Travel from Melbourne to Ho Ch Minh with Vietnam Airlines on Flight VA 780 departing Melbourne at 11.35am and arriving in ho Ch Minh at approximately 8.00pm (AEST).

Gavin picked us up on Monday 2nd October 2023 at 8.15am and we had a good trip to Melbourne International Airport at Tullamarine. We had been intending to fly on Sunday 1 st October 2023 but we had problems with our new passports and missed that flight and then had to re-book on the 2nd October, 2023.

It was an enjoyable flight we were ion Seats 4A and 4D. This was a relatively new Airbus 350 and it was certainly comfortable. Shortly after takeoff we were served a sumptuous lunch of 4 courses with Scallops, then corn Soup followed by Beef main course. all beautifully cooked and thoroughly enjoyable. This was followed by a good range of desserts. They served outstanding French wines.

Following lunch, the lighters were dimmed and we slept for 3-4 hours, (although Jeanette had a little less). The flat beds were comfortable with a light mattress.

We were then woken for a light refreshment of a Duck salad with light desserts and a long white coffee followed by a Chilean Savignon Blanc.

We landed ahead of schedule. We were intending to be met by a representative to take us though Customs and Immigration, but this didn’t happen and was cancelled and non-refundable with our delayed flight. Nonetheless less we were ushered into a queue of some length, but this moved well we had our Vietnam electronic. Visa Advice and this was processed and our passports stamped within 30 minutes. We were then given transit stickers to wear. We had to collect our luggage and depart the International terminal and walk under a sheltered walkway for some 5 minutes to Terminal 1 (Domestic) Terminal.

Unbeknown to us there was a totally separate Business class check in area. We entered this after being guided by a staff member and we were processed within 2 minutes then had to find the”new” Business loun ge, where we had a wait of some 70 minutes. This is the equivalent of a world “First class” lounge. See below the photos and that of our server.

The weather had been wet since we arrived in Ho Chi Minh with occasional very heavy showers. We had to walk from the International Terminal to the Domestic (Terminal 1) Terminal but we were under cover.

Our flight from Ho Chi Minh to Cam Rahn Bay / Na Trang International Airport is a short 40 minutes. We sat in business class seats 5D and 5G and it was a quick non eventful flight and our Airbus 320 was about 2/3 capacity.

We touched down after 36 minutes and were at the terminal and this time we used the air-bridge rather than stairs. We were pleased to see that the rain had stopped. It was 27 Degrees Celsius and our luggage was one of the early pieces off the plane. We exited the terminal and awaiting us just outside was a driver with a Radisson Blu sign. He took our luggage to the kerbside, went to cleft his vehicle and loaded all for us, and gave us cool towels aqnd drinks.

The Radisson Blu hotel is about 10 minutes drive along a dual carriageway.

Our arrival can be described as amazing. The hotel complex is lit up and looks simply amazing . We are seated beside reception and then a reception staff member comes across to welcome us and then takes our details and completed check in.

We are then ushered to a lift ,which takes us to ther 7th floor. Our suite (701) is breathtaking and has dramatic mood lighting, which sets everything off. We have a large lounge area with separate desks for working, comfortable relaxed seating areas, opens out onto a large balcony overlooking Cam Rahn Bay, which we look forward to seeing in all of its beauty tomorrow morning. The bedroom adjoins the lounge, there is a large separate Bathroom as well as separate Toilet , powder room. There is wonderful storage facilities. So we can say that we are delighted with this as our home for 7 nights. All has gone well in our departure from Melbourne travel to Vietnam and arrival in Ho Chi Minh and then on-travel to Cam Rahn Bay. Our arran Yemenis have worked well.

Jeanette is exhausted, we haqve been awake since 6.00am and it is 9.45pm Vietnam time, which is 01.45pm AEST , so our day has been 19.45 hours. We shower after unpacking and fall into bed. We sleep through until 06.00am Vietnam time, a good nights sleep.

We open the Curtains to see the superb view of Cam Rahn Bay and all its beauty. The skies are slightly cloudy , but the sea is a blue/ green colour and there are many fishing boats.

We are ready for breakfast at 8.15am and it is in a superb restaurant. A full buffet breakfast is included and it is simply delightful.

We make sure we book for Dinner at 7.00pm and then take a short walk.

From here we return to our suite complete our unpacking, review laundry operations and costs for later in the week. Jeanette reviews local tours and associated activities, but most are sport and water related.

We do book to travel by Shuttle into Na Tran tomorrow at 12.10pm with return at 5.30pm.

This afternoon Ken is going to swim, Jeanette will join him by the pool. We intend to have aqn afternoon nap.

It has been a terrific first 2 days of our Vietnam holiday.

Ken then returns to the ground floor with his camera, is later joined by Jeanette and we take a quick walk around the Resort and the pools and then sit on a lounge and relax for half an hour.