Vietnam Adventure – Day 1 @ SINGAPORE

"Because I know ChatGPT likes living vicariously through our travels," says Alan, while Rowena can be heard chuckling in the background, "I thought we'd keep the blog going into Vietnam."

So here we are.

Day One - Thursday 25th June 2026

We departed Melbourne at 3:20pm on Singapore Airlines flight SQ288 aboard the mighty A380, travelling in Premium Economy. Sadly, no upgrades this time—we actually had to pay for these seats. With no access to the Kris Lounge at the airport we had to schlep it at the American Express lounge with the other free loaders. drinks were free, what can I say.

The flight left exactly on time, which is always a good start.

Naturally, we couldn't resist comparing Singapore Airlines with Qantas.

Singapore's Premium Economy seats are starting to show their age. They're a bit more tired than Qantas, not quite as comfortable, and the footrest arrangement just isn't in the same league and mine had a broken spring thing so any weight on it met it just sunk to the ground. no help at all. Seats 5/10.

Then came the really important issue.

No welcome drink. WTF.

Well... not until we were in the air.

And when it finally arrived, it came in a plastic cup.

Honestly...

First-world problems. The first service of food and wine was good, they were the business class meals so quite good, but the service just before landing was some strange boa bun thingy, definitely cattle class crap. So food service 7/10.

The seven-and-a-half-hour flight to Singapore was uneventful, although the entertainment system wasn't much use because we'd already watched just about everything worth watching on the flights to and from from America. TV 3/10!

It was such a beautiful night flight over Indonesia, we could clearly see the lights of Bali and amazingly all the little fishing boats that Peter and Dad should remember so well from when we sailed from Saigon to Cairns on Gissie M all those years ago. It was magical. I was very nostalgic for a while. We landed a few minutes early at around 9:15pm.

Now, here's where Singapore absolutely leaves everyone else for dead.

After our experience in Dallas last month, where we were among the first in the immigration queue and still spent an hour getting through immigration, Singapore was almost laughably efficient.

There are around fifty automated biometric immigration gates.

You walk up.

Look at the camera.

The gates open.

You're in.

By the time we'd reached the baggage carousel, our luggage was already waiting.

From touchdown to sitting in a taxi took about fifteen minutes.

I'm not exaggerating.

It was one of the slickest airport arrivals we've ever experienced. Airport 100/10.

Being the dedicated travel researchers that we are, we decided to conduct a highly scientific experiment.

Taxi versus grabbing a Grab.

The taxi rank was literally right outside the customs exit, so convenience won the day.

Our findings?

The taxi was roughly 20–25% more expensive than Grab, it smelled really bad, it was cramped but when you're standing there with luggage after a long flight, sometimes convenience is worth paying for. Err no - next time it's a Grab.

We arrived at the Grand Hyatt on Scotts Road at around 10pm, looking forward to nothing more than a hot shower and a good night's sleep in our booked Standard King room.

Instead, we were handed the keys to what can only be described as a luxury apartment. The Terrace Suite!

Somehow we'd been upgraded to this enormous suite.

And I mean bloody enormous.

We've got a separate lounge room with a 75 inch TV.

A separate bedroom with a bed so big you need a megaphone to talk to each other.

A walk-in wardrobe with an abundance of drawers and hanging space.

A bathroom bigger than some hotel rooms with a toilet that knows you are there and lifts the lid for you as you walk up and has 3 kinds of flushes!!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/7a4d8d_422f796177694ebd927317c4c5f4eccd/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Not exactly roughing it hey, welcome to Singapore baby.

Part of the upgrade is access to the "Grand Club" which includes Breakfast, All day snacks & Cocktails between 5:30 and 7pm. WoooHooo.

Time for sleep. We tumbled into bed, texted goodnight to each other, and fell sharply asleep.

Of course, our bodies hadn't received the memo.

It's now about four o'clock in the morning, Singapore time. 6 am Melbourne time. Far out!!

Rowena has sensibly? decided to get a couple of hours of work done and I've decided to write the blog while simultaneously trying—and failing—to Chromecast the SBS football onto the television. Something about country restrictions. I will have to call the front desk but I will wait for a more reasonable hour.

Technology: 1.

Alan: 0.

Today we'll actually leave the hotel and do stuff, well, maybe after the free breakfast, oh yes, then maybe after watching the Aussies play soccer and then maybe after the quick dip in the pool, no, not a chance after the free cocktails at 5:30. Oh bugger it, we may as well stay in house all day!.

I KNOW you're all hanging out for that report.

See you tomorrow.