Review of Vietnam Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai in Economy

Vietnam Airlines VN979 Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai

Flight details:
Airline: Vietnam Airlines
Flight: VN979 SGN - BOM
Reg: VN-A623
Aircraft: Airbus A321-272N
Seat: 41G
Departure Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport Terminal 2 Bus Gate 22: 05.35PM
Arrival Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2: 09.35PM
Total time: 5hrs 20mins

Video: Vietnam Airlines VN979 Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai

Introduction

This trip report is from Jun 2024. This report covers the journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai.
Read the previous flight here: Vietnam Airlines VN772 Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City

Pre-Departure

Flight and ticket details, I had 1 hr and 25 mins, a short transit between flights.

I had selected the seat and menu during booking process

Online Check-in

Completed the online check-in, when checked for the previous flight.

Followed the check-in process and agreed to terms.

Received digital boarding pass and an email.

I read information on how to transit before booking the ticket.

Aircraft Information

Airbus A321 information from Vietnam Airlines website.

Airbus A321neo seating chart

Economy class information

Vietnam Airlines destinations

Security check

In Vietnam airports, first immigration followed by security.  After arrival, I looked for the transfer sign. 

Video: Ho Chi Minh City - Tan Son Nhat International Airport Transit Passenger Experience

International transfer is opposite to the immigration. Due to the bus ride to International terminal 2, lost about 30 minutes.

Queue was not organized and was split in two. 1 x-ray machine was used. It took 10-15 minutes for the process to complete.

Departure area

After completing security, I took an escalator to departure level. In departure, checked the flight schedule, which is next to security check.

Flight schedule, time was 16.50 when I reached departure area.

I had used the toilet which was clean but not that well maintained.

Video: Ho Chi Minh City - Tan Son Nhat International Airport ✈ Spotting

Time was almost 5.00pm, I decided to head towards the boarding gate.
Departure area had shops selling souvenirs and usual alcohol, perfumes, etc.

Shops

Took 7 mins to walk near gate.

Boarding

When I checked the boarding gate, noticed the escalator going down. 

Ground crew was on lower level and asked if I was travelling to Mumbai. I acknowledged. She asked me to come down as boarding was in progress.

Only boarding pass was scanned as the bus was waiting. I was the last person to board that bus.

✈ Spotting

Aircraft was parked in remote bay.

Hong Kong Air Cargo Airbus A330-200, Aircraft from Sydney parked at domestic terminal under the engine

Video: Ho Chi Minh City - Tan Son Nhat International Airport Bus ride

Boarding aircraft

Bus arrived near the aircraft in 10 minutes.

Boarding was from the front and rear door.

Seated in the rear, I boarded from the rear door stairs

Aircraft - Vietnam Airlines VN-A623 Airbus A321Neo

Onboard

Noticed the passenger demography was mostly Indian holiday makers returning back home. A tourist group was having talk with ground staff under the aircraft wing, Seems something was forgotten and they wanted to board bus to retrieve what was left back.

Cabin crew welcomed and checked the boarding pass and directed to seat.
Passengers were filling the overhead bins.

I placed my handbag and sat in the selected seat. A couple behind me was also connecting from Sydney. My neighboring seat was empty.

Aisle seat had member of the group mentioned earlier. The guy in the aisle, slept immediately after taking seat. Seems like he had not slept enough and had partied hard.

Cabin service

Crew provided wet wipes to passengers after the doors was closed.

Pushback and Taxi

As the aircraft was parked in remote bay, pushback was short.

Safety demonstration was displayed on the dropdown screen.

Aircraft taxied past the international terminal 2 and then held for other aircrafts to depart.

International line up mostly Airbus A350-900 and A330-300

Evening light

View of International Terminal 2

Private jet

Departure from Ho Chi Minh City

Runway 25R-07L used for departure. Holding before entering the runway.

View of Ho Chi Minh City after takeoff

Sun almost set.

Gaining altitude.

Flight information

Flight information displayed on the dropdown screen

Cabin service

Cabin service commenced with mixed nut and water bottles, 20 minutes after departure.

Seat Pocket Content

Seat pocket contained the Heritage – inflight magazine, safety card, airsickness bag and entertainment streaming information.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321Neo safety card

Middle

back

Not much legroom when seat in front is reclined

Cabin service - Drinks

Crew bought trolley with drinks

I asked for a Vietnamese beer.

Waiting for collection

Window view

Getting dark outside as aircraft entered Thailand airspace.

Cabin service - Dinner

After drinks followed dinner. Special meal was handed first. The 12-15 member group had swapped seat which created confusion for the crew. The girl from the same group was sitting in the front had ordered special meal - VJML. She didn't like what she got and wanted to swap her's with the guy in my aisle.

Crew tried to tell her that was what's you get and wanted the other guys tray. I told her in Hindi to wake him and ask, if he agrees you can take. Crew will not give you. She then returned the tray and went back later to ask for it again. 

I had HMNL booked during the booking; I was given meal along with others on this flight.

After meal, tray was collected and then cabin light was switched off for resting.

Turbulence

It was twilight outside.

Experienced turbulence over the Bay of Bengal, fasten seat belt sign was turned on. I got understand with some people, they need to use toilet when the seat belt sign is on.

Turbulence over Bay of Bengal
During monsoon season with South West winds from June to Sept, It’s common to experience turbulence. From Oct to Feb, the wind changes direction, with North East winds causing turbulence in this area as Southern and North East India receiving rain. This reason why it is turbulent throughout the year.

Cabin light was off for resting.

After the turbulence subsided and stopped when overflying the coastline of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Crew checked if passengers required the Indian immigration form. I took one and started filling. Crew provided water and orange juice.

Flight information

Vietnam Airlines Logo on dropdown screen.

Flight information in Vietnamese

Information in English

Flight path

Flight information

Descend

Time passed, Light was turned on. Pilot announced descend would commence in 30 mins. Crew conducted a safety check and made announcement.

Landing in Mumbai

Aircraft descended over the Sahyadri mountains, overflew Navi Mumbai. Lined with runway 27 over Thane creek.
Landed in Mumbai, Crew announced arrival.

Aircraft taxied to the Teminal 2 gate.

Parked next to Indigo Airlines

Disembarkation

Due to the holiday groups and their bags spread around the cabin, It took sometime to disembark.

Exited aircraft from the front door.

Immigration

I walked quickly after disembarkation and reached immigration.

There was no queue, I handed my passport and OCI card to the lady immigration officer.

She called my name.Smiled and said in Marathi, coming after a long time. I acknowledged and told her, how I was named. She asked me in friendly manner, how long I have lived in Australia and what I do. We conversed for few minutes. She took my photo.

She then stamped and handed my passport and OCI. I thanked her and allowed in the country.

Baggage Claim and Custom

I then passed the duty free shops and entered the Baggage claim.

My bag was already on the belt 3.

I picked the bag and walked through the green channel.
Exiting the customs, I followed sign for taxi booking.

Booking Taxi

I booked an AC taxi through the taxi counter after providing passenger and bag details

Exit terminal

I went down a level using the lift and looked for the taxi bay and then the taxi number.
As it was late night, traffic was light. Reached home and went to bed.

Aircraft and Flight information

Aircraft information from airfleets website

Video: Vietnam Airlines VN979 Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai route

Flight path

End of trip

Hope you enjoyed this trip report.

Thanks for reading and watching the video.

:).