Vietnam is a country I’ve always wanted to visit. It’s a place full of energy, where the food is delicious, and the cost of living is low. I’m currently in Japan, and I’d like to share my experience of flying with Vietjet Air from Japan to Vietnam.
I didn’t have a specific preference for booking, but while searching for flights on Skyscanner, I ended up making a reservation through Kiwi.com. I didn’t expect everyone who took a budget flight to give it a high rating, so I didn’t worry too much about the airline’s reputation, using it as a reference. In summary, I encountered no issues.
The ticket confirmation was prompt, the email confirmation process went smoothly, and I received my paper tickets at the airports without any problems.
After confirming your reservation, it’s advisable to check the airline’s website (VietjetAir.com) for additional assurance. You can obtain your itinerary by entering your reservation number and other necessary details.
This marked my first experience flying on a Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) aircraft! The reputation of LCCs, not just Vietjet Air, is unique. Although it wasn’t a rushed trip, and I had plenty of time to spare, I was still hopeful that the flight would be punctual.
In conclusion, there were delays, consistent with the airline’s reputation. The specifics of my flight delay were as follows: in total, the delay amounted to 5.5 hours.
- Haneda to Ho Chi Minh City was delayed by 30 minutes
- Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang was delayed 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang was delayed by 1 hour and 30 minutes (again)
- Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City was delayed by 1 hour and 55 minutes
When you’re traveling with limited time, such a significant delay can be challenging. The most substantial delay occurred at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. I guess it was fortunate that we had already officially entered Vietnam at least?
What procedures need to be completed prior to a flight
- Check in at the airline counter or online.
- Check baggage that will not be carried on the plane.
- Undergo security and baggage screening.
- Go through passport control.
There was a place where you had to touch the bar code on your airline ticket before going through security and baggage claim. There was also a location where you needed to present a page of your passport with your photo to a camera for identification.
At the baggage screening, I left my camera, iPhone, and mobile battery inside my bag, but no one mentioned anything. Is this the common practice nowadays? I am aware that the instructions advise taking these items out of the bag, but I chose not to do so because it seemed that others were also following the same approach.
Checked in at the Haneda airport counter
Nowadays, there is a method called online check-in, which is supposed to be a smoother process than usual. Unfortunately, my ticket could not be checked in online, so I proceeded to the Vietjet Air check-in counter three hours before the flight.
You’ll need your passport and reservation number; however, in my case, the passport alone sufficed. I checked my luggage as it was, with one side of the bag almost empty, and a weight in the 8kg range.
We are required to attach a wristband-like sticker to our carry-on luggage.
Two hours until departure! Go Boarding for some sleep!
We were supposed to depart at 2:30 in the morning, and all the formalities were completed before midnight. It was time to buy a bottled tea from the vending machine and have a chat.
This was also my first time using my phone abroad without mobile wifi, and I was concerned about the battery life.
Since I use ahamo, it was convenient that I could activate international roaming and use it immediately upon arriving in Vietnam.
I had plenty of time, so I was tempted to have a cup of coffee, but I held back.
I wanted to sleep on the plane, and Vietnam is famous for its coffee, so I carried it with me to Vietnam, and finally it was time to board!
Vietnamese on the plane! I don’t even know how to read it, but I think it’s cool!
This is what it looks like when you sit on a seat. Is it narrow? What is it like?
I’m 155cm tall and could comfortably fit in the seat.
It is actually wider than placing a carry-on-sized suitcase at the foot of a standard seat on a bullet train, I think.
In-flight menu. It’s starting to feel Vietnamese! I like the VND (Vietnamese Dong) notation!
VND is 0.0062 yen for 1 dong (as of mid-November 2023), so 50,000 dong is about 310 yen.
But I didn’t have any dong or dollars on me at the time.
Transfer of domestic flights at Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam! Tan Son Nhat International Airport. From here I took a domestic flight to Da Nang.
Passport control was smooth, only one passport was required. Checked luggage is picked up upon arrival.
After arriving at the airport, there was an exchange office, so I exchanged 10,000 yen for about 1,800,000 dong. If I want to buy something, I can use my credit card.
When boarding a domestic flight, passengers go through this long corridor.
At this point there were no Vietjet Air delays, so we went through the formalities first.
In Vietnam you also have to take off your shoes at the security and baggage check. However, I did not feel crowded and the procedure was completed smoothly.
Pho at the airport in Vietnam upon arrival
Speaking of Vietnam, pho is the name of the game, right? So breakfast was served while we waited! Lime, bean sprouts, and herbs were served on a separate plate.
116,000 dong is about 700 yen. This price is cheap at the airport. The price is suddenly displayed in Vietnamese dong, but only “116” is displayed. The last three digits disappear somewhere. Also, 116.000 is displayed like a decimal point, which seems to play the same role as a comma.
I was waiting for my next flight with a full stomach when I received a message from… that my flight was delayed again! I had no choice but to hang around the airport for a while.
From Ho Chi Minh City to the final destination Da Nang!
Time for the long-awaited departure. We are flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang! It seems that the common mode of transportation to major cities in Vietnam is often by plane. The flight from Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang takes about 1.5 hours
It always feels magical above the clouds, doesn’t it? Even people in the distant seats were taking pictures. Although I heard it’s usually cold on the plane, surprisingly, it was quite hot.
Vietjet Air has spacious seats! Just by chance?
We have such spacious seats! I didn’t specify anything; I just got it by chance! Lucky me! It’s the exit aisle. I got this seat when returning from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City.
The Vietjet Air theme song you won’t hear on your way home!
There is a song that plays all the time, like a theme song. Before departure and during a short wait after arrival. When I looked up the song, I found that it was called “Hello Viet Nam”. Yes, just like the title, the lyrics include “Say hello to Viet Nam”. So… it won’t be playing when I go back to Japan. This is something I will miss…
Pho at the airport in Vietnam when returning
I had grilled pho because I wanted a Vietnamese meal at the last minute and to use up my remaining Vietnamese dong.
However, the currency at the airport when I left the country was all in US dollars. I guess it was because I went through the Vietnamese exit procedure. Of course, you can use Vietnamese dong, but the transactions are written in USD.
A grilled pho was $8.8. At 149 yen to the dollar (as of mid-November 2023) that would be about 1,300 yen, which seems expensive.
How to spend midnight at Haneda Airport
I booked Vietjet Air on the way back, too. We took off from there a little after 17:00 and arrived at Haneda after midnight.
Although I ate before I left, I am a little hungry. I am also tired. Cafe Cardinal can help you fill your stomach. It is open 24 hours. Cafe Cardinal is an easy place to spend some time with some snacks. I ordered some salsa chips in the middle of the night.
There are several places open 24 hours at Haneda Airport, but I am too tired to look for one. The cafe is located at 38. You can overlook the check-in counter and enjoy the atmosphere of an airport. Many of the cafes are open on shorter hours due to Covid-19, so we recommend that you check the website before you move.
After eating a little, I needed to take a nap. A lot of people are asleep at this time. I took a nap on a fluffy sofa that I thought looked quiet (circled in red). In fact, it was bright and there were more pedestrians, but I wasn’t in a state to care, so I think I slept for about an hour.
Vietjet Air is for people who can travel at a leisurely pace
Vietjet Air is not alone, but there are still some aspects of the low-cost LCC aircraft that live up to their reputation.
Vietjet Air might be a good fit for you if…
- You are fine with frequent delays.
- You are comfortable in tight spaces.
- You don’t require in-flight meals.
- You don’t need a blanket.
Some upgrades for an additional fee may solve the problem, but there is nothing you can do about the delays. Personally, I didn’t mind, but if you’re not a leisurely traveler, it may not be user-friendly.
Still, it was a memorable trip for me and I am very attached to Vietjet Air! If I ever go to Vietnam again, I will take Vietjet Air!
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