VIETJET: Adds Brisbane to Melbourne and Sydney flights to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

The Vietnamese low-cost model airline has already announced routes between Saigon (HCMC) and Sydney and Melbourne to be launched in April. It’s debut in Brisbane, Queensland is to be 16 June 2023, with announcements on Adelaide and Darwin expected in the next few months.

As a low-cost international airline, it does have a 12 seat business cabin on its Airbus A330s known as SkyBoss Business. Don’t get too excited, since these are the old-fashioned leather angled flat beds, and the arrival times in HCMC are not that friendly for the 8 hour plus flying time:

Brisbane/Ho Chi Minh City flights (From 16 June, 2 per week – Monday & Friday)

• VJ84, Depart Brisbane at 23:10, arrive Ho Chi Minh City 04:40
• VJ83, Depart Ho Chi Minh City 9:50, arrive Melbourne 21:10

Melbourne/Ho Chi Minh City flights (From 8 April, 3 per week)

• VJ82, Depart Melbourne at 00:30, arrive Ho Chi Minh City 05:15 (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday)
• VJ81, Depart Ho Chi Minh City 09:50, arrive Brisbane 20:35 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

Sydney/Ho Chi Minh City flights (From 12 April, 3 per week)

• VJ86, Depart Sydney at 10:15, arrive Ho Chi Minh City 16:30 (Monday , Thursday & Saturday)
• VJ85, Depart Ho Chi Minh City 19:30, arrive Sydney 07:20

I’d do that flight out of Saigon, but not sure I would take the flight from Brisbane. That arrival time would mean you need to book a hotel room for the previous evening.

SkyBoss inclusions

For the top level of SkyBoss Business you get your meal(s) included, the seat has a recline mode; you get 60kg of luggage and a whopping 20kg of carry-on (18kg plus 2kg small bag); lounge access; priority check-in, and even a private car service between the gate and the aircraft if no airbridge. For ordinary SkyBoss, your luggage is reduced to as is your carry on.

Note that the aircraft have no in seat entertainment, so bring your device pre-loaded.

Other classes

VietAir sells tickets in Deluxe and Eco economy with reduced cabin and checked luggage components.Note that the ‘Eco category has no checked luggage included, and only 7kg of carry-on. OK for a beach holiday if your just packing swimmers and a sarong!

Connections

VietJet has great domestic connections within Vietnam including Da Nang and Hanao, Asian connections to Cambodia, India, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and even Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan!

2PAXfly Takeout

This is low cost travel. You can tailor your fare with add ons to personalise it. Want a basic fare but with seat selection and check in baggage – you can do that.

Personally, I’m not a low, or ultra low cost airline kind of guy, but when needs must . . . these prices are good.