The Vietnam Trip Begins: Airport Adventures from Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City

[@WanderEats]

And so the Vietnam series begins.. wooohoo! This is going to be a start of a very 'interesting' and memorable adventure I am sure. See you soon as well in Saigon buddy!

[@PlanetDoug]

I'm looking forward to it. If not interesting, how about appealing, absorbing, arresting, captivating, compelling, curious, engaging, entertaining, fascinating, impressive, intriguing, provocative, stimulating, striking, affecting, attention-grabbing, enchanting, engrossing, enthralling, gripping, riveting, or stirring? lol

[@WanderEats]

@@PlanetDoug well I guess they all apply :)

[@tlseeslt3462]

Hi, Mr Dough. Love your video travel to Vietnam. I left my country during the Vietnam war. When I was a child and haven’t going back to my country ever since. Thank you very very much for all the details you’re giving out. I have learn so much. After finishing watching your video.Thank you 😊

[@PlanetDoug]

You're welcome. I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. 🙏🙏🙏

[@kiplingkoliak]

Yeay, first video of Vietnam is ready for view! Thanks Doug ..

[@PlanetDoug]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@expandingtravels6856]

Loved Vietnam when visited. Mainly in the northern half , the scenery was amazing.

[@春樹菊池-j4m]

Great video. Absolutely entertaining with good smooth narration all throughout the hour long work.

[@jamiebutikofer1378]

Glad to see the VN content coming. Excited to see your adventures. Of particular interest during this video was the trip through the tunnel in KL and KY's explanation. Interesting. Thanks, Doug

[@PlanetDoug]

KY will be very happy to read your comment. I was actually curious about the SMART. I'd heard about it a number of times, but I'd never actually gone through the tunnel before. On that morning, of course, it was the last thing on my mind. I was focused on just getting to the airport. But KY wanted to show me the tunnel on the way. And it turned out to be fascinating.

[@akhiruddinsuccessline4905]

Makes me smile watching your video. Remind me of the days when I have to travel alot.

[@petergorm]

Super upload, as always. Good luck in Vietnam.

[@PlanetDoug]

Thank you.

[@cotruongofficial]

43:00 The childhood home of leader Ho Chi Minh in Nam Dan, Nghe An

[@jortjones1387]

I’m glad you made it to Vietnam safe. Have fun and enjoy your time there, Vietnam look very nice…. One day I might make it there to visit. Be safe thank you for sharing, see you on the next video….

[@oldmanc2]

0:17 I've met my soul mate! 37 years on the Airlines and I HAVE to pack in a super organised manner. I have to. I have critical work items and personal stuff to manage

[@oldmanc2]

PS. I really appreciate the detailed Airport experience information. For me, the flight is part of the experience

[@PlanetDoug]

I actually enjoy the process of packing and organizing. I probably go a bit overboard with the number of individual bags I end up using. But I like to group similar items together and know where things are. I'm glad you appreciated the airport info. I'm the same way in that I think of the flight as part of the experience. If I watch a KZbin video, and the vlogger just suddenly appears in a new country or suddenly appears on the plane, I feel like I've missed a big part of the story. I want to know exactly how they got there and see all the steps, including navigating the airports on both sides. But I guess that's why my videos always end up so long, which is probably not a good thing for KZbin. LOL

[@german411]

I was in Vietnam in 1968,1969,got to Saigon in 1970,71 and 72,came back twice in 1994 and again in 2004.

[@PlanetDoug]

The theme of my visit so far is noticing how much Vietnam has changed since my only other visit about 30 years ago. It barely seems to be the same country. You must have seen a lot of changes over your visits going all the way back to 1968.

[@FINEURBANART]

so so good to see you finally in HCMC. Looking forward to many interesting 😊 vlogs from there.

[@PlanetDoug]

Thank you!! 😊

[@ASH-was-my-handle]

Would like to thank you for this video. Will be going to Ho Chi Minh later in the year via KL and this was exactly what I needed. Looking forward to the rest of your Vietnam series. Enjoy yourself, happy travels and as always, cheers.

[@PlanetDoug]

I hope the video content helps with your trip. I assume the requirements will be the same for you. The key, as I found out, is to go straight to the "Documents Verification" (or "Documents Check") counter first. THEY will check your visa and issue you a boarding pass. And then you can go on and drop off your luggage, etc. I thought I had to go to a regular AirAsia check-in counter, but they wouldn't let me do that. So I got quite confused about the procedure. And then everything on the Vietnam side was quite straightforward and relatively easy to navigate, including the airport bus (if you want to go that route).

[@thaimaxcan]

Glad to see you exploring a new country. I am sure we will enjoy your videos.

[@kyalanis]

The very first Planet Doug Malaysia Vietnam Travel Video... Hu Hu

[@hanhdo9743]

rất vui được gặp bạn ở TP HCM. ❤❤❤

[@PlanetDoug]

Thank you. Nice to meet you, too. 🙏

[@loveaodai100]

I enjoy these first impression videos and yours was very well done. I am from NYC and my first impression of Vietnam was on February 11, 1988. Back then the world was still divided in two (the Soviet Union was still very much in existence) and my first thought arriving at the hotel was what have I done having just crossed into the alternate reality of those times. Never thought about that subject since that day. I have been living here in Saigon with my wife originally from Vietnam for more than 30 years. We met and married in New York in 1977. Been a great ride!

[@TheBurmeseDude]

For 2 hours cheap airline flight, you get a meal? That's amazing. Here in US, 90 min to close to 2 hours flight on Frontier cheap airline, I didn't even get a water.

[@PlanetDoug]

The way AirAsia works, you can ask for a meal if you want it, but you have to pay extra. In my case, I selected one of their Value Packs which includes seat selection, baggage check, and a meal. It's all included for one price, but that's on top of the base fare. For a short and relatively inexpensive flight like this, the Value Pack is almost the same price as the base airfare itself. If I didn't have a checked bag or I didn't want to choose a window seat for the video, I could have gone without the meal and the extra cost.

[@MartinHerberg-l8w]

enjoy

[@vgshwk]

Last time I took the airport bus it was the bigger yellow 109 bus it looks like they updated to smaller shorter buses. But most se Asia countries if they drive on the right they are a former French colony if they drive on the left they are a former English colony.

[@sivaguru682]

😊

[@PlanetDoug]

I guess the name "Yellow Airport Bus" has carried over even though the buses aren't actually yellow anymore. I was fully expecting to see a big yellow bus.

[@samraj3179]

Enjoyed viewing your chronicles right from your hotel in KL right till your hotel in HCMC. Didn't feel the length of it at all.

[@PlanetDoug]

I'm glad to hear that. My instinct is always to document these sorts of trips from the very beginning to the very end, which results in a long video. It's just how my brain works. And I worry that the videos end up overly long. And they DO end up overly long. But I still like to include everything if I can.... 🙂

[@uatdks803]

Please keep going your video. It really help me as an occasional solo traveller. small amount of money donated.

[@PlanetDoug]

Thank you very much. 🙏🙏🙏

[@fittrege2778]

Your hair sure looks good Doug. Reminds me of The BeeGees

[@PlanetDoug]

"Stayin Alive".... 😎

[@HalimWander]

my experience flying with vietjet..landing and walking on the tarmac,get into the buses and proceed to the terminal..

[@PlanetDoug]

I always like the feeling of walking onto the tarmac. But I dislike the buses to take you to the terminal. They are always so crowded and uncomfortable. It would be more fun to step onto the tarmac and then walk all the way to the terminal building.

[@jortjones1387]

Nice to see you visiting other countries, I thought you were planing to stay in Malaysia, did you ever go visit Laos? Have great time in Vietnam, Thank you for great video… see you on your next video….❤

[@PlanetDoug]

Yes, I've been to Laos. But, as with most of these places, it was a long time ago. I didn't spend a lot of time in Laos, and I don't have strong memories of my time there. I remember taking the train all the way from Bangkok to the border in one trip and then walking across into Laos and then travelling onward from there. But at this point, I don't even remember how I eventually left the country or even where I went after that. All lost in the mists of time.... 🙂

[@infinitibottle]

I see that you have some Nescafé instant coffee. Try some Vietnamese coffee while you’re there and grab a pack of G7 and other brands. Welcome to Vietnam.

[@PlanetDoug]

I was in a big local supermarket the other day, but I couldn't find any Vietnamese instant coffee. They had a lot of regular coffee that you had to brew yourself with filters or some kind of press. That's usually too much trouble for me to bother with. I like the ease of instant coffee. But I ended up with Nescafe Gold, because that was the only brand of instant coffee on the shelves. But I'll keep looking for a Vietnamese alternative.

[@mohamadzahidzainulabidin6862]

Luckily Mr Dough the bus driver didn’t charge you extra 5000 dong for you backpack. I n my wife had to paid extra. Those day.. uniform of bus conductor as same as NVA uniform… Stay safe n stay happy 🎉🎉🎉

[@PlanetDoug]

I think two other people on the bus had to pay extra for their backpacks. And I wondered if I would have to pay for mine. But I suspect that no one saw me get on with my backpack. I just plopped it on the floor at the front of the bus and I don't think the ticket-seller knew it was mine.

[@SK3951-k8]

Enjoyed the footage taken from the plane👍. Cc - have had no boarding / visa issues because most flights I have taken were routine ones between my home country and a work country, fortunately so far leisure ones have been fine.

[@PlanetDoug]

I was glad I chose a window seat this time. I got some nice weather and clear skies to enjoy. And I was quite excited to see Ho Chi Minh City below us as we descended to the airport. I guess that's one advantage to having the airport right inside the city. You get great views while you land.

[@SK3951-k8]

@@PlanetDoug Righty Ho window seat it is. Have a splendid time. If I may suggest, please explore the countryside a bit to get that real Vietnam feel. The cityscape seems quite standard Asian and overly touristy.

[@vgshwk]

Pham ngu Lao street is an easy place to get a bus to Phnom Penh an actual sit down upright bus not a sleeper that you might get at a bus terminal.

[@PlanetDoug]

I've noticed a LOT of buses stopping on this street and unloading/loading passengers. A lot of foreigner backpackers pour out of those buses.

[@lexuanson1616]

I think the entry procedures into Vietnam are simply because Vietnam now applies information technology so it is faster, not because Vietnam requires airlines to help Vietnam control. Because when you enter Vietnam through land border gates with China, Laos and Cambodia or through tourist seaports from yachts or cruise ships, entry procedures are also very fast.

[@travelvideos]

That might be a funny hotel if massage is downstairs.

[@PlanetDoug]

I don't think so. 🙂 This whole neighborhood appears to be 50% massage parlours. There's nothing unusual about them here. And this one in my hotel seems to be fully aboveboard. I see women and men in there all the time getting normal foot and leg massages and things like that. It all seems quite standard.

[@jimhaughey6077]

I have never been denied boarding but have been the last one on the plane twice. Once because I was sitting at the wrong gate and didn’t realize it until I heard my name over the intercom. The other time was the airport was shut down for two days because of a snowstorm and it took four hours to go twenty miles and then the security line was like a quarter mile long. CC

[@PlanetDoug]

It's quite a jolt to the system, isn't it, to suddenly realize that you are in the wrong place or that you are late and the plane is just sitting there waiting for you as the last one to board? As I said in the video, I don't think I've ever done that before. I'm usually super-early for everything. And I think problems do tend to pile up, don't they? Like in your case, you had the delay of slow traffic because of the snow storm. And THEN on top of that, you faced a long security line. It always seems to happen that way. The one time you are in a hurry and running late is the one time you suddenly encounter huge lineups.

[@binglim1]

Thanks for the video. I would have been confused with the process too. The staff at the airport should have been better than to give you the run around. The video has been very useful for me because I do intend to make a trip to Vietnam in the near future. CC.

[@vgshwk]

Good luck on your visit to Vietnam. If you travel in Vietnam I would suggest taking the train over the bus. The bus you might get stuck on one of their sleeper buses which means you are laying in an inclined cubicle for me it feels like I was in a coffin. The difference in airports is the kl airport was privately made whereas the Saigon airport is an old USA airfield from the Vietnam War.

[@PlanetDoug]

Whenever I have a choice, I do tend to favor trains over buses. Trains are always less stressful and give more noteworthy travel experiences. I'll probably look for trains in Vietnam when I can.

[@a51ky53]

Cc, was denied flight on Malaysian immigration due Tax outstanding havent paid yet.

[@vgshwk]

Your onward ticket should be on your passport when you scan it.

[@repete763]

Yeah you need that hair dryer.Lucky dog 🐕

[@PlanetDoug]

I'm still letting it grow. I got a compliment on my hair in the airport (a very surprising compliment), and now I don't want to cut it...

[@repete763]

I am flying from the states through Hong Kong ,I have a 90 day visa all printed out.I don't know how long I want to stay do I have to have a booked flight out of Vietnam ?

[@PlanetDoug]

In my experience and from what I've heard, it isn't necessary to have a flight out of Vietnam. Immigration in Vietnam doesn't seem to ask for one. They didn't ask me. I haven't heard about them asking anyone to prove they have a flight out of the country. However, a friend of mine from India was asked to provide proof of onward travel by the airline. It's usually airlines that will ask to see a flight out. And whether that happens depends on the airline and on your nationality. In my experience, if you are from Canada or the United States or Western Europe, they won't ask to see a flight. But they might ask someone from India or Bangladesh or anywhere in Africa, etc. So, depending on your nationality, I wouldn't worry about it. Worst case scenario is if the airline does insist you have a flight booked, you can quickly book a flight from Saigon to Kuala Lumpur on your phone. That could be as cheap as $50. But that probably won't happen anyway. I've noticed that countries all across Southeast Asia are now competing with each other to make it as easy as possible for tourists to visit. They are getting rid of visa requirements for all kinds of nationalities. They want people to come and spend money. It's just that occasionally some airlines will get super bureaucratic and ask to see a flight out. And then you could just book one on the spot if you absolutely had to. But it probably won't happen.

[@repete763]

@@PlanetDoug Thanks Doug 🤠 .....I am staying at the Adenia for a few nights in Sept then heading north to Hanoi then to KL.Interesting fact, my Chinese/Malay friend turned me on to your videos a few years back when you were sharing how to use the KL Go bus,and I have been a subscriber ever since.I have been to Malaysia twice thus far.Thanks for the encouraging reply.

[@MichaelLong-g5w]

Thanks for the video. I am a regular visitor to Vietnam and HCM city. I have never caught the airport bus but I will definitely do it after watching the video. 5000 dong is only 30 cents AU, alot cheaper than taxi or Grab. Enjoy your trip

[@PlanetDoug]

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to take the airport bus. It's usually more challenging and more stressful or uncomfortable than that to take a bus from most airports. But in HCMC it was simple and straightforward and quite comfortable. And my thought was that taking the bus would add more "local color" to the experience as opposed to using Grab. And I think I was right about that.

[@jahedvlogs4392]

❤🎉❤🎉

[@navajyotichetia8968]

Yeah bags inside bags inside bags that is to be bagged inside bags

[@bk7322]

I think u did web check in successfully, and just need to complete a document check. Should have told the staff that .. but you mentioned that you "they told me I could not do self-check in" which I think threw them off and gave you less than accurate directions. should have been "I've done web check in and need to do documents check. where can I do that." imho

[@PlanetDoug]

Yes, listening to the video as I was editing, I realized I wasn't very clear in what I said at the airport. But at the time, I didn't know anything that I know now. I didn't have any idea that there was an official document verification counter to go to. The instructions I got from AirAsia told me to go to a check-in counter. So that's what I kept trying to do, but nobody would let me. 😁 I think in my head I thought all I needed to tell them was I was going to Vietnam. And once I told them that, they would know exactly what I needed to do next. I figured there was an official policy about how passengers flying to Vietnam had to be processed, and they would instantly understand and tell me what to do. And I think I was hesitant to use phrases like "document verification" because I didn't want to put any ideas into their head. I didn't want to make more trouble for myself when perhaps it wasn't even necessary. So I just stuck with the line that I was flying to Vietnam and I was told I needed to go to a check-in counter. And then I would leave it up to them to decide what that meant. And then I got even more confused because they told me to check in at the automated kiosk. And I went to do that. But of course that made no sense because I had already checked in online. It was after I checked in online that I got the message from them that when I got to the airport I needed to go to a check-in counter. Anyway, now I understand the process. 😂

[@saschannel810]

If you do not meet the visa requirements, the Vietnamese immigration will deny you entry, and Airasia will have to bear the whole cost of returning you to Malaysia. That is why they are so particular. Also, if you are denied board, they will have to take off your luggage from the aircraft, so it really makes no difference whether you check in your luggage first or last. By the way, have fun in Vietnam. There has been a lot of change, and becoming more modern. It used to be really hectic and chaotic in the early 2000s and 2010s. But, they have improved really fast because of Chinese investment.

[@lexuanson1616]

I think the entry procedures into Vietnam are simply because Vietnam now applies information technology so it is faster, not because Vietnam requires airlines to help Vietnam control. Because when you enter Vietnam through land border gates with China, Laos and Cambodia or through tourist seaports from yachts or cruise ships, entry procedures are also very fast. So funny. Chinese investment only ranks 5th in Vietnam after Singapore, China and Japan..it has nothing to do with immigration procedures

[@siv642]

Nice vlog from start to end. Document verification instructions should be displayed clearly in KILA2 by AirAsia, hope you ended the day with Pho and a drink.

[@PlanetDoug]

I realized later on that I did miss an important detail in the information AirAsia gave me. In the notice, it said that I needed to proceed to a check-in counter OR a document-check counter. I only noticed the "check-in" counter part, and I didn't know there was a special "document check" counter. But their instructions were still somewhat incorrect because, as I found out, it wasn't even possible for me to go to a check-in counter. They wouldn't let me. My only option was to go to the document verification counter, but I didn't know that, and the AirAsia staff didn't seem clear about that either. But I guess I didn't explain myself well.

[@siv642]

@@PlanetDoug That's a lot of hassle between counters also if it helps nowadays chat support of airlines are far better and give us exact information compared to ground staffs, with low cost airlines culture we need to be prepared for these kind expections.

[@LeoChaplin]

CC

[@mtvisionary]

Welcome to the place where problem after problem is common with scams and lies galore. You'll either live long enough to get hooked and tricked into staying there or die trying to get to anywhere else that's not vietnam. 😂

[@vgshwk]

Alleys boo expensive beer

[@cedyy1]

what a shame. both the AirAsia staff seem to be poorly trained.

[@taiang9213]

The all comunism contry poor kindness........i pain live in that.

[@selfreflection2117]

Agree. Poor service at airport, guest houses / cheap hotels. Malaysia needs to step up!

[@agentmmarts3059]

#Doug_on_the_tour_of_SEA

[@jameswhitewater6127]

Live here for a few years before telling the world about Vietnam. Lots of utubers with their "wows" without a clue Yes have lived in SE Asia over 24 years including years in Vietnam. Still here.

[@PlanetDoug]

I don't know if that makes any sense. It's just storytelling. I'm telling the story of my arrival in Vietnam and everything that happened. And it's all from my own personal perspective. That's kind of the Planet Doug motif. I'm not telling anyone what Vietnam is like. I'm just telling the story of what happened to me as I made the journey to get here. And you could tell the story of someone who's been in this part of the world for 24 years. That would also be an interesting story. But I don't think it matters how long you've been in a country. You can tell the story of your own experience whether you've been here one day or one month or a decade.

[@CSChua]

Cc

[@miketuggle9273]

It would be neato if you could connect with Van from what the pho. I am not sure if she is there in HCMC or Hanoi.

[@Sema4beach]

U may not Know this! Itchy had a Bad Accident in Tanzania, Broken Collar bone etc

[@PlanetDoug]

I saw that. When I first saw the title of the video, I was curious whether it was accurate or whether it was clickbait and overdramatizing something quite simple. A lot of her video titles have been misleading in that way. However, to my surprise, this time it was accurate. Of course, the video ends with a "To be continued...", so we don't know the true consequences of the crash. However, she did write in the video description that her Africa trip was over. So, she confirmed it, and that probably means that she really did break her collar bone. And perhaps a bone in her foot or ankle. From a viewer's perspective, it's unfortunate that she didn't have a camera rolling at the time of the crash. She's been a bit unlucky in that way on her journey. There have been a few dramatic moments (such as the time the canoe tipped and her motorcycle went into the river) that weren't captured on video. I always want to see those moments in real time, but you can't run a camera all day long and record everything. LOL I'm looking forward to her next video. This one ends with a local car/bush taxi finally coming around the corner. And there's Noraly, lying at the side of the road with her broken foot propped up on a motorcycle lying on its side. It's a pretty dramatic moment. I hope she films everything from that point on rather than just jumping ahead in time to a hospital or something like that.

[@Sema4beach]

@@PlanetDoug The thing is it was not a Slippery Surface, but the Depth thru the bike Sideways and that was it!! I was Amazed she was not screaming and crying out! like most women would do, but she is so Cool and With it! Amazing! ... It had to happen Eventually, Just bad Luck, and then Good luck that Vehicle rocks up in the Distance, so i assume she would get a ride back to Previous Town....Yes i hope as u say she keeps camera Rolling and Films Recovery etc etc...The Bike held up well under the Circumstance ... Good to see you Enjoyed your 'Egg Coffee ...Incidentally Starbucks New World is only 5 mins from you across the Park, Very Very nice set up, Probably the best i have been to 🥰..Cheers.

[@robertmehring5135]

CC