Tan Son Nhat Airport is hurting Ho Chi Minh City's appeal

The uplifting part is clear: this city is loved. In a global survey in June by Gensler Research Institute, the research arm of the world's largest architecture and design firm, residents ranked Ho Chi Minh City the second most magnetic in the world, just behind Taipei, as the place they most want to stay long-term. 61% said they see their future here, ahead of even Singapore, Sydney and Vancouver.

The numbers are not just a statistic, but proof that HCMC's energy, opportunity and warmth are worth clinging to.

And yet, there is the other side. Just as the city gains global admiration, Tan Son Nhat Airport has been ranked 248th out of 250 worldwide by AirHelp, a global leader in flight compensation services. The ranking evaluated passenger experience based on three criteria: on-time performance, customer opinion, and the quality of food and retail services. Tan Son Nhat nearly hits rock-bottom.

People waiting at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress

Anyone who has trudged through endless check-in lines, dealt with broken autogates or paid "luxury" prices for a simple bottle of water knows the verdict is not unfair.

This is more than an inconvenience. An airport is the city's handshake, its first smile, its welcome mat. When that moment is disappointing, it chips away at the trust and pride the city has worked so hard to build. Ho Chi Minh City cannot afford to be magnetic and inspiring on one side, and frustratingly outdated at the very gateway that defines its global image.

Long Thanh Airport, which is being built 40 km away from the city, may someday reset the narrative, but the millions who arrive and depart today pass through Tan Son Nhat. Their impressions matter now. Fixing infrastructure is necessary, but equally important is the service culture: transparency, fairness, professionalism and a little kindness. These are the details that transform travel from bearable to memorable.

Ho Chi Minh City has momentum, ambition and the love of its people. It deserves an airport worthy of that reputation. Until then, every proud statistic about this city will sit uncomfortably alongside a ranking that nearly bottoms out. And that is a gap no city should accept.

*Nguyen Tuan Quynh is a businessman and author.