Review of Vietnam Airlines flight from Hanoi to Sydney in Economy

Vietnam Airlines VN787 Hanoi to Sydney

Flight details:
Airline: Vietnam Airlines
Flight: VN787 HAN - SYD
Reg: VN-A899
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Seat: 31A
Departure Hanoi Noi bai International Airport Terminal 1 Gate 20: 11.40PM [Actual time: 11.56PM]
Arrival Sydney Airport Terminal 1 Gate 9: 12.15PM [Actual time: 11.56AM]
Total time: 8hrs 59mins

Video: Vietnam Airlines VN787 Hanoi to Sydney

Introduction

This trip report is from Jun 2024. I had a 13hr transit in Vietnam.

I had flown to Hanoi from Ho Chi Minh City. Read trip report : Vietnam Airlines VN258 Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

Pre-Departure

I had selected seat at time of booking.

I checked online and got a digital boarding pass. I  was also issued boarding pass in Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi Transit from Domestic to International airport - T2

I had arrived at the domestic airport and had a transit time of 2hr and 25mins. Due to Bus transfer from aircraft, lost 30 mins.

After exiting the arrival area, I should near the sign for shuttle bus. Times was 9.45pm.

I saw other passengers board a buggy. I was approached by someone. who offered to drop me at international terminal for Vietnamese Dong 50.000 [Aud $ - 3.00 / Indian rupee - ₹170.00].

I agreed as I wasn't sure what the shuttle bus looked like.

Video: Electric buggy ride from Hanoi Domestic to International Airport

Hanoi International Terminal T2

Buggy ride took 5 mins to reach.I paid the agreed amount. A short walk and I was at the International terminal -T2.

I entered from the arrival area, then took escalator to upper floor.

View of arrival area.

Middle 2F had area for greeters, left baggage, shops. Directions are clear.

I checked the flight schedule.  Check-in was in Row G01-G12. I had my bag checked all the way from Ho Chi Minh City and with boarding pass issued. I could skip the process and head to immigration. There was security guy to prevent people from going to Departure level. I wasn't stopped and continued to Departure on 3F.

Departure area

Departure area was buzzing with people.

Check-in rows

Immigration and Security

I didn't want to waste time and decided to head for immigration. Boarding pass and passport was checked.

Immigration queue was long with all counters open. They had 2 counters for priority passengers and crew. Immigration took about 20 mins.

Boarding pass was stamped. This was followed by another queue to enter security. Boarding pass with stamp and passport was checked. It took about 10mins to clear security.

Security queue was short as I had to remove shoes and laptop. In this activity, I dropped both boarding pass that I had in the passport.

Waiting area

On completing the security, I was in the waiting area. My phone had very little charge and couldn't find a charging point. I decided to walk towards the departure gate and find a electric point.

For Australian flights, secondary check is conducted. Handbag is manually checked. I passed the check and went to see the ground staff regarding the lost boarding pass.

He took photo of my passport and said will inform the other staff and issue new one at time of boarding.

I waited sometime, then decided to use the toilet before boarding.

I left the waiting area, on returning had to recheck the bag. Boarding had commenced.

Boarding

I joined the boarding queue when group was called.

Flight was full.

View of the aircraft through glass.

I went to staff and informed that I had lost the boarding pass. I handed the passport. They scanned, retrieved the details and issued a new boarding pass.

I had low battery and took only relevant shots.

Following directions

Waiting on areobridge

Queue to board

Onboard

Crew at door, greeting and checking boarding pass. I showed my mine and was directed to seat on the port side.

Seat view

I put my phone on charging after reaching the seat.

Once boarding was complete, Crew distributed cold towels.

Pushback and Departure

After boarding was completed, pushback commenced on time. Captian announced flight information. Crew welcome passengers, followed by safety check and video.
A long taxi passing the international terminal. As the aircraft lined on runway 11R/29L. A Vietnam Airlines aircraft landed on parallel runway 11L/29R.

Cabin Service- Supper

On attaining cruise altitude, Cabin service started 30mins after takeoff. I had ordered special meal and was served first.

Supper - Fish with veggies and rice. The food was fresh and had good taste.

Flight path

Cutlery was wooden on this flight.

Flight information when cabin service commenced.

Top view

Waiting for clearance.  Food was good.  After supper, I was ready to sleep.

Flight information

Lights were turned off. I feel asleep immediately. I woke 3 hrs before arrival.

I got up to get fresh.

Crew distributed cold towels 2hrs40mins before arrival.

Flight information

Cabin service- Breakfast

I was served special meal. Breakfast had shrimps with veggies and chickpeas. Food was well made and tasted good.

Breakfast service for other passengers.

Waiting for clearance. My phone was charged now.

Crew handed the incoming passenger card after breakfast.

Window view over Northern NSW.

Descend

Captain announced descend would commence shortly.

Australian quarantine video was played on personal screen.

Aircraft turning East with arrival time estimated at 11.56am. 15 mins before schedule.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-900 Safety card

Full view

Waterbottle was provided to passengers after boarding.

Australian tourism video

Landing in Sydney

Flying over the South West Sydney suburbs

Turning East after heading North.

View of Chatswood from over North West Sydney. Northern approach to land. Being winter, sun is behind towards North.

City view during landing on runway 16R-34L.

Aircraft holding for incoming plane.

Airbrakes on with flaps up. View of Sydney air control tower on the winglet.

Exiting the runway

Aircraft had landed 19mins before arrival.

Taxi to gate.

Thank you message

Waiting for door to open.

Garuda Indonesia taxies to runway 16R.

Disembarkation

Doors was opened and I got ready to disembark.

Disembarkation was orderly.

Seating 2-4-2  in forward cabin

View of aircraft after deboarding.

Immigration, baggage claim and quarantine

After deboarding, I walked fast to the self check kiosk to complete immigration procedure. Answered the question and received a paper with QR code, passport details and my photo.

I then walked to self check area, where I scanned the paper, photo was taken. Door opened.

I entered the baggage claim, while waiting a women border officer approached me. She asked me for passport, Where I was travelling from, If i had stayed in Vietnam and did I meet anyone during transit.

I answered her questions, she then went to another person.

Meantime, my bag arrived. I walked to quarantine check where I handed the piece of paper, incoming passenger card and then passport. I didn't have anything to declare.

Exiting the terminal

I was allowed to exit the arrival area. From deboarding to exit it took me 15mins. The fastest exit till date.

After exiting, I followed the train sign as I had to take a train to City.

As I reached the platform, train had arrived.

I was in the city 30mins after arriving.

Aircraft and flight information

Arrival information

Flight information

Vietnam Airlines VN-A899 information

Aircraft information

Video: Vietnam Airlines VN787 Hanoi to Sydney route

Aircraft rotation

End of trip

This is the last report of this series.

Hope you enjoyed this trip report.

Thanks for reading and watching the video.

:)