Vietnam or Singapore Airlines to Hanoi?

[Michelle2025]

Hi. Planning on traveling J to Hanoi in early October, and considering Vietnam Air (direct) or Singapore (longer, but tried and tested). Any recommendations as I've never travelled Vietnam air before? Will likely stay in north/central Vietnam and would also appreciate any recommendations regarding places to go/stay. Only have 8 days and don't want to try and cram in too many places. Thanks in advance!

 

[Dmac59]

Welcome to AFF @Michelle2025
Here is a link to a recent Trip Report by @Jim Walsh titled Exploring Beautiful Vietnam
And another 2 links to:
Singapore Airlines Tips & Tricks thread that you may find useful.
Article: Vietnam Airlines’ Great Premium Cabin Award Availability from Australia
Hope these are of some assistance.

 

[MELso]

Welcome aboard!

If you're flying out of MEL or SYD and the flight timings work, VN is fine. Have flown them in both economy and business (indeed they introduced me to the delights of business class in 2012 when they had fares to Europe in J for $3.7k). They now have fairly new 787s and A350s with full-flat seats. As Skyteam, you're probably best assigning the flights to Virgin Atlantic for frequent flyer purposes.

I stayed in the Metropole in Hanoi and my experience was, um, interesting. It's fairly pricy though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Vietnam airlines wins on the beds. SQ wins on food (very slightly), beverages (substantially) and IFE.

Breaking the journey in Singapore achieves little, except makes the flight sectors very short and not much time to sleep anyway.

I’d probably err on the side of Vietnam Airlines, which also gives priority immigration on arrival… a potentially huge time saving.

 

[jase05]

Vietnam airlines wins on the beds. SQ wins on food (very slightly), beverages (substantially) and IFE.

Been a couple of years since VN long haul and I really liked the food. I’d also add my last couple of SQ flights the food has been very average. Agree wholeheartedly with regards to your other thoughts. We are coming back with VN in late October. $1200 one way fares CGK-SGN-MEL with a 3 week “stopover” in SGN.
Last year we made the decision that in the future any night flights back to Australia must be 7hrs plus so this suits us fine

 

[JackMiles]

Hiya!
No advice to give on the flights - too many variables about you and your plans that I don't know - except to say I have generally heard pretty good things about VN.
For your 8 day trip itself, I would advise to stay in the north. Central in October can be decidedly dicey, with the possibility of typhoons really throwing spanners in your works.
As for the north, along with Hanoi you can add visits to: Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Pu Long, Mai Chau, Sa Pa... (not all of these, pick one or two). You could even just stay in Hanoi, depending on your interests, style of travel, etc...

 

[Flyfrequently]

I’d probably err on the side of Vietnam Airlines, which also gives priority immigration on arrival… a potentially huge time saving

No priority immigration arriving in HCMC from HKG on VN @MEL_Traveller 2/52 ago.
Took nearly an hour+
Went looking for the priority line, only for transfers.
Found VN to be excellent though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No priority immigration arriving in HCMC from HKG on VN @MEL_Traveller 2/52 ago.
Took nearly an hour+
Went looking for the priority line, only for transfers.
Found VN to be excellent though.

That’s a shame… there was for Hanoi last year… which is where the OP is planning to fly to. There was a sign to the left of the immigration hall with ‘business class and Sky Boss’ (for Vietjet Air).

 

[Flyfrequently]

That’s a shame… there was for Hanoi last year… which is where the OP is planning to fly to. There was a sign to the left of the immigration hall with ‘business class and Sky Boss’ (for Vietjet Air).

Yes, as also no staff monitoring/marshalling the queues.
Looked everywhere and asked at Sky Priority @MEL_Traveller - nope!
I now know why there were many staff with signs for pax upon disembarking - fast track!
Hopefully the OP will have a smoother experience.