- Introduction: A Whirlwind Aeroplan Adventure
- How To Redeem Aeroplan Points Like A Pro
- Review: SAS Lounge Chicago Airport (ORD)
- Review: Austrian Business Class 777 (ORD-VIE)
- Review: Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere
- Review: SKY Lounge Vienna Airport (VIE)
- Review: Austrian Senator Lounge Vienna Airport (VIE)
- Review: Austrian Business Class A320 (VIE-FCO)
- Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Rome Airport (FCO)
- Review: Gulf Air Business Class A321LR (FCO-BAH)
- Review: Gulf Air Lounge Bahrain Airport (BAH)
- Review: Bahrain Airport Hotel (Priority Pass)
- New Bahrain Airport Terminal: What A Nifty Hub!
- Review: Gulf Air Business Class 787-9 (BAH-SIN)
- Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge T3 (SIN)
- Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class 787 (SIN-SGN)
- Review: Le Saigonnais Business Lounge Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN)
- Review: Bamboo Airways Business Class A321neo (SGN-HAN)
- Review: VATC Sleep Pods Hanoi Airport (HAN)
- Review: Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi Airport (HAN)
- Review: Bamboo Airways Business Class 787 (HAN-FRA)
- Review: Sheraton Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Lufthansa Business Lounge Frankfurt (FRA)
- Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt (FRA)
- Review: Air Canada Business Class 777 (FRA-YYZ)
- Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Toronto Transborder (YYZ)
- Review: Air Canada Business Class 787 (YYZ-MIA)
After a short night at the VATC Sleep Pods Terminal 1, it was time to fly Bamboo Airways’ Boeing 787-9 business class from Hanoi to Frankfurt. While I’ll be reviewing the flight in the next installment, in this post I wanted to review the Song Hong Business Lounge, which is the lounge in the international terminal at Hanoi Airport Terminal 2.
This is an excellent contract lounge, with great views, lots of natural light, charming decor, and an extensive selection of food and drinks. It was quite a contrast to the Le Saigonnais Business Lounge I visited the evening before at Ho Chi Minh City Airport.
In this post:
Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi location
Terminal 2 is the international terminal at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). To find the Song Hong Business Lounge, you’ll first need to clear security and immigration.
Once airside, turn right, and follow the signage in the direction of gates 20-28. Near gate 28, you’ll see escalators and an elevator leading up to the terminal’s lounges.
On the upper level you’ll first find the Song Hong Business Lounge, and then behind that is the Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge.
Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi hours
The Song Hong Business Lounge is currently open daily from 6:30AM until 2:00AM, so it only closes briefly at night, when the terminal doesn’t have any flights. This should cover all eligible departures.
Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi entry requirements
The Song Hong Business Lounge is used as a contract lounge by many airlines, including Asiana Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. If you’re a premium passenger on one of these airlines, you can expect to receive an invitation.
On top of that, the lounge is open to Priority Pass members, as that membership comes with many premium credit cards.
Lastly, access to the lounge can be purchased online.
Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi seating & layout
The Song Hong Business Lounge consists of one large room that’s broken up into a few zones, with very high ceilings. The buffet area is in the center of the lounge, with seating scattered around it. As you enter, there are couches, dining tables that each seat two to four people, and communal counters with seats.
There are more tables and couches over by the windows, with amazing views of the apron.
Hi, Bamboo Airways Boeing 787 (though not the one that I’d be flying)!
The other side of the lounge has tons more seating, with some cool lampshade-like fixtures that add some personality to the lounge. It’s rare to see a contract lounge put so much effort into design, but I was very impressed here.
In the very back of the lounge there’s a bar area with some stools. There wasn’t anything on the bar, so I’m not sure if that was just because it was early in the morning, or if that’s not actually used nowadays.
The lounge has a few other amenities, including massage chairs, a business center, lockers for luggage storage, and a smoking room.
Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi food & drinks
During my visit, the Song Hong Business Lounge had an impressive selection of food and drinks. Most things were self-serve, aside from a staffed pho station.
As far as drinks go, there was a fridge with soda, water, beer, and milk, a soda fountain, several types of wine and liquor, filtered coffee, and an espresso machine (though that didn’t seem to be working).
When it comes to cold food options, there were packaged snacks, desserts, cereal, fruit, sushi, a salad bar, rolls, cold cuts, and more.
There was also an extensive selection of hot options, ranging from rice, to sausage, to chicken, to veggies, to pho.
Contract lounge food selections don’t get much more extensive than that, and most of the stuff actually looked pretty decent. Staff were constantly refreshing and cleaning the buffet, which was nice to see. There was clearly pride taken in what was being offered here.
Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi bathrooms & showers
The bathrooms at the Song Hong Business Lounge are like the Emirates A380 shower spa compared to the bathrooms in the sleep pods, where I spent the night. 😉
The bathroom had a couple of stalls and a few urinals.
There was also a shower room in the back of the bathroom. I’m not sure if they clean it between uses and it just wasn’t ready, or what exactly was going on, but there was a big pile of towels in it.
Bottom line
The Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi exceeded my expectations. I liked the lounge’s design, from the thoughtful decor, to the high ceilings, to the amazing views. On top of that, the lounge had a large selection of food and drinks. This is a pleasant place to spend some time before a flight.
What do you make of the Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi?
Was just there yesterday. Very pleasant lounge. Got there late morning, and it got more crowded close to noon. Excellent food options. Also had a bar, which was open, though I just had a glass of bubbly (awful) for my FaceTime with the girls in LA. Pho was decent but not fancy. Only complaint - not enough bathroom stalls given the number of people in the lounge.
I visited this lounge a couple times in 2019, and I'd say it's a pretty good place to spend pre-flight. I enjoyed the food and drink selections, and they keep it pretty tight and clean. I didn't use the shower, so not sure what the deal there is about. Overall, thumbs up!
Can anyone give a view on how this compares to the NIA Business Lounge in the same terminal? I'll have access to both on my upcoming departure, but not much time, so will probably just pick one. I won't need quiet areas or a 'business centre', so decision is probably based on overall comfort, which is less crowded on an early evening departure and perhaps which has better drinks. Food not really a concern. Many thanks for any opinions.
I haven't used the NIA Lounge per se, but after checking out both Song Hong and Vietnam Airlines lounges, I think they all serve the same food. Which make sense, since they are all operated by the same company. In terms of crowdedness, I would say NIA Lounge since Song Hong can be pretty packed with Priority Pass people.
Thanks very much for your thoughts, Dodo; good info.
Maybe Lucky needs to make a list of the 5 best contract lounges he has visited?
Thanks for posting. I'll be visiting in a week or so.
Try their mutton biryani when you visit at lunchtime. You can ask for a takeaway as well. Enjoy
Wow! Beautifully designed and the food offerings looked magnificent. What a pleasant surprise.