UA.bom really wants me to go through Bangkok and connect to a Thai airways flight in the morning. That has me getting into BKK at midnight when it is really too late to do anything, and I've been there, done that a dozen times or more.

LAX-SGN looks more interesting and would get me a new stamp in the passport. But if there is a visa requirement for an overnight transit that could be a deal breaker.

Any advice on doing this as an overnight transit? Recommendations to make it easier?

Any thoughts on Vietnam Airlines for that quick hop to PNH? How bad could it be?

You can NOT leave the transit area of the airport without a Vietnam visa and must have a same-day connection.

VN is a decent carrier...took 3 flights with them last month. Certainly just as good (probably better) than anything flying in the US or Canada.

17MAR08 / 2235 UTC
National U.S.A. (US) /Embarkation U.S.A. (US)
Transit VIETNAM (VN) /Destination CAMBODIA (KH)
ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW

VIETNAM (VN)


Visa not required provided continuing on the same day and
holding confirmed return or onward ticket.
Leaving the airport transit area is not allowed.

If arriving by Vietnam Airlines only, it is possible to obtain
a transit visa on arrival, provided holding letter from
Vietnamese Immigration confirming that a visa will be issued
on arrival. Fee: USD 25.-. Also see: For details, click here

The SGN-PNH flight is short and thus pretty painless. Nothing to write home about, mind you, but since it's only 45 minutes, it shouldn't make a difference.

The problem, IIRC, is that the flight times don't allow for same-day transits (at least, that was the case a couple of years ago), and so you would need a visa, need to stay in SGN overnight, etc.

Are you stuck with UA for some reason? Why not fly TG?

- Michael

Last time I flew VN SGN-PNH it was a rather dingy looking Fokker F70. The windows looked like someone had cleaned them with Brillo pads and my seat back wouldn't stay upright.

Yeah, that sounds about right. But like I said, it's a short flight and so you don't have to stand it for very long.

To clarify: I'm not worried about the safety on these flights, it's just that the planes are not the most luxurious...

- Michael

If you can, fly Thai LAX-BKK. Leaves LAX at 9:30pm and arrives around 6am (2 days later). Only rough part is the length of the flight. 17 hours, 51 minutes yesterday.

Ouch! Head wind?

- Michael

Yep. It's usually 17 hours this time of year, but the winds extended it. I slept twice!