Debate Over Tan Son Nhat Airport Pho Prices
In recent days, alongside proposals to relax security regulations such as removing the requirement to take off shoes and belts at airports, the discussion about food and beverage prices at major airports like Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai has also become a hot topic.
A bowl of pho costing up to VND 150,000, a baguette priced at nearly VND 90,000, or a glass of filtered water for VND 70,000 have left many passengers feeling aggrieved.
After Báo Người Lao Động published related articles such as “Frustration with Airport Dining” and “Many Passengers Quietly Leave After Seeing Pho and Instant Noodle Prices at the Airport,” the reporters contacted the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), the company managing 22 airports nationwide, including Tan Son Nhat Airport.
Baguette priced at approximately VND 78,000 before the international terminal at Tan Son Nhat Airport
On August 9, a representative from the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) stated that since 2015, the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) has issued Circular 36/2015/TT-BGTVT to regulate domestic air transport services and specialized aviation services. With market changes and new requirements from the Price Law, the Ministry has continuously updated and issued adjustments to stay relevant to the actual situation.
The latest document is Circular 44/2024/TT-BGTVT, issued in November 2024, which stipulates the mechanism and policies for managing prices of domestic air transport services and specialized aviation services.
Tan Son Nhat Airport Pho Prices Vary
According to ACV, eateries within the airport must adhere to a series of stringent standards, ranging from security controls, procedures for bringing goods into the restricted area, food hygiene and safety, fire prevention and control, to aesthetic requirements of the terminal.
Most businesses operating there are well-known brands, serving a diverse range of customers from regular to premium. The prices are publicly displayed to ensure transparency, allowing passengers to compare and make choices, while also promoting healthy competition and improving service quality.
Some shops in the international terminal of Tan Son Nhat Airport, where a bowl of pho costs between VND 150,000 and VND 333,000 (depending on the type: regular or special)…
At certain shops in the international terminal of Tan Son Nhat Airport, the price of a bowl of pho ranges from VND 150,000 to VND 333,000, depending on whether it is a regular or special order. ACV stated that according to Circular 44, the Aviation Authority is responsible for strengthening the inspection and supervision of price declarations and listings for non-aviation services. This regulation aims to ensure transparency, protect passenger rights, and promptly handle violations.
A representative of a goods and services provider at Tan Son Nhat Airport also acknowledged that prices within the airport are significantly higher than outside, not just in Vietnam but in most countries. The reason lies in the stringent special standards that goods entering the airport must meet, from origin traceability to food hygiene and safety, and all items must undergo security screening to ensure absolute safety.
Invoice for some food and drinks at Terminal 3, Tan Son Nhat Airport, shared by readers with Báo Người Lao Động reporters
Invoice for chicken rice bowl and chicken burger priced at VND 150,000 – VND 168,000 (including VAT) at Noi Bai Airport, shared by readers with Báo Người Lao Động
Is Airport Food Really “Sky-High” Priced? Culinary Expert Spills the Beans.
The F&B industry insiders’ take on the sky-high prices of airport food and beverages.
Passengers Stunned into Silence by Airport Pho and Instant Noodle Prices.
“Passengers at the airport were left with no choice but to pay exorbitant prices for a simple meal of pho, banh mi, or instant noodles, with prices ranging from 70,000 to 130,000 VND. While some grudgingly paid up, others quietly walked away, unwilling to accept such inflated costs for basic fare.”
