Flights within VN after Tet

[ScottThuy 140]

We were given a blue and told to come back on the 23rd to submit additional documents.. yesterday I went to the Jetstar and the Vietnam airlines sites to check for her tickets as I will arrive on the 21st I assumed she would fly down to HCMC the same day... there I go thinking again... no tickets available on either service for that date.. so I expanded the search 3 days either way... jetstar had some almost a week before and a few days after our appt. Vietnam airlines has a few seats a few days earlier for just under 200 usd 1 way... yep almost 4 times what we usually pay...

This is not a rant about an extra hurdle.. moreover a heads up to anyone planning to have to get around within VN after Tet.. plan that travel now or risk not being where you want to be...

Edited January 31, 2010 by ScottThuy

[lindal24 1]

Have her try the train. It's a whole day's trip but she can get a sleeper car for about 800,000-1,000,000 dong

[ScottThuy 140]

Have her try the train. It's a whole day's trip but she can get a sleeper car for about 800,000-1,000,000 dong

I mentioned that jokingly and she said 3 days... then I really had a laugh when I said " what about the bus?" she gets sick on long drives anyway.. I am going to pay the extra $ to just get it done and get her here...

[Bernie C 24]

Geez, that stinks. Scott, did she try talking to VN airlines directly? I know sometimes there is more available than what shows up on the website. May be worth a call. I guess as cut backs are made everywhere flights are getting harder and harder to find.

We took the night time train from Nha Trang to HCMC and that took 8 hours. Doan has family from up North who came down for her brothers wedding and I was surprised at how long the trip takes by train fropm Hanoi to Nha Trang.

As a Cessna, I've been looking for ties to the airplane people for years but no such luck or I'd offer a direct non stop flight!

Hang in there brother, GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES ALWAYS

Bernie

[ScottThuy 140]

She ended upgetting a flight 5 days early as it was the only one jetstar had and it was less than half of what VN Air wanted for the few seats remaining. She can stay with a friend in the meantime until I get there. The train takes 3 days and only costs around 60 bucks but dang. 3 days? Wow!

[Bernie C 24]

She ended upgetting a flight 5 days early as it was the only one jetstar had and it was less than half of what VN Air wanted for the few seats remaining. She can stay with a friend in the meantime until I get there. The train takes 3 days and only costs around 60 bucks but dang. 3 days? Wow!

Whats your return schedule Scott? We think about you two every day!

Three days on the train would be a bit much!! Heck, 8 hours was enough (luckliy I was very tired and slept pretty well!)

It will be good to know when you arrive and that the two of you are together! Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

[ScottThuy 140]

I arrive on the 21st and she will be there 18th.. both expected to leave HCMC around the first part of March... hoping she is on her way to US not long after me...

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Phuong wanted to take the train from Hue to HCM because she said it would save us a "lot of money", even if it did take "a little more time".

Well, "a lot of money" turned out to be around $30, and "a little more time" turned out to be about 17 hours longer than the flight from Phu Bai to HCM. I said thanks, but no thanks. I have little enough time to spend in Vietnam, and my time is worth a lot more than $2 an hour!

What's funny about Vietnam Airlines is that there is absolutely no difference between the economy seats and the more expensive business class seats. You get the same type of seat in the same cabin with the same amenities. The only difference is that you get to check in a little faster in HCM because business class uses a different counter with a shorter line. If you check in early enough, the difference is only a few minutes.

For most airlines, those expensive seats are an example of capitalism at it's finest. The handful of people who buy those expensive seats are providing the bulk of the profits for the airline, who make next to nothing on the economy seats. Their worst nightmare is that a flight won't sell out, and they'll be stuck having sold only economy seats.

[ScottThuy 140]

Her mother said no to going to HCMC early...she had her buy the expensive VN air ticket... I'm glad I just did my taxes... that accounting degree helped pay for the extra $ for the ticket... I keep checking to see if there is an opening on the day we want her to fly rather than the day after... as soon as I see the availability I am on the phone getting it switched...

twice the money for that high end seat..LMAO... who are they kidding?

[Huong and Phung 0]

on my last trip to vn. We went to Danang from Binh Duong and it took us 26 hours by SUV. It was a trip I tell you. I wouldn't recommend riding the bus from Hanoi to HCMC.

Good luck on your case Scott.

[ScottThuy 140]

Thanks brother.. She gets car sick easy.. I cant see much causing her to have to go on a bus all that way... she hated the bus from Sapa to Ta Van Villiage running the edge of the mountainside... the day we left they were towing a vehicle back that rolled off the side of the mountain... so between the exhaust fumes and the fear of an accident she can't go too far in a bus without getting sick.