Asian airlines!

Whilst travelling in Asia we've been on a few flights for a range of distances. Here, I'll give an account of the journey and the positive/negatives of each airline in my opinion. I'll also cover the most important bits like free food, entertainment and overall experience.

FYI, I am not a champagne traveller, but I draw the line with Ryanair, they are just awful. My on board concerns are safety, price and good service!

Vietnam Airways

Long haul: London, England to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

It was an 11 hour flight from London Gatwick to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). The flight staff were welcoming and passengers were given a cold towel during boarding. The traditional Vietnamese dress gave us a taste of the orient we were destined for. After taking off we were offered a refreshment and snack. Private entertainment screens offered a range of films, TV and music. On our flight not everyones screens worked. A few people were able to move to free seats, but some had to deal with a long flight movie-less.

Tip: Vietnam Airlines entertainment all began running automatically, so you need to be quick to find something or you'll have to wait the length of the movie for the next showing. 

We had a menu to choose from for lunch, and I do not recommended the fish (who serves fish on an aeroplane?). In addition instant noodle pots and drinks were available.

Snacks and the dinner menu on Vietnam Airlines

Overall we were satisfied with our experience, but I'm sure it would have been a different story if we were one of the passengers starved not only of oxygen, but entertainment too!

Rating: 8/10

Short haul: Hanoi, Vietnam to Siem Reap, Cambodia

This 2 hour flight was pleasant enough to be pretty forgettable! I chose to rebook with Vietnam Airlines after all!

We were greeted with a refreshing towel and were surprised to be served a lunch shortly after take off. Food is rarely included in short haul flights with low cost carriers in the UK. It was a tasty meal and a delightful change from noodles and rice.

Tip: cheaper food is available before security at Hanoi Airport. Smile nicely though and you might be let off a few thousand dong at Burger King!

Welcome salad on our way to Cambodia

We were handed the correct landing cards for Cambodia which saved some hassle at the visa desks, just don't forget your photos.

Rating 8/10

Cambodian Angkor Air

Short haul: Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand

This was my first experience of flying on a small aircraft and I didn't realise it was happening until we were sat in the departure gate. It was a noticeably bumpier take off and landing, but the rest of the flight felt like many others, though possibly a little less dehydrating!

For a 1hr flight we didn't need entertainment, so none was provided. Shortly after boarding each passenger was given a refreshing wipe, and not long after take off a packed lunch was served. It included a drink, sandwich (tuna mayonnaise) and a crispy chocolate bar. It was a lovely surprise as we had never expected any food for such a short flight time.

My first small plane!

All in all, from arriving at the very cute Siem Reap airport to landing my experience with Cambodian Angkor Air was a delight.

Rating: 10/10

Air Asia

Short haul: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Bali, Indonesia

Air Asia has something of an easyjet crossed with Ryanair feel. I initially tried to book through Expedia, but with no clear information on baggage, I eventually booked through their own website.

Kuala Lumpur airport is practically run by Air Asia and we were able to self check in easily, though we still needed to visit a counter to drop our bags.

Tip: eat before security if you want a larger meal as only snacks are available in the lounges, whereas outside there is McDonalds etc.

The happy fun feeling akin to easyjet carried on on board. There was no entertainment or food included, but meals and snacks could be bought from the trolley, some looking very tasty too.

The flight was otherwise comfortable, though I was not sat with my husband, and we arrived in Bali on time.

Rating: 7/10

China Eastern Airways

Long haul: Bali, Indonesia to Rome, Italy via Shanghai, China

Our final flight in Asia would be our longest, and though we had a 23 hour stopover, I'm going to review these two flights as one as they had the same facilities and the experience was generally the same.

For both flights we had a slight delay which I had been expecting given other reviews for China Eastern Airlines. It being our first stopover experience I was surprised about the lack of guidance about what we needed to do. So summarise, treat is as two separate flights. Leave the airport after getting a temporary visa, and check back in as normal for the connecting flight (experiences will be different between airlines I expect).

Our meal on the Bali-Shanghai leg

Tip: Shanghai Pudong Airport board passengers by airline, not specific flight, making queues very long. This plus the immigration line meant it took us almost 2 hours from arriving to reach our departure gate, so if possible allow extra time.

The entertainment provided was excellent. 100% work rate I believe and there was an amazing collection on films both Asian and western, TV, games and a map. All seats also had a USB port, perfect for charging devices. However we were asked not to use our mobile phones even when in aeroplane mode, but our tablet was OK.

We were served a snack and drink after take off and an Asian meal shortly after. Drinks and snacks were available later in the journey, and water was frequently poured.

The first of two main meals from Shanghai to Rome. Beef noodles inside!

The staff were attentive, and even prevented a team of track suited tourists from having a picnic with what I can only expect would have been some smelly food. It was nice to see them taking the comfort of everyone into account.

Overall it was a comfortable flight, and the on demand entertainment kept me busy for nearly the whole of the cumulative 17 hour flight time. Pleasantly at the end of the flight everyone was invited to do some in-seat Tai Chi, which was a great idea all round!

Rating: 9/10


Hope you've found this helpful! Feel free to ask any specific questions. Happy travelling.

How to move abroad as an EFL teacher: Part 2

So you've got your awesome TEFL certificate, what next?

Book your flight, pack your bags and kiss your mama goodbye?

For me, and many other TEFL graduates I'm sure, you will find getting your certificate is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to starting a new life abroad.

Here, I'm going to give you an overview of the preparation I had to do to move from Bournemouth, UK to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam in two parts* ; preparation for at home, and away. Read Part 1 here.

*These are my own experiences to date. I am in no means an expert.


Part 2: Preparation for Vietnam

Vaccinations. As soon as you know when you are going, get yourself to the nurse to talk about vaccinations. Some courses take a few months, but there are usually options available if everything is happening a bit last minute. The NHS Fit For Travel website is the best 'by country' resource to help you out.

Anti-malarials. I take the ‘better safe than sorry’ approach to anti-malarials. Depending on what your plans are, you may need one or another type of anti-malarial. For Vietnam and travelling around Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia, we were recommended:

• Doxyxycline (antibiotic, ladies) 
• Mefloquine/Lariam (which has a number of issues) 
• Malarone (which is expensive)
• Chloroquine/Proguanil (bargain at c.£15 for 7 weeks of treatment - which equates to 2 weeks in a high risk area)

Document certification. Be prepared; to get a work permit in Vietnam (to teach English) you may be required to have your certificates and criminal disclosure 'notarized'*. Here's how:

1. Call a local solicitor's office and ask if they can do ‘Document Certification’ and how much they charge per document. Usually this will cost anywhere between £4 and £10 per document. We were able to walk into the office and have the documents signed there and then in about 15 minutes.

2. Once you have a solicitor’s signature on either your original document or a photocopy, you can send your documents to be legalised at the Legalisation Office. The GOV.uk website tells you everything you need to do to pay and send your documents. It costs £30 per document and you also need to pay for outward and return post. The process is quick, but if the solicitor who signed your document doesn't have a signature on file, it may take a few extra days.

*It is worth noting that things are not black and white regarding which indeed, if any documents need legalising before you arrive in Vietnam. We've had a lot of conflicting information, but decided it's harder to get the documents certified once we've left the country, so better safe than sorry.

Police checks. You might have heard of CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) forms, and an employer might ask you for a Police check of CRC (Criminal Record Check), but in the UK, obtaining a criminal disclosure as an individual is now done through Disclosure Scotland, and is called ‘basic disclosure’. It costs £25 and takes about 10 days.

Gadgets. Travelling today is not as simple as throwing a few necessities in a bag and grabbing a guidebook; it takes gadgets. Our tablet will be invaluable whilst we are living in Vietnam as a way to Skype home, find places to stay and source valuable teaching resources. But tablets, iPods and cameras are expensive, so plan what you might need now and get saving/begging/borrowing. Remember, there’s no iTunes app for Android, so load up your iPod with music before you go!

Dress codes at work. Do not be fooled into thinking an English teacher/world traveller can go to work in a sarong right off the beach. Vietnam is at the end of the day a communist country and there are rules that need to be adhered to. You'll likely need smart closed-toe shoes, trousers, shirts and modest dresses.

Flights. It's fun booking a one-way ticket, but long haul to Vietnam is not cheap. Expect to pay upwards of £370 with Vietnam Airways, who are cheap and fly direct to Ho Chi Minh. Check Skyscanner for the best fares and be flexible with your departure date to get the best price.

Visas. If you are going to be working in Vietnam, you should be able to get a letter from your employer, which will grant you a business visa on arrival. It will cost about $45 for 30 days single entry (I think). If you are arriving in Vietnam as a tourist, the best I can suggest is to apply to the Vietnamese Embassy in London. Make sure you know your arrival date and they will be able to put the Visa in your passport before you arrive. The process can be done by post, or in person over 2 days.

The fun bits. Once you've jumped the hoops it's time to start learning about the culture, planning where you'd like to go and practicing some phrases. Here are some of the best blogs and websites specifically on teaching and the Mekong Delta that I’ve found:

Deep in the Mekong Delta by @Honeytrek

Chez Pierre, a teacher living in Can Tho

Can Tho - The Mekong Delta by Mr and Mrs Lemon

Enjoy your adventure!