Trip advice

[Dannyxxx]

Hey guys. I’m sorry if this post is not appropriate for this forum but I know you guys have a wealth of knowledge and expertise about Southeast Asia.  I’ve been planning a trip for months now to Bangkok, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Hochiminh City. I keep hearing about potential jet fuel shortages in Southeast Asia and am trying to make the wisest decisions so I don’t end up stranded in Thailand or Vietnam.  I’m arriving in Bangkok on March 31st. I already refunded my flights and hotels for Hanoi and Da Nang. I think I’ll be staying in Bangkok for 7 nights and then fly to Hochiminh city for five nights before flying to South Korea then back home to Florida from there.  My biggest worry is that my Vietnam Airlines flight from SGN to ICN gets cancelled or delayed which would make me miss my connection in Seoul and Seattle.    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I’m planning to hit up Freshboys and Goodboys.  Also Wabi Sabi Massage and Kmanspa.  Maybe I’ll try some other shops too since I’ll be on an extended stay.  I plan to post live trip reports while there.  I’m wondering if it’s best to reschedule my trip for later in the year or just go through with it.  Thanks for any advice.      

[daydreamer]

3 hours ago, Dannyxxx said:

My biggest worry is that my Vietnam Airlines flight from SGN to ICN gets cancelled or delayed which would make me miss my connection in Seoul and Seattle.    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.   

Your concern about possibly missing your connection in Incheon is certainly warranted, given the expected jet fuel shortage in Vietnam beginning next week.  

Some articles speak of impending jet fuel shortages, and others reference expected kerosene shortages in Vietnam, but both fuels are nearly identical.  In fact, jet fuel is refined kerosene.  Jet fuel A is what the commercial airlines and military aircraft use.  It is ultra-clean kerosene, with an anti-freezing agent blended into it, to prevent any traces of water in the fuel from freezing at high altitude, and possibly blocking fuel lines.  Water can form in fuel tanks from condensation, due to temperature variations.

If your Vietnam segment can be cancelled with a refund, I would skip Saigon for this trip, and plan to stay the extra five nights in Thailand instead.  Of course, that would be dependent on the availability of a flight from Bangkok to Incheon.  

 

[Dannyxxx]

Thanks!  Unfortunately i booked a really nice non refundable hotel room in Hochiminh City for three nights using 40k Chase points.  I could cut my losses and skip the Vietnam segment of the trip.  If i did that i would book a flight to Seoul using Air France miles on Shanghai airlines from BKK-ICN with a short layover in Shanghai.  I’m leaning towards keeping the Viet part of the trip.  My friend that is taking the trip with me is half Vietnamese and has always wanted to see Vietnam.  I may make a last minute decision while in Bangkok.  
 

It seems like Thailand will not be as impacted by the jet fuel shortage as Vietnam will be.  I plan to get plenty of massages while in Bangkok. My friend is fully hetero so he will likely find some sexy ladies to enjoy while i’m doing my thing😁

[daydreamer]

I agree, it appears that several Asian countries are either curtailing fuel exports or banning them entirely.  Thailand's jet fuel forecast doesn't look as dire as that of Vietnam, beginning next week.  

This article linked below says Vietnam imports more than 60% of their jet fuel from Thailand and China (until now).  They also buy jet fuel from Singapore, but those shipments have been reduced.  I don't see any country in that area that is willing to supply the amount of jet fuel Vietnam will be trying to purchase for Vietnam airlines to continue flights uninterrupted in April.

I wish you luck If you decide to travel to Vietnam next month.  

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-braces-flight-cuts-april-after-china-thailand-ban-jet-fuel-exports-2026-03-16/

 

[hank75]

I believe the panic over jet fuel in Vietnam has subsided and there is government commitment to keeping state airlines running. Travel insurance is a must. 

That said I’m in agreement to cut your losses and do an extended Thailand trip. You’ve cancelled the two more enjoyable cities (Hanoi and Danang). HCM isn’t that enjoyable by comparison and five nights is a very long time for that city. You are also going right before Tet. Traffic is usually terrible and there may be some closures as people try to go back to their hometowns early due to fuel shortages. Look up Vietnam travel forums for more accurate news but I found this post (in reference to Tet 2026 but before the war started)

Visiting HCMC right before Tet is definitely an interesting time, and your concern about shops closing down is valid. Many local, family-run businesses, especially smaller shops and street food vendors, will indeed start closing a few days before Tet to prepare for the holiday and travel back to their hometowns. This means that the vibrant street life you might expect for casual eating and shopping could be noticeably quieter in many areas. Major shopping malls and larger supermarkets will likely remain open longer, possibly with reduced hours as Tet approaches, but the atmosphere will be very focused on holiday preparations rather than regular commerce. Dining can also become a bit trickier, as many local eateries will be closed. However, there are still options, especially in tourist-focused areas or larger hotels, but you might need to be more intentional about where you go. If you're looking to still experience the food scene or find specific shopping experiences, sometimes looking into pre-arranged activities can be helpful during this period. You might find services that specifically cater to visitors during the Tet period, like food tours or private shopping experiences with local guides who know what's open. Platforms like Viator are often used to find and book various tours and activities, and they list operators with reviews, which can give you confidence in what you're booking, especially when many local businesses are winding down. It's really about managing expectations and being prepared for a different kind of HCMC experience. God bless.

 Unless you’re thoroughly bored of Thailand there are so many great cities to explore and if you don’t want to fly, Pattaya and Koh Samet are a great combination. 

 

[vinapu]

while hank75 is right that Hanoi or/and Da Nang are preferable to Saigon, damage is already done.  And because of that I'd follow your own advice and  make last minute decision while in Bangkok, if only because your Vietnamese friend . I you were travelling alone I'd advise you to skip Vietnam part altogether if only  to sleep better. 

I have feeling all will work well.

 As for Bangkok part, 7 days is enough to visit all bars , not just GoodBoys and Freshboys. Don't overdo planning and swim with the flow when comes to debaucheries.

 

By the way 2026 Tet was on Feb 17 so you don't need to worry about that inconvenience

[hank75]

49 minutes ago, vinapu said:

By the way 2026 Tet was on Feb 17 so you don't need to worry about that inconvenience

You are right. I am ageing. Was typing while on a plane and skipped my morning coffee and somehow I managed to mix Songkran up with Tet. 
Applogies to OP. I still think an extended Thai holiday is more enjoyable than splitting off to HCM

edit: just discovered it’s not possible to edit old posts, even to remove factual inaccuracies? I shall in the future desist from posting when I’m functioning on minimal sleep, no caffeine and bored in the airport 

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, hank75 said:

Travel insurance is a must. 

Totally agree, but the devil with travel insurance is often in the small print.  If a flight is cancelled primarily due to fuel shortages, will that be covered since the reason for the shortage could be regarded as an act of war?

[vinapu]

37 minutes ago, hank75 said:

 

edit: just discovered it’s not possible to edit old posts, 

it is possible  but only for about 1 hr from original posting. After that ' edit' feature disappears 

[daydreamer]

@PeterRS is correct, a fuel shortage as a consequence of war is excluded from travel insurance coverage.  

I checked Google, and here is the AI response below.  Since this is considered an act of war, travel insurance is useless if the Vietnam flight is cancelled. 

The article does say a "cancel for any reason" policy would pay, however the OP doesn't intend to cancel his trip, so this would be useless as well for the Vietnam flight.  A "cancel for any reason" policy is used to cancel an entire trip, and often a trip must be cancelled at least 48 hours prior to departure for the insurance company to pay a claim.  

 

[daydreamer]

3 hours ago, hank75 said:

I believe the panic over jet fuel in Vietnam has subsided and there is government commitment to keeping state airlines running.

Have you seen something in the news that Vietnam has found a source of jet fuel to cover the anticipated shortage for April?  Just wondering, I haven't read anything yet about that. 

[jimmie50]

Currently in Bangkok, and haven't heard or read anything specifically about jet fuel here other than concerns similar to other places in general.  However, I do know from stopping on our way to Pattaya for gasoline that it is being rationed at almost all stations here.  I think the current limit is THB 600 or approximately 18 Liters per person/vehicle.  

[Dannyxxx]

I appreciate the comments.  I’m now planning to stay in Thailand and make it Bangkok for 6 nights, Koh Samet and Pattaya for a few days and then fly to Seoul a few days earlier than previously planned.  This will let us enjoy more of Thailand and even get to see Seoul for a few days.  
 

I’ll also still have that nice hotel booked for three nights in Saigon so theres a chance i could divert there at the last minute if the conditions make it plausible to go there without getting stranded.

[jimmie50]

As @vinapu would say, we can thank the Orange Overlord for this mess.  😭