Why Is Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC Vietnam Have Sky High Prices and in USD

athuntershill on 17/10/2024 - 14:06

So we recently spent a week in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.

The trip was ok overall but as we were leaving via Tan Son Nhat international airport, we've realised that once you pass customs, every store is pricing their products in USD and at a much inflated price. For example, our Burger King whopper meal was close to $30 AUD after currency conversion.

Yes, you'd expect to pay a bit more in airports but I wasn't expecting that much.

Anyone who's spent time in HCMC would have an ideal of how much a pho, or coffee cost in the city. So to be slapped with such inflated price on your way out of the country is not doing Vietnam much good in terms of its image. And what is the deal with USD?

Travel Asia Vietnam

Comments

  • c64 on 17/10/2024 - 14:10
    +2

    For example, our Burger King whopper meal was close to $30 AUD after currency conversion.

    UnemployedDeveloper will be envious

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/811215
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/862764

    • SuperLate on 18/10/2024 - 23:35

      Tension not.

  • Cluster on 17/10/2024 - 14:23
    +15

    The Vietnamese Dong is a weak currency so they're probably trying to get as much USD as possible. As for the cost? Well, you've passed Customs. Where else are you going to eat? It's a captive market and the shops know that. You're right that it's not very good for the image of the airport and being financially exploited right before leaving the country is going to leave a sour memory.

    Airports can have ridiculous pricing. I remember being in Oslo's airport in 2009 and paying $42 for a slice of reheated lasanga and a beer. $42!

    • JDMcarfan on 17/10/2024 - 15:33

      this is typical of many developing asian countries who's currency isn't stable/widely used.
      my motherland of Sri Lanka has the same issue, with everything quoted in USD post customs and BK being like $18 for a shitty burger.

    • netjock on 17/10/2024 - 16:42

      I remember being in Oslo's airport

      Scandinavia is know for being expensive

      Also one of the best places to go in the European summer because all the British are in Spain getting sunburnt. Norway has some of the best beaches with also no people.

      • try2bhelpful on 18/10/2024 - 07:00

        I can recommend the Havila Norway boat ride. The scenery is amazing, the food is very good. We have an inside cabin and it works very well. The jacuzzi is in the open air. Getting to and from is very bracing. The kicker is the alcohol. $20 a glass.

    • Chris17 on 18/10/2024 - 21:26
      +2

      What makes you think the dong is 'weak'? The strength of a currency is defined by its stability against other currencies. Currencies that lose relative value over time are termed 'weak' currencies. This has not been the case of the VND for many years.

      You seem confused by the VND's high nominal exchange rate. This has nothing to do with the strength of a country's economy or currency.

      • Cluster on 19/10/2024 - 16:58

        The Vietnamese Dong has been devalued in 1951, 1959, 1975, 1986, and its value is a managed floating regime instead of a freely traded currency like the USD or AUD.

        Ask some internationally if they'd prefer to receive AUD or VND for their goods. You'll have your answer.

        • Chris17 on 20/10/2024 - 10:45

          Again, you’re confusing a technical forex term (‘weak’) with the general concept of undesirability. When applied to currencies, ‘weak’ is shorthand for ‘volatile with a tendency toward depreciation’.

          I wouldn’t wipe my noodle-defaced backside with a trillion-dong note. But that doesn’t mean that the VND is weak in any meaningful sense.

    • belongsinforums on 18/10/2024 - 22:22
      +1

      i've heard $75 aud for a croissant and a coffee in dubai

  • Bignudge on 17/10/2024 - 14:25
    +1

    Yes tell me about it…. dad was going to buy a few packets of cigarettes to bring back from Vietnam but left it until the last minute. We were decided to just buy it straight from the airport as it couldn't be that much more expensive than the streets. Next minute, it was like $11AUD compared to ~$0.95AUD at the corner store.

    And yes the Burger King place right outside the entrace was expensive af too. It was more than what I pay in Sydney.

    • bobbified on 17/10/2024 - 15:25
      +1

      What cigarettes are you buying for $0.95c in the corner store? I get regular packs for about VND40,000 at the stores.. which is the equivalent of about AUD$2.50.

      The duty-free cigarettes I get (Mevius) on the way into Vietnam are USD$25 for a carton. (Some cigarettes at the airport are not available outside or are very difficult to find, so I don't mind paying more to get particular cigarettes).

      • Bignudge on 17/10/2024 - 20:05

        Probably a conversion error on my end then lol

    • Cluster on 17/10/2024 - 15:28

      How many cigarettes were you planning to bring in? The allowable number is just 25, and then you have to pay excise and GST on everything brought in.

      • bobbified on 17/10/2024 - 19:29
        +1

        YMMV, but I've found that the custom guys at Sydney and Melbourne airport are pretty relaxed with more than one pack. I bring back close to a carton each time (without declaring it). The few times that I've been checked, the officers just move it out of the way to have a quick look at the rest of my bag, then just wave me through.

        I wouldn't push it and try to bring in multiple cartons though.

  • djoz on 17/10/2024 - 15:00
    +3

    I used this offer: 2 US$10 Meal Vouchers for Passengers with 5-24 Hours Transit Time in a Vietnam Airport @ Vietjet Air.

    Used first voucher at Saigon Bar & Kitchen for:
    Marinated Pork Chops with Broken Rice and Egg served Sunnyside Up; with Salad and Garnishing. (Cost $10, covered by one voucher)

    Used second voucher at Big Bowl Pho for:
    Vietnamese Pho with Full Chicken Thigh and Salad. (Cost $10, covered by second voucher).

    I was out of pocket $0 at the airport, but overall a terrible experience at the airport

  • bobbified on 17/10/2024 - 15:21
    +7

    Yes, you'd expect to pay a bit more in airports

    I find that airports always charge a LOT more than the streets - not just a bit. But that's not just limited to HCMC. They know that once you're there, there's no other options. Australian airports are no different. Other than greed, another factor is the much higher rents at the airport.

    • altomic on 17/10/2024 - 15:25
      +7

      Not in japan. Shops are the same price in the airport as in regular life.

    • Save 50 Cent on 18/10/2024 - 16:06

      I believe at chain restaurants in Australia, they charge the same prices unless they are being smartasses and tweak the menu. Not sure if it is law or just them worrying about their reputation.
      At independent restaurants, they probably have to charge a lot because the rent would be substantial.

  • Gdsamp on 17/10/2024 - 15:30

    Việt Nam của Tô Lâm

  • scrimshaw on 17/10/2024 - 15:33
    +1

    Airports in Vietnam are state-owned, not managed by the private sector and do not have public auction. This limits competition and allows allocated vendors to maintain inflated prices without offering better value.

    But this is pretty much the same situation in many SEA countries, exception of Singapore's Changi Airport and Japan. They don't charge you egregious amounts in USD.

  • JimmyF on 17/10/2024 - 15:56

    For example, our Burger King whopper meal was close to $30 AUD after currency conversion.

    That's standard pricing for international airports. Similar costs at Phuket recently for a BK meal.

  • djones145 on 17/10/2024 - 16:27

    same with honolulu burger king
    was 20 usd for a meal. was huge though

    • athuntershill on 17/10/2024 - 16:31

      Someone told me that theme parks in US buck the trend and have tiny servings.

  • athuntershill on 17/10/2024 - 16:28

    We brought macca's on the way out from Sydney but was using the App's rewards and deals, so didn't feel the sting as much.
    If I recall correctly, Japan (Haneda) was only a marginally higher and the vending machines had the same 'outside' prices.
    Will remember to load up before hand next time we travel to SEA countries.

  • netjock on 17/10/2024 - 16:44

    Why not try to mug you on the way out… what is there to lose… repeat business?

    Don't you love it when people treat you like suckers.

    I remember with a bunch of Aussies and Kiwis on a tour of Egypt and Jordan and they were smuggling all they could from the buffet breakfast. Turns out felafel sandwiches were like $2 and a whole brown paper grease proof bag of freshy fried felafel cost us $0.50.

    This was just before the Arab spring kicked off so could be more now.

  • VincentJames89 on 17/10/2024 - 17:13

    I went through the Hanoi airport not long ago, and it was the same monumental rip off job. Altho western airports are similar prices really… you just get used to the eastern prices :P

  • AustriaBargain on 17/10/2024 - 17:27
    +1

    I bet rent for shops in that airport is crazy.

  • Ocker on 17/10/2024 - 17:44
    -4

    Since the time of the Vietnam war the USD has been a de facto currency in Vietnam

    • mskeggs on 17/10/2024 - 20:47

      I'm sure vendors will happily take your USD, at their own exchange rate, but almost everyone takes dong. The only exception when we were there years ago was an internationally booked cruise that wanted USD.

    • Ocker on 19/10/2024 - 15:11
      -1

      Seems like the 3 that down voted my post know better - I think not !

  • bobbified on 17/10/2024 - 17:58
    +1

    It's probably worth mentioning that western food, such as Maccas, Burger King and Pizza Hut, is pretty expensive in Vietnam in general (not just at the airports). For example, the price of a large pizza at Pizza Hut is similarly to the full price in Australia.

    We have discounts and coupons etc to reduce the price. Over in Vietnam, there's nothing. You pay full price, so most items end up costing more than what we would pay in Australia.

    Local food is much much cheaper (and tastier!).

    • athuntershill on 18/10/2024 - 09:03

      I thought this as well, so brought two meals for the kids then walked over to check the price of a noodle shop selling Pho. It was $15 USD per bowl.
      And any drinks from the cafe/bar were $6USD and up.

      • bobbified on 18/10/2024 - 14:22

        …selling Pho. It was $15 USD per bowl.

        I have to be honest and say that I've never looked at the prices of the 'local' food at the airport, but damn.. that's a lot! I'd hope that it's a least a huge bowl! haha

        I don't know if it's true or not, but I've been told previously by locals that the stores in the airport are closely monitored for tax compliance etc, so that could be another factor in the higher prices.

  • Davo1111 on 17/10/2024 - 18:00
    +1

    eh, they can charge that much. That's why

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 17/10/2024 - 18:38
    +1

    Who goes to Vietnam (yes even at the airport) to eat Burger King … seriously.

    • bobbified on 17/10/2024 - 19:20
      +1

      I eat it when I'm starving and about to go on a long flight to reduce the possibility of the runs. The employees 'generally' go by the set hygiene protocols.

  • voo123 on 17/10/2024 - 19:34
    +1

    The western fast food in Asia is seen as higher class hence priced as such. Middle-class and above have the means to dine at places like KFC, Maccas, Pizza Hut.

  • ihbh on 17/10/2024 - 20:10
    -1

    So to be slapped with such inflated price on your way out of the country is not doing Vietnam much good in terms of its image

    What image?

    No one forced you to buy, and did you check the price before buying?

  • dasher86 on 17/10/2024 - 20:41

    Highland coffee was the only cafe I found that charged in VND and it wasn't insanely inflated.

  • jhaley3180 on 18/10/2024 - 07:57
    +1

    In the last 15 years I've been to Vietnam 5 times, often in very regional areas. It wasn't that long ago that USD was commonly accepted across most tourist sites (and non tourist areas) in Vietnam. Then you could also pay in AUD at a lot of tourist centres. HCMC has been undergoing significant change and is very different to the city it was 10 years ago. There are certainly parts of HCMC where you will be paying western prices, because, they are targeting ExPats and the growing middle class who can pay. Point being not everything everywhere is 'cheap'. In relation to airport pricing, it's a captured audience; welcome to airport prices in most countries.

    • fisherfriendman on 18/10/2024 - 09:14

      It's relative feeling for many tourists. I think airport prices are just high, but it stings especially when tourists are used to the low prices they experience after visiting HCMC for an extended period enjoying the relatively low prices, before being brought back to "international" standard back at the airport.

    • serpserpserp on 18/10/2024 - 17:13
      +1

      welcome to airport prices in most countries.

      This

  • zep555 on 18/10/2024 - 11:11

    For sure, l travel around Asia year round and just spent a month in Vietnam and agree by far the most ridiculously priced airport l have seen. There is a coffee shop upstairs at the back, maybe Highlands can't remember, that had normal prices but limited food.

  • afah0447 on 18/10/2024 - 11:46
    +1

    Its called capitalism and its fellow traveller greed.

    They may claim to communist but at the end of the day the owners of the airport arent idiots and they have nothing to lose by gouging foreigners who will never return, so whatever dong they have left in their pockets is there for the taking. Labour and overheads are so cheap they only need to snag a few rich foreign idiots to make out like bandits.

    The locals sure as butter aint buying anything there.

  • Tedsterrr on 18/10/2024 - 16:14

    There is a mall across the domestic airport (walking distance around 15-20mins from international airport) where they have food court on upper floor (open until late). There is also cafe and convenience store in ground floor. If you coming from CBD then ask them to drop you off at the mall (if you are craving for food). Also last time they stopped anyone with bottle of water as they can't take it to waiting room (similar to Bali airport). There is free tap water (treated?) if you walk around the gates.

  • Sawtell on 18/10/2024 - 17:26

    There is a pay to use lounge at HCMC i used last year about US$50 with food and alcohol including spirits and wine. Food wasn't bad either probably better than the Sydney qantas and virgin domestic lounges.

    • timhn on 19/10/2024 - 07:55

      Yes. I got the free Priority Pass and quite enjoy the food in the VN lounges than at Sydney - especially hot soup and fresh fruit.

  • pulpfiction on 18/10/2024 - 20:43
    +1

    Here I am thinking airports are filled with shops stocking high quality goods at bargain basement prices. What is the world coming to?

    USD is exceptionally common in Vietnam, especially for higher value purchases (even in local markets). Has been that way for a long time.

  • kaleidoscope on 18/10/2024 - 22:44

    Dont think any different here 😂. Departure terminal at Melb airport you must pay $5 for a cart for a 50m luggage drop off 😛. (Sure you won’t need if you are solo or couples traveller at the last second, but with the kids and stuff… such a rip off)

  • relentless on 18/10/2024 - 23:02

    Hope you cherished that BK meal because you know what you're coming back to here at HJ

    • athuntershill on 21/10/2024 - 11:31
      +1

      It wasn't bad, after a week of Pho and Bah Mi.

  • Pufff on 18/10/2024 - 23:37
    +2

    Aside from passing customs, your other mistake was to get western food in an Asian country.

  • knasty on 18/10/2024 - 23:52

    Just got back from Japan. Local food and drink was very cheap. American chains were very expensive in relative terms. Lesson learned - just go local.

    • athuntershill on 21/10/2024 - 11:30

      Yes, enjoyed our local dining experences. Rarely encouted a bad one in Osaka.

  • payless69 on 19/10/2024 - 12:44

    Damn! I got ripped off at Zurich airport!
    Bought a 1,5l bottle of passion fruit soda and nearly paid a full dollar for it!

  • yamahamoto on 19/10/2024 - 18:06

    It cost a lot run a shop inside the airport so they have to make you pay an arm and a leg for something. You can’t compare what you pay in Vietnam generally.

    • c64 on 20/10/2024 - 17:06

      It cost a lot run a shop inside the airport so they have to make you pay an arm and a leg for something

      also saves $$$ on fuel costs for the airlines . i've also heard that a kidney will get you a free trip to mexico. bargain!

  • cupcake on 29/10/2024 - 16:22

    Just another way to scam people.

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