Da Nang International Airport

Da Nang International Airport

This is a bright, modern terminal but although it is Vietnam’s third international gateway, after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, it is still quite small. Thanks to the proximity of Hội An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and some lovely tropical beaches it is also very busy. The airport shares its runway with the Vietnamese People’s Air Force though their presence is not noticeable.

ARRIVALS

Turn left off the gangway and then right down an escalator to the immigration channels. After baggage claim bear left to exit the terminal. There are no money changers within the terminal area of Da Nang International Airport. Turn left outside the terminal and walk to the end for money and banking facilities.

TRANSFER

There are metered taxis just outside the terminal but before you get there you will likely be approached by someone flashing a Grab logo on his phone. Grab is the is the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber. I’m told these guys are worth negotiating with as you can often get a cheaper fare than the metered taxi. That, of course, only helps if you already know approximately how much you should be paying. The car, organised by my hotel in Hội An to get me back to the airport, was 350,000 dong or about US$15.

Hội An is around 30 kilometres from the airport, the main tourist areas of Da Nang are about 4-5 kilometres.

DEPARTURES

The check-in process is straightforward although there are no self-check-in terminals. The queues for immigration and security are long. The immigration hall itself is too small and a line forms outside before you can even get in.

Once past security, gates 1-5 are to the left, and 6-10 to the right. There is a Lotte Duty Free shop, a couple of other gift shops two coffee shops, a Crystal Jade Chinese restaurant by gate 1 and a Burger King at the other end by gate 10. The actual gates are down a level where there is another snack shop selling instant noodles. There is free airport wifi and the duty-free shop also provides free wifi. No sign-in is required for either.

The airport also has a domestic terminal with regular flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and other cities in Vietnam.