“When my child was a few months old, we took a family trip back to our hometown by plane. I had to take off my shoes and baby carrier, and ask someone to hold my baby while going through security screening.”
Ms. Nguyen Linh, a resident of Phuoc Long Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, shared her experience after reading the article “Proposal to Eliminate the Requirement of Removing Shoes and Belts During Security Checks at Airports” on Nguoi Lao Dong Online on August 1st.
According to Ms. Linh, she has two young children: a daughter who is almost two years old and a son who is five. Since their hometown is in Nghe An, they usually travel by plane from Tan Son Nhat Airport when visiting her family. When her daughter was around three months old, she took both children on a flight to their grandparents’ house.
“I brought the kids to the airport, holding my son’s hand while carrying my daughter in a baby carrier. However, when we reached the security screening area, I had to remove the carrier and ask the security staff or fellow travelers for help in holding my daughter. On top of that, we had to deal with all the baby gear and take off our shoes. This process was not only inconvenient for us but also time-consuming, and there was a risk of losing our belongings. It would be great if something could be done to streamline this process,” Ms. Linh recalled.
Many passengers shared similar experiences, especially those traveling with young children. They mentioned that besides removing their shoes, they also had to take off their coats in cold weather, often feeling rushed by other passengers waiting behind them.
 Passengers undergoing security screening at Tan Son Nhat Airport |
Mr. Minh Thang, a resident of An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, shared a similar experience during his family trip to Singapore two months ago. “After queuing for about an hour to depart, we had to wait another 30 minutes to go through the security screening for hand luggage. We had to remove our shoes, belts, and other items, totaling about eight trays of belongings. In the rush to put on my shoes and belt, I almost forgot my backpack, and it was only because someone shouted that I realized my mistake. I’ve traveled to many countries, and I feel that removing belts and shoes is unnecessary and inconvenient,” Mr. Thang shared.
Many people agree that the requirement to remove shoes and belts should be eliminated.
A poll conducted by Nguoi Lao Dong Online on August 1st asked readers whether they agreed with eliminating the requirement to remove shoes and belts during security checks at airports. As of August 2nd, nearly 1,200 respondents agreed with this proposal.
One participant, with the phone number 0983745xxx, commented: “Because of these cumbersome procedures, when I fly, I avoid wearing a belt, and I wear slip-on shoes for convenience. I also leave my jewelry at home.” Another respondent, nguoi**@zalo.vn, added: “In this age of technology and AI, we should aim to reduce such inconveniences for travelers and adopt more efficient practices, as I’ve experienced in Europe. Let’s strive to improve the experience for our citizens and tourists.”
Previously, Mr. Dang Hong Anh, Chairman of the Young Businesspeople Association, suggested eliminating security procedures such as removing shoes and belts at airports. He argued that these processes are no longer suitable given modern technology and cause unnecessary time and cost expenditures for society.
“Retaining these outdated security checks not only diminishes the travel experience for passengers but also results in economic losses. Vietnam can certainly embrace more advanced models by learning from other countries, provided there is consensus and cooperation from relevant authorities such as airport security, customs, port authorities, and related ministries,” Mr. Hong Anh stated.
By Thai Phuong, Photos by Lam Giang
– 1:20 PM, August 2nd, 2025
