Flight: Vietnam Airlines VN 1660
From: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) To: Tuy Hoa (TBB)
I flew with Vietnam Airlines from Ho Chi Minh City to Tuy Hoa. It’s not a busy route but I still checked flights via Skyscanner to see what my options were. In this case there is one flight a day with Vietnam Airlines and an early flight with Vietjet Air. I picked Vietnam Airlines for the time of day.
The total price was 788,000 VND ($34.40 USD).
I don’t usually check in online for Vietnam Airlines, so at Tan Son Nhat airport I use the self check-in kiosks.
Using the kiosk is quicker than queueing up, and the bag drop-off line moves faster.
Domestic flights in Vietnam have almost fully recovered after the pandemic lock down of April 2020. It still feels weird though to be able to freely travel while much of the world is struggling with the virus.
Flight VN 1660 departs SGN at 11:00 and arrives in Tuy Hoa TBB at 12:10.
we are no longer required to wear a mask in public, but it’s good etiquette to still wear one at the airport.
For this flight we were bussed to the aircraft on the tarmac. Inside the bus they had a video advertising that the bus is regularly cleaned. This is the new normal.
Today’s flight was on time, even with the extra time needed to bus passengers to the aircraft.
With the current airport running out of space, there is a new airport planned for Ho Chi Minh City.
The view of Ho Chi Minh City shortly after take off.
Vietnam Airlines is a full service airline, and they have the best economy legroom out of all of the Vietnamese airlines.
Heritage Magazine – the inflight magazine of Vietnam Airlines.
Checking out the route map for future travel inspiration.
Tuy Hoa is an emerging destination in Vietnam, and this flight route was less than a month old when I took it.
With the flight being about an hour there is no inflight entertainment. They have screens for announcements and the safety procedures. Vietnam Airlines usually offer a meal or snack on flights, but due to the global pandemic airlines have stopped snacks on short flights until further notice.
Tuy Hoa Airport is right next to the beach.
The airport used to be a US Air Force base (Tuy Hoa Air Base), and you can still see some of the concrete hangars.
Tuy Hoa is a small domestic airport so there are no air bridges.
While getting bussed to the plane annoys me at big airports, I like being on the tarmac at small airports. This is the distance of the plane from the terminal. In the background is Chop Chai Mountain.
Tuy Hoa currently only has flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with this flight being the latest addition. I think there will be more domestic destinations added in the next few years.
There is one baggage belt here, and obviously it didn’t take long for the bags to arrive.
And another reminder to please wear a mask at the airport and while travelling.
From the airport I got a Grab car to the city centre for 130,000 VND ($5.66 USD).
Overall this was a good flight option to get to Tuy Hoa. If you are unfamiliar with the city, here is my trip report for Tuy Hoa.
