Airline Review: Vietnam Airlines Flight from Singapore to Hanoi

Hanoi . 2013 . Aug 7

This post is part of our Hanoi 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

While Hanoi is well connected to Singapore via its extensive airways network, only a few airlines actually fly directly from Singapore to Hanoi.  These airlines are Singapore Airlines, Silkair, Vietnam Airlines and budget carrier Tigerair.  The other airlines (such as Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways) make stopovers at other cities, effectively ballooning the total travelling time to get to Hanoi.  Since the flight time from Singapore to Hanoi is only 3.5hrs, it makes any stopovers largely undesirable.

Fantastic Travel Deal from Vietnam Airlines

Hanoi was one of those places that we had wanted to visit, mainly because of the famous Halong Bay region.  Since April 2013, we had been looking for travel deals for a vacation over the long weekend stretching over the National Day and Hari Raya festivals (8-11 August).  It seemed that many more had confirmed their plans earlier than us, as air ticket prices were relatively expensive for most of our other shortlisted destinations.

It was with surprise that we found a good travel deal at Vietnam Airlines (a full service airline) for a return flight from Singapore to Hanoi for SGD$237.80, inclusive of taxes and surcharges.  It also included 20kg baggage allowance and meals on board.  This is even lower than the fare quoted by some budget airlines which does not even include meals and baggage allowance!

Check out the cheapest flights to Hanoi!

Vietnam Airlines operates 2 flights per day from Singapore to Hanoi.  The earlier flight (VN662) which departs from Singapore at 1.05pm is the one that you should be looking out for, as you will reach Hanoi by 3:30pm, just in time for hotel check ins and some city sightseeing before a good dinner.  Note that Hanoi is 1 hr behind Singapore time (GMT +7).

Smooth Check In

We arrived at Vietnam Airlines’ check in counter at about 10:30am (relatively early for our flight at 1:05pm), and there was hardly any queues.  Check in was relatively smooth and hassle free.

Shared In-flight Entertainment System

Vietnam Airlines uses a Airbus A321 aircraft similar to Silkair.  There were no individual in-flight entertainment system, only a shared overhead monitor.  Earphones were handed out to every passenger and if you do not like the movie that you shown overhead, you could choose to enjoy a selection of music instead.

 Or enjoy the inflight magazines.

Reasonable Seat Leg Space

Seats were pretty ok for a full service carrier, with reasonable leg space.

Prior to the flight, Vietnam Airlines will keep sending you emails to entice you to upgrade to a business class seat for around SGD$40 per person one way through its partner, OptionTown.  So if you are keen, here’s how the business class seats look like.  It comes with a little more leg space and a more spacious arm rest. 

Average Meals

Unlike many other full service airlines, Vietnam Airlines does not give us a menu for meals on board.  Instead, the in-flight attendant would simply ask you for your choice of either a beef set or a fish set.  Food was really pretty mediocre, in our opinion.

Lack of In-Flight Service

Ok, I can be quite picky about service, because I always feel that it reflects the values of an organization and how happy their employees are.  I am not a difficult customer, but rather, I prefer to observe how service staff works.  And it never fails to amaze me how simple gestures like a smile or appropriate body language can change things so much.  Unfortunately, the flight attendants at Vietnam Airlines do look un-trained in the subtle art of service.  Do not be mistaken, we’ve not experienced any unhappiness during our flight, but rather, we felt a little neglected in that the attendants do not maintain eye contact with any passengers and seem to be in a world of their own.  It therefore becomes difficult when we try to catch their attention.

Final Verdict

Overall, this is not the best airline experience we had so far but for the price, we’ll still say it is value for money.  Vietnam Airlines is a full service airline, meaning that meals and luggage allowances are also included in the fare, and that makes it an extremely good deal if you compare the prices to that of budget carriers. Flight time from Singapore to Hanoi is only 3.5hrs, making any small inconveniences on board quite endurable.  We’ll definitely consider Vietnam Airlines again if the price is right.

Check out the cheapest flights to Hanoi!

This post is part of our Hanoi 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

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Top 10 Foods to try in Iceland!

Iceland . 2013 . Nov 23 - Dec 3

Iceland is a progressive modern country, but it is founded on old traditions and folk legends passed down from generation to generation.  As such, Icelandic culture and food exudes a strong individuality distinct from other nations.  It goes without staying that you must experience the local heritage of food if you are visiting!

Here are our Top 10 MUST-TRY Recommendations:

1. Skyr

This is a cultured dairy product, and packaged like yogurt.  In fact, it is similar to yogurt in texture, but has a much more viscous consistency.  Not surprising, because it is technically a soft cheese.  Skyr is popular in Iceland and is readily available in different flavours and sizes in the supermarkets.  Known as one of the Icelandic superfoods, it is well known for its low fat content and high protein levels.

2. Rúgbrauð (Icelandic Rye Bread)

This is Icelandic straight rye bread, of a dark brown consistency and dense.  It taste rather sweet for bread, and is baked the Icelandic way – in a wooden cask buried in the ground near a hot spring.  Icelanders view this as a healthy dish. It is served with raw fish, usually haddock or herring, and with a good gulp of ice cold ‘Black Death’ (see No 3 below).

3. Íslenskt Brennivín aka Black Death

This is a beverage defined as an Icelandic schnapps (strong alcoholic drink resembling gin).  Made from fermented potatoes and flavoured with caraway seeds, it is commonly known as The Black Death in Iceland, and is very much a part of Icelandic food culture. Usually served chilled and eaten with hot steaming Rúgbrauð (See No 2 above).

4. Whale 

Who can think of eating these gentle giants from the ocean? But whale meat is still served in Japan, and also in Iceland.   In Iceland, the Minke whales are harvested for this purpose.  Some restaurants serve whale meat together with puffin (see No 5 below) as a small starter dish, and we strongly recommend ordering just the starter instead of a main dish to sample.  Depending on the way that it was prepared, whale meat can be very tender and has a strong beefy aftertaste.

Minke Whale (Credits: http://www.mikeball.com/)

5. Puffin

Why anyone would want to eat this cute little bird is beyond my understanding.  Puffins are in abundance during summer and are hunted by the Icelanders for food.  It is still served in restaurants today, although we recommend you to try this as a starter dish with the whale.  It also taste a little gamey so most people unaccustomed to the taste may not like it. 

Puffins (Credits: rroffemix.blogspot.com)

6. Lamb

Sheeps from Iceland graze on mountain herbs, especially thyme, thus giving its meat a unique delicate flavour.  It is quite different from the pronounced gaminess of lamb that we get over here.  Eat it with cranberry sauce and pair it with a bottle of good wine. 

7. Horse Steak

Yes, you seen it right.  Icelanders eat their horses too.  Icelandic horses are prized assets because they were brought to the island by Vikings and have remained pure for the past 1000 years with the absence of the import of other horses.  The fitter horses are usually exported as racing horses while the weaker ones are used for consumption.

Horse Steak (Credits: http://for91days.com)

8. Hákarl (or Rotten Shark) 

I doubt you will get to eat this in many other places other than Iceland.  Hákarl is considered a delicacy in Iceland and dates back to ancient times when Icelanders harvest Greenland Sharks in the ocean for their liver and had to throw away the body of the shark which was deemed as poisonous due to its high urea content (sharks have no kidneys to cleanse their blood). To counteract this problem, the body of the shark is left to decay and undergo a fermentation process, thus turning its poisonous meat into a nutritious meal for their people.  Today, Hákarl can be purchased readily in Icelandic stores and supermarkets.  It retains its smell of ammonia (think of urine) and according to personal experience, taste like what it smells.  It is an acquired taste and takes more than one tasting to appreciate its value.  Fortunately, they come in bite-size pieces speared on a toothpick – easy and small portion for that first try.  Buy it as a gift for your enemy….just kidding. 

9. Appelsin

Iceland’s very own version of orange flavoured fizzy drink (there is a non fizzy version as well). Again, this is readily available in supermarket and hotels and is almost like the National soft drink of Iceland.  Although the drink taste just like any other fizzy beverage, we find ourselves missing this drink once we departed from Iceland.  Pure addiction.

10. Swiss Mocha and Coffee

Coffee lovers will rejoice in Iceland. The standard of coffee in Iceland is remarkably good (same goes for their chocolates!).  Try their Swiss Mocha, available in most coffee houses and cafes.

So that completes our top 10 foods to try in Iceland!
Have you been to Iceland before? Let us know if there is something else you would like to recommend! :)

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Joma Bakery Cafe – A Coffee Lover's Paradise in Hanoi!

Hanoi . 2013 . Aug 10

The edited version of this post first appeared as a featured article in the Dec 2013 Issue of Asean Tripper Magazine. Based in Bangkok, Thailand, AseanTripper combines news, opinions, fictions, documentaries about newly discovered and lesser-known travel destinations, travel related activities, and cultural movements in the 10 South East Asia countries. 

This post is part of our Hanoi 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

Step into Joma Bakery Cafe and expect to be tantalized by the rich and flavourful aroma of coffee all around you. It is a delightful haven for coffee lovers, and a great retreat from the hustle of downtown Hanoi. What sets Joma apart from the others is its chic and modern shop front amid the local flavours of other shops. Add on the unique fact that it serves North American coffee instead of the ubiquitous Vietnamese coffee all around Hanoi and you have a winner in hand.

First set up as Healthy and Fresh Bakery in 1996 in Vientiane Laos, the cafe has since been renamed as Joma Bakery Cafe in 2004, an acronym of its owners' names Jonathan & Jocelyn Blair (JO) and Michael & Areerat Harder (MA). Jonathan, Jocelyn, and Michael are from British Columbia, Canada. Areerat is from Bangkok, Thailand. Today, Joma Bakery Cafe has six cafes across Asia, including two in Hanoi, Vietnam and is still looking to expand within Asia. Its outlet at the Old Quarters of Hanoi was established in 2011 and is located at 22 Ly Quoc Su in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District, a short walk away from St Joseph Cathedral.

For java addicts who find themselves in need of a caffeine fix, Joma Bakery Cafe is no doubt the place to seek out. Travellers who need a quiet sanctuary to relax will find solace in the cosy environment of Joma Bakery Cafe. In fact, it is one of those few cafes in the Old Quarters which offers air-conditioning in their shop, a welcome respite especially in the summer months of Hanoi.

Sun-lovers, fret not! Joma Bakery Cafe also offers outdoor sittings in their sprawling premises – a perfect place to sit back and unwind with that great novel in hand.

Joma Bakery Cafe brews up a storm in a cup. The owners of Joma Bakery Cafe take great pride in brewing a good cup of coffee, choosing the best organic Arabica coffee beans grown in the lush forests of southern Laos and freshly roasted by a skillful roastmaster. Coupled with the expertise of their carefully trained baristas, the result is a full-bodied and flavourful cup of coffee, which miraculously leaves no strong aftertaste. Each cup of coffee is unique and gives its drinker an extraordinary experience. It is thus not a surprise that many satisfied customers, including ourselves, return back for more.

Joma Bakery Cafe offers so much more than coffee. Non-coffee drinkers can find a fine selection of tea, fruit juice and milk shakes here. Other than its excellent range of breakfast sets, cakes and pastries, the cafe also whips up a remarkable assortment of delicious sandwiches, salads, quiche, pizzas, and for dessert, their own home-made ice-cream.

True to its mandate of using the best and freshest ingredients, the food at Joma Bakery Cafe is simply delectable. Most note-worthy is their banana cake, a simple yet delightful concoction, and an item not to be missed. In fact, as a testimony to its popularity with customers, it is usually sold out every day. Equally wonderful are their freshly made soups made with the freshest ingredients, either sourced from abroad or purchased locally. For those with a sweet tooth, top off your meal with Joma's home-made gourmet ice-cream. They feature exotic flavours such as peanut butter and almond latte, and even include flavours with a local touch such as coconut.

For coffee lovers who find themselves at the Old Quarters of Hanoi, a trip to Joma Bakery Cafe is not to be missed. Its popularity with travellers and locals is testament to the exceptional quality of coffee and food served.

Contact Details

Joma Bakery Cafe
#22 Ly Quoc Su,
(Near the St. Joseph Cathedral)
Hoan Kiem District
Tel: (+84-4) 3747 3388
Open Daily from 7AM-7PM

The edited version of this post first appeared as a featured Spa article in the Dec 2013 Issue of Asean Tripper Magazine. 


Based in Bangkok, Thailand, AseanTripper combines news, opinions, fictions, documentaries about newly discovered and lesser-known travel destinations, travel related activities, and cultural movements in the 10 South East Asia countries. 

This post is part of our Hanoi 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. To receive notifications on updates, subscribe to our blog via RSS feed and email.

Like us on Facebook @ Discover. Book . Travel and follow us on Twitter @Discoverbooktra!

Do check out our Flickr photos & Youtube videos too!