FLYING FROM JAPAN TO VIETNAM WITH XIAMEN AIR - 30–40% CHEAPER BUT WHAT IS THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE LIKE? ✈️🇨🇳
I’ve always been a fan of transit flights because I can visit another country for a few hours. My transit experience includes: Singapore, Philippines, Hongkong, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and most recently, Xiamen - China.
Just like other times, because the transit ticket price of Xiamen Air is about 30–40% cheaper than ANA, JAL, or Vietnam Airlines, I decided to give it a try. After carefully researching whether a visa was required, I decided to buy the ticket.
And after finishing the trip, I have some thoughts to share.
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Japan to Vietnam
The first impression was better than I expected.
On the leg from Japan to China, it was a wide-body B787-9 aircraft. I often choose flights using large planes for a smoother ride and more comfortable seating. The plane took off on time and the flight was very smooth. By the time it was ready to land, I didn't even realize we were about to arrive at the airport. Traveling with children and having such a smooth flight is truly a huge plus.
And the thing that surprised me the most was the food on the plane.
The main meal was quite filling, and after finishing, there was a snack box with cupcakes, various pastries, and a box of strawberry soy milk. I didn't expect much from airplane food, yet my child and I kept snacking until it was all gone before we knew it. Considering that for the entire two to three hours on the plane, we hardly needed to ask for extra food, and drinks were offered continuously, like tea, coffee, juice, carbonated drinks,…
There was a screen on the plane for the baby to watch, and we were even given a small puzzle set to play with, so the 3 hours from Tokyo to Xiamen passed quite quickly. I chose my seat without an extra fee; right after buying the ticket, I went in to pick my seat. A pro-tip is to choose a seat in the middle section so it’s easier to go to the restroom and not be stuck between two people. I chose a seat in the second cabin, behind business class, sitting in the middle of the plane, so the takeoff and landing were both very smooth. This part really made me think: “Yeah, for this ticket price, it’s worth it.”
But “life isn't always smooth” like the flight from Japan to China. 😂
On the leg from China to Vietnam, trouble started.
Our flight was delayed for up to 5 hours. If it were just a delay, I could try to stay calm, but the problem was that the gate changed constantly.
I remember that initially, the ticket said gate 13, but after a 1-hour delay, it switched to 32. Sitting at gate 32, I saw everyone starting to line up to go to… Singapore. In my head, I was like: “Wait… I’m going to Vietnam?” 😂 Then the boarding gate changed. In total, I had to run after the announcements 3 times.
What shocked me was that the airport staff didn't make announcements in English. They said Vietnam by reading it in Chinese, so everyone should learn the word "Yuènán" to follow the airport staff. It was exactly like an international airport that felt like the Eastern Bus Station decades ago.
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Vietnam to Japan (16-hour transit)
For my route, Xiamen Air does NOT provide a free hotel even though the transit time is quite long. Initially, I was a bit disappointed, but luckily, there are quite a few hotels within a 2km radius around Xiamen airport.
If you have to book a room yourself, remember to ask the hotel beforehand if they have a free shuttle to the airport. Some hotels have shuttle buses, so I saved on taxi costs and, most importantly, avoided dragging my luggage around.
Xiamen Airport, in my opinion, is quite small, not sparkling like T3 in Vietnam, and the procedure steps are not very fast. There was a section at customs where they asked a few questions in English; after answering, I went through.
The leg from Vietnam to China also used a small plane like the leg from China to Vietnam, but since we flew at 11:00 AM, the flight had delicious meals just like the wide-body flight.
In general, apart from the experience at Xiamen airport on the way back from China to Vietnam being a bit confusing and noisy, the flight journey was fine, the cabin temperature was not too cold, you can ask for extra blankets, the Chinese people sitting next to me were not noisy, were polite, and were very helpful to me.
If I have the chance, I will still choose to transit to visit China.
Source: Nguyen My Tien
