My Vietjet Red-Eye Adventure: MEL to SGN
Just last week, I hopped on a Vietjet red-eye flight from Melbourne (MEL) to Saigon (SGN). Snagged this one-way ticket a mere 6 hours before departure for AUD 1.1k – not a terrible deal!
Lounge Life (and Delays!)
The aircraft was delayed by 45 minutes, which meant extra time in "The House" lounge. Honestly, it was pretty average. I arrived at 11:45 PM only to be told the buffet was closing at midnight! The suggestion was to load up a plate and leave it at a table if I wanted to shower first. Talk about a rush!
Thankfully, the bar stayed open until departure, serving up basic wine, beer, spirits. Cocktails were likely an option too, if desired.
Boarding and Amenities
A boarding announcement finally came 10 minutes before the scheduled time, so we all headed to Gate 7. Boarding kicked off 15 minutes later. I was pleasantly surprised to find a pillow, blanket, and amenity kit waiting at my seat. The crew were super helpful, offering to stow luggage, though I managed on my own.
Before takeoff, we were offered chia seed peach tea! The menu was presented, giving me a few minutes to ponder my in-flight dining choices.
Culinary Delights in the Sky
After takeoff, dinner was a delicious Vietnamese sticky rice with meatloaf and pickles – a traditional Lunar New Year treat. This came with prawn salad, a warm bread roll, and mochi for dessert. Of course, I had to order a tequila sunrise to complete the experience!
The crew also surprised us with macadamia nuts, raisins, and fresh fruit later on.
Breakfast was a flavorful Bún bò huế – that spicy beef noodle soup from Huế, central Vietnam. It was served with a warm croissant, yogurt, and a Vietnamese iced coffee. Yum!
Keep in mind: Other items from the buy-on-board menu were available throughout the flight, totally free of charge.
Verdict: Vietjet for Vietnam?
Overall, Vietjet is a solid choice for a red-eye flight to Vietnam. Landing in the morning means you can hit the ground running. A private bus awaited business class passengers, and we had access to priority services like passport control, a huge time-saver upon arrival!
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