A new route for VietJet - direct flights from Brisbane to Ho Chi Minh City for $341 return.
Dates are August to November 2023. When you search for these, input some dates and tick the box that says 'Find the Lowest Fare'. Then, in the price grid, you are looking for the '$0" fares. You'll only pay the taxes and fees on these. FYI these only include 7kg hand luggage, plus a 2kg small item.
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Absolutely the perfect time to go if you hate being dry. That's peak wet season in Ho Chi Minh
Which is why I said "particularly if you want to get up to Hoi An and Danang". Sorry if I wasn't more clear.
Nov is the perfect time, it's getting a bit cool and coming into dry season.
In cv05 defence he did mentioned Hoi An and Danang which is indeed perfect time to go. There was no mention of Ho Chi Minh in there.
The flight is to HCMC
But also be careful as central VN has monsoon season around this time.
Can vouch for this 100%. I was in Da Nang about 10 days ago, everyday was like 38c and stupendously humid. Love me some warm weather but it was brutal. When you want to be out and about its just debilitating during the day. Icing on the cake i got sick last few days and on a second course of antibiotics now still trying to recover.
Yeah hate to see how many pills they make you take a day.
Just 2. :)
Been there - sick in nha trang in that kind of humidity and understand how brutal it is.
Stuck in a hotel room with reverse cycle aplit system for a few days. Wasn’t a good enough hotel for room service etc either
Yeah, but ordering food via Grab is a fun lottery.
I got really sick with sinusitis in Hoi An in 2018, I literally thought I might die. They gave me some antibiotics in tablet form which didn't do anything, I saw a couple of doctors at I think an international type hospital and it wasn't until I saw a local community doctor who put me on an antibiotic drip over 3 sessions over 3 days that I came good. He also fed me other fluids via the drip, not too sure what. When the bill came I was thinking I'd just claim it through insurance but I don't think the whole thing even came to 60 bucks.
I've been here a few times now, always in August/September. I'll never return in May/June, the 38's combined with the humidity are brutal.
Sounds awful! My symptoms are like Sinusitis mixed with bronchitis although id say its highly frustrating not severe enough to feel my health is in actual risk.
I did note there seemed to be a lot more sick people in vietnam than i notice day to day in Sydney. Hopefully my next trip overseas in 2 months time i have better luck!
@Xizor: Hopefully you'll be right. I haven't noticed any sick people I haven't been sick this time myself and am coming into my third week.
@cv05: Amazing. Keep those fingers crossed mate. I went syd-hcm-da nang and saw sick people everywhere (the cough gives it away). All flights, all airports, plenty in da nang. In the news too the increase. Im sick for 2 weeks now, partner now also sick, and both tested positive for covid today. Not sure if thats what i had initially (didnt test) or since returning but am due a change of luck i reckon lol
Return non-stop? Wait, does it even land in HCMC?
/s This is crazy cheap for the offering. Hand luggage only will be the killer for most. Anyone know the extra baggage surcharges?
20kgs is $45 each way (30kg = $68….90kg = $404). food is ~$13
When doing luggage there is some +2kg cabin luggage for $0.
Hand luggage only will be the killer for most
Never understood why you need anything more than hand luggage when going somewhere warm. 3 pairs of shorts, 5 T shirts, 5 pairs of undies, and toiletries. This should last you months, and if you wear through anything, buy more there.
That's just 3 situations.
Ps. I didn't neg you. You're right but only really for super light travellers which isn't most people.
Most people have never tried.
But they always tell me it's "impossible"!
Many take too much that is rarely used. You can easily buy most, if really necessary, at your destination. It's amazing what we really don't need on holidays / journeys. Until we try.
Travelling light is very freeing💡
Have travelled light (carry-on only) on all my many overseas trips of up to 3 months each, since 2006. Never regretted it.
(Lugged 25k around UK for 3 months in 2005. I learnt my lesson!)
Travelling to colder places in the same trip.
Never been a problem including freezing places. That's more a problem on long trips covering different countries travelling months, across seasons. eg My journey from hot Southern China to freezing S. Korea.
(Down gear & hiking thermals are very warm, small & light.)
But usually plan only 1 or 2 climate zones per trip. I always pack a set or 2 of light weight thermals, just in case plans or weather change. If it gets far too cold, I find somewhere warmer🌞
bring back gifts/souveniers
Have sent back excess gear / purchases a few times. Was much cheaper than paying for luggage.
Most of my souvenirs are local clothes bought on my travels. Often give away some old clothes at end of trips to needy locals! So no excess weight.
As for gifts - most here have too much already. I share my travel stories!
And you can wear excess & heaviest clothes onto flight, then remove. Take a plastic bag to store it.
Have brought back so many old Japanese robes that way, with only carry on.
With 10kg carry on only, I've taken my light weight camping gear, hiking boots & warm clothes for 4 week trip to Japan in Winter.
(2p tent, down sleeping bag, Exped down filled mat, camping stove & pots, etc)
Slept free on remote beaches. Woke to find snow line about 200m above on nearby mountain - so was bloody cold outside. Was toasty warm. Later beach was covered in snow.
Its quite possible to travel light, even "Travelling to colder places"!
Warmer places are a breeze.
Sure, if all you're packing is clothes for yourself.
There are people who travel for work or sports and bring their own equipment. Have you ever seen someone lugging a surfboard through the airport, or a bag filled with tripods, 2+ camera bodies, several lenses?
Just a decent Lowepro bag weighs ~1-5kg. Let's say the bag weights 2kg + 1.5kg Tripod + 1.5kg Camera and ONE lens + 2kg Laptop = 7kg, no clothes, no toiletries, just hobbyist photography gear. Not professional, who could easily hit >20kg in gear.
It can add up quick, so it's all about what individuals value.
"Have you ever seen someone lugging…"
Yes, that's why I've learnt definitely not to do it!!
What sort of holiday is lugging everything??
(People lugging are prime targets for theft!)
Ah, you're "besttraveltech"… or is that "lotsoftravelstuff"??
Seems you are defending your dependency on taking so much "stuff"😉
Travelling light is just an option.
Most take too much. But why they think they need to bring it all is interesting.
Sometimes people tend to take lots of "stuff" from home to distance & protect themselves from where they are visiting!! What are they afraid of??
They miss so much in the moment - taking photos etc, only to be experienced later.
As I commented above about travelling light…
Most people have never tried.
But they always tell me it's "impossible"!
For many years, I've always traveled carry-on only, with a 450g day pack for 4 week trips overseas. Got a few free in a promotion. Had such great adventures😀
Easy to find light travel gear, as many prefer the wonderful freedom afforded by travelling light. There's even specialist suppliers, even for "besttraveltech"!
My neighbour in his 50's, excitedly told me today about how much more enjoyable his & his wife's recent overseas travels were. Because they travelled light for the first time! He's a convert now!
If you are carrying heavy specialist gear (or your example of a surfboard - which is an extra oversize baggage charge) on a short stay in Vietnam, that's never going to be light travel.
And a lot to take care of & hopefully not lose or get stolen!! (That can ruin a trip!)
That really misses the point of travelling light & flexible. Being aware of where you are, not just concentrating on your stuff!!
[Observed professional photographers during my 12 day through hike in Tasmanian mountains. They saw so little - just concentrating on the money to made later from the photos. They were so rude & ignorant. Lugging their heavy gear.]
Take the time to consider what you really need to take, rather than your long list of expensive "besttraveltech"🤔
But as I commented above…
I've taken a complete set of camping gear (incl tent, stove, etc) & winter clothes in a suitable sized 1kg 45L backpack to Japan - under the then 10kg carry-on limit. (Just bought fuel for stove there.)
So it's quite doable!
It's all about what we think travel or an adventure is…
It's an enjoyment for most.
Lugging is never enjoyable.
What sort of holiday is lugging everything??
If you're lugging a surfboard, then I'm assuming a surfing holiday. But not everyone that flies is on a holiday, so they could be lugging all types of gear.
Seems you are defending your dependency on taking so much "stuff"😉
I recognise that people travel for all different reasons, in all types of ways. 1 large surfboard isn't "so much", but it's still heavy.
Sometimes people tend to take lots of "stuff" from home to distance & protect themselves from where they are visiting!! What are they afraid of?? They miss so much in the moment - taking photos etc, only to be experienced later.
I agree, but it's beside the point. If someone's carrying a bag of camera gear on a photography trip, it doesn't distract from the photography trip, and it's still heavy af. I do this regularly.
If you are carrying heavy specialist gear … that's never going to be light travel.
Exactly? Not everyone is try to travel light… Why are you trying to push your way of travelling on others? Not everyone is trying to travel light to walk around and not get robbed. People travel for sports, education, artistic hobbies, work. Some people are just plain migrating.
Why are you trying to push your way of travelling on others?
I'm not.
That's how you are interpreting it, defending your lugging oriented view!
I replied to you above
Travelling light is just an option.
As I pointed out many just say it's not possible! They refuse to admit travelling light is ever an option.
They won't even consider it!
That may be the case for some. But not being aware of the benefits of light travel, they may be missing out. (As my neighbour just found out!)
So it's giving balance to the very one-sided view of travel usually presented… Lugging lots of luggage.
Travelling for decades, I've often been forcefully told to buy the latest gear - by besttraveltech guys. They just were narrowly focused on the gear, but we're oblivious to the amazing experiences in front of them. They just saw things to "shoot", "capture", document, with their "amazing gear"! The gear was about all they experienced.
I travel for the amazing experiences & interactions with locals, not the gear😉
Lugging is considered normal, as dearer airlines give much large luggage allowances. So many take as much as allowed.
People in almost all discount airline Deals are quick to criticise the lack of included baggage. They expect to take lots of luggage!
It's how I flew overseas for many years (up to 9 months a year), before thinking about what I really need to take, rather than how much I could fit in!
I learnt from other travellers over many years. And my own lugging mistakes! Lugging is tiring.
Many on their trips, ask themselves "Why did I even bring this stuff?"🤔
It's worth experiencing, for the freedom it brings to travel.
Rather than being slaves to the piles of "stuff" we brought from home. The "stuff" gets in the way of the experiences.
I'd Rather be Travelling, than lugging😉
Can't imagine going back to lugging!!
I'm not. That's how you are interpreting it, defending your lugging oriented view!
I'm not "interpreting it" that you're pushing your way of doing things, you're explicitly making that statement:
Yes, that's why I've learnt definitely not to [carry luggage]! What sort of holiday is lugging everything??
See?
So it's giving balance to the very one-sided view of travel usually presented… Lugging lots of luggage.
1st-Amendment said that they never understood why people bring luggage, and I gave some valid examples. There's no one-sided view here.
Rather than being slaves to the piles of "stuff" we brought from home. The "stuff" gets in the way of the experiences.
Again, it depends on the reason you're travelling…
Can't imagine going back to lugging!!
That's great. Personally, I enjoy a full pack of gear. I do ruck runs with sand bags for fun.
Going back to my original comment, it's all about what individuals value.
it's all about what individuals value.
As I pointed out above, our very different travel oriented usernames point out our very different travel values.
You: besttraveltech - travel is about the gear you take
Why you won't travel light!
Me: Rather be Travelling - it's about the experience of travel.
Why I love to travel light!
you're pushing your way of doing things, you're explicitly making that statement:
Yes, that's why I've learnt definitely not to [carry luggage]! What sort of holiday is lugging everything??
No. I simply illustrated how I arrived at my views with my personal experiences over decades of overseas travel - with & without lots of luggage.
Again, it's just an option!!
My consulting work with corporate & other clients, was focussed on why they did what they did, from usually unknown drives & motivations.
By exposing the reasons hidden behind their decisions, it cleared away a lot of the impediments to their success!
I apply that process to my life & travels.
You: besttraveltech - travel.is about thr gear you take
The whole point of my focus on travel tech is so that other people can figure out exactly what they need and pack accordingly. Whether that be to pack light like you, or to which camera gear you should invest in to get into travel photography. But you have this ridiculous idea that it couldn't possibly be about "the experience of travel" when people are travel photographers… or musicians, surfers, students, etc.
It's nonsense. For a traveller, you're extremely closed-minded to other ways of life.
What sort of holiday is lugging everything??
You don't think other people's preferences constitute a valid holiday. Even though we're not explicitly talking about holidays, as I've pointed out, because there are many forms of travelling other than holidays. It's like you've never seen a backpacker before.
@besttraveltech: Lol! You're the closed minded one😜
I keep saying light travel is an option.
Just putting a different viewpoint & my reasons.
But you're too set in your ways to see other ways!!
I've even said I've lugged luggage. But many don't need to do that - if they consider what they really need.
If they can't cut back, that's ok by me.
But its an.option worth trying.
Lol! You're the closed minded one!
How am I closed minded? All I did was give an example of people who need more than carry-on lugage. Then you came along with your "What sort of holiday is lugging everything??" nonsense.
Just admit that lugging things around is a perfectly reasonable holiday for people who want to do that.
If they can't cut back, that's ok by me.
So you've come here to say it's "ok by me" if people cut back on luggage? That's all you're here to say?
@besttraveltech: Sorry you're so triggered & defensive over a simple travel suggestion.
Hidden your comments so that won't happen again.
Bye
@INFIDEL: No, no. I actually expect you to answer. Don't pretend like you were just giving a suggestion when you responded to me out-of-the-blue with passive-aggressive comments like "I'd Rather be Travelling, than lugging",
1) How am I closed minded when all I did was give an example of people who need more than carry-on luggage?
2) Do you admit that "lugging everything" is a perfectly valid holiday for people who enjoy doing that?
3) So all you've come here to say it's "ok by me" if people cut back on luggage?
Remember that I've never posited a superior way to travel. I've only said that there are many valid ways of travelling. You've totally invalidated other people's preferences with comments like "Lugging is never enjoyable" as if you're never heard of backpacking before.
A real traveller would never own a 50L backpack, right? 🙄
That website is a pain
I just click thru not knowing what I have click as it is in Vietnamese.
You can change it to english at the top of the screen.
Travel booking roulette! I like.
It isn't designed very well, once you get used to it it's ok. I find it easier on a desktop.
People if you are not from/buying in Vietnam or VND DO NOT buy those E-vouchers. It only saves you 100k VND which is like <$10, I thought just do it cause I'm going to buy tickets anyways, that 100k VND could be useful to buy a few meals in vietnam. Turns out cause I paid in AUD for my flight tickets, the voucher was not acceptable. It took ages for my Fiance in Vietnam to find out for me. Calling them or emailing them was useless.
Otherwise, I have flown with them in April, I liked it given the price. No major delays. You pay what you get for.
so maybe equivalent to AirAsia, Scoot, Jetstar? 8hrs isn't too bad.
Do they serve free booze on the plane or do you have to buy/BYO?
Everything is BYO, including oxygen
What e-voucher are you talking about? Also does Vietjet allow you to bring your own food on the plane?
Evouchers 5% discount (they mention up to 25% discount, but they don't mention how)
https://evoucher.vietjetair.com/
I googled and found this
https://www.vietjetair.com/en/FAQ/in-flight-1619722334287#:~….
3: May I bring my own food on board?
For health protection during the flight and not being affected to other passngers, Vietjet has restricted outside food and beverage carried and used on board.
which is a bit crap on a nearly 9hr flight.
Yeah I'm aware google says that but I'd imagine people do bring their own food on these budget flights and whether there's any repercussion if they find out.
@nightelves: We took food when we flew Da Nang to Singapore in April. Didn't realise we weren't allowed to bring food and no one said anything onboard. Just don't take messy or strong smelling foods like boiled eggs etc and you should be fine. We always take food and snacks with us when flying budget airlines. Never had issues.
@Tinky Winky: Yeah I thought so, as I know other budget airline have said you can't BYO food but it's not enforced. Good to know.
@nightelves: Yep same, have brought food with me on many Scoot flights which have the same policy.
Like @Tinky Winky mentioned, best not to bring food with strong odour and clean up after yourself and you won't have an issue. If you're paranoid, maybe wait until the cabin crew have dropped off pre-booked meals to other passengers. If they see it, they might have to say something. Otherwise ignorance is bliss for them :)
@ryefig: Even if they say anything, tell them the menu you saw online didn't cater for your 'dietary requirements' ;)
i'm literally flying Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh tonight, i got bad tonsilitis and just got out the hospital so I essentially need constant liquid, i'd be happy to update what they do when i pull out a few bottles of water and snacks, I'm sure they'll say nothing however
Did you compare the price difference for the flight in VND and AUD? If you have a Wise card or another card with a good rate, it might be worthwhile paying in local currency for airlines. I paid in VND for our flights in April and saved around $15 because their exchange rate wasn't great. Not much savings but it adds up.
I had the opposite, about $15 more expensive when changed to VND.
Interesting. Only thing I can think of is that it could depend where the flight originates from. I booked Vietnam > Singapore.
Oh a nice cheap stepping stone to get from BNE to BKK until Brisbane finally gets direct Bangkok flights again, one day. :(
You won’t be able to do that in USD25 official single entry Evisa
Not sure what is good agency for multi entry visas
Good I have a second russian passport. No visas for stay for less than 15 days
Good for you but there is a catch: minimum distance between two 15 days visa exemption is 30 days. At least used to be.
@resmansg: E-visa is single entry so if you traveling via Vietnam on separate bookings and then coming back same way you need two visas.
If you have passport from a country with visa waiver Vietnam used to have 30 days gap requirement before re-visiting Vietnam visa free.
@evgpek: Oh right, I checked the news and saw that they proposed to change the e-visa to 90 days for multiple entries. Hope this will be in effect soon!
Handy deal, if u had a fight with ur wife n wanted to go somewer on a short trip to calm urself
Damn that puts a new meaning on "just going out to walk it off"
any deals from melb?
I managed to get just over $400 return from Melbourne.
Which dates did you book?
I had booked one way from HCMC to melb a month ago for 230$ , flew a weekback and i was thinking i had got a killer deal. For any one living in brissy, this is a no brainer if thinking of flying to Vietnam
How was your experinece flying with Vietjet?
It was decent. The prices for extras, like seat selection, food and luggage are quite reasonable as compared to other budget airlines. For my direct flight from HCMC i was able to select a window seat for $9.
Good leg room and options to buy food?
@Deal finder: Leg room is what you'd expect from a budget carrier, on the lower side. However, I'm tiny, just 170 cm so it has never been an issue for me. Onboard food options are there, they are cheap but they are not great. Would recommend pre booking food online before flight for better options.
Just booked from Sydney. Make sure to tick the free extra 2kg hand luggage option, to receive a total of 9kg.
Found Sydney to Ho Chi Minh - 10 Aug to 23 Aug - $370.
Amazing prices - I've flown Vietjet in Vietnam many times and never had an issue.
Vietjet seems to have a very liberal cancel refund policy, only 50aud. Good option if the wife is happy again.
Weather wise those dates are the perfect time to go, particularly if you want to get up to Hoi An and Danang. I'm currently in Danang for a month and am kind of regretting the choice, the heat is a little hotter than normal hitting 38 and humid.