Hanoi International Airport Arrival and Departure

[pandadude]

Just some quick Intel on Hanoi International Airport. There is no priority immigration and customs on arrival or departure for one world and star alliance. There might be benefit for Vietnam Airlines (skyteam) and Vietjet but l can't confirm this as l didn't fly the airline.

You can buy fast track either way but l personally found wait times wasn't too bad during the week.

Arrival
I did buy fast track coming into Hanoi and I was taken skyboss immigration line. Literally there a sign with all the companies before immigration. Just find the company sign and staff will help you. I feel there literally all working for the same company. Other people on my plane was taken to diploma, staff line. Really these are both the same line but diploma and staff are given priority.

Departure. Please note you can only check in 3 hours before international departure for most airlines in Hanoi Airport. I recommend arriving 30 minutes early as the jam can be very bad.

For departure there is A B C. I used C but l could see B wasn't busy. I didn't see a priority line here but l suspect it completed at a different departure section.

All the lounges in Hanoi appear to be contracted excluding Vietnam Airlines. There are mutiple lounges. I flew Malaysian Airlines out and had the option of 3 SH lounges but was recommend to go to the one closest to 37. Note this specific SH lounge has a central food location, bar on the side and shower facilities. Many airline use these contract lounges it may change. SH does announce departure.

Like most airport everything is in the centre and as you walk further away from the centre there nothing but seats.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

I thought there was a fast track but I have an APEC Card so there may not be one for class of travel (but I'm sure I've seen them at immigration before!)

 

[pandadude]

I thought there was a fast track but I have an APEC Card so there may not be one for class of travel (but I'm sure I've seen them at immigration before!)

For arrival there APEC which fall under the airline staff but l was talking about business class and gold star alliance and one world.

For departure out of C l didn't see APEC. Only international and local. I believe they may have moved departure section around a bit.

 

[Chatswood]

Thank you for the update as it seems Vietnamese airports can be a bit of a coughshoot when it comes to immigration queues.

What time did you land and depart, and how long was the immigration queue in each case?

 

[Quickstatus]

There is no priority immigration and customs on arrival or departure for one world and star alliance.

There are no priority arrival or departure immigration procedures for any airline, for any travel class, for any frequent flyer, in any Vietnam airports

There are third party (paid) fast track for faster arrival/departure immigration processing which allow use of the APEC line or they open the ribbon barrier so you enter the front ofthe queue.

 

[pandadude]

I flew Malaysian in and out of Hanoi.
Malaysian Airline was half an hour late so arrived 12 30pm-1pm on Thursday. It was about a 15-20 minute wait for priority which was a similar wait for regular. The priority line took longer as the immigration guy was stamping APEC and airline staff then Skyboss which was the line l was in. The Skyboss line has less immigration officer then the regular line. So can end up longer. Might have been unlikely as Vietjet might have landed at this time.

In the regular line next door it was maybe 4 or 5 people per immigration officer.

I left Malaysian Airline on Wed approx 10:15am to 10:30am. No priority out of C. Similar time 15 to 20 minutes 4 or 5 people per immigration line.

Scan was reasonable fast.

I would say l got lucky to be super honest.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There are no priority arrival or departure immigration procedures for any airline, for any travel class, for any frequent flyer, in any Vietnam airports

Is that new? We flew last year into HAN on Vietnam airlines, there was a priority immigration queue for VN business class and Skyboss, as per pandadude’s observation. We upgraded prior to departure on VN and it was certainly worth it, just for that!

That’s different from SGN, which doesn’t have similar.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is that new?

My visit predated yours and I travelled on MH. The recollection at the time was that no one gets priority immigration except for APEC

Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My visit predated yours and I travelled on MH. The recollection at the time was that no one gets priority immigration except for APEC

Thanks

There js a separate thread on the differences between SGN and HAN. That thread confirm priority at HAN for eligible pax.

 

[pandadude]

My visit predated yours and I travelled on MH. The recollection at the time was that no one gets priority immigration except for APEC

Thanks

Mate have you actually been to Hanoi International Airport? If so when was the last time?

I was literally there last week and on arrival the immigration clearly said Skyboss. We not allowed to take, photos in immigration if not l would have taken it.

I didn't see priority immigration when l left Section C Hanoi International.