Hanoi's most famous lake, Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hoan Kiem Lake at dusk.
Hanoi Opera House
Not sure what this building is but many wedding couples were taking photos with it in the background.
Dong Xuan Market
A must try in Hanoi, Kem Trang Tien ice-cream! 12,000VND for the signature vanilla ice-cream cone, with other softee and ice-cream bars also available.
Another must-try, egg coffee at Giang Café. A quaint and popular café well-hidden from the main road.
The hotel staff recommended this very popular store near the hotel selling savoury sticky rice. It is really cheap and delicious!
Some of the food we had.
Not forgetting Banh Mi. This store sells rather good banh mi.
And a visit to an interesting café, The Note Coffee. Café culture is quickly catching with the younger generation in Hanoi.
On the day of departure home, we took the hotel shuttle to Noi Bai airport. The International Terminal is brand new, but felt rather sterile. The new terminal is constructed by the Japanese, and hence maybe that explains the sterile-ness.
Expecting nothing much to do in the airport, we arrived for check-in slightly more than an hour before departure. Even though the flight was supposed to be rather full, the check-in counters were totally empty. Guess everyone else checked in early. The check-in agent informed that the flight would be delayed for 15min due to the late arrival of aircraft. According to Flightradar24, this was due to the longer routing flown by the incoming flight.
The new colourless economy boarding pass.
Immigration and security was swift and we were through to the departure hall without hassles. The standard duty-free and souvenir shopping available, but nothing too attractive.
There were quite a number of Fast food and café style eateries at both ends of the terminal, including Burger King and Popeyes! However the prices are in USD and almost equivalent to prices in Singapore.
Cabin crew cutouts at the entrance to the common Business lounge. Can you guess the airlines?
Flight information display
Our departure gate was still being prepared.
SQ bird just landed, about 15min late.
Taxiing in. Rather busy at the International Terminal with Korean, Asiana and EVA preparing for departure.
Delayed Aeroflot B77W being turned around for the flight back to Moscow.
SQ being turned around as well. Apparently the Hanoi route is double-catered from Singapore as there are no catering trucks servicing the aircraft.
10 November 2015
Singapore Airlines
SQ 175
Hanoi (HAN) - Singapore (SIN)
A330-300
9V-STU
Economy Class
Flight Time: 3h02m
Time for boarding, with boarding announced by groups and was orderly. With the usual pleasant greetings by the SQ crew, I proceeded to my seat at 59A. Guess most of you will be very familiar with the seat now, but on this aircraft, the footrests have been removed. Not that I missed them though.
Out the window. It was raining slightly.
On each seat was a pillow. Blankets would need to be requested from the crew.
Inflight magazines were similar to the inbound flight. However, this flight has the brand new safety card design. Should have taken one of the older cards off the previous flight as a souvenir!
Ear pieces were also pre-set at each seat. As reviewed by many, the sound quality from these cheap earpieces is hollowly and bad, but it is actually able to block out some aircraft engine noise.
Boarding completed rather swiftly and hot towels distributed. Economy class was almost full, with most passengers transiting at Singapore to other destinations it seems. Quite a number of Malaysians transiting in Singapore to KL and Penang on the flight.
Pushback and safety video played.
Only had a very short taxi to Rwy11L.
And we are good to go!
Video of the takeoff from Rwy11L.
Breaking through the clouds to glorious blue skies.
Started with the movie, Ted 2.
Lunch was served shortly after departure. No pre-lunch beverage/nuts service was offered and it seems that SQ has also scrapped the Economy menus on this sector, even though the flight is scheduled at more than 3hrs. Guess Hanoi must be a really low-yielding flight. Meal were served from the front and rear of the aircraft and choices were offered verbally by the crew.
Lunch is served. From the water cup and butter packaging, the catering is definitely from Singapore. We were offered a choice of Chicken with rice or Pork with potatoes. On the tray were also a starter, warm roll and a dessert. Looks like SQ has reinstated the starter on Hanoi flights, but sacrificed the menu booklet.
I had the chicken with rice option. The chicken was in a slightly spicy gravy and tasted not bad. However portion seems a bit small. Not sure if it is due to the new casserole. Also had a juice and tea to go along.
Starter was only a very simple millet salad. Dessert was a chocolate mousse.
Main course of Chicken with rice.
The other Pork with potato option, which looked much more generously portioned and tasted slightly better.
The chocolate mousse dessert was fantastic!
With the almost full cabin. the crew on this flight definitely worked hard but still remained professional and all smiles. Trays were cleared soon and more drinks offered. I grabbed an apple juice.
Cruising over Vietnam and leaving the coast of Vietnam.
Visit to the lavatory, with amenities still present.
Cabin view.
Flight path.
A bit of Stephanie Sun MTV,
And a bit of Katy Perry's concert.
And we are starting the decent into Singapore.
Short video of the descent while flying pass Batam.
Approach and landing on Changi's Rwy02L. We arrived more than 10min early despite the late departure due to the short flying time.
Video of the landing.
Taxi to the gate.
Parked at Terminal 3 Gate B1. Disembarked to thank yous by the crew.
Our aircraft in the sunset.
Thanks for reading and all comments are sincerely welcomed!!
