Formerly the capital of French Cochinchina and later South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is today Vietnam’s largest urban centre. Many westerners will be more familiar with the city’s former name, Saigon, which is still what the Vietnamese call their capital.
Still heavy on culture, this city is packed with energy and has vibrant art and food scenes. You’ll find that in Ho Chi Minh City, there’s a juxtaposition of old and new; glistening skyscrapers compete for space with colonial buildings; and ancient temples are as popular with visitors as modern shopping malls.
Check the price of flights to Ho Chi Minh City further below and book Economy or Premium Class flights with Qatar Airways to discover a modern metropolis filled with culture and history.
Flying from Madrid
Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is the major civil and commercial airport serving Spain’s capital. It’s the largest and busiest airport in the country, and one of the key departure points in Europe, making it of international importance.
Ultra-modern and incredibly efficient, it is nevertheless a very friendly and welcoming airport, where professional staff go out of their way to make the start of your journey as pleasant as possible. Passengers flying from Madrid with Qatar Airways will find that connections to the rest of Europe and South America in particular are well served.
Transportation and parking
Madrid-Barajas Airport is located within the city boundary of Madrid and is just over five and a half miles from the financial centre, making it particularly popular with business travellers. RENFE trains operate along between Terminal 4 and Prínicipe Pio station in the city centre, with a journey time of around 40 minutes.
Madrid Metro has stations at Terminals 2 and 4, and the line 8 connects the airport with Nuevos Ministerios in the heart of the city’s financial district. Municipal buses run regularly and journey times range from 30-40 minutes, while fleets of taxis are also available both to and from the airport. Official taxis are white in colour with a red stripe – ensure that the metre is turned on at the beginning of the journey.
Parking is available at six public parking areas. Short-term options include the outdoor P1 car park in front of the terminal building and the indoor P2 car park (which has direct access to terminals T2 and T3.
Long-term parking is available at a remote car park with 1,655 spaces. A free shuttle is available to the terminals. VIP car parks are located near each of the airport’s terminals.
Arriving at Madrid
Passengers flying from Madrid with Qatar Airways depart from Terminal 4. Note that flights outside the European Shengen EU zone may depart from the satellite building, Terminal 4S. The airport is very large, so it’s important to ensure that you arrive at the correct terminal. Allow at least two hours before your flight is due to board to check in and to pass through the airport’s very strict security checks.
Facilities and amenities
The award-winning Terminal 4 is one of the largest airport terminals in the world. It has its own nursery and play area for children, as well as a large selection of retail outlets selling luxury and designer goods, accessories and essentials.
There are plenty of spacious lounge areas, including VIP and exclusive lounges for first and business class travellers. T4 also has a full-service business centre, and there are various business meeting rooms available for hire throughout the airport.
Food and drink is plentiful and range from fast food outlets, snack and drinks vendors to excellent restaurant meals for something a little more substantial.
Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City
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