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FIND YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY
The borders have re-opened and whilst there are elements of the travel industry that are unprepared for the industry re-opening, we wanted to experience travel post covid and meet our partners in Vietnam to view how Vietnam is going post-pandemic. In short, Vietnam is 100% open for business, it has no covid restrictions and people are living their lives, but more on Vietnam a little later.
We flew on Singapore Airlines and as always, they were brilliant however, there are some changes in this post covid travel world. Checking in at Melbourne was a long process, queuing for over 90 mins to check in, there was a lack of staff however, in the big scheme of things, this is a small issue. Once on board, at no stage did we feel unsafe, everything was clean and sanitised, and it is a requirement on Singapore Airlines at present to always wear a mask correctly except when eating or drinking.
Our flight departed on time, was uneventful and very enjoyable to be back in the air again after a nearly 3-year absence due to covid. Whilst transiting through Singapore Changi Airport, it was clear the airport is not at pre covid capacity however, Changi Airport is one of the world’s best airports and certainly ready for more capacity. Our flight from Singapore to Hanoi departed on time, and on arrival at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport we cleared customs, retrieved our bags and were out of the airport within 20 mins.
The first thing we noticed on arrival in Hanoi, is mask compliance, that is to say, there is some mask-wearing however, most people do not wear one now. On arrival, it was straight to our office for the afternoon of work before checking into our hotel, a change of clothes and out to dinner we went. A traditional Vietnamese seafood dinner was enjoyed, 1 or 2 cold beers and then returned to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
The following day and after a good night’s sleep we were excited to drive out to HaLong Bay and enjoy a scenic flight by float plane. It has been 5 years since we visited HaLong Bay and one of the first impressions, was how good the road out to HaLong is now. It is two lanes in each direction, sealed and mostly travels at 110km per hour, the 3-hour historical drive is a thing of the past and our journey out was approx 90 mins, and a pleasant drive indeed. On arrival, we drove to Tuan Chau Marina and checked in to Ha Au Aviation for our scenic float plane flight. Let me say anyone, coming out to HaLong Bay should do this flight, regardless of if you are on a day trip or having a night or two on the junk boat. We were so impressed we have decided to implement this flight into our itineraries when travelling to the north so whilst there is a slight price increase, you will understand where that money went when you take this flight.
Taking off on the water, and climbing to only 1000 feet you enjoy a great view of HaLong Bay, along with a running commentary as you fly, and you depart to the south before turning left and flying over HaLong City before landing on the water and taxiing back to Tuan Chau Marina. It is very clear a lot of development and construction has taken place however, it is still a very special location and well worth the visit if you are spending time in the north of Vietnam. Similar to the journey out, after enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, our return journey took approx 90 mins to return to Hanoi. On return by mid-afternoon, we went back to the office for a few hours of work before returning to our hotel for an early evening meeting.
Our hotel stay whilst in Hanoi was the Novotel. Traditionally the Novotel brand has been associated with the 4-star products however, the Novotel in Hanoi is a 5-star property, with a 4-star price charged. This hotel is located in the Cầu Giấy area of Hanoi, is only 1 year old, and as you expect from a 5-star hotel, is very comfortable indeed. The location of this hotel is one of its strengths as a 10 min walk you will find some of Hanoi’s nicest local restaurants and bars. Additionally, opposite the hotel is a shopping centre that very much will appeal to Australian travellers and their kids. The rooms are very well appointed and those looking for conference facilities whilst in Hanoi, look no further than the Novotel Hanoi.
Early afternoon it was time to drive to Noi Bai Airport for our domestic flight to Cam Ranh, more commonly known as Nha Trang. It would be remiss of us to mention, at the time of travelling and time of writing this, it would be strongly recommended to wear a mask whilst in the airport. Noi Bai Airport was very busy, with many people not wearing a mask and no one enforcing compliance, so in such a crowded location, there is a risk of contracting covid. Our flight down to Cam Ranh was uneventful and on arrival in Cam Ranh, we met our driver who in a private air-conditioned vehicle transferred us to our hotel, the Potique Hotel.
Nha Trang is quite a picturesque city, similar to DaNang, located on Nha Trang Bay, and the beachfront at this time is not overrun or ruined by tourists. On the days we were in town we noted the beaches were very clean, roads in good conditions and the traffic was not too heavy. The drive from Cam Ranh Airport into Nha Trang City is approx 25 mins in time. Our time in Nha Trang was again mostly occupied by meetings with travel suppliers however, we did enjoy 1 day of welcome downtime. One of the meetings of course was an inspection of the Potique Hotel, and we can see incredible potential for this hotel in Nha Trang, as explained in the following sentences. The Potique hotel is the newest 5-star property in Nha Trang City, only 3 mins walk from the beachfront, and with a section of beach, blocked off exclusively for hotel guests. The hotel makes beautiful use of combining wood with colour, is located opposite a sophisticated shopping centre, has a rooftop bar and pool offering panoramic views of the Nha Trang skyline, as well as great conference facilities. Nestled around the hotel are several locally owned traditional Vietnamese restaurants as well as those catering more for the western taste. The hotel is very attractively priced and can cater for business, single, couples, or family travellers and our experience is guests will be left feeling well looked after and rested after a stay at the Potique. There is also an advantage to staying at this property instead of a resort out of town, and that is you have access to everything and anything you need.
Our last full day in Nha Trang was spent on the beach, enjoying some much-needed sun and saltwater! On the day we were here, the water was warm, with no undertow and safe for kids to swim, with little or no pollution or contamination in the water. Unlike other areas in Asia, relaxing on the beach in Nha Trang, you will not be hassled by people trying to sell to you, or feel pressured to buy a drink. The locals were delightful to engage with and as it was the middle of winter at home, it felt so nice to soak up the sun and re-charge.
On the last day, we spent the morning doing a little shopping before meeting our driver who provided the transfer to the airport for our short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. For readers who have been, and those who have not, Tan Son Nhat Domestic and International Airport in Ho Chi Minh is a very busy airport, and we noticed in the arrivals hall in the domestic terminal collecting our luggage it was incredibly busy with people, most without a mask. In this post-covid world in a situation like this, we chose to wear a mask at all times, but of course, it is everyone’s personal preference.
Our return flight to Melbourne was very uneventful and as we landed in Melbourne, we were certainly very grateful for the opportunity to travel again after the past few years, but also very hopeful as it is clear to see, that the world can and will successfully travel post-pandemic.
