Hi! I have a doozy of an itinerary coming up… wondering why I signed up for this.
I am flying Toronto → Washington → Tokyo (HND) → Ho Chi Minh → Denpasar (Bali) → Labuan Bajo
Total door to door: 47.5h
I have 3+ hours at each layover, a 9h one in Ho Chi Minh, with self-transfers in Ho Chi Minh and Denpasar.
Please give me any recommendation for making this as minimally miserable as possible. Specific recommendations for best places to sleep and eat in each airport would be appreciated!
Nine hours in HCM is mental! I don’t know what you’re going to do with that time. There’s a pay lounge, the Apricot, that might let you spend that much time but it might be worth getting a nearby hotel so you can shower and change. Wear comfy clothes, but look nice. Emergen-C is a great idea, and some fav snack, like a good chocolate bar. The airlines will feed you but a treat is a great mood booster. Download audiobooks and take sudoku or your knitting or something to keep your head and hands busy.
When I board a long flight I ask if the plane is full and ask if I can move to a row with more space. Ask before taking it, then you have authority over a poacher. I’ve had flight attendants say no if the plane is full but I’ve also had FAs come back and move me to an empty row if one’s available. Say please and thank you a lot - it’s stunning how rare that is and it goes a long way.
@Everest
Ah yes great idea to ask for empty row ahead of time! Thank you! The 9h in HCM is overnight so we figured not much point in bothering to leave the airport. We are going to try to get a sleep pod though!
@Scout
There are sleeping pods but no showers at that facility, you have to go to gate 25 to get one. Tan Son Nhat basically shuts down at night so you might bring a snack from the plane if the hours warrant that. If you’re doing this trip after the new year bear in mind that Tet will affect travel out of Vietnam. No disruptions in service (such as it is) but the airport will be insanely busy up to and during the holiday, and immediately thereafter.
@Everest
These flights are Dec 22-24. We do hit Hanoi on the way back for a couple of hours on Jan 4 though.
Yikes! I’m Oregon, Seattle, Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh. And I thought 24 hours was going to be bad…
I’ve bought a travel pillow neck cradle $20. Airplane earplugs (not regular foam ones) Benadryl or ambien taken prior to flight. Emergency-C Electrolyte water supplement powder.
For that long of a layover you could book a shower or something along those lines.
@Carter
Ooo good call on the electrolyte! Hadn’t thought of that. I think Ho Chi Minh has sleep pods, we will probs book that for a nap and a shower.
Sky said:
@Sky
Also consider packing a small rechargeable handheld electric fan because it can get very hot in some airports and you don’t want to sweat excessively.
Never would have thought of that, great suggestion. I am always cold but my partner would def appreciate a fan.
Clive said:
Pack light so it’s easy to carry, consider it an adventure and people watch, tell yourself it was fun.
Hahaha it will be fun… right? RIGHT??
Clive said:
Pack light so it’s easy to carry, consider it an adventure and people watch, tell yourself it was fun.
Hahaha it will be fun… right? RIGHT??
At least it may provide memories when you are old and feeble. My mind isn’t the best these days, but still remember a 17 hour train ride in China without a seat and sitting on the floor where two cars were connected, had to be careful on turns because the side of the car would hit you.
@Clive
Lol omg! Sounds wild 
Can you go back in time and just not book this flight? Honestly it sounds hellish! I just did a 27 hour door to door and swore never again without at least a 24h stopover halfway! Seriously though, you’re going to need at least one airport shower to feel human. It really does help. And don’t pack your carry-on to its weight limit. Lugging heavy stuff around that many airports will get old so so quickly.
@Jordan
Lol I kinda wish I could tbh. I didn’t add it all up until after and was more focused on getting there as early as possible from the time we could depart to make the most of our time in destination vs length of travel.
@Scout
Haha oh I do the same thing. I’m also guilty of the “oh I’ll be fine going back to work the morning after a long haul flight” in order to maximise time away and every time I am not. The version of me who takes the flights and the past version of me who has booked the flights are not friends.
@Jordan
Hahaha omg we are doing the same thing. Get home at 6PM on Jan 6, have to pick up our dogs, then work in the morning. It’s gonna be great! 
Also have a look at this website: www.sleepinginairports.net
- Walk the aisle on the plane once or twice
Also have a look at this website: www.sleepinginairports.net
I have never tried compression socks! How do you find they help?
@Scout
It helps prevent getting Deep Vein Thrombosis.
@Scout
They make a huge difference in reducing foot swelling and also fatigue.
@Scout
After years of many long international flights, I started using compression socks and I feel way less wrecked and jetlagged now! YMMV.