Travel Arrangements

The Australia Awards office in Vietnam will arrange travel for awardees, in consultation with the institution and airlines.

Travel to Australia date will be timed for the start of your institution’s orientation and Introductory Academic Program (IAP), which varies between institutions. You are expected to be ready for departure two weeks prior to the start dates stipulated in your offer. Normally, this means awardees commencing studies in semester 1 (January) are expected to depart for Australia between late December and January. For semester 2 (June/July), awardees are expected to depart for Australia between late April and May. Given flight availability and unexpected changes related to course arrangements, in practice most awardees will arrive a week before IAP. Your departure dates will not be confirmed until your visa is granted.

You will receive the e-ticket via email from Vietnam Airlines and will be notified directly of any changes in travel arrangements. All international flights depart from the Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City and arrive in either Melbourne or Sydney. Depending on your home location, you will travel from one of the 10 major airports in Vietnam (Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Buon Me Thuat, Pleiku, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang) to Tan Son Nhat Airport, and then onto Australia.

It is your responsibility to get to your registered departure airport for your flight to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Allow plenty of time for check-in and other necessary related procedures.

You must travel on the flight allocated by Australia Awards. If you require a change in your travel arrangements, you must write to the Australia Awards office with your reason. All requests must be made in writing to the Australia Awards office, with the final decision to be made by the Program Director. However, you may only request one change and must travel on the new allocated flight. Unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond your control, there will be personal financial consequences if you change your travel arrangements without prior approval.

Baggage allowance

Most Australia Awards Scholarships awardees travelling to Melbourne or Sydney have a maximum baggage allowance of 40kg. For flights to other destinations in Australia, the maximum baggage allowance is 30 kg. You will be responsible for paying any additional costs associated with excess baggage.

Transiting

Please make your way directly to the connecting flight and do not leave the airport between flights. If you need assistance while transiting through the airports in Ho Chi Minh City, Melbourne or Sydney, please advise Aus4Skills in advance and we will request support from the airlines.

On arrival

You may choose to be greeted at your destination in Australia by representatives of your university. The cost for providing this service is covered by Australia Awards. In addition, you could request your university to book initial accommodation in advance on your behalf, although you must cover this cost yourself. Arrangements for the airport greeting service and initial accommodation are made via the Australia Awards office prior to your departure. If you have register for these services but do not use them, the charge of the unused service will be passed on to you by your new university.

It is very important that the initial accommodation information and airport registration is submitted to the Australia Awards office when required. If we do not receive your response by the mentioned deadline, it will be assumed that you require both airport pick-up service and a booking for initial accommodation.