EMIRATES: two new destinations in Southeast Asia — Da Nang in Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia

Emirates has officially launched new routes to Da Nang, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, via Bangkok. That gives it 23 destinations in Southeast Asia. Both services, inaugurated on June 2 and 3, respectively, are operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The flights

Below are the details of the new flights on Emirates Boeing 777s. The flight between Dubai and Bangkok share the same flight numbers (EK370/371):

Siem Reap

• EK370 departs Bangkok 20:10, arrives Siem Reap 21:30 (Tue, Thu, Sat)
• EK371 departs Siem Reap 23:50, arrives Bangkok 01:10 next day

Da Nang

• EK370 departs Bangkok 20:10, arrives Siem Reap 21:50 (Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri)
• EK371 departs Siem Reap 23:30, arrives Bangkok 01:10 next day

If travelling from or to Dubai via Bangkok, these are very convenient flights since they share flight numbers and aircraft.

For travellers from Australia, not so much. First, Emirates no longer flies from Sydney to Bangkok or from Melbourne. You would need to rely on their codeshare partner, Qantas, which is currently using wet-leased Finnair A330s on the routes to Bangkok.

If you are heading to Siem Reap from Sydney, then there is a not-so-bad 3.5-hour layover in Suvarnabhumi after your Qantas flight into Bangkok. The same is true for your trip to Da Nang. It’s the return flight to Sydney that would be the problem.

With Qantas flights leaving Bangkok at 18:10, you would need to depart the day before your 01:10 a.m. flight arrival and then spend nearly 16 hours before your return flight to Sydney.

If you are travelling to and from Melbourne, then it gets worse rather than better.

Emirates lounge in Bangkok

Bangkok serves as a strategic hub and has Emirates’ newly renovated lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s SAT-1 terminal. The lounge, Emirates’ largest outside Dubai, reinforces the airline’s commitment to providing a luxurious travel experience.

Fifth freedom

The addition of Da Nang and Siem Reap fifth freedom flights on Boeing 777s represents an elegant way to travel these short routes around Southeast Asia. Da Nang becomes Emirates’ third gateway in Vietnam, complementing Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, while the Siem Reap service gives access to Cambodia’s cultural landmarks in and around Siem Reap.

2PAXfly Takeout

These Emirates flights would be a great way to travel between Bangkok and these destinations in Vietnam and Cambodia. It’s just a pity that Emirates have ceased flying between Bangkok and the East Coast of Australia.

These flights are worth contemplating if you are travelling out of Bangkok, or indeed want a southeast Asian stopover on your way between Dubai and Australia.