Review of Vietnam Airlines flight from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City in Economy

Vietnam Airlines VN772 Sydney to Ho Chi Minh

Flight details:
Airline: Vietnam Airlines
Flight: VN772 SYD - SGN
Reg: VN-892
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Seat: 30A
Departure Sydney Airport Terminal 1 Gate 34: 10.15AM
Arrival Ho Chi Minh City Airport Remote bay: 04.10PM
Total time: 8hrs 05mins

Video: Vietnam Airlines VN772 Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City

Introduction

This trip report is from Jun 2024. This report covers the journey from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City.

Pre-Departure

I booked this ticket a week before departure through Vietnam Airlines website. I selected the seat

I wasn't sure what would be served and to play it safe, Chose the meal at the time of booking.

Booking completed, I had a warning message while booking. I fixed the missing information and made payment.

Online Check-in

Prior to departure, I logged in the Vietnam airlines website to check-in. Typed the reference number and last name, I noticed that it wouldn't allow me to continue. I tried with middle name and it worked. I figured there was issue with how the full name was stored.

I was able to enter the check-in page

Agreed to terms and continued with check-in

I reselected the seat at the time of check-in

Provided the email and contact number.

Check-in process completed.

I checked for the Mumbai flight as well as the transit time was short. I got a digital boarding passes for both flights.

I noticed my middle name and last name was interchanged and try to update information online, had logged in again to correct this issue.

I knew the problem with name was due to how names are written in Vietnam and China.
 
I contacted Vietnam Airlines through email provided before the departure and received an email that some will look in the issue.

Pre-Departure

On the day of flight, I checked the incoming aircraft before heading to airport

Aircraft Information

Airbus A350 information from Vietnam Airlines website.

Seat map

Arriving aircraft information

VN-A892 - Aircraft information from Airfleets website.

Arriving at airport

I booked at taxi online and got a people mover. I was the only passenger.

As the driver took motorway, faced traffic close to airport.  Made it to airport 2 and half hours before departure.

I had a small check-in bag and didn't need a trolley.

Checked the board for check-in counter information.

Check-in

Vietnam Airlines was checking from Row F

I stood at the baggage drop queue, when called handed the passport. At the check-in,  Staff asked me where I was going and looked at the OCI card. Then informed that I can't go outside Ho Chi Minh immigration as the transit time is short. 

I said to her, I know. I won't be going out. 

Staff noticed the difference in the name. I showed her, the email communication regarding the issue.

She asked me to see customer service counter, the manager checked my details and informed ground staff to issue boarding pass. Boarding pass was issued with name as was in the booking.

My bag was underweight.

Boarding pass was issued for both flights.

After check-in, I decided to go for immigration.

Checked the flight information on Flightradar24 information was not available.

Immigration and Security

Immigration and security was not busy. Immigration was through self-check kiosk. 

In security, had a body x-ray and then allowed in the departure area. I was able to clear both in 15 mins.

Departure area

I entered the departure area and walked around as there was plenty of time for boarding.

Duty free shops

Video: A walking tour of Sydney Airport International Terminal 1

Flight schedule

✈ Spotting

I did some ✈ Spotting.
American Airlines B777-300

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-900 catering loading on aircraft.

Video: Sydney Airport International ✈ Spotting

Walking view

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - AI 301 to Delhi departing from gate 8

People queuing to fill water.

Returning towards boarding gate

Luxury shops

China Eastern Airbus A350-900

Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER

Vietnam Airlines and LATAM

Walking toward boarding gate

Boarding

Gate had opened for the flight

Flight departing from gate 34, passengers queued by groups

I joined the boarding queue

Flight was full

Boarding by groups, showed the passport and boarding was scanned. No questions asked, continued towards aircraft.

Walking towards aircraft.

Onboard

Crew checked the boarding pass and directed passengers to their seat.

Flight being full, bags loaded in the overhead bins. I put my bag too and found my seat.

I sat in the selected window seat, next to an aged Vietnamese couple. Boarding continued.

Window view, as can be seen Boeing 787 and Airbus A350's are dominant aircraft's in Sydney.

Airbus A350-900 window

With all passengers boarded, doors were closed on time

Cabin service

Crew handed cold towels to passengers.

Pushback and Taxi

Captain announced flight information followed by crew announcement to welcome passengers.

Safety demonstration was conducted while the aircraft was pushed back and then taxied. Aircraft crossed runway 16R-34L and went past the domestic terminals. I knew takeoff would be towards West from runway 25. During winter months, runway 25-07 is used for arrivals and departure late morning and afternoon to distribute the noise.

Aircraft waited for an incoming China Airlines Airbus A350-900 to land.

View of the parallel runways 34L and 34R along with the old control tower - red brick building in the center of picture.

View of South West Sydney

Flying over the Blue Mountains, heading North

Flight information

I switched the flight information after takeoff.

Crew distributed mixed nuts and water bottle 15 mins after departure. It was bright outside and I closed the window shades.

Crew also distributed the headphones. I charged the phone.

Seat Pocket Content

Checked the seat pocket content.

Heritage - Vietnam Airlines Inflight magazine

Cabin Service

Crew started cabin service with special meal. I got served first as I had ordered special meal.

Cabin service started 30 mins after departure.

Meal was chicken curry with rice, daal, bun with butter, yogurt, sauce and salad. Dessert was jelly/

When I finished the meal, other were served. Option was chicken rice or fish.

I was asked what I would like for drink and I chose beer.

Aircraft flying north somewhere near Cobar, NSW.

After meal, I took rest till aircraft was flying over the Timor sea.

Checked the flight time.

Passenger were having noodle.

My neighbour got noodles from crew and asked one for me as well.

With 3 hrs and 25 mins to go.

I got noodles as well.

My neighbour didn't speak much English, but we managed to communicate. He showed me photo of his house and BMW car in Vietnam. We chatted few minutes.

Crew came with cold towels with 2 hrs 30 minutes for landing.

Cabin service

I was served special meal for the refreshment service.

Meal view

Special meal served 2 hours 15 minutes before landing.

Refreshment contained vegetarian items. Chickpeas, Upma, Vada, Puri with fruit pieces. Both lunch and refreshment was good.

I asked for orange juice for drink.

Descend

Prior to descend, Captain made announcement.

Crew collected the unused headphones.

Cabin crew made announcements prior to landing.

Descend commenced.

Flight information, Aircraft would be arriving 10 minutes early.

During descend got a view of the new underconstruction Long Thanh International Airport for Ho Chi Minh City.

On approach

Window view

On approach

Landing in Ho Chi Minh City

Over the suburbs

Landing on runway 25L-07R with a VietJet ready to takeoff on parallel runway/

VietJet taking off from runway 25R-07L as VN772 holds short.

Thank you message displayed on IFE screen.

Taxi view

International terminal

Passing in front of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport -  Domestic terminal

Parked in front of the domestic terminal.

Disembarkation

Crew informed that passenger will disembark from the front and rear door.

Window view of Vietnam Airlines in SkyTeam livery.

Bus arrived to pick Business class passengers.

I was seated in rear and walked back.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-900 Economy seating 3-3-3.

A view that is always pleasant to the eye.

It was a hot day, almost 31 degrees, coming from cold weather. It felt very hot.

Wing view

Bus ride to terminal

As the previous bus was full, had to wait for another bus on the stairs. I enjoyed the view while waiting.

Video: Ho Chi Minh City Airport Bus Ride

Got on the bus and found a window seat. Continued planespotting.

China Airlines A350-900 arrives at International terminal.

Turkish Airlines A350-900 being prepared for next flight.

Vietnam Airlines A350-900 being serviced.

International terminal 2

Entered the terminal 2 and took escalator to upper level

Walked for few minutes and followed the Transfer sign. I had a short transit and I queue for security check. Immigration is on the opposite side of transfer security check.

Flight and aircraft information

Aircraft information

Flight information

Video: Vietnam Airlines VN772 Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City route

End of Trip Report

Hope you enjoyed this trip report. Thanks for reading.
:)