Passengers at the Terminal 3 of Tan Son Nhat Airport
Speaking with Dantri, a passenger described a disappointing experience during her first visit to Terminal 3.
The woman, a business executive, said she was flying from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of April 29 for a meeting. Her inbound flight arrived at Terminal 1 as usual. However, when she returned to the airport at 3 pm for her flight back to Hanoi, she was directed to use the newly opened Terminal 3. Rushing through the terminal to avoid missing her flight, she suddenly stumbled and nearly fell backwards. Looking down, she saw that the heel of her high-heeled shoe had become wedged in a wide gap between the floor tiles.
"I couldn't believe my heel got stuck inside an airport terminal; this isn't something I'd expect outside, let alone inside a brand-new facility," she said. "The terminal looks bright and modern, but the experience was disappointing."
Her experience was not unique. Many social media users have also raised concerns about the aesthetics and craftsmanship of the floor at Terminal 3.
Some tiles covering technical equipment beneath the floor have been poorly installed and are visibly uneven.
On May 21, Dantri reporters observed that many tile gaps remain unaddressed throughout Terminal 3, including the check-in hall and the outdoor vehicle pick-up area. Some of the gaps measured nearly two centimetres wide.
Some of the tile gaps measured nearly two centimetres wide.
Parts of the terminal were still cordoned off with protective sheets, and workers continued laying tiles, even as crowds of passengers moved through to check in for their flights.
Despite being in operation for over a month, Terminal 3 is still partially under construction. Construction workers were on-site at several locations, such as the ground floor and the western functional area.
The State Agency for Construction Quality Inspection previously instructed the project developer to review and resolve outstanding issues after the terminal's roof leaked.
More than a month after opening, many passengers remain confused about navigating to Terminal 3 or accessing its features. Basic information, such as whether a particular flight departs from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3, is confusing.
An Australian traveller, Tim, told Dantri that he and his friends had booked a Vietnam Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang. Their e-ticket directed them to Terminal 1. However, they later discovered that the flight was departing from Terminal 3.
Tim ( first from left) and his friends at the Terminal 3 of Tan Son Nhat Airport
"We took a taxi to Terminal 1 as instructed on the ticket, but only then found out the flight had been moved to Terminal 3. I didn't receive any notification from the airline," Tim said.