We’ve all been there – in the rush to get to the airport on time, you forgo a necessary meal. You arrive only to find that your (insert budget airline here) flight has been delayed 2 hours. Maybe there’s one or two American fast food outlets to choose from, but you don’t feel like a greasy burger before your flight.
You have simple needs - a nice bowl of pho or maybe some banh xeo will hold you over. But as you go from shop to shop, passing VND59,000 bahn mis and instant noodles, that Whopper starts to sound better and better.
If this sounds familiar, you’re far from the only one.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has been receiving complaints from locals and tourists alike for years. Finally, it looks like they might actually do something about it.
The CAAV has recently demanded that airport vendors adjust their prices to represent the (often poor) quality of their products.
An executive of a major international tour organizer, identified only as Mr. Fredrickson by Tuoi Tre, took particular issue with the food and services at Cam Ranh Airport:
"A simple hamburger that is almost inedible fetches VND180,000 (US$8.65), while a bowl of instant noodles with an egg costs VND60,000. The sandwiches, vegetables, and the meat were separated, while the water used to cook the noodle was not boiled enough."
Tan Son Nhat International Airport suffers from the same problem, as does Da Nang:
"Prior to a business trip to Da Nang, a Tuoi Tre reporter noticed that a bread simply made with a thin slice of meat and several leaves of lettuce is on sale at VND45,000 at the Sasco Shop, located in front of boarding gate No.7 at the terminal. A dish of spaghetti with canned beef bologna costs VND79,000. Both were carelessly prepared and tasted terrible."
As Vietnam pours money into upgrading and building new airports, they are looking to partner with foreign management companies to deliver services that meet international standards.
It would be great to see them leverage Vietnam's famous cuisine and set up something similar to Quan An Ngon, where street food stalls serve up some of the country's best dishes. More employment opportunities for locals and better food options for travelers - it's a nguyen-nguyen win-win!
[Tuoi Tre // Photo via Galen Stolee]
