmation, if applicable;
• hotel booking;
• hotel address;
• flight information;
• airport transfer details.

In your hand luggage

• passport;
• phone;
• charging cable;
• power bank;
• wallet;
• essential medication;
• anything you cannot afford to lose.

Keep these items accessible.

There is little point putting your passport and phone at the bottom of a backpack that you have to unpack immediately after landing.

16. What You Do Not Need to Worry About

First-time visitors sometimes imagine that arriving in Vietnam will involve a complicated series of procedures.

For an ordinary tourist with the correct documents, it is generally much simpler.

You do not normally need to:

• speak Vietnamese;
• carry large amounts of cash;
• arrange a local guide;
• understand every airport sign;
• know the entire Vietnamese transport system before leaving the terminal.

English signage is available at the main international airports, and the basic arrival process is familiar to international travelers.

The important part is preparing the documents that actually matter.

Vietnam Arrival Checklist

Before you leave the aircraft, make sure you have your passport and phone.

At immigration

• Have your passport ready.
• Have your visa information available if applicable.
• Make sure your entry information is correct.
• Answer the immigration officer’s questions clearly.

At baggage claim

• Check the flight number.
• Collect your luggage.
• Keep your baggage tag.

At customs

• Declare anything that requires declaration.
• Do not assume that every item is permitted simply because it is in your personal luggage.

After customs

• Connect to the internet.
• Withdraw some local currency if necessary.
• Check your hotel or transfer information.
• Order your ride or find your arranged transfer.
• Leave the airport.

The Easiest Way to Think About Your First Arrival

You do not need to memorize the entire airport.

Just remember this sequence:

Plane → Immigration → Baggage → Customs → Arrivals Hall → Transport → Hotel

That’s it.

If your visa, passport and other required entry documents are in order, the rest is mostly a matter of following the signs and taking things one step at a time.

Before your trip, it is worth reading our Vietnam for First-Timers Guide, especially if this is your first visit.

If you are still arranging your trip, you can look for flights to Vietnam, Vietnam hotels and tours and activities before you arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa to enter Vietnam?

It depends on your nationality and the applicable visa-exemption rules. Many travelers need a visa, while citizens of certain countries can enter visa-free for a specified period. Vietnam also offers e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories.

What happens first when I arrive in Vietnam?

After leaving the aircraft, follow the signs to immigration or passport control. After immigration, collect your luggage, pass customs and enter the public arrivals area.

Do I need to print my Vietnam e-visa?

It is sensible to have access to your approved e-visa and to carry a printed copy as a backup, even if you also keep the document digitally.

Can I get money at the airport?

Yes. ATMs are available at major Vietnamese airports, and currency exchange facilities are also available.

Can I get a SIM card at the airport?

Major international airports have telecommunications services, although travelers who use eSIM can arrange their connection before departure.

Can I use Grab from the airport?

Grab operates in Vietnam, and it can be a convenient option where airport pickup is supported. Follow the pickup instructions shown in the app rather than accepting unsolicited offers from people inside the terminal.

How long should I allow for arrival at a Vietnamese airport?

There is no fixed time because queues vary considerably. Immigration, baggage collection and customs can all take longer when several international flights arrive together. If you have a connecting flight or scheduled transfer, leave a reasonable buffer.

What if my luggage is lost?

Report the missing luggage to your airline’s baggage service desk before leaving the baggage claim area. Keep your baggage tag and flight information available.

What if I arrive late at night?

Have your hotel address and transfer arrangements ready before landing. Save important information on your phone and keep screenshots available in case you have difficulty connecting to the internet.

Is arriving in Vietnam difficult for first-time visitors?

For most tourists with the correct entry documents, the process is straightforward. The most important thing is to prepare your passport, visa or visa-exemption requirements, pre-arrival documentation where applicable, accommodation details and transportation plan before you land.