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Thieu, 35, boarded a Qatar Airways flight from Berlin, Germany, where he lives, to Ho Chi Minh City on June 23. The trip was originally scheduled to take 16 hours, including a two-hour layover at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
Instead, it turned into a 50-hour journey filled with confusion and anxiety.
Thieu had booked the ticket well in advance, and choosing a Middle Eastern transit route seemed normal at the time. Qatar Airways is also one of the world's leading airlines.
"The flight to Doha was normal. We landed at 5 p.m. local time, and the next leg was set to depart at 7:50 p.m. But as the time approached, there was no boarding call, no announcement," Thieu said.
"Then friends messaged me to check the news, and I realized this wasn't just a regular delay."
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The flight information board at Hamad International Airport in Doha shows most flights have been delayed or cancelled on the night of June 23, 2025. Photo by Quy Thieu |
On the same day, Iran launched missile strikes on U.S. bases in Qatar and Iraq in retaliation for U.S.'s participation in Israeli airstrike on its nuclear facility.
Videos circulating on social media showed missiles in the skies above Doha as air defense systems intercepted them, leading to loud explosions. The U.S. Embassy in Doha issued an urgent warning, advising its citizens to shelter in place.
Qatar responded by closing its airspace, with Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE taking similar steps. A series of flights were delayed, canceled, or rerouted.
At Hamad International Airport, departure boards lit up in red—first showing "delayed", and then "Cancelled". Panic began to spread among passengers.
Hamad International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports where more than 140,000 international passengers passed through per day, according to 2024 data.
Due to the suddenness of the closure and the sheer number of stranded travelers, Qatar Airways was unable to provide accommodation or proper support.
Passengers queue at Hamad International Airport in Doha on June 24, 2025. Video by Quy Thieu
Stranded passengers including a small group of Vietnamese banded together, Thieu recalled.
Many anxiously followed the news, fearing they would be stuck in Doha for longer if the conflict escalated further. Some even considered overland travel to a neighboring country.
Eventually, the airline handed out food vouchers, which could be redeemed at fast food chains like KFC and Burger King, or for simple meals like Indian food and sweet bread.
By the early morning of June 24, Qatar reopened its airspace, but chaos continued at the airport. Incoming flights to Doha remained largely canceled, while only a few outbound flights or those making temporary stopovers were given priority.
For passengers departing from Doha, like Thieu, there were still no updates or announcements.
At around 2 a.m. on June 24, Qatar Airways began issuing new boarding passes at customer service counters. Crowds jostled in disorder.
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Passengers jostle against each other at Hamad International Airport in Doha on June 24, 2025. Photo by Quy Thieu |
"I waited in line for over six hours - some people waited nine. It was like a broken beehive. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, and didn't even dare drink water in case I (needed to use the toilet and) lost my place in line," Thieu recalled.
Eventually, Thieu secured a new boarding pass and helped several Vietnamese travelers who did not speak English get tickets to join the same flight. Their new departure time was set for 2 a.m. on June 25 and that meant more waiting.
"It was another 17 hours of worry wondering if Iran might launch more strikes or if the airspace would be closed again," he said. Finally, at 4 a.m. on June 25, the flight took off.
After 35 sleepless and nerve-wracking hours at the airport, Thieu arrived safely in Vietnam.
"I've flown many times, but I've never experienced anything like this - so much anxiety and uncertainty," he said. "Now that I'm home, thinking back, it still feels scary. It was truly an unforgettable experience."
As of the morning of June 26, airspace over Qatar remains stable, and flights to and from Doha have resumed normal operations.
