For a short getaway, many Singaporeans like to visit the usual Bangkok or Phuket in Thailand, or Bintan or Bali in Indonesia. Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is merely two hours away from Singapore by plane and is worth considering as an alternative destination too. During my son’s school holiday in early April, my family and I flew to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietjet Air on their Skyboss class.
It is not hard to get around Ho Chi Minh City. There are metered taxis, and they are relatively inexpensive. (Tip: take only taxis from trusted taxi companies like Vinasun and Mailinh.) To get from the airport to the city and vice versa, it should cost no more than S$18 or 300k Vietnamese Dong. Usual cab commutes will cost no more than 50k to 250k Dong within the city central.
Language is a slight issue as not many Vietnamese speaks English and most signboards are in Vietnamese. However, I find it manageable within the city central. For the outskirts and attractions, I book land tours with the local operators. TNK Travel is pretty reliable and I have booked several tours with them. They are one of the larger, reputable operators around.
This post will focus on the flight experience with Vietjet Air with a happy surprise at the end (make sure you read to the end!).
Here are eight reasons why you should fly with Vietjet Air when traveling from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:
1. Awesome Skyboss Service
Fly like a boss with Vietjet Air’s Skyboss
For a top-up to Vietjet Air’s Skyboss class, benefits include the following:
- Priority check-in
- No fee for schedule change
- Free checked baggage 20 kg or 1 Golf set
- Priority seat selection
- Luxury lounge access
- Priority private vehicle
- Food & beverage served onboard (applicable for routes with a minimum flying time up to 1 hour and 30 minutes)
Complementary inflight cashew nuts and water for Skyboss passengers
We skipped the queue during check-in at Changi Airport.
We skipped the queue again at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Seriously, we have never felt so pampered travelling on a budget airline.
2. Lounge Access in Both Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City
Usually, premium services at the various budget airlines only comes with lounge access at Changi Airport in Singapore and not on the return leg. For Skyboss passengers, you get access to the SATS Premier Lounge in Singapore and the Vietjet Air Skyboss lounge at Tan Son Nhat Airport.
SATS Premier Lounge
Inside the SATS Premier Lounge
The Vietjet Air Skyboss lounge at Tan Son Nhat Airport was comfortable with ample resting space. The lounge also provided food such as Vietnamese pho, fruits and beverages.
Inside the lounge
Beverages such as wine, coffee and tea are provided in the lounge.
Vietnamese pho
Fruit platters for guests in the lounge.
3. Quality Service
Vietjet Air takes their service commitment very seriously, especially for Skyboss passengers. We were always served first and our luggages were always among the first to come out of the conveyor belt.
We always get our luggages first on priority.
On our return flight from Ho Chi Minh City, there was an exclusive mini bus for just the three of us so we did not have to squeeze with the other regular passengers. The airline crew also made sure we were the first to board the plane and held back a busload of other passengers who were ahead of us!
When Vietjet Air says the bus is private, it really is!
4. Bargain Inflight Meals
Most of the inflight meal items cost under S$5. Which other airline offer such amazing prices? I am not just talking about instant noodles and potato chips. The menu features proper meals such as pho and spaghetti.
Meal items on the inflight menu cost only 50,000 VND (around S$3).
Close-up
5. Two Daily Flights
VietJet Air operates two daily return flights between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, one in the morning and in the afternoon. This gives you a full day or at least half a day when flying into Ho Chi Minh City.
6. Regular Flight Offers and Promotions
Vietjet Air runs many flight offers and promotions throughout the year. Stay tuned to their Facebook page and official website for updates. In fact, there is one right now where you can win a trip to Europe if you book their Skyboss ticket class.
7. Fly to 15 Cities in Vietnam
VietJet Air operates from two hubs in Vietnam – Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Other than the two major Vietnamese cities of Ho Chin Minh and Hanoi, Vietjet Air flies to Danang, Hue, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Buon Ma Thuot, Quy Nhon, Can Tho, Thanh Hoa, Dong Hoi and Chu Lai in Vietnam.
8. Gorgeous Stewardess
The Vietjet Air crew were friendly (and pretty). Their good service certainly made the flight more pleasant than usual.
Pretty stewardesses and good service keep everyone happy
Coffee or tea?
GIVEAWAY
Good news for Alvinology or Asia 361 readers! We are giving away a pair of Vietjet Air return air tickets from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City (terms and conditions apply).
To win, here’s what you need to do:
- Like Alvinology page and/or Asia 361 page on Facebook and/or Asia 361’s Instagram account @asia361official;
- Like Vietjet Air Singapore page on Facebook;
- Like and share this post with the hashtag #FlyVietjetAir on Facebook and tag up to three persons, one of whom you might just bring along if you win the tickets.
- Leave a comment below or on Alvinology to share on why you would want to win this contest.
The winner will be selected by 30 May 2015 and contacted via email.
Terms and conditions: Tickets will be two return economy class seats (excluding excess baggage). Travel dates are subject to availability.
16 Comments
i want to win this so i can bring my wife to Vietnam and drink Vietnam coffee and spring roll
Hope to win this to bring my 2 kids and hubby for a short getaway to Vietnam. And to be able to fly in this VietJet Air using their SkyBoss Service. Travelling with kids , time , convenient and comfortable is very important to us as parents. Hasten the queue at the airports and also the luggage and have priority private vehicle. The Premier Lounge is also very comfortable to be able to relax in while waiting. Hope to travel with this pampered giveaway.
thanks for the giveaway 🙂 I’ve lived in HCMC for a quite a white back in the 90s and both my husband and I hold fond memories of the country and it is our biggest wish to revisit the city again 🙂
I would love to win this because I really enjoyed visiting Ho Chi Minh and trying all the yummy food there. Also, I’m really impressed with what Vietjet Air offers based on the post above 🙂
#Why would we want to win this contest?
1. we are getting marry this Jan 2016, as you know planning a wedding is so stressful and alot of things to prepare and consider. when two families come together as one. No matter how calm, close and love we are, we still quarrel due to the stress level to manage everything, so a break is needed to catch a breathe.
2. We are doing our tailor made gown and suit. We heard that Vietnam can help us fulfil this for our wedding. It will be so memorable milestone for our wedding!
3. It will be so love and nice to have a pre honeymoon to get always from stress for a few days just relax and have fun!
4. We never been to Vietnam, a new place to explore!
5. We are very family person, so thinking that maybe we can have our 二人世界 before our marriage.
Hope you feel us too! It’s been tough. #edlovejas #edjas03012016
P.S. I post over at http://alvinology.com/ too.
Asia 361 – You Rock! Love Vietnam food , many more wonderful + interesting things to be discover…hope to win – here I come – đất nước tuyệt vời Cherry Chan Arianna Ly Lyn Geree
The reasons are simple! My hubby, my 2 young kids and I have not been to Vietnam before. It would be fantastic if we can win this getaway to Ho Chi Minh City. We love to taste the local coffee and Vietnamese Cuisines. … ooo la la!
i want to win this because I am amazed with the good reveiws and experience travel with Vietjet, a budget airlines with an excellent service. A travel to Ho Chi Minh City is a perfect destination for me and my husband because I really adore with the French architecture, the romance of WWII by having dinner on the boat to see the city at night from Saigon river and watch performance in Saigon Opera House. wont forget wish to visit the Mekong Delta and have shopping in Ben Tanh Market to complete the trip. Fallingbin love with Water Puppet Show in Hanoi month backs ago, now we really wish to watch the traditional show in HCMC. I hope by winning this, it will complete my tour to Vietnam, the Paris of the East
#FlyVietjetAir
I want to travel the world with my love ones. It’s indeed a worth trip. 😀
I need a short break. A holiday to Vietnam is ideal as I have not been to the country and i wanna enjoy the culture and food, and get to know about its people.
I want to gain a different experience be it with Vietjetair or at HCM! life is just that simple n short 🙂
HCM, really wanted to see how time has changed your city for the last 15 years 🙂 Get me there!
i always like to visit asian countries as there are so much character and life in them and the food is awesome! and its a short flight away like HCMC
Already planned the trip for the Vietnam mountains Marathon in September ! And if i win would be saving cost on air tickets and have extra money to spend on food galore!!!
I Hope to win this trip to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my husband. We haven’t been interacting with each other due to our hectic work and it seems like pir relationship is drifting apart. Hopefully I can win a chance for a romantic getaway and revive our love and passion for each other 🙂
I have been to Ho Chi Minh City with my brother, told my girlfriend about our trip after returning and she expressed interest to head there too! No better way to do it other than to fly on Vietjet Singapore to visit Vietnam. 🙂
Thank you, Asia 361, for this contest