- Buses, trains, cars, and planes are the options for travelers wanting to reach Chiang Mai from Bangkok.
- Travelers wanting to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai have a choice of several airlines and two airports in Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.
- VietJet Air is one of the airlines plying the Suvarnabhumi – Chiang Mai Route.
- VietJet Air is a no-frills airline based in Hanoi, Vietnam.
In This Post
Why I Was Traveling
Following two weeks in Bangkok, I was planning to make a whirlwind trip around Thailand, and the first stop on my itinerary was Chiang Mai, a land-locked city in the mountains of Northern Thailand, which I had never visited before.
So I had a decision to make: which method of transport should I take to the Rose of the North, as Chiang Mai is poetically called?
My options included going by bus, going by taxi or Grab, going by train, or going by plane.
Going by bus would have been the cheapest, but most likely the least comfortable option. And it would have taken about 10 hours. So I didn’t even consider it.
Hiring a taxi or Grab would have been slightly faster since I could be picked up at the hotel rather than having to make my way to the bus terminal. But it would have been very expensive.
Going by train offered two attractive benefits. If I went by day, I could enjoy the scenery along the way. If I took the night train, I could sleep en route. And that would save the cost of one night’s stay at a hotel, offsetting the cost of the ticket!
I decided to fly. While I needed to add the cost of a taxi to the airport to the price of the ticket, it seemed to be the best option.
Several airlines were plying the route, and VietJet Air offered the best price and most convenient schedule for the day I wanted to travel.Â
RECOMMENDED
The Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 is family of narrow-body, single-aisle jet aircraft in various configurations, which first went into commercial service in 1987. Since then, various “offspring” have been launched.Â
VietJet Air currently has a fleet 85 Airbus aircraft, including 17 Airbus A320-200s. Featuring an all-economy class configuration, they have 180 seats, which are approximately 18 inches wide with a pitch of roughly 28 to 29 inches.
The Hanoi-based airline is phasing out its Airbus airliners as it transitions to an all-Boeing fleet. By 2028, it expects to have taken delivery of 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, including 106 Boeing MAX 10s, 66 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, and 28 Boeing MAX A200s,
Key VietJet Air Airbus A320-200 Stats
- Flight Number: VZ 106
- Aircraft: Airbus A320-200
- Number of Seats: 180
- Configuration: single aisle with three and three seating
- My Seat: 15D (aisle)
- Boarding Time: 1.40 pm
- Departure: 2.25 pm
- Arrival: 3.40 pm
- Flight Time: 1 hours and 15 minutes
- Distance: 597 kilometers (371 miles)
The Pre-flight Experience
I had the presence of mind to check in on line the night before departure, so my experience at Suvarnabhumi International Airport was smooth as Thai silk.
When I got to the check-in counter, there was a lengthy line of travelers waiting to check in, and only a handful of passengers waiting to drop off their luggage.
These were the folks who – like me – had checked in on line!
Because this was a domestic flight, I didn’t have to go through customs. After passing through security, I had plenty of time to waste.
RECOMMENDED
On my way to the gate B3, I passed numerous food and beverage outlets, settling on one of several cafés serving Thai food.
Since I didn’t expect there to be an in-flight meal, I thought it made more sense to have something to eat on the ground while I waited to board my flight.
The menu was full of tempting choices, and it was difficult to make up my mind.
I finally ordered the spicy stir-fried beef basil rice with fried egg. It proved to be an excellent choice. It was both satisfying and delicious!
While eating, I struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler. We enjoyed sharing travel experiences and exchanging travel tips.
The In-flight ExperienceÂ
I was enjoying our conversation so much, I had to rush to the gate. By the time I got there, boarding was already underway.
I found my seat, stowed my carry-on luggage, and waited for the plane to depart. Since I was flying economy class, there would be no complimentary glasses of champagne.
The doors were closed, and the safety briefing began.
I wasn’t hungry, but I ordered a snack to help pass the time.
Once the fasten your seatbelts sign was turned off, I took a stroll up and down the aisle. Was it a full load?
Arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport
The time passed quickly. Before I knew it, the fasten your seatbelts sign was turned on.
We had hardly landed before passengers started jumping to their feet to grab their carry-ons from the overhead bins.
As usual, I remained seated. I see no reason to rush off the plane. It just means a longer wait at baggage claim.
As usual, I was one of the last passengers to deplane. It was a leisurely walk to the baggage claim area.
My luggage had already arrived. I picked it up and headed to the exit.
There’s always that awkward moment when you walk out of the baggage claim area. Will there be anyone to meet me?
Surveying the crowd of greeters, I saw a young man holding a sign with my name on it. He drove me to Little Shelter, a boutique hotel overlooking the Ping River.
My Chiang Mai adventure was about to begin!
RECOMMENDED
The Verdict
I wish that all flights could be this short! There was nothing not to like. The plane was clean, the flight attendants were polite, and the fare was very affordable.
Looks like this flight went smoothly. Would you recommend flying if we were reviewing our options for this route?
I was happy with everything. After all, it was a short flight. Another consideration is which Bangkok airport you want to fly out of. Suvarnabhumi caters primarily to international airlines, and Don Mueang to domestic and budget airlines. There are exceptions, and VietJet – a budget carrier – is one of them, flying out of Suvarnabhumi. Because it is newer, it has better facilities. So I would prefer to fly out of it. But you might also want to consider which one is closer to your hotel.
I did that route by train, the overnight one.
I might have flown VietJet once when in Asia, and I know they can be quite affordable. But I still believe that the train ride is an experience in itself, and worth taking.
It was a difficult decision whether I should go by plane or train. Some day I should take the train. I don’t have much experience with train travel.