SGN - SpaceBed or not?
 

I have an upcoming trip to SGN (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) next month.
Does anyone know whether it is always served by B777-200ERs (thus with SpaceBeds) or just occassionally?

This is my first trip to SGN. Any general tips on the city would also be much appreciated.

Thanks!

StarG

Hello there, finally something I know a bit about !!.

I fly to SGN regularly and they have never had spacebeds on any flight I've been on, which is usually the 773. Flight is only 90 minutes.

The City itself is a fantastic place IMHO. Taxi from Airport will cost about US$5 to District 1 (D1) where most of the best Hotels are, though they will probably tell you it's 10 when you first get in. Traffic is mayhem but the airport is very close so it should only take 30 minutes or so.

I always stay in the Renaissance which has a great Riverside location in D1 with a 2 minute walk to the best food and shopping area around Dong Khoi Street.

A Sheraton recently opened and I stayed there the last time to try it out. Great Hotel and probably a step up in quality but I thought it lacked the excellent personal service of the Renaissance. The only thing that lets the Renaissance down is the bar but I usually stay on a club floor so it doesn't bother me.

Despite another clampdown by the authorities making bars and clubs close at midnight, it's still vibrant at night. I'm back there again next month and can't wait.

Enjoy!!.

Thanks MAN Flyer!

The reason I said B777-200ERs is I checked with SQ website and the seat maps for the aircraft doing SGN indicates the B777-200ERs.
Also, the only SQ aircraft pictured in SGN on www.airliners.net is of that type as well. Seems like they changed the aircraft.
Do all the taxis operate that way (negotiate fares rather than using meters)?
I am going to stay at Sheraton this time - heard it is nice.
I am looking forward to this trip.

StarG



[This message has been edited by StarG (edited Jan 25, 2004).]

StarG my apologies, I have indeed been on spacebed aircraft to SGN a couple of times. Memory black-out after a heavy weekend !. I've actually flown on A310, A340, 773 & 772ER on this route. Just need the 744 for the full set !!.

The Taxis do have meters, they just like to try it on hoping you're a first time tourist. Just tell them its 5 dollars or ask for the meter and you'll be fine. The Sheraton is an excellent Hotel in an excellent location. Some of the high floor rooms have small views of the saigon river and there is a nightclub on the top floor with fantastic views of the City including an outdoor balcony, which is not always open.

They have a decent club floor although despite the Hotel being very busy this was surprisingly quiet when I was there in November. The Hotel is actually on Dong Khoi Street, although the main entrance is on a side street. There is a small shopping area on the ground floor with upmarket designer shops.

I'm sure you'll love the place, most do. Let me know if you would like any more information.

MAN Flyer

Thanks for the additional info http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

StarG

Just some updates about my trip.

I have requested to have my PPS requalification package ready in the Silver Kris Lounge SIN prior to my flight SQ174. I had many things on my mind so I totally forgot about it. An SQ ground lady brought the pack to me on the plane. Nice gesture, I think.

SIN-SGN was okay, except that my SpaceBed and my neighbour's are both broken. Lucky this was a short flight. My seat converts to a bed but no footrest/recline. My neighbour's is the opposite.

SGN-SIN: inflight service was very rushed. I was left out for the dessert. Crew didn't conduct safety check before we land, so they did not realize my footrest is still on the 'up' position (it won't reset) - another broken SpaceBed. Nor did they 'lock' my Wisemen monitor (I was in row 11). Menu booklets were dirty with oily finger marks on the cover (I guess from the incoming SIN-SGN flight).

The SpaceBeds on the B777ERs are starting to look tired. It is in fact so new.

SIN-CGK was on A345 - row 11 was fabulous. Enormous legroom just like F (or even more) on the Celestars (A343s).

StarG

StarG: Please do make a time to report the broken SpaceBeds. Perhaps through the PPS Coodinator so that you will get quicker response. Hope you get some reimbursement for the inconvenience.
I am glad you like row 11 on A345. It's spcious, but for a 16 - 18 hours flight, the activities behind the curtain are going on and on and somewhat disturbing, especially for 11C or 11H.