Air Asia Expands Services Into Vietnam

[george]

Thai budget airline expands services into Vietnam

Budget carrier Thai AirAsia is going ahead with its plans to expand flights from central Vietnam to Asian destinations after obtaining a license for the Bangkok-Hanoi route.

Thai AirAsia, an affiliate of the Malaysian no-frills carrier AirAsia, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the authority of central Phu Yen province to prepare for the plan.

Tuy Hoa Airport in the province will be upgraded up to international standards this year.

The carrier will launch its maiden flight on the Bangkok-Hanoi route with seven weekly flights starting on September 15, according to Vietnamese aviation officials.

Singapore’s budget airline Tiger Airways sparked the race of discount flights in Vietnam, and Malaysian budget airlines are also looking to join the Vietnam market.

-- Nguoi Lao Dong 2005-08-18

[Rinrada]

Good news... Thai /V.N.airways have held this monopoly for far too long ..as well as their inflated tic prices so hopefully now Hanoi will really start to see some benefits.

Still got a couple of mates who got married up there about 10 years ago so looks like a visit could be on the cards.

Incid. for those who have never been there it aint a bad destination.

Lots to see,some really good restaurants and although the nightlife will never compare with Bangers it is refreshing and different.

Good boozer to start off in is the od Apoc Now (assume still there)and loads of "palais de danse"....with...immagination

A visit to the war museum to see a re-enactment of how they kicked out the French/Yanks but still bashing the Chinese,followed up with a "Sing Chow" to Uncle Ho......hes very quiet and then a few jugs of Bier Hoi and you are away....a bowl of "fir ga" with some spring rolls ...mai peng and ... away.

Dont bother with the Hanoi Hilton since when I was working there it was being turned into yet another Lux hotel.

Believe they have kept a small section as a showpiece/memorial.

[ovenman]

Good news... Thai /V.N.airways have held this monopoly for far too long ..as well as their inflated tic prices so hopefully now Hanoi will really start to see some benefits.

I'll certainly be tempted to give it a go at AirAsia prices.

[jingjingna]

This is good news I am planning a tip to Vietnam in October, hopefully this will mean cheaper tickets!!

[Joey Boy]

any ideas on how much there charging?

[jingjingna]

Just checked out the Airasia website..no details posted as yet but if they're hoping to lift off with their maiden flight 15th Sept, they'd better get their act together soon!

[AsiaWolfie]

good news indeed.... seems like I will have my AIRASIA flights number 32 and 33 later this year..... always wanted to go to Vietnam.....

[ovenman]

The carrier will launch its maiden flight on the Bangkok-Hanoi route with seven weekly flights starting on September 15, according to Vietnamese aviation officials.

Tick-tock, tick-tock. September 15th approaches rapidly and still no sign of this route on the AirAsia website.

Edited September 5, 2005 by ovenman

[Bluffer]

Thai budget airline expands services into Vietnam

 

.............

Tuy Hoa Airport in the province will be upgraded up to international standards this year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How far outside Hanoi is this airport? Dont really fancy a 50k bus ride into the town.

[Rinrada]

Last time i worked in Hanoi was about seven years ago but nice place.

Figure on $20 for a taxi from Noi Bai to down town Cat Lin /Railway station/Lake area.Journey takes you over the Thang Long Bridge which was bombed during the day by the US and repaired every night by the V-N....very impressive

Getting to town (from guide)

In Hanoi:Airport Taxis charge a flat rate of 10 USD (one-way) for cars from Noi Bai Airport to central Hanoi. (must be new deal)

The drive takes about 45 minutes.

A minibus makes the trip for 4 USD per person

[Jeff1]

They must have more time on their hands , since stopping their flights to Hong Kong .

[ovenman]

They must have more time on their hands , since stopping their flights to Hong Kong .

You must be thinking of a different airline. AirAsia has never flown to Hong Kong although they do operate a Bangkok-Macau flight.

[ovenman]

The carrier will launch its maiden flight on the Bangkok-Hanoi route with seven weekly flights starting on September 15, according to Vietnamese aviation officials.

And here it is September 15th. No sign of this new route on AirAsia's website. Anybody heard any news?

[STEALTH K3]

Thats good was toying with going there in November for a few days do British people need visas to go what about thai people do the have to have a visa also.

[Nordlys]

Thats good was toying with going there in November for a few days do British people need visas to go what about thai people do the have to have a visa also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just went to HoChiMinh City with my Thai wife last week and as a tourist she didn't need a visa if for 30 days (and as a Japanese I was allowed 15 days without a visa).

[spacebass]

Thats good was toying with going there in November for a few days do British people need visas to go what about thai people do the have to have a visa also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

British citizens require a visa that costs GBP23 in London and is not issued the day you apply a few days wait, imagine that in Bangkok, so too much hassle for me. As stated elsewhere Thai people do not require avisa for 30days.

[STEALTH K3]

Thats good was toying with going there in November for a few days do British people need visas to go what about thai people do the have to have a visa also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

British citizens require a visa that costs GBP23 in London and is not issued the day you apply a few days wait, imagine that in Bangkok, so too much hassle for me. As stated elsewhere Thai people do not require avisa for 30days.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So lets say I want to go to Vietnam in Novemer sometime but I dont know when how do I get the visa do I need to know the dates.

Starting to think its not worth the hassle

[chownah]

Thats good was toying with going there in November for a few days do British people need visas to go what about thai people do the have to have a visa also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

British citizens require a visa that costs GBP23 in London and is not issued the day you apply a few days wait, imagine that in Bangkok, so too much hassle for me. As stated elsewhere Thai people do not require avisa for 30days.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So lets say I want to go to Vietnam in Novemer sometime but I dont know when how do I get the visa do I need to know the dates.

Starting to think its not worth the hassle

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you really want to know about a visa to Vietnam then contact their embassy...its as simple as that...anything else you do will just be blah blah blah.

[spacebass]

Thats good was toying with going there in November for a few days do British people need visas to go what about thai people do the have to have a visa also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

British citizens require a visa that costs GBP23 in London and is not issued the day you apply a few days wait, imagine that in Bangkok, so too much hassle for me. As stated elsewhere Thai people do not require avisa for 30days.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So lets say I want to go to Vietnam in Novemer sometime but I dont know when how do I get the visa do I need to know the dates.

Starting to think its not worth the hassle

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you really want to know about a visa to Vietnam then contact their embassy...its as simple as that...anything else you do will just be blah blah blah.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, bah blah blah from Vietnam Embassy web site in England.

If poor developing countries want me to come and spend hard currency , they will have to do better than GBP23 to get in, rip off, I will go a tenner and that is it.

Edited September 17, 2005 by spacebass

[ilyushin]

Hanoi is a nice place for a weekend trip. Look forward to the trip on AirAsia.

[Joey Boy]

If poor developing countries want me to come and spend hard currency  , they will have to do better than GBP23 to get in, rip off, I will go a tenner and that is it.

Theres only 1 person who will miss out then, in developed coutries you would spend that amount on a taxi from the airport to yer hotel

[spacebass]

If poor developing countries want me to come and spend hard currency  , they will have to do better than GBP23 to get in, rip off, I will go a tenner and that is it.

Theres only 1 person who will miss out then, in developed coutries you would spend that amount on a taxi from the airport to yer hotel

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Then there is the trip to Bangkok to apply for the visa , hang about a couple of days while they process it, or maybe trust Thai mail?

Very user friendly, so the real point is that the 3000 bht cheap promo fare to Hanoi has become with 'taxes' and visas etc a 10,000 baht or so nightmare , apparently OK for you rich dedicated tourists ...enjoy, I will miss out 'cos I won't take the bait, there are plenty of beautiful temples round here..

Edited September 19, 2005 by spacebass

[ovenman]

The carrier will launch its maiden flight on the Bangkok-Hanoi route with seven weekly flights starting on September 15, according to Vietnamese aviation officials.

And here it is September 15th. No sign of this new route on AirAsia's website Anybody heard any news?

Quick update: an AirAsia advertisement in today's Bangkok Post has this service starting on 17 October. No initial fares listed in the ad and still no sign of this route as yet on the AirAsia website.

[lambous]

Be prepared to be ripped off in Hanoi. The locals are very money hungry and are very imaginative with their scams. It will all start when you arrive at the airport and you will be offered a $20 taxi into town. Walk a few more metres and you will see a sign advertising taxis for $10.

If you have no reservation for a hotel but have a place in mind where you would like to stay, be prepared to be met by friendly man who will alert you that he is from the hotel in question and that he is sorry to tell you that their are no rooms available. He is not from the hotel, he will offer to drive you to another hotel with rooms availalbe but in reality he is just stealing the other hotel's business.

Then theirs the motorbike taxi drivers who will insist on carrying 2 passengers for what seems like a reasonable fare to be told at the end of the ride that the fare is in fact per person so you must pay double.

Not to mention merchants trying to convince you to sign 3 times for 1 credit card transaction. In the end I did and i was charged once inittialy but several weeks later another transaction of exactly the same amount appeared on my statement from Vietnam.

The best one i can remember is being told by a local that he wanted to improve his english so he invited us to karaoke. After a couple of beers our new found friend says he was going to the bathroom but never returned. Then the bill for an hour of karaoke and 6 cans of heineken is presented $200!

When a girl approached me the next day asking for donations for some cause which i cant remember, I offerred some coins but she claimed the minumum donation is $10! How can their be a minumum donation. I told her to ###### off!

Hanoi is not an easy place to get around. Barely any english is spoken by the locals. Thailand is paradise compared to there. I met an expat in his mid 20's average looking who had lived in Hanoi for 3 years and could speak Vietnamese at a decent level. However this guy had not shagged a lady for 3 years except for hookers despite claiming that he had put a lot of effort into meeting locals.

Be prepared. And by the way don't check in at the airport over there too early because it is one of the most boring airports i have ever visited. You cannot even get an English language newspaper and their is no sign of internet.

And finally make sure you have $15 to pay them their departure tax when you wanna get the ###### out of the place. After paying the $50 for the visa to get into the place, Hanoi was hardley worth it.

[knocka]

The BKK-HAN flights to start on 17 October. Flights to be bookable on their website by Sat 24 Sep. Introductory fare of 1449 baht + taxes one way.

<http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/20Sep2005_biz38.php>

[kat]

Viet Nam will be an awesome addition to Air Asia. It'll be nice if they can cover the south as well.

Halong Bay and Sapa in the north are definitely worth a visit.

[spacebass]

The BKK-HAN flights to start on 17 October.  Flights to be bookable on their website by Sat 24 Sep.  Introductory fare of 1449 baht + taxes one way.

<http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/20Sep2005_biz38.php>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i.e. 1449 baht x approx 2!!!

[samran]

When in Hanoi, only stay at the Metropole.....