Aerial views of Tan Son Nhat's Terminal 3 show the nearly completed structure, with the official opening set for April 30, two months ahead of schedule. Surrounding infrastructure, including roadways and overpasses, is also nearing completion.
Designed to handle 20 million passengers annually, Terminal 3 will increase Tan Son Nhat Airport's total capacity to 50 million per year. The project, led by state-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), began in late 2022, with main terminal construction starting in August 2023.
The terminal spans 112,500 square meters, consisting of a basement and four above-ground floors.
Key components include the passenger terminal, a multi-story parking and commercial complex, an elevated roadway system, and an aircraft apron. Access bridges are being paved, and aluminum roofing is nearly complete.
Overlooking the Tran Quoc Hoan – Cong Hoa connector road, the terminal's exterior is undergoing roofing, glass installation, road paving, and landscaping.
T3 will serve domestic flights operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air, with a full-scale operational trial planned before the official launch.
After the peak travel period around April 30 and May 1, when Vietnamese laborers take five days off until May 4 to celebrate the Reunification and Labor days, it will begin full commercial operations.
Vasco, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and Pacific Airlines will continue operating from the existing T1 terminal.
Workers are installing aluminum and glass roofing for the terminal's upper-level canopy.
T3's curved design, inspired by Vietnam's traditional ao dai, creates a layered aesthetic while allowing natural light to filter inside.
On the lower floor, the baggage claim area is nearing completion, with ceilings, tiling, signage, and conveyor belts installed.
Outside, the aircraft apron and boarding bridges are being finalized. Terminal 3 will feature 27 boarding gates, 13 with jet bridges and 14 accessible via shuttle buses.
The construction workforce, numbering about 3,300, is working intensively, including overnight shifts, to meet the completion timeline.
Tan Son Nhat Airport, originally designed for 28–30 million passengers annually, now handles over 40 million. Once operational, Terminal 3 will accommodate around 80% of domestic passengers, alleviating pressure on the overcrowded T1 terminal.
Rendered images of Tan Son Nhat Airport's Terminal 3. Video by VnExpress
