Looking for an alternative way to get to South East Asia from Australia?
Vietnam is landing on the to-do list of more Australian travellers, with Vietjet launching direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City during April – with plans for Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide to follow.
While Vietjet is technically considered a low-cost carrier, its international Airbus A330s offer a premium cabin called ‘Skyboss Business’, which equates to a premium economy-style service on full-service airlines. The 12 leather seats will recline into an older-style ‘angled’ flatbed.
Perks of Vietjet’s premium cabin include 40 kilograms of checked baggage and 18 kilograms carry-on, along with lounge access, priority check-in and complimentary meals.
(It’s worth noting Vietjet doesn’t offer any inflight entertainment, so a good book or some pre-downloaded content on an iPad or similar will help the time pass)
Vietjet will make its Australian debut in Melbourne on April 8…
• Flights depart from Melbourne every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with wheels up after midnight at 12:30 am, and touchdown into Ho Chi Minh City at 5:15 am.
• Flights depart Ho Chi Minh City at 9:50 am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving into Melbourne at 10:35 pm.
April 12 sees three Sydney-Ho Chi Minh City flights per week…
• Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City flights will fire up every Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 10:15 am, with a mid-afternoon arrival of 4:30 pm.
• Passengers will bid farewell to Ho Chi Minh City every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 7:30 pm, landing in Sydney at 7:20 am the following day.
Vietjet’s Vice President Nguyen Thanh Son says the airline plans to expand to other Australian cities including Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide in 2024.
“Our direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne and Sydney make it easier and more convenient for business, education and tourism between Vietnam and Australia.”
Interest in Vietnam has soared since the country’s March 2022 reopening, with the major hubs of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi still receiving the lion’s share of business and leisure travel, though lesser known ports like Quy Nhon and Ninh Binh are becoming increasingly popular.
From Ho Chi Minh City, Vietjet offers connections to a multitude of domestic and international ports, such as Da Nang and Hanoi, and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia. Then there are daily flights with Thai VietJet into ports in Thailand, including Phuket.
SOURCE: Executive Traveller
