Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel and/or flight review.
Last April, I enjoyed a great holiday in Vietnam, where some resorts far exceeded my sky-high expectations (and rank among the best hotels I have ever stayed at). You can read my trip reports here:
- Review: Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class Düsseldorf to Singapore
- Review: Singapore Airlines A330 Business Class Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City
- Review: The Reverie Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
- Review: Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa
- Review: Vietnam Airlines ATR-72 from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao (today)
- Review: Six Senses Con Dao
- Review: Evason Ana Mandara, Nha Trang
- Review: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
- Review: Amanoi
- Review: Avani Quy Nhon Resort & Spa
- Review: Anantara Hoi An Resort
- Review: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An
- Review: Banyan Tree Lang Co
- Review: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
- Review: Cathay Pacific A350 Business Class Hong Kong to Düsseldorf
Today (July 19, 2017): Review of a Vietnam Airlines ATR-72 flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao (Vietnam).
Next week, I will publish my review of one of Vietnam’s most celebrated luxury resorts, Six Senses Con Dao, located in the Con Dao archipelago in the South China Sea. It’s important to keep in mind that getting to the ultraluxe resort from Vietnam’s mainland is not included in the room rate and does require some efforts, as you have to take a 50-minute domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao’s only airport, followed by a 15 minute shared shuttle ride to the hotel. I hereby share with you a few key points regarding the flight transfer from Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Aiport to Con Dao.
- The flight between Tan Son Nhat International Aiport and Con Dao is always on a small ATR 72 turboprop aircraft operated by VASCO, a fully owned subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines. VASCO has a small fleet of 5 ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. Although I am not a fan of turboprop planes and suffer from a fear of flying, the flight itself was not too bad. I was happy though that the weather was clear and sunny, since I believe it may be a different story during Vietnam’s rainy season which runs from July to October (when thunderstorms are frequent events).
- VASCO’s ATR 72 aircraft don’t feature Business Class. There are 66 standard Economy Class seats in a 2-2 layout, all placed in one cabin. For a seat map, click here. Seats have a pitch of 31 inch (78 cm) and a width of 17 inch (43 cm). Passengers are boarded using the rear door (which is unusual for a passenger aircraft), as the front door is used to load cargo.
- Round trip transfers between Tan Son Nhat International Aiport airport and Con Dao can be arranged by the resort on your behalf (fixed price), or you can book them online on the Vietnam Airlines website (often at a cheaper rate).
- Six Senses Con Dao has entered into an exclusive arrangement with VASCO to guarantee 16 seats every day in each direction between Ho Chi Minh City and Con Dao. These domestic round-trip flights can be booked directly with the resort during the reservation process with the Six Senses team. Guests who have their domestic air tickets arranged by Six Senses Con Dao enjoy special benefits, being priority check in procedure at Ho Chi Minh’s domestic terminal and free access to domestic VIP lounge.
- When you book your ticket via Six Senses, then the following airfare will be quoted for round trip tickets, inclusive of taxes: $210 USD per adult, $158 USD per child from 2 to 11 years of age, and $25 USD per child under 2 years of age. As stated above, tickets are often cheaper when booked directly online on the Vietnam Airlines’ website, but they don’t come with the special benefits extended to guests that book their tickets via Six Senses Con Dao.
- The Con Dao airport only operates during daytime hours, so make sure you take this into account when you have a connecting (international flight) to/from Con Dao.
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