SAS EuroBonus global challenge part 2: Bali to Vietnam

I’m doing the SAS EuroBonus 1 million mile challenge. All in all, the challenge will involve me traveling 25 days on 18 flights and visiting 15 different countries on 15 different SkyTeam flights to end up with 1 million SAS EuroBonus miles.

My first week on the road took me from Portland to Seoul, South Korea, via Seattle, and on to Bali on a combination of carriers including Delta, Korea Air and Garuda Indonesia.

After a few blissful (if rainy) days in Bali, it was time to take to the skies again. Here’s where I’ve been and I’ve been on top of it.

Flight 4: Garuda Indonesia

I arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Bali with two and a half hours to go, which is very early for me (I’m usually a last minute flight).

I was surprised that the airport was not open even when I arrived since it was early in the morning, there was a line of people waiting to enter. This may have been because I was in the home terminal, as my next flight was to Jakarta.

Finally, the doors opened and after I went through security, I proceeded to the Blue Sky Lounge. This might be one of the best Priority Pass lounges I’ve visited, with a full barista-run coffee bar and chocolate fountain. There was also a spread of small grains and other beverages.

Unfortunately, I was stuck in the middle seat on my flight, but it was only a two-hour hop on a Boeing 737, so it wasn’t too uncomfortable, especially since the seats have decent padding and rear entertainment monitors. According to Skytrax, Garuda Indonesia won the award for best airline last year, and I can see why. On this short trip to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), the service was excellent, even in economy, with full meals and very pleasant interactions.

I was very surprised to get a hot breakfast in economy class on such a short flight. I think that’s a US domestic airline that often surprises me with better service out of the country. It wasn’t restaurant quality food, but the omelette tasted fresh and the sausage was decent. I also appreciated the environmentally friendly lumber.

The only problem with this flight was the lack of Wi-Fi, although it was very short, that was not a problem for me.

Flight 5: Vietnam Airlines

When I arrived in Jakarta, I had about six and a half hours to fill up, so I took Grab (a ride-hailing service you can find all over Asia) and headed to the Grand Indonesia shopping mall to kill some time. I’m still amazed at how affordable it was to get around. Grab charged me $8 for a 45 minute round trip.

My day was going well until I got back to CGK and was checking in for my Vietnam Airlines flight. That’s when I ran into a few snafus.

My Vietnam visa was not processed initially because there was an error, and it needed to be revised. I had submitted updates in advance and was told that they would be resolved in three working days, but in the end, it was not processed in time. As a result, I was forced to pay a whopping $370 to get an emergency visa on arrival. It was just my luck that my first visa was processed the morning after I arrived in Vietnam.

Once I got that sorted, I asked the Vietnam Airlines check-in agent to add my SAS EuroBonus number to my ticket, and they told me I was the 11th person that day to ask to add that. I really hope there are TPG readers out there chasing these million miles with me.

After clearing security and immigration, I went to the Plaza Premium lounge, where there weren’t many food and drink options and the air conditioning didn’t seem to work. Needless to say, I didn’t hesitate.

Once I boarded the Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321 to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City, I realized that I was lucky to have an exit seat with extra leg room.

During this flight, there was another full service meal with a choice between a chicken or beef dish. I chose beef, the sauce was tasty, but the meat itself was very tough.

Like my previous Garuda flight, there was no Wi-Fi on this one, but that was fine as the flight time was less than three hours.

The best pictures of Vietnam

From bustling cities with motorbike-clogged streets to beaches and mountains dotted with beautiful scenery, I wish I had five weeks and not five days to explore Vietnam. I will definitely be back.

For this trip, I started in Ho Chi Minh City, which was full of pre-holiday activities. I spent a few days exploring its different areas and wandering around the temples, its amazing central post office and the famous Bui Vien street which is popular with backpackers.

I stayed at the Le Meridien Saigon, which had an outstanding breakfast and was a solid value at about $130 or 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Of course, I ate as much Vietnamese food around town as I could, from steamy pho to crusty banh mi sandwiches to ultrafresh goi cuon (summer rolls). It was all fun.

After two days in Ho Chi Minh City, I took a quick two-hour flight to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi, where I spent the next three days.

I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hanoi, where I paid a total of $260 for three nights. This was a great choice as the hotel had free laundry facilities and I had a pile of clothes that needed to be washed.

In Hanoi, I saw temples, pagodas, the Old Quarter and the famous Hanoi Train Street, which was a must-see. The sheer number of markets, cafes and street vendors selling food and other items along the railway line was amazing. I arrived early enough to get a seat in the restaurant so I could watch the train go by right next to where I was sitting. It was exciting.

And just like I did in Ho Chin Minh City, I tried almost every local dish I could find, and what turned out to be a delicious pizza at a restaurant called Pizza 4ps.

Overall, I had a great time in Vietnam.

When I come back, I want to try to do the Ha Giang Loop, a popular four-day motorcycle route in the northern mountains, and hit the beaches of Da Nang on the central coast.

I also liked how affordable my visit was. My Grab rides averaged less than $1.50 each and my meals, even at sit-down restaurants, were often less than $4. Budget and average travelers can easily spend $40-$70 a day without sacrificing anything in terms of experience. Luckily everywhere I went accepted credit cards, so I was able to pay with my main travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and earn valuable points over time.

Bottom line

Things were going well, except for my visa issue. That said, I’m getting ready for the second part of my trip, where I have 12 flights in 10 days. I hope everything goes according to plan, and I’m looking forward to flying new planes that are unique to me.

Stay tuned for part 3 as I head to Taiwan, China, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, as it’s going to be an action-packed adventure.