Monday 5 May'26 - Canberra/Sydney
A Murrays bus to Sydney International, for an overnight stay at Rydges due to a 0935 boarding time for the flight to Vietnam tomorrow morning.
Tuesday 6 May'26 - Sydney/Hanoi (Vietnam)... {or so we thought)
After waking at 0500, getting sorted and a short walk to the terminal was 1st in line (Business) to check-in. Then to the lounge for breakfast. SO far so good. On checking in, I was told that boarding would commence at 0900 for the 1015 flight.
After being watered and fed, walked to the gate just after 0900, fully expecting to settle into our seats. How wrong was I. By 0930, no boarding had commenced and at 1000, an announcement was made that due to a technical issue with the aircraft, boarding would now commence at 1100. At 1130, it was then announced that the new time was, 1230. At 1300, it became 1430.
So, at this stage, feeling a little peckish, trundled back to the lounge and decided we'd wait until the screens said boarding! At 1500, the screen "screamed", Boarding had commenced and Go to the Gate immediately! So off we rushed. 1700 came and went with no further action, or announcement. 1830 saw passengers allowed onto the aircraft with an eventual take off at 1930.
This meant I and MANY others, had missed the forward connections through Ho Chi Minh City. Because of the late notice and therefore inability to notify relevant organisations/people, I lost a night's accommodation in Hanoi as well as the airport to hotel transfer $'s. I must "fess up" and say it was probably my fault as I had checked the flight for the week leading up and each time it was on-time. Bloody jinxed myself...
We eventually landed at 0034 and as we were getting off the aircraft, there were Vietnam Airlines staff asking every passenger were they expecting to transfer and where was that to. The answer resulted in being provided a certain colour sticker and being instructed to head to the same-coloured notice board in baggage claim, after collecting your baggage. This process we found out, was so we could then be put in taxi's/buses depending upon numbers and spirited off to accommodation for the night. On checking in, we each got an envelope that contained our new flight details and what time we needed to be in the foyer ready to go. Eventually crawled into a bed at 0230, which, due to the 3-hour time difference, means we had been awake for just over 24 hours. The hotel however, was very nice and the all staff (airline included) very welcoming and accommodating. The photo on the right shows a magnificent display of orchids in the hotel lobby.
Wednesday 7 May'26 - Ho Chi Minh/Hanoi (Vietnam)
Woke at just after 0600 and once organised, headed to breakfast. After walking the local streets for a few hours, boarded the bus to the airport at 1200 for the 1450 flight to Hanoi. Again, the flight was delayed, leaving at 1535. Had to then wait on the tarmac, some distance from the terminal, for just under an hour for the shuttle buses to arrive. Eventually into the hotel, which is home for the next 2 nights, at just on 1900. This called for a few beers in the bar plus some bar grub to soothe the nerves.
What was meant to be a day to ourselves, with a group welcome dinner at 1830, was spent travelling. A letter provided upon check-in explained that today required us to be in the lobby ready to go at 1800 (missed it by that much...). At this point, I must mention that our tour guide contacted me just after we checked in and apologised for us missing the group welcome dinner and said he would be at the hotel around 2000 with some food for us, which he did and it was very much appreciated. So onwards and upwards and the past few days will be nothing more than a memory.
VIETNAM/CAMBODIA - 2025 (5, 6 & 7 May'25)
