As residents across the country gear up to participate in the largest human migration on Earth, it's safe to say Tan Son Nhat International Airport is going to be a living hell.
The southern airport is already overcrowded on a good day, however during peak Tet travel time Tan Son Nhat officials are expecting 720 flights in and out of the airport per day, reports VietnamNet. Saigon's facility could see up to 99,700 passengers on the busiest days before Lunar New Year, a 14.8% increase compared to last year's Tet travelers.
As a result, airlines are suggesting passengers arrive up to three hours prior to their scheduled departure time. In addition, Tan Son Nhat is also taking measures to help ease the airport's overcrowding during this time, such as installing more baggage scanners and even making use of tablets and other handheld technology to check in passengers.
Extra taxi stands are also open to help facilitate the swift arrival and departure of travelers, while Tan Son Nhat officials have vowed to tow loitering vehicles left out front of both the domestic and international terminals.
The city's Department of Transport is also conducting traffic on the airport's surrounding streets in an effort to ease congestion around Tan Son Nhat. From January 29 to February 15, vehicles with over 25 seats will not be permitted on the Tan Son Nhat-Binh Loi ring road near the airport in the direction from Nguyen Kiem to Truong Son Streets.
As everyone prepares to head home for the holiday, we're envying those who are from Saigon right about now.
[Photo via Abay.vn]