The travel trend that turns your 'stop-over' into a 'stay-over' - and Vietnam was the ideal spot

The 'stopover-cation' is the latest travel trend that turns your stop-over into a stay-over.

Rather than allowing the minimum 2-3 hour pit-stop between connecting international flights, you give yourself 24 hours or more to explore the stopover city, enroute to your final destination.   

It's a safe option for anxious travellers, who might stress about missing connecting flights thanks to unexpected delays or cancellations. It's a great idea for anyone wanting to break up that long journey travelling to the other side of the globe.

And it's a win-win for wanderlusters like me, who aim to squeeze as much as we possibly can into every trip.

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There's lots to love about the extra-long layover, as I recently discovered on my cheeky little stop-over-cation in Saigon, enroute to Europe. Not only did I manage to arrive into London jetlag-free, it also felt like I ended up getting two holidays in one! 

Vietnam Airlines is enticing Aussie passengers to embrace the stop-over-cation on trips to Europe by offering complimentary hotel stays, meals and airport transfers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. 

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The TWOV (transit without a visa) program is available to customers in eligible booking classes flying from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne & Perth) to London, Paris, Frankfurt and Munich.

If you can be flexible with dates, you could even stop off in Ho Chi Minh on your way to Europe and then Hanoi on the way home (or vice versa) – and experience two of the most fascinating cities in one of South East Asia's most popular countries.

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The timing of the Saigon stop-over-cation is actually perfect for trips with Vietnam Airlines from Sydney and Melbourne to Europe. The flights from Oz arrive into Ho Chi Minh late afternoon or early evening – so you can go straight to the hotel and hit the sack. Then you get a full day to explore the city, before jumping on the flight to London just after midnight the next night. 

Ho Chi Minh in a day

I was amazed at how much of Ho Chi Minh I managed to see in just one day.  

The priority for me was to walk, as much as I could. With the extended hours spent sitting down on those long flights to Europe, I was keen to stretch my legs. I was pleased to discover Ho Chi Minh is pretty flat, and everything I wanted to see was within easy walking distance from my hotel, the appropriately named 'Pullman Saigon Centre'.  

I started my day with an easy 30-minute walk to the War Remnants Museum. I especially enjoyed my stroll through Cong Vien Tao Dan Park, where plenty of locals were doing their early morning Tai Chi. There's something strangely soothing about watching a group of oldies performing their silent routines in sync and it was a lovely peaceful precursor to my Museum visit, which turned out to be a little more intense than I expected.  

The War Remnants Museum houses a comprehensive display of war memorabilia and photographs designed to really expose the horrors of war. A word of warning if you're planning to take children - they'll probably love the collection of military planes and tanks in the courtyard, but there are no warnings before you're confronted with some incredibly graphic images inside the exhibition. 

Another tip – go early. I was literally the only person there when I arrived at the museum at 7:30am, but it was super crowded by the time I left at 10am.

I needed a moment to gather my thoughts after the Museum, so I grabbed a mid-morning coffee enroute to my next stop. 

A coffee culture to rival ours

Tea might be the official National drink of Vietnam, but the coffee culture here is really strong, so you won't have any trouble finding a good caffeine hit. The tricky part might be deciding which coffee to order. Egg Coffee is traditionally Vietnamese, but if you have a strong stomach and want to something really unique, try the Vietnamese Weasel Coffee. It's made from partially digested coffee cherries that have been eaten and pooped out by weasels (how anyone even realised this was a thing will forever remain one of life's greatest mysteries to me). 

I opted for the poop-free Ice Blended Coconut Coffee Frappe which was so delicious, I still dream about it daily (and if you know anywhere in Sydney that makes these, I beg of you to reach out). 

After coffee, it was a 20-minute walk to the famous Tan Dinh Church, also known as the "Pink Church", due to it's bright pink exterior. An architectural icon of Ho Chi Minh, it's a captivating burst of colour in an otherwise pretty unassuming suburb. It was originally built in 1876 and wasn't painted pink until 1957 during a major refurbishment.  It's free for public to visit and view the exterior.  Another insider tip: you'll actually get the best pics of the church from the upstairs balcony of the cafe across the street.  

From the Pink Church, it was a 20-minute stroll to Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace - most famous as the location where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through it's gates, marking the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. It's one of the city's most famous attractions and a must-visit for history and war buffs. 

Where to find the best Banh Mi in the city

I continued walking another 15 minutes to my lunch stop, to try my first ever Banh Mi.  Seemed entirely appropriate, considering the famous Vietnamese roll was invented here in Saigon back in the 1950s. 

There was a long line of people at the popular Huynh Hoa café which I'm reliably informed serves the best Banh Mi in the city. I opted for the Vegan place next door (no line!) and my Vegan Spicy Tofu Banh Mi was one of the highlights of my day.

With my tastebuds still tingling, it was a five-minute walk to the famous Ben Thanh Market. Known as "the beating heart of Ho Chi Minh", it's one of the earliest surviving structures in the city. Today it's one of the most famous shopping destinations for branded bags, clothes and souvenirs. If you're mad for a bargain and you enjoy the sport of haggling – this is the place is for you. 

If you prefer a less manic shopping experience, try the Saigon Central Shopping Centre around the corner. Prices are a little higher, but it's less crowded and the quality of 'branded' items seemed a little better than what I saw at Ben Thanh. 

Keen shoppers could spend hours haggling away the afternoon, but I popped across the street to visit the Fine Arts Museum instead - and what a find this place was!  Housed in an elegant villa, which is an architectural masterpiece of its own, the museum includes a stunning collection of traditional and contemporary pieces. An absolute must-visit for art lovers. 

The ideal walkable destination

After hitting my 20,000 steps, I was very happy to chill for a couple of hours at the hotel spa before my flight. They offer a range of treatments specially designed for travellers, including an infrared sauna, which apparently helps improve circulation and relieve tired muscles. 

I also tried my first ever bamboo massage where the therapist Karol used what looked like a giant rolling pin to knead my muscles, and OMG, it was spectacular. Karol was all of 4 ft 3 inches tall, but it was one of the strongest massages I've ever had - and exactly what I needed after a big day of walking.

With a late check-out approved, I was able to return to my room, have a nice long shower and re-pack. I even had time to enjoy a beautiful sunset and dinner at the hotel rooftop bar before heading back to the airport for my midnight departure to London.  

The timing of my Saigon stop-over-cation was absolutely perfect! If you can afford the time, I reckon it's worth every (extended) hour … and the jetlag-free start to your European holiday.

Sami was a guest of Vietnam Airlines and Pullman Saigon Centre. Follow Sami on instagram @samilukis

The range of complimentary services and hotels available with the Vietnam Airlines TWOV program depends on your route, fare class and length of layover, so make sure you ask your travel agent about your options or check with Vietnam Airlines before booking your flights.