VietJetAir from Phu Quoc to HCMC and Da Lat - delayed forever

At 7 PM we left our nice room and resort and headed to the Phu Quoc airport with a taxi. A short drive later we were at the airport, very quiet this morning and check in was easy. We made it through security in no time and then realised our flight was delayed. 30 minutes - then one hour. That also meant that our connection in HCMC was gone, so when we eventually took off with our flight we didn't even have to wish for a fast flight - it was too late. Unless of course the next flight was just as delayed. Which it wasn't.

The Da Lat flight left according to schedule from HCMC at 11 AM so we got our luggage and headed for the VietJetAir counter where a very nice woman gave us a free change of flight to the later departure - leaving at 8 PM. A lot of hours to spend in HCMC where check in wouldn't open until two hours before departure which meant that we had to sit outside at one of the nice cafés with no A/C and look after our stuff. 

On the upside being stuck here meant we had access to some of the few ATM's that will let us take out more than two million Dong per transaction. There are a couple at the airport where the limit is five million Dong. Two million with the added fee's is ridiculous - it is not even USD 100 plus fees. Five minutes later and we were loaded with 10 million Dong. You feel so rich here in Vietnam. And we still had five hours and fifty five minutes to wait until check in would open up. 

Five hours later we both reached the "end of the Internet" having spent most of the day surfing web pages and updating Facebook. Internet at the airport is free and fast. Perfect for missed connections. Just before check in was about to open we got a mail from VietJetAir - announcing another hour of delay. We checked in at 6 PM, our flight got delayed until 9 PM but we had good dinner at the airport so when we finally made it to Da Lat airport some 30 kilometres outside of Da Lat town we were happy to see the shuttle bus waiting for us. We were dropped off a bit from our hostel, took a taxi, got our room just before midnight and crashed on the bed. Two 30 minute flights and 17 hours of waiting and a bit of bus and taxi transport in one day. It would have been slightly faster to take the bus and the boat but who cares. We are here and the place seems nice.

7 AM and we're on the road

Phu Quoc international airport

Waiting forever

Delayed forever

Ho Chi Mihn City from above

Da Lat airport shuttle

Hostel with scooter garage

One year on the road, leaving Myanmar, going to Vietnam

So this is what it feels like when you've been on the road for a full year, 366 days in our case going to 18 countries on four continents, country number 19 hopefully entering the list this afternoon when we make it to Vietnam.

Taxi from the hotel at 10, arriving at Yangon International airport at 11, check in, money exchange, immigration and security done in less than 30 minutes and then wait a bit. And suddenly being in a conversation with a Danish family, mom, dad and adult daughter who was an expat in Vietnam. So we share a bit of experience on our travels in Myanmar and she gave us a few tips for Ho Chi Mihn city before we boarded the VietJetAir-Airbus and left Myanmar on time.

Thanks for giving us so many nice travel memories, Myanmar. It has been great to be here. A short two hours later and we touched down in Ho Chi Mihn city after a beautiful flight. We knew that getting our visa on arrival were going to take a while, but after some 30 minutes of waiting we had our passports back with a brand new three month visa for Vietnam. Then we headed out of the airport with our luggage and found an ATM that would accept our credit cards. Took a couple of attempts but loaded with millions of Dong we boarded the local bus and for 10.000 Dong each we made it to the city centre and walked the last bit through chaotic Ho Chi Mihn traffic to our hotel - Pullman Saigon Centre and were checked in to our suite on the 26th floor. Sometimes it is right with a big of luxury.

We just managed to make it to the 30th floor lounge for some drinks and light dinner just before they closed down service at 7 PM, and then we enjoyed the skyline and the company up there. Having a nice room we decided to stay in for the evening, got a big bucket of ice to chill our bottle of champagne and then headed across the street for some sushi and some in-room dining.

Back at the room and we celebrated us now being on the road for a full year, having made it to the last country on the list and basically just being where we are. Cheers to a year on the road. We are ready for Vietnam.

Good morning Yangon

Ready to fly

Coming in to Ho Chi Mihn City

Walking the last bit

Our nice big room

Champagne on ice

Drinks and food at the lounge

Somebody's enjoying the sofa