SASCO Duty Free sits in T1 after security, not landside
This is the main duty free option in Terminal T1 once you clear domestic security, so you pass it on the way to most gates. Stock skews liquor, cigarettes, basic cosmetics, plus standard airport snacks. Prices are in VND, and most items scan higher than central Ho Chi Minh City shops, but still workable if you’re short on time. Staff usually take VND, USD, and major cards; keep some small bills if you’re trying to burn remaining cash.
Figure 10–15 minutes is enough to walk through SASCO Duty Free and compare shelves before boarding from a mid-range gate like A5–A10. Big-ticket spirits (1L bottles) often run 10–25% more than downtown, but you’re paying for convenience at the gate. Snack options lean on branded chocolate, nuts, and instant coffee packs, handy for last-second gifts. Fragrance and skincare brands skew mid-market rather than luxury flagship labels you’d see in T2 international.
SASCO Duty Free in T1 opens early for the morning bank of flights, around the 05:00–06:00 departures, and usually stays open until the last evening services near 22:00. Stock-outs happen on promo items, so any “2-for” liquor or chocolate deal marked with end dates on the shelf label might already be thin. Don’t expect deep tasting counters or heavy sampling; this is grab-and-go, not a long tasting bar session.
Quick tactic: check liquor and chocolate prices in one sweep, then grab instant coffee packs as fillers to hit any posted multi-buy deals; pay once, and you’re back at your T1 gate in under 5 minutes if you’re parked near A6.