From Prague to Hanoi with one stopover in Kazakhstan. VietJet has launched its first direct route from the Czech Republic to Vietnam, and I was on board the inaugural flight.

How comfortable is this journey? What can you expect from the in-flight services? And what exactly happens during the stopover in Almaty?

Here are my impressions, practical experiences and my answer to the question of whether I’d choose VietJet again next time.

Is it really a direct flight?

Just a bit of terminology to start with. Although the route has a stopover in Kazakhstan, it is a direct flight.

• non-stop flight = the flight goes directly to its destination without any stopovers
• direct flight = may be non-stop or have a stopover, provided you continue on the same aeroplane
• transfer = you change aeroplanes and go through all the transfer procedures

As it turned out, although this flight was direct, the stopover wasn’t exactly pleasant 😅. But more on that later in the article.

How and when does VietJetAir fly?

The first flight took place on 10 October 2026, and that’s the one I bought a ticket for.

VietJetAir flies from Prague to Hanoi using an Airbus A330-300, which, however, cannot safely cover this distance in a single leg. It therefore makes a stopover in Kazakhstan to refuel.

The route operates twice a week, and the winter timetable is as follows:

• Prague -> Almaty / Almaty -> Hanoi
  • 18:25 – 05:10 / 07:00 – 15:05
• Hanoi → Almaty / Almaty → Prague
  • 8.50 – 13.25 / 14.55 – 18.35

How much did I pay for the flight ticket and what does it include?

VietJetAir is a low-cost airline. On the cheapest ‘Eco’ fare, you’re only allowed one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7 kg. No meals, no checked-in luggage, nothing.

I chose the Eco fare and bought a one-way ticket directly via the vietjetair.com website.

On my return from Asia , I want to try another low-cost carrier – Scoot from Singapore to Vienna.

I bought the ticket shortly after sales opened, and it cost me around 349 eur . That’s really a lot, because about a week later there was a special offer on return tickets for 286 eur.

However, the standard price for return tickets is usually around 15 0 eur in the Eco fare.

With VietJetAir, you can choose from four fare classes.

For the average traveller, the biggest difference is between the basic Eco fare and the Deluxe fare, which includes both luggage and a meal.

Fare	Luggage included	Meals and seat selection
Eco	Hand luggage 7 kg	Both available at extra cost
Deluxe	Hand luggage 10 kg; hold luggage 40 kg	Hot meal and seat selection in Economy
SkyBoss	Hand luggage 12 kg; hold luggage 50 kg	Meals and priority seat selection
Business	Hand luggage 18 kg; hold luggage 60 kg	Meals and a seat in Business Class

SkyBoss and Business also include priority check-in and lounge access, subject to the airport’s facilities.

If you want a checked-in suitcase and a meal, compare the Deluxe fare directly with the Eco fare, including any surcharges. With Deluxe, there is no flight change fee, but you will have to pay any difference in the price of the new ticket.

Deluxe still means the same economy cabin. A more expensive fare therefore does not in itself guarantee you a better seat.

How much does it cost to choose a seat and check-in luggage?

For the Eco fare, VietJet’s official price list for direct and connecting European routes lists the following surcharges:

Service	Price
Standard seat selection	170 000 vnd
Front-row seat	310 000 vnd
Hot seat / Extra legroom	510 000 vnd
20 kg checked-in baggage booked in advance	1 520 000 vnd
30 kg checked-in bag booked in advance	2 240 000 vnd
40 kg checked-in baggage booked in advance	3 000 000 vnd

How much do food and drink cost?

In Eco class, you even have to pay for water. The in-flight menu includes prices such as the following:

Food or drink	Price on board
Hot meal, e.g. beef with rice	6 usd
Hot meal with a drink and a snack	9 usd
Instant noodles or soup	3–4 usd
Water, regular coffee or soft drink	3 usd
Beer	4 usd

Pre-order items have their own price, which you will see when booking or managing your ticket. The table above shows the prices for on-board purchases.

Check-in and celebrations for the inaugural flight from Prague

It wasn’t possible to check in online for this route, which I would personally have welcomed, as I was travelling with hand luggage only.

The airport check-in desk opens 3 hours before departure and everything went according to plan.

Just bear in mind that hand luggage is also weighed at check-in.

The only unusual thing is that you’ll be given a ‘Transit’ sticker, which you must attach visibly to your clothing.

This makes it easy to tell at a glance during the stopover in Kazakhstan who is continuing on to Hanoi and who is getting off in Almaty.

After checking in, I head to the lounge for dinner. Access isn’t included in the ticket price, but I’m using my Revolut plan. I write more about this in this article.

The flight from Hanoi arrives more or less on time, and the traditional water salute takes place, formed by two fire engines. This often happens at airports around the world to celebrate new routes.

I then make my way to the gate, where a small reception is already underway, exclusively for invited journalists and influencers.

I bought my ticket with my own money, so I wait with the other passengers for about 30 minutes until the ceremonial welcome for the arriving passengers takes place.

After that, we’re allowed through security and into Gate B7.

A lovely surprise awaits us here. Refreshments for all passengers – free of charge, of course.

There are spring rolls, mini burgers, chicken wraps and water.

Meanwhile, a reception for invited guests is still taking place right in the gate area, where there are slightly better refreshments, dance performances and speeches – by the airport director, a representative of VietJetAir and the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

Boarding and first impressions on board

Despite all the celebrations, boarding for the flight is on time.

Boarding takes place directly via the boarding bridge. I’ve chosen seat 42 K, a window seat at the back.

Most standard airlines operating Airbus A330 aircraft have a 2-4-2 seat configuration.

That is, 2 window seats – aisle – 4 middle seats – aisle – 2 window seats.

VietJetAir (as well as many other low-cost airlines) has a 3-3-3 configuration. That means one extra seat per row – and you really do notice the difference!

There’s really woefully little legroom here. At least that’s how it feels.

The legroom isn’t anything to write home about either (what they call ‘two-finger’ space), but I’m 175 cm tall, so for me personally it’s absolutely fine.

Compared to other airlines, though, it’s not that bad, at least according to the figures:

• legroom on VietJetAir is 78 cm, which is the same as on the vast majority of airlines, including, for example, Qatar Airways or Etihad Airways
• the seat width on VietJetAir is 40 cm, which is 3–6 cm less than on standard airlines
• the headrest can be reclined by approximately 7 cm, which is roughly half as much as on standard airlines

However, the cabin feels cramped, mainly due to the very narrow aisles. And even those seats that are 3–6 cm narrower really do make a difference on a 14-hour flight.

Tip for better seats for couples

The rear of the aircraft tapers in, so between rows 44–51 the seating configuration is not 3-3-3, but only 2-3-2.

Whilst the width of the seat itself remains the same, the aisle is wider, and if you’re travelling as a couple, it’s definitely better to sit in a separate two-seater row.

How was the seating (and sleeping?)

Actually, quite well.

As I mentioned above, there’s exactly the same amount of legroom as on all other airlines.

The narrower seat isn’t exactly comfortable, but this is mainly noticeable to those sitting in the middle or by the aisle.

I always sit by the window, where I can lean against the wall and gain a few centimetres of extra space.

Sure, it’s not comfortable. But tiredness takes its toll, and I end up sleeping quite well on both flights (from Prague to Almaty and from Almaty to Hanoi).

I also rate the mouldable headrest highly. It’s quite small, mind you, but it holds its shape well, so it’s quite useful.

I consider the lack of any sort of charger to be a major drawback. There’s no universal socket or USB port. And you’re not allowed to use power banks during the flight, so if you’re planning to watch downloaded videos on your mobile, make sure it’s fully charged!

The second major drawback is the lack of individual air conditioning vents. However, this is quite common on long-haul aircraft and is certainly not a problem unique to VietJetAir.

What food is served, and is it better to order in advance?

Nothing. The cheapest ‘Eco’ fare includes neither food nor drink.

I underestimated this a bit and tried to order a meal online via the booking management system just one day before departure.

But you have to order a standard hot meal at least 48 hours in advance, so all I was left with was a combo of beer and dried chicken (or crisps).

I don’t know why, though, why the only option was a combo with beer and not with a soft drink.

So I’ll place my order and hope I can buy something extra on board.

The in-flight service begins about 30 minutes after take-off. Those who ordered their meal in advance are served first.

From what I can see, the portions are really minimal.

💬 If anyone’s flying and takes their own photo of the meal, I’d be delighted if you could post it in the comments below the article.

I’m having my dried chicken with a beer. It’s ten o’clock in the evening and, combined with the pre-flight snack, that’s enough for me, so I’ll order my next meal on the flight from Almaty to Hanoi.

All passengers receive commemorative gifts from the crew to mark the inaugural flight: a keyring and a scarf.

In-flight entertainment: download podcasts and videos

VietJetAir’s seats are not fitted with screens, and VietJetAir does not offer its own in-flight entertainment service with films.

Be sure to download plenty of films and podcasts onto your mobile, tablet or laptop before you fly.

I’d planned for this in advance, but in the end, after ‘dinner’ and one video, I fell asleep and didn’t really wake up until about 30 minutes before landing.

Here we’re landing over the Kazakh desert:

What’s the stopover in Almaty like? Almost like a standard transfer

This was definitely the biggest disappointment of the whole flight.

A stopover is simply a stop along the way, after which you continue on the same aeroplane.

I’ve been on plenty of flights like this, and in the vast majority of cases I’ve stayed on board. Similarly, for example, David did so during a flight with SCAT from Prague to the Chinese island of Hainan.

On a couple of occasions, we had to get off the plane, but we walked through a short corridor straight to the gate, from where we boarded again.

In Almaty, things are done differently.

We disembark into the terminal and, following the clear signage, proceed… to completely standard transfer counters. It’s as if we were actually changing planes.

An extra-long queue forms immediately, in which I spend about 30 minutes.

First, our boarding passes are checked, and for some reason the Kazakh immigration police take photos of all the passengers’ passports. Yet, technically, we aren’t actually entering Kazakhstan at all.

This is followed by another queue for the standard security check.

After that, I have to find the gate, which, fortunately, isn’t a problem in Almaty, as the terminal is really small.

All in all, the procedures during the stopover took about 45 minutes.

There are still a few minutes left before departure, so I’ve got time to buy some refreshments. In Almaty, there’s a really wide range of options: there’s a large duty-free shop, RELAY, KFC and cafés.

The advantage over a standard transfer is clear: the plane can’t leave without you. They simply always wait for all transit passengers.

I wouldn’t even mind if we had to get off the plane and go into the terminal – at least it would give you a chance to stretch your legs a bit. But the procedures in Almaty are really incredibly tedious.

What was the meal like that I ordered on the flight?

We’re taking off from Almaty to Hanoi more or less on time.

I spend a moment taking in the absolutely breathtaking views of the Tian Shan mountains. It’s really beautiful!

On this flight, everyone who ordered a meal in advance is served again.

That’s great. You’ll actually receive the meal you ordered online twice: once on the Prague–Almaty flight and again on the Almaty–Hanoi flight.

So, once again, I’m getting my dried chicken with a beer, even though I don’t fancy a beer at all. But you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, do you?

This time, though, that’s not enough for me, so I choose beef and rice from the rather extensive in-flight menu.

Unfortunately, the crew informs me that the only option available is instant noodles.

What can you do? I’ll have the instant noodles – or rather, the soup.

It’s quite a large portion, but let’s be honest, I’d prefer a standard meal.

But it only costs me 4 usd, which is manageable.

Incidentally, you can only pay for your meal by credit card (debit cards don’t work) or in cash, either in Vietnamese dong or US dollars. You can’t pay in euros.

I slept through the rest of the flight again.

Here’s an example of the menu, where available.

Arrival in Hanoi and my first night in Vietnam

We land in Hanoi on time.

The airport is quite small, but I spend over an hour and a half queuing at passport control.

The immigration officers don’t ask me for anything apart from my passport. And from what I can see, they don’t ask the other passengers for anything either.

The passport control itself takes place without a single word being spoken.

At the airport, I withdraw my first dongs from a BIDV cash machine and take bus number 86 into the city centre. I describe all the ways to get from the airport in the article ‘Transport from Hanoi Airport to the city centre’.

On my first night, I stayed in a small Wecozy apartment right on the famous Hanoi Train Street.

And my first impressions of Hanoi were brilliant – I really like it here! But I’ll go into more detail about that in the Hanoi guide, which I’ll be updating gradually.

Not sure where to stay? Our guide, ‘Where to Stay in Hanoi’, will help you choose an area.

Choose a hotel in Hanoi by price

What I recommend

Based on my own experience of the Prague–Hanoi flight, I would pay particular attention to the following things before travelling:

• Compare the Eco and Deluxe fares,including all surcharges. If you want a hold luggage allowance, a meal and a specific seat, the Deluxe fare may actually work out cheaper than the Eco fare with all the surcharges added on.
• Order your meal at least 48 hours in advance. Or bring your own. On my flight, the selection available for purchase was significantly smaller than what was listed on the in-flight menu.
• If travelling as a couple, choose a double seat in rows 44–51. The seat is just as narrow, but there won’t be a third person sitting next to you.
• Download films, videos or podcasts. There are no in-seat screens, so make sure you’ve got your entertainment ready before take-off.
• Have a few US dollars in cash or a credit card for refreshments. Based on my experience on this flight, I wouldn’t rely on being able to pay with a standard debit card.
• Expect further security checks in Almaty. On my flight, they took about 45 minutes. In terms of comfort, the stopover was therefore quite similar to a standard transfer.
• If you’d like more legroom, pay a little extra – around 18 eur – for seats in rows 15, 34 and 25, labelled ‘Extra Legroom’.

The downside of the seats with extra legroom, however, is that the armrests cannot be raised.

Would I fly with VietJetAir again?

Honestly? Probably not. It would depend on the price, of course.

I wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of the deal I mentioned, where the airline was selling a limited number of return tickets for 286 eur . That’s simply a brilliant price.

At the standard prices they offer, i.e. between 615 eur and 738 eur , I’d probably prefer to fly with a stopover on Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airways.

Of course, the downside of a standard connecting flight is that you can’t be 100 per cent sure you’ll make your connecting flight (though the airline will look after you anyway).

But the stopover on this direct flight is more like a standard connecting flight – at least in terms of the inconvenience you’ll experience. This pretty much erases the differences compared to flights with a stopover.

The comfort on board is what you’d expect from a low-cost carrier. It’s not great, but for a lower price, it’s certainly manageable.

Incidentally, the flight was completely sold out, so I’m curious to see how the airline will fare.

VietJetAir has ordered 40 Airbus A330-900 aircraft, which should be able to fly the Prague–Hanoi route non-stop without any problems, so we’ll see if we ever get to see a traditional non-stop service.

That would make much more sense.