Air passengers are undoubtedly familiar with the high prices at airports in Vietnam, especially food and beverages. These items can be upwards of three to five times more expensive than the average price outside the terminal. 

Catering services at airports remain 'hens laying golden eggs' and reader Nhat Nguyen asked: Should product prices be sky-high at airports?

He recalled seeing a family with a young child arrive early at a Vietnamese airport. As they had a long wait ahead, and it was lunchtime, the child kept asking to eat. 

The father walked around to check prices, hesitated, and bought a banh mi (Vietnamese bread) and a bottle of water. He sighed to his wife and said, “It’s over VND100,000 [US$3.9].”

A bowl of pho (a traditional noodle soup in Vietnam) with just a few slices of meat costs about VND100,000; a banh mi, more than VND50,000 ($2); and a bottle of water, VND35,000-40,000 ($1.4-1.6). 

Meanwhile, outside the airport, a better bowl of pho is priced at only VND50,000, or a bottle of water of the same size costs just VND5,000-10,000 ($0.2-0.4).

For first-time passengers or those who fly once every few years, the prices at airport eateries can be shocking.

If they truly need to buy something, they have no choice but to grudgingly pay, even though the prices seem unreasonable.

Some argued that the prices are clearly displayed and that transactions are mutual agreements between the buyer and seller.

Others suggested that airports are premium locations, with fewer food options than outside and high bidding prices for stalls, so the prices must reflect this.

Reader Nhat Nguyen claimed that airports, while being modern and clean, should not justify food and drink prices being multiple times higher than outside.

It is unreasonable to claim that the limited number of eateries should lead to price hikes, nor should the high bidding costs be used as an excuse to push these costs onto consumers.

If this is the case, airport management and restaurant owners should meet to negotiate more reasonable bidding prices. 

It is really a problem if they know the prices are unreasonable but make no effort to lower them.

It is worth noting that relevant authorities have repeatedly issued documents calling for a review and correction of this issue, yet there has been no significant change, and prices seem to increase year after year.

In contrast, at some major international airports like Changi in Singapore, Suvarnabhumi in Thailand, and Haneda in Japan, the prices of products are not much higher, or sometimes even the same as outside the airports.

Therefore, it is difficult to accept that this situation has persisted for years in Vietnam, with prices increasing year after year, without any inspection, penalties, or adjustments. 

Meanwhile, businesses continue to report substantial profits from food services at airports.

Recently, Noi Bai Airport Aviation Services Joint Stock Company (Nasco) reported revenue of nearly VND254 billion ($9.9 million) in its restaurant and catering services in 2024, while the company spent only VND70.5 billion ($2.8 million) on costs.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!