VIE: Vietnam Airlines Lounge @ Noi Bai International Airport {OLD}

A variety of instant noodle, including Vietnamese 'pho'!

UPDATE (30/06/2019): As the old international terminal has now become the domestic terminal, this review isn't representative of the current Vietnam Airlines Lounge at the new terminal.

The clinical Terminal 2 for international departures wasn't at all lively in the morning. Save for the colours from paraphernalia sold at some kiosks, there wasn't much to see. Thankfully, there's an unobstructed view of the tarmac from the lounge for those who love aircraft spotting. There weren't that many people either that day, so I was able to sit back while waiting for the flight to take me home.  

Assorted Stuff #1

The vegetable items for the salad, despite being pretty colourful, could be fresher. The best item on the plate was the chicken loaf with its mild sweetness and slightly chewy texture. Unfortunately, the fried spring rolls weren't crispy at all.

Assorted Stuff #2

The cooked items actually appeared about 45 mins after I entered the lounge. Still being hot, the fried rice didn't have many flavours, while the translucent glass noodle wasn't bad and went through the throat easily. The stewed chicken with tomatoes was pretty moist. 

Instant Pho

The contents of the instant Vietnamese noodle were placed in a bowl covered with a cling wrap. The pleasant taste of the seasonings met acidic lime juice, complemented with shredded chicken breast and slices of chicken ham. To spice it up, one could add coriander and powerful bird's eye chili.

Snacks

An assortment of snacks, along with a variety of sweets (not shown), is available for those who've got sweet teeth. Out of the few items I tried, I enjoyed the green bean cake the most. It was soft without being overly sweet. Pika's advice: To those of you who love Kopiko, an Indonesian brand of coffee candy, you can find lots of them in the lounge!

Fruits

While the watermelon was pretty juicy, the apples slices weren't. The dragon fruit was somewhere in between without being that sweet.

Beverages

To be honest, I didn't know why I took a glass of tomato juice. Perhaps I was just being curious again after not drinking it for several years. Anyway, I also tried a cup of artichoke tea, which didn't really suit my palate. On the other hand, the lemon tea was really nice with the right degree of sweetness.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 6.5/10

Ambience: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Contrary to many reviews online, the lounge was clean that day. The internet connection was fast as well. Oh, I'm here to confirm that there isn't a shower room there. 

 Vietnam Airlines Lounge @ Noi Bai International Airport

3/F International Terminal

Noi Bai International Airport

Hanoi

Vietnam

(Daily: 6.00am - 2.00am)

*No separate price given as lounge access is included in the ticket price.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)