Attention foodies, flying from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh just got cheaper.
East Coast-based foodies are in for a treat, with Vietjet set to begin flights between Melbourne and Ho Chi Minh City from 8 April.
Victorian Minister for Trade and Investment Tim Pallas welcomed VietJet’s decision to commence flights connecting Vietnam with Melbourne.
“The arrival of another airline from Southeast Asia is a win for the Victorian economy and local jobs – showing the strength of our tourism and export markets.” Mr Pallas said.
April is shaping up to be a big month for VietJet, with thrice-weekly Sydney-Ho Chi Minh flights kicking off from 12 April.
Come mid year, Brisbane travellers will get a taste of the low-cost Vietnamese carrier, with flights between Brisbane ad Ho Chi Minh City set to take off from 16 June.
The flights
Melbourne – Ho Chi Minh City
The non-stop service on board the Airbus A330 will initially take off three times a week, but is expected to run daily by December 2024.
Flights will depart Melbourne (Tullamarine) from 8 April. Each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will see take off at 12:30am, arriving bright and early in Ho Chi Minh City at 5:15am local time.
On the return leg, flights depart Ho Chi Minh City at 9:50am each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, touching down in Melbourne at 10:35pm.
The late-night departure from Melbourne means passengers can take advantage of Vietjet’s business class to get some shut eye before landing in Vietnam.
Sydney – Ho Chi Minh City
Sydney to Ho Chi Minh flights will take off three times a week on Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 10:15am, before touching down in Ho Chi Minh City at a pleasant 4:30pm local time.
The return leg will see passengers leave Ho Chi Minh on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with wheels up at 7:30pm for an overnight flight before landing in Sydney at 7:20am the next morning.
Brisbane – Ho Chi Minh City
Come April, Vietjet will offer Queensland’s first connection from the Sunshine State to Vietnam.
The service will run twice a week, with VJ84 taking off from Brisbane at 11:10pm each Monday and Friday night, flying non-stop before landing in Ho Chi Minh 4:40am local time.
Then, on the reverse trip, VJ83 will take passengers from Ho Chi Minh at 10:05am, touching down in Brisbane at a relatively friendly 9:10pm.
The pros and cons
Despite being a low-cost carrier, Vietjet offers a premium cabin. In saying this, ‘Skyboss Business’ isn’t nearly as flash as many of the business class seats we’re used to these days, with rival Vietnamese airline Bamboo Airways offering lie-flat business class on its 787 Dreamliner.
All in all, the 12 leather angled flat beds onboard VietJet certainly make for a more comfortable 8+ hour overnight flight than you would otherwise get in economy.
On the upside, a seat in Vietjet’s premium cabin includes a generous luggage allowance of 40kg carry on and 18kg hand luggage, meaning you can take full advantage of Vietnam’s cheap shopping. Plus business class travellers will also enjoy lounge access and priority check-in.
The real sore point? No matter which end of the plane you’re in, Vietjet doesn’t offer any inflight entertainment, so you’ll have to go old school with a good book on board this service – a good opportunity to get acquainted with Vietnamese cuisine!
Summary
Australians have flocked to Vietnam since the popular holiday destination opened its borders almost one year ago, and it’s no wonder considering the quality of food, culture and nightlife on offer.
Vietjet’s new route between Melbourne and Ho Cho Minh City joins existing direct flights on Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways and Jetstar, giving Australians more travel options to Vietnam.
Would you book a Vietjet flight to Ho Chi Minh?
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