With passenger traffic forecast to grow at double-digit rates, Noi Bai International Airport has activated its peak-operation plan for the Lunar New Year (Tet) – Year of the Fire Horse 2026. This year’s highlight lies in the combination of expanded infrastructure and a “touchless” technology ecosystem, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey for passengers.

Passenger Volume Expected to Reach a New Peak

Based on airlines’ flight schedules, Noi Bai International Airport forecasts a strong surge in both domestic and international travel demand during the upcoming Tet holiday.

Specifically, during the seven days preceding Tet (from 10 to 16 February 2026), the airport is expected to serve over 725,000 passengers, representing a 16% increase, with 4,467 flights, up 12.5% year-on-year.
The busiest pre-Tet day is forecast to be 28th day of the Lunar December (14 February), with passenger volume exceeding 116,000 passengers and 674 flights.

The post-Tet period is projected to record even higher figures, with 737,272 passengers (+12%) and 4,530 flights (+15.8% year-on-year).
The peak post-Tet day is expected to fall on the 6th day of the Lunar New Year (22 February 2026), with approximately 117,298 passengers and 676 flights.

Proactive Service Plans in Place

To cope with the sharp increase in passenger traffic, Noi Bai International Airport has proactively prepared comprehensive operational scenarios, focusing on the following key solution groups:

Optimising Terminal Infrastructure

This year, congestion pressure at the international terminal has been significantly alleviated thanks to the Terminal T2 expansion projects, which have been operational since late 2025. With additional check-in counters and baggage handling systems, Terminal T2 is now capable of serving over 50,000 international passengers per day.
In practice, during the recent New Year holiday period, the airport safely handled more than 52,000 international arriving and departing passengers per day.

At Terminal T1, all 98 existing check-in counters have been fully optimised. In addition, standby counters at Halls A, B, and E are always maintained to support additional flights or to ease localized congestion when necessary.

Enhancing the “Touchless” Passenger Experience

Noi Bai International Airport encourages passengers to use VNeID electronic identification accounts for domestic flights.
At Terminal T2, modern processing systems—including self-service check-in kiosks, self-bag-drop (SBD) systems, automated security gates (Autogates), and intelligent security screening equipment—enable passengers to complete procedures independently, minimize physical contact, and significantly reduce queueing time.

Leveraging Technology to Improve Operational Efficiency

The airport continues to apply the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) model to optimise infrastructure utilisation and improve on-time performance.
Meanwhile, the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system operates smoothly across all entry and exit lanes, facilitating faster vehicle flow.

Passenger volumes during peak hours are continuously analysed to ensure appropriate deployment of manpower and equipment. Security screening lanes are ready to be fully opened during peak periods to expedite passenger clearance.
In addition, AI-powered automated public address systems, smart wayfinding, and automated flight information enquiry systems are deployed to deliver timely and clear information to passengers.

Ensuring Aviation Security, Public Order, and Traffic Safety

The airport closely coordinates with the Immigration Police at Noi Bai International Airport and Traffic Police forces to optimise security screening processes, maintain public order, and manage traffic flow around terminal forecourts and parking areas, ensuring traffic safety during the Tet peak period.

Travel Advice for Passengers During Tet

To ensure a safe, convenient, and stress-free journey, passengers are advised to note the following:

Proactively Complete Online Check-in

Passengers are encouraged to use online check-in options such as biometric identification via VNeID, facial biometric enrolment at counters, airline websites or mobile applications, or airport self-service kiosks.
Flight information can also be checked via the iNIA application, smart wayfinding screens, and other digital platforms to save time.

Arrive at the Airport Early

Passengers on international flights should arrive at least 3 hours before departure, while those on domestic flights should arrive at least 2 hours prior to departure time.

Prepare Travel Documents and Baggage

Ensure that valid identification documents (Citizen ID card or passport) are within their validity period, and that baggage complies with airline regulations on size and weight.

Limit the Number of Accompanying Persons

To reduce pressure on terminal facilities and parking areas, passengers are encouraged to limit the number of people seeing them off and to prioritise the use of public transport.

With thorough preparations well in advance, Noi Bai International Airport and all units across the aviation service chain are fully ready to ensure safe and convenient flights—offering passengers a smooth and positive start to the new spring season.