Following the opening of its new international terminal in September 2007, Tan Son Nhat operates from two terminal buildings with separate sections for international and domestic flights. Four jetways were added in the late 1990s prior to which planes parked away from the terminal and passengers took buses to/from the terminal. The capacity of this terminal, once fully completed, will be 8 million passengers per annum. After 2015, when Long Thanh International Airport is completed, Tan Son Nhat will serve domestic passengers only.

The Prime Minister of Vietnam by Decision 1646/TTg-NN has approved the addition of 30 hectares (74 acres) of adjacent area to extend the apron and to build a cargo terminal due to the rapid increase of passenger (which will reach to 11 million in 2007 and is expected to reach 17 million in 2010, compared to 7 million and 8.5 million in 2005 and 2006 respectively) and cargo volume at this airport

Arrivals
Arriving passengers deplane through jetways, although some flights may be parked away from the terminal and require a short walk to immigration that is located on the upper level. Immigration desks are available for both ASEAN and non-ASEAN residents, who generally must be in possession of a visa prior to arrival, or make advance plans to pick one up in the arrivals area prior to clearing Customs. There are toilet facilities and duty-free shops available in the baggage hall.

A currency exchange desk is located immediately past the Customs desk. There are no facilities for non-passengers to enter the arrivals area and they are limited to meeting passengers outside the terminal. It is here that passengers can pick up taxis, motorcycles or a bus into the city.

The air-conditioned airport bus, service number 152, is the cheapest way into the city. It is especially useful for tourists as it passes most of the major hotels along Đ De Tham and Đ Dong Khoi.

Departures
Only passengers are allowed inside the terminal.

Passengers enter the domestic terminal on the lower level where check-in formalities are completed; in the new international terminal departures are on the upper level. Departing international passengers must pay a departure tax (currently US$14 for adults and US$7 for children aged 2 to 12, with no charge for under-2s); as of November 2006, departure tax is included in the prices of plane tickets. Trolleys are not permitted past the security checkpoints, but smaller trolleys are normally available once the checkpoint has been cleared.