Why Vietnamese flight passengers stick to hand baggage

Le Phat Dat, a travel blogger who flies three or four times a month, says he does not mind paying for check-in baggage on international flights, but usually carries his bag onboard on domestic trips.

"The fee for checked baggage is not high, but waiting to pick it up wears me out."

Another blogger, Vinh Le, says he once waited for 45 minutes after a flight from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City for his baggage, and staff offered neither an explanation nor an apology.

The threat of damage to bags is also a concern for passengers.

Dat said his bad was once damaged, and he only got VND300,000 (US$11.40) in compensation.

As a blogger, electronic devices are his most important items, and they cannot be checked in, and so he often avoids checking in luggage.

Many passengers choose to travel with only carry-on luggage to avoid high fees, especially on low-cost carriers.

Budget airlines dominate the Vietnam domestic market and only allow seven kilograms of carry-on baggage free. Check-in baggage is payable.

Hoai An of Hanoi says she had to pay VND600,000 for two kilograms of excess hand baggage on a flight from Hanoi to Bangkok in 2023.

Since then she has always paid for check-in baggage while booking international flights, pointing out that the cost is twice if paid at the airport.

Excess baggage demands often lead to disputes at boarding gates, with passengers refusing to pay and criticizing airlines for being "rigid."

Nguyen Tien Dat, vice president of the Hanoi Tourism Association, said poor communication and inconsistent inspection practices harm some airlines’ reputations, criticizing the use of "market-like scales" for random checks.

Airlines should use electronic scales and rake a relaxed approach if the excess is only one or two kilograms to avoid humiliating passengers, he said.

"Many passengers feel uncomfortable being scrutinized at the boarding gate as if they were committing a crime," he said.

The issue of carry-on baggage has gained attention online after Vietnam Airlines began charging for hand baggage that exceeds the prescribed size or weight from Nov. 3, for "safety reasons and efforts to improve the passenger experience."