Dozens of West Australian families have had their long-awaited Christmas holiday plans thrown into chaos after Vietnam Airlines cancelled a key flight from Perth not once, but twice within 24 hours.
Double Cancellation Causes Airport Chaos
The ordeal began in the early hours of Sunday morning, 21 December 2025. Vietnam Airlines flight VN790 to Ho Chi Minh City was cancelled just before take-off, with the airline citing a technical issue with the aircraft. Passengers, many with connecting cruises and tours, were told to return to Perth Airport later that day.
Perth resident Chloe George, who had planned a festive cruise in Vietnam followed by an overnight sleeper train, detailed the frustrating sequence of events. She was initially instructed to come back to the terminal at 11am on Sunday, only to receive a text pushing the departure to 6pm, and then another delaying it to 8pm.
"Everyone went back to the airport on Sunday evening but half an hour before boarding they told everyone it was cancelled again," Ms George said. The second cancellation sparked long, desperate queues at the airline's customer service desk as travellers scrambled to seek refunds or alternative routes.
Eight Months of Saving, Last-Minute Heartbreak
For many, like Ms George, the impact was devastating. The trip was the culmination of eight months of careful saving and meticulous planning for the Christmas and New Year period. The consecutive cancellations made their complex itinerary, which included a cruise on Ha Long Bay, impossible to salvage.
"We decided not to try for a third time as the cancellations impacted our ongoing itinerary," she explained. While acknowledging that aircraft safety must come first, Ms George expressed deep disappointment with the airline's handling of the situation.
"It's just the lack of empathy from Vietnam Airlines that is disappointing," she said. "A cancelled flight once is disappointing but two flights in a row is just ridiculous. I have no idea why they got everyone to go back and check in again the following day if the aircraft hadn't been fixed."
Questions Remain as Passengers Seek Answers
The double cancellation has left a significant number of Perth travellers stranded at home during the holiday season, instead of enjoying their Vietnamese getaway. Many are now navigating the challenging process of seeking compensation and refunds from the carrier.
Ms George confirmed she is still trying to secure a refund from Vietnam Airlines. The airline has been contacted for comment regarding the technical fault and its customer service response to the disrupted passengers.
The incident highlights the severe knock-on effects of last-minute flight cancellations during peak travel periods, where rebooking on other services is often impossible, turning dream holidays into stressful and costly disappointments.
