The Ministry of Transport has agreed to resume the sleeping pods at Noi Bai International Airport after it had been suspended for nearly two months.

Sleeping pods at Noi Bai International Airport

The approval after the airport management board informed the ministry of their position on pod installation. The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has also signaled their consent.

Vietnam Airlines Tourism Company installed the first ever sleeping pods in Noi Bai in late July. There were 14 pods, some single and and some twin, available in Terminal T1. Passengers can rent the pods by the hour, half day or whole day. Prices are VND1.5 million for a singlular pod/day and VND1.8 million (USD85) for a double pod.

When Dinh La Thang, minister of transport was informed of the new pods, however, he ordered the CAAV to close the pods because there are so many delayed flights. “Many passengers might misunderstand and suspect that airlines delay flights on purpose so that passengers are forced to sleep at the airport," said Thang.

He added that after the problem of flight delays is dealt with and Terminal T2 is operating well, the sleep pod service could be resumed. He also noted that, if the service is not stopped, the heads of related agencies would be punished.