Review: the Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh)
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This is our review of the Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is the penultimate part to this series on Vietnam, with only the Vietnam Airlines business class review to follow (click here for that). You can read my earlier reviews of premium economy on Vietnam Airlines, the Hilton Hanoi Opera, a Halong Bay cruise, the MGallery by Sofitel Royal Hoi An and a review of the Sailing Club Resort Mui Ne.
As a reminder, Vietnam Airlines provided all flights and accommodation for me and my plus one whilst HfP paid for all its incidental expenses.
The lounge at Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City
Tan Son Nhat Airport is the international airport serving Ho Chi Minh City. It is divided into two terminals: domestic and international. This review is of the Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge in Terminal 2, the international side.
Finding the Lotus Lounge is very easy: it is almost directly above security and accessible via escalators. Click any photo to enlarge:
The Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge
The Lotus Lounge is in a sort of L shape and stretches around a corner. My flight was at 00:45 so it was dark outside, but I can imagine it being wonderfully light during the day given the floor-to ceiling windows on two sides:
and
There is a range of seating, including tables, bar stools and these little private nooks:
I took most of these photos after 11pm, when the lounge started emptying out. It reached peak business at around 9:30pm, when most tables and seats were occupied. By the time we left for the gate, at midnight, it was almost empty.
There is also a business centre with computers and a massage chair.
The toilets come with two showers as well, which can be booked. They were empty during my visit, so there is unlikely to be a queue.
Towels, razors and all sorts of amenities are available upon request.
There were a range of drinks on offer, including a wide selection of juices (I had lychee) although the alcohol selection was a little sad looking …..
Then came the food, which was disappointing. There were a lot of rice and noodle heavy dishes which didn’t look particularly appealing.
The highlight of the food offering is probably the pho, but even this came with some weird reconstituted pork balls rather than the traditional beef and chicken.
Take a look at this slightly creepy emoji coffee jelly:
Magazine stations are dotted around the lounge although none looked particularly compelling – no big name English language titles that I could see.
Conclusion
For a flagship airline lounge at a major airport I was surprised at how small the Lotus Lounge was. Despite this, however, it was never as busy as the British Airways Galleries lounges at Heathrow Terminal 5, and I was there during what I would assume is the busiest period for international departures.
The range of different seating areas can accommodate guests with different needs although there is little privacy.
Despite a disappointing spread of food and alcoholic drinks, the Lotus Lounge has decent amenities including showers, for which there was no queue. As a place to while away a few hours away from the crowds in the airport it gets the job done.
In the final part of this series, I review Vietnam Airlines business class – click here to read it.
How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (November 2024)
Here are the four options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.
The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.
You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges. Our American Express Platinum review is here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 80,000 Avios! The spend requirement is changed to £10,000 in six months for this offer. Click here to apply.
You can apply here.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Huge 80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.
Additional lounge visits are charged at £24. You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.
There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus. Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is increased to 30,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 30,000 Avios. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network. Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.
The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer. Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review
Got a small business?
If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:
American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card, which has a lower fee and also comes with Radison Rewards VIP status:
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 9th December 2024, there are EXCLUSIVE sign-up offers for our readers on the two Capital on Tap small business Visa cards. You can earn 20,000 points on the Business Rewards card and 30,000 points on the new Pro card. Click here to apply.
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
30,000 points (TO 9TH DECEMBER) plus good benefits Read our full review
PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.
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