The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has just issued a plan to serve the travel needs of people during the Lunar New Year and the 2026 Binh Ngo Spring Festival season. Accordingly, Tan Son Nhat International Airport will face huge traffic pressure as both passengers and flights increase sharply. The Tet peak flight schedule this year is expected to have an average of 940 flights departing and arriving per day (including 600 domestic and 340 international flights). This number is 25% higher than the current flight schedule and 7% higher than the Tet Ất Tỵ 2025 peak, mainly concentrated on domestic routes.
In the pre-Tet period, the two peak days are expected to fall on February 13th and 14th, 2026 (ie, December 26th and 27th of the year At Ty). This is the domestic peak time with an estimated 1,017 flights per day.
In the post-Tet period, the pressure shifts to domestic flights. The two peak days are forecast to fall on February 22nd and 23rd of 2026 (in the 6th and 7th days of the first lunar month of Binh Ngo year) with about 1,025 flights/day.
Regarding the number of passengers, it is expected that during the peak period of Binh Ngo Tet, Tan Son Nhat airport will receive an average of 145,000 passengers/day (85,000 domestic passengers and 60,000 international passengers). This level is an increase of 20% compared to the present and an increase of 8% compared to the same period last year. Especially on February 21st and 22nd, 2026 (the 5th and 6th days of the first lunar month), the number of passengers going and arriving is expected to exceed the threshold of 165,000 people/day.
To cope with extremely high traffic pressure, the Department of Construction proposed that the Southern Airport Authority coordinate with Tan Son Nhat airport, border gate police and Customs to implement flexible traffic diversion for taxis and technology vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers. Units must rely on the actual situation to regulate forces, avoiding localized congestion in lobby areas.
Notably, aviation units are responsible for providing detailed data on service hours and passenger capacity to coordinate in increasing buses and public passenger cars when necessary. The Department also requested Tan Son Nhat airport to proactively sign agreements with taxi companies, transport units and ride-hailing applications to mobilize vehicles to relieve the sudden increase in passengers. In order to diversify travel methods for people, the Public Transport Management Center will be supported to arrange convenient pick-up and drop-off locations for bus routes right at the airport. Propaganda and route guidance are also promoted to make it easier for passengers to access this type of transport.
In particular, in order to shorten waiting times for people, the Border Gate Police and Airport Customs are requested to increase personnel at check-in counters. The timely addition of forces not only ensures security and order but also helps quickly relieve passengers doing entry and exit procedures, ensuring a smooth and safe journey during the peak days of Tet.
