This would be just a short report on my recent Hari Raya long weekend getaway on Ho Chi Minh City. Tickets were booked a few months back on a combination of SIN's 2 largest LCCSs, Jetstar Asia and Tigerair, at very low prices for the peak travel period. Guess Vietnam is still not a very popular holiday destination for us Singaporeans.
26 July 2014
Jetstar Asia
3K 557
Singapore (SIN) - Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
A320
9V-JSN
Economy Class
What I like about Jetstar, online check-in can be done 48hrs prior to flight and seats can be chosen at that time at no extra charge. Boarding passes printed and verified at the check-in counters. I chose 20A and 20C, and very fortunately, 20B remained empty even though it was a rather full flight.
Plane had arrived early back from Bangkok and parked at our departure gate C15.
Not too busy at T1 at this time of the afternoon.
Boarding soon
Boarding by rows was enforced, which made boarding rather smooth. Plane was fitted with the new slim-line seats which I liked.
Legroom was sufficient, and with the new seats, at least I can stretch out my legs.
Seat pocket contents.
At the gate.
Boarding in progress.
Slight delay due to no-shows and offload of bags. Luckily it was not long and we pushed back and had a short taxi to Rwy20C for departure.
Takeoff!
Changi in the distance during the climb.
Buy-on-board food and drinks offered, but we did not get anything. Service by the crew was pleasant and friendly as usual.
Just watching the clouds go by during the 1h40m flight.
Things started to get a bit bumpy during the descent.
We seemed to avoid the storm clouds and had a rather long approach.
Final approach.
Flare and a very smooth landing onto Rwy25R of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City. We were 5min behind schedule.
Video of landing
Parked at the gate.
Into the international terminal.
We stayed at a new hotel in Ho Chi Minh City near Ben Thanh market area, Paradise Saigon Hotel. Comfortable rooms at very affordable prices.
First evening was meeting a couple of friends for an elaborate French dinner at La Villa Restaurant. The authentic French restaurant serves really value-for-$$ French cuisine, and we pampered ourselves silly with the 10-course (actually more than 10) degustation menu! 3.5hrs worth of fine dining!
Scenes of Ho Chi Minh City
