Muscat to Hanoi Flights

  About Muscat

Located on the shores of the gorgeous Gulf of Oman is the capital of the country, Muscat. It is a very popular city which is highly renowned for its luxe lifestyle and upscale living. The city was once colonized by the Portuguese and hence, has many Portuguese=-influenced monuments and tourist attractions.

Best time to visit Muscat

Muscat's location is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. Due to this, the weather is hotter and the landscape, arid. Even though it does have the Gulf of Oman on one side, the climate remains hot and dry throughout the year. In fact, summers here are rather unbearable as the temperatures average at 40 degree Celsius. Summers in Muscat start from April and last till October. Out of all the months, June is considered to be the hottest month in Muscat. Hence, travelling to the capital of Oman during these months would be unfavourable for your travel plans. You should know that tourism is at its low due to the excess heat. The summer heat actually makes people stay indoors. With such striking temperatures, it would certainly not be ideal for planning a trip to Muscat. The hotel prices drop drastically in Muscat during the summers. Unsurprisingly, with lack of tourism, the hotel prices are cheap in Muscat during the summers. But since the weather is not ideal for touristy activities, the city witnesses fewer crowds.

With October through February though, the temperatures are extremely low and favourable. The winters months bring forth lovely cold winter breezes. Much like a majority of the desert countries of the Middle East, Oman too, witnesses the same kind of winter where the temperatures drop to a pleasant low and the days are bearably hot. This is considered the ideal time to visit Muscat. November and December are especially the most favourable months to visit Muscat. You can indulge in a plethora of tourist activities, visit some of the finest attractions and engage in some beach fun too. Everything about Muscat turns beautiful and alluring during these months. The hotel and flight prices also see a spike as tourists turn their attention towards Muscat. The price range for hotel and flight bookings see a dramatic spike. The best way to deal with this conundrum would be to make advance bookings of flights and hotels in Muscat. That way, you will be able to make good savings. Not to mention how you can make good use of the money saved for other activities. Muscat also witnesses rainfall with February considered as the wettest month in the city.

Places to visit in Muscat

Muscat's The Royal Opera House is a famous venue that celebrates the music, art and culture of Oman. The white structure with golden and brown interiors is gorgeous and was built on orders by the royal Sultan Qaboos of Oman. The architecture reflects the ubiquitous Omani-style and is perfect to enjoy a luxe evening in the city. The Mutrah Corniche is another lovely place which is located by the Gulf of Oman. While the waterfront offers a stunning view, the structure is heavily inspired by the Arabic architecture. The Al Mirani Fort is also a tourist attraction which is located by the harbour of the Old Muscat. The brown structure built by the Portuguese is quite an attraction in the city. Perched up the harbour of the Old Muscat is the Al Jalali Fort. It was originally built under the role of Philip I of Portugal. The structure was made to protect the harbour after the Ottoman forces attacked the city of Muscat. The historical structure has seen quite a lot of bloodbath and hence, plays an important role in the city's history. You should also visit the Al Alam Palace, which is a ceremonial palace that has been built by Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

Things to do in Muscat

The best way to understand more about the history and cultural significance of Oman is to head to the Bait Al Zubair Museum. The place sees many interesting costumes and weapons used in the ancient times. Right outside the museum is the famous Omani village along with souk. Souk is basically a spice village where you will find some of the most exquisite Arabic spices. It is certainly a place to check out and even purchase if you wish to. The Mutrah Souq is one place that would excite the shopaholic in you. The Souq market has room for all kinds of spices, goods and even ethnic Omani jewellery. While there are many tourist attractions that can be checked out in the city, the nightlife and shopping districts are quite the indulgence. From sheshaa parlours to luxe dining restaurants, you will have a great time in the city. The beaches in Muscat are also quite blue and pristine. You can visit the beaches and even take some lovely pictures with the blue waters in the background.

Food and Restaurants in Muscat

Oman's population is predominantly of international descendants. Hence, the restaurants and food establishments are usually constructed in a design to please the international crowd. It is majorly seafood as the city's proximity with the Gulf of Oman enables this. You will find some of the most elegant restaurants and fine dining establishments in the city. Much of them are high-priced and offer an upscale food culture. However, with the exquisite experience, indulging in this scene is certainly recommended. You can visit the Slider Station to relish some tasty hamburgers with an array of slider options provided to the customers. Their gooey chocolate desserts are also a big hit among tourists. To get a more authentic food experience in Oman's Muscat, you should visit Ubhar. The place offers the city's finest Omani cuisine with an exemplary ambience. Their halva and camel biryani are a must-have so do not miss them. The Beach has a luxury overview and faces the breath-taking Gulf of Oman. Not just delicious food but also a stunning view helps this establishment to attract a crowd.

The restaurant offers a slew of interesting seafood including mussels with kaffir lime, lobster tail carpaccio and grilled fish. The platter is certainly to blow your mind. Bin Ateeq in the city has a nice Arabic vibe with the decor reflecting the Omani culture. The dishes are also quite interesting as they range from mutton magbous to harees. The place would give you quite the taste adventure that you have been seeking in Muscat. For a more European and British ambience, you should check out Duke's Bar Muscat. The place is known to be one of the best pubs that you will find in all of Muscat. Not just a fancy pub vibe but the place also has impeccable food with lamb chops, tangines, kebabs and curries taking top honours. Tché Tché is a Jordanian vegetarian cafe. For those who do not wish to revel in a seafood platter or mutton meat, this cafe is perfect for you as you will find the best vegetarian food, including sandwiches, fukhara, salads accompanied by flavoured hookah pots and pipes. It is fairly new and has managed to spread its wings.

How to reach Muscat (Transportation)

Muscat is one of the most accessible cities from India with excellent flight connectivity. There are connecting flights as well as nonstop direct flights to Muscat from many Indian cities such as Mumbai, Kochi, Mangalore, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, to name a few. The demand for Oman and Muscat from India is quite high as many flock over to the Middle Eastern country for employment prospects. Due to this, the flight connectivity to Muscat has also improved drastically. Airlines such as Oman Air, flydubai, GoAir, Srilankan Airlines, IndiGo, Saudia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, have dedicated flights to Muscat. A majority of airlines of the Middle East have plane services flying to Muscat. Although several direct flights are available to the city, the most popular route to Muscat chosen by airlines is to fly from the West coast of India. In fact, some of the flights have layovers in Dubai and Bahrain. Besides direct flights, other international routes to Muscat fly from Dubai and Bahrain as they have the best connectivity.

The flight duration to Muscat from India ranges from three hours and forty minutes to seven hours and forty minutes. The prices for cheap flight tickets to Muscat depend on the duration and airlines chosen. The flight tickets to Muscat are quite cheap and affordable. Aside from tourism, a majority of the crowd from India travel to Muscat for professional purposes and hence, the demand is always prevalent. Booking flights to Muscat will come with great online deals. As long as you choose a good airline with great miles benefits, you will be able to snag some cheap flight tickets to Muscat. In fact, if you book in advance and do not opt for peak tourism season, you will be able to avail some online flight deals to Muscat. Booking flights, as well as hotels in Muscat, would further lead you to some massive discounts online. It is essential that you make prior flight bookings to Muscat if you want to be eligible for some of their online deals. The hotel prices vary depending on the tourism season. The dry and hot season witness fewer tourists with a drop in the hotel prices.

  About Hanoi

Snuggled up in the Northern terrains of the green country, Vietnam is the lovely capital Hanoi. The city is an architectural and cultural hub of the Southeast Asian country. Hanoi has birthed many famous dishes, enabling the relevance of Vietnamese cuisine on a global map. It is an important city and has brilliant connectivity with the rest of the world.

Best time to visit Hanoi

Spring and autumn automatically become the most favoured seasons in Hanoi, thanks to the scorching summer heat. The geographical overview of Hanoi is such that the city witnesses a subtropical climate year-round. The winters in Hanoi are cold and dry, which is quite the contrast from the summers which are hot, humid and wet. February to April brings some refreshing air into the city as the weather is not too hot or too cold. Thanks to the pleasant weather, indulging in touristy activities becomes much easier. Many fields and plants bloom during this season, which only adds to the exquisite landscape of Hanoi and Vietnam. The season also brings a surge in the hotel prices and flight tickets. As a city which witnesses a high number of tourists during the spring months, flights to Hanoi as well as hotels become quite expensive. Hence, it would be best to plan a trip in advance and make prior flight and hotel bookings to Hanoi.

Similarly, even the autumn months from October to November are quite ideal. The temperature starts to drop but to a pleasant number. Not to mention how the fields and expanses of green turn yellow and golden, adding to the beauty of Vietnam. Under the blue skies, this is a sight for sore eyes. This time also witnesses a significant number of tourists from around the world, leading to a surge in the flight and hotel prices. If you are opting for a budget trip, winters would be quite good for you as the temperatures are super low but pleasant. Not to mention how the off-season is also something that reduces the ticket and hotel prices, making budget trips possible. Summers are not the best in Hanoi. Due to the excess humidity and precipitation in the air, the city witnesses a hotter climate. Interestingly, Hanoi's summers also become their monsoon as both the climates are experienced.

Places to visit in Hanoi

Hanoi has some extraordinary sights with infrastructural bliss that you will only find out about once you visit the city. The rich rice paddies and green expanse might have tantalised your views of what to expect from Hanoi. However, the city has more to offer in the form of architectural delights. Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the famous tourist spots in Hanoi for all the right reasons. Also known by the name H? G??m, the lake is located in the midst of Hanoi's historical sites. Over the years, the city's focal tourist attraction has found several names to be remembered by including 'Luc Thuy Lake' and 'Thuy Quan Lake'. The location is so pristine and quaint that you will instantly fall in love with it. Hold your emotions, though as there are a few more places in Hanoi to make you poignant. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one such place which serves as the tomb of the famous Vietnamese revolutionary leader, President Ho Chi Minh. It is situated in Ba Dinh square where he first took up the position as the chairman of the Worker's Party of Vietnam in 1951 and died in 1969.

You should also visit the V?n Mi?u, a temple that has been dedicated to the Confucius. The temple complex is also known to host the Imperial Academy, which is Vietnam's first national university. The structure and the complex of the temple is certainly beautiful and worth visiting. The Th?ng Long Citadel is another gorgeous location with pristine historic buildings that have been constructed to celebrate the flourishing history of Hanoi. Hoa Lo Prison Relic is another intriguing tourist attraction in Hanoi that showcases the fate of prisoners during the French colonial rule in Vietnam. The prison was later also used to lock up war prisoners from the US army during the Vietnam War. The structure holds a lot of history and significance that you should learn about. It will be quite interesting to know more about the tales of Vietnam and its struggling history with various conflicts.

Things to do in Hanoi

Vietnamese delicacies are a big hit among food fanatics. However, for those who wish to drown themselves in the tranquillity and serenity of Hanoi, you can visit the freshwater lake West Lake, which is on the northwest of Hanoi's city centre. With an exquisite view of the sparkling lake and the surrounding green beauty, the location automatically becomes one of the best places to be in when in Hanoi. You can actually book hotel rooms in Hanoi's paradise. The lake is popular for entertaining various tourist activities such as canoeing on the lake as well as boating. You can sit and enjoy some quiet fishing too or just savour the beauty of the lake. Another interesting thing that you could do in Hanoi would be to get yourself some tickets to Vietnamese shows and watch it at the Grand Opera House (also known as Hanoi Opera House). It would be quite an experience considering how the theatre's acoustics are marvellous.

Food and restaurants in Hanoi

Vietnamese cuisine owes a lot of their fame to Hanoi. It is beloved that a majority of the dishes that have found international acclaim are actually all thanks to Hanoi's discoveries. From using the finest ingredients in the food to bringing forth a brilliant melange of flavours, the Vietnamese from Hanoi have bolstered the Vietnamese cuisine. Hence, it would be a shame to not explore this part of the culture. You should definitely indulge in some street food sessions as well as fine dining experiences to make the most of your wanderlust in Hanoi.

The Hanoi Social Club is one such place that brings forth a quaint environment teamed with beautiful Mediterranean spread with vegetarian delights too. The restaurant also acknowledges musicians, who come and perform to perform to entertain the crowd. Red Bean Restaurant is majorly Vietnamese-based with cuisine reflecting the city's finest food. It has an upscale setting which might be fun to indulge in. Do not miss their bún ch? and ph?, which are widely recognised in the world. At the Hung Snake restaurant, you will get to experience what snakes taste like as the place is known to cook snakes in many ways. Their biggest speciality though is the snake whiskey which draws a lot of tourist attention. Hanoi's Ch? Cá Th?ng Long might not have a long list of menu with far too many dishes. But you wouldn't need them as they only specialise in a few meals and have aced the cooking. Hence, they have quite a reputation in the city. You can get a taste of fusion food at Pizza 4P's Tràng Ti?n where you will get to taste the Vietnamese pan pizzas which do have the consistency of an Italian dough.

How to reach Hanoi

Hanoi has brilliant flight connectivity. Vietnam is always in demand for backpackers and budget travellers. Thanks to the lush green beauty of the land added with the potential to engage in social and environmental causes brings a lot of travellers to the city. Airlines such as IndiGo, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Dragon Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Silkair, Vietnam Airlines, to name a few, have regular flights flying to Hanoi or connecting with the city. There are no provisions of direct or nonstop flights to Hanoi from India. However, there are many options to connect from India to Hanoi. The most popular route to Hanoi often chosen by tourists is from Hong Kong. The duration from Hong Kong is the least and hence, is the most preferred. There are other international routes to Hanoi too that connect from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and even Bangkok. The flight duration is only seven hours and ten minutes. However, depending on the flight that you pick, it could vary. Not to mention the climate conditions during the venture. Travelling by flight is the most convenient way to reach Hanoi, and it is also the fastest way to go.

Flight tickets to Hanoi are not very expensive. You can easily make a round trip to Hanoi for as less as INR 40,000. Many of the South Asian countries have cheap flight tickets, making travel very pocket-friendly and convenient. There are a plethora of cheap flight tickets to Hanoi available. In fact, you might even be able to get hold of some great discounts and flight tickets to Hanoi online. It is essential that you start booking in advance if you want to make the most of the discounts and online deals to Hanoi. Many of these deals also include accommodation. Basically, you can make your flight and hotel bookings to Hanoi online and get massive discounts for the same. The season you pick is essential as that would further help in deciding whether you can avail the cheap hotels and flights to Hanoi. The city is constantly bustling with many tourists and NGO workers.

  About Muscat Airport

Muscat International Airport, which was formerly referred to as Seeb International Airport is located in Seeb, which is about 32 km away from the capital city of Oman, Muscat. The airport plays as a hub to domestic carriers Oman Air and Salam Air, both featuring flights that fly from Muscat International Airport to regional and international destinations.

About Airport Terminals

Muscat International Airport started with one passenger terminal but soon expanding to introduce a new terminal building to add to its infrastructure. Currently, there are two functioning terminal buildings out of which, the newer terminal has been built to cater to world-class stature for being extravagant.

Terminal 1 is the new state-of-the-art building that is located in the north of the original terminal. It opened in 2018 and has since managed to accommodate a capacity of 20 million passengers in a year. More expansion plans are under works as the airport body plans to increase the terminal's passenger capacity from 24 to 48 million in a year. The terminal is sprawled over 580,000 sqm with about 118 check-in counters, 82 immigration counters, ten baggage claim conveyor belts, 45 gates and an Air Traffic Control tower which stands at the height of 97 m. Terminal 1 nestled between the old and new runway and also has the capacity to handle massive aircraft, including the Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s.

Terminal 2 is a solo building that is two-storyed and was opened back in the 1970s. The airport with this terminal came into existence as a replacement to the Bait al-Falaj airport. Over the years, the terminal has witnessed several expansions and upgradations to accommodate the growing numbers of passengers flying in and out of Oman. There are 58 check-in counters, four baggage claim conveyor belts, 23 departure gates, service counters and duty-free shops. The terminal does not have jetbridges but transports passengers and crew using shuttle bus services within the airport premise. Ever since the new terminal opened in 2018, all the flight operations, both international and domestic, have been shifted to the new building. Plans to develop the old terminal are in the works. The airport authority is outlining a proposal to build the terminal into a low-cost carrier.

The airport originally had a single runway which is capable of accommodating aircrafts such as Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 777. The new runway though is far more accomplished as it can accommodate bigger aircrafts such as Antonov An-225, Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380. The older runway is currently shut down for expansion purposes, along with the old terminal.

About Airport Authority

Muscat International Airport is owned and operated by Oman Airports. Over the years since the operations of Muscat Airport fell under Oman Airports' wings, the airport authority has been working tremendously on expansion and development plans to upscale the airport's premise.

Top airlines flying from Muscat International Airport

Oman sees tremendous flight action from Indian cities and the Middle East ones, respectively. Muscat International Airport has reserved flight operations for Indian airlines. Some of the important Indian airlines operating from Muscat International Airport are Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet. They have dedicated flights that fly to and from various Indian cities. Most of the cities that have direct flights to Muscat include Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Mangalore, Hyderabad and more. Specific cities in Kerala such as Kochi, Kannur, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram have direct flights connecting to Muscat International Airport. Hence, there is space accommodated for activities of Indian airlines.

Similarly, there are many international airlines too that operate from Muscat International Airport. Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, KLM, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways, SalamAir, Saudia, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines, are some of the airlines that operate from Muscat International Airport. These airlines connect to major international cities such as London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cairo, Paris, Istanbul and Bangkok. The airport can only accommodate one cargo carrier namely, Cargolux, which travels to Luxembourg.

Facilities at Muscat International Airport

Lounge - Muscat International Airport has the famous Primeclass Lounge which offers a slew of facilities that are open 24/7. The lounge is on the fifth floor of the terminal. They offer game zone, private suites, prayer areas, family rooms, spas, smoking areas, cinema and more such facilities. They also have buffet services and international cuisines.

Hotels - You can make hotel bookings at the airport as there are dedicated booths and counters. It would be easy to get an idea of the numerous airports located in Oman.

Baggage - The airport has excellent baggage services such as trolleys, porter facilities and luggage wrapping. You can find access to trolleys at all convenient places at the Muscat International Airport. Along with this, you can also avail porter services. You will need to book porter services from the airlines, though. Or you can also go to the airport's information desk and book a porter service. There are plastic wrapping services for luggage. It is recommended as sealing bags would help evade damage, mishandling, drug smuggling, theft and more.

Smoking zones - Smoking in public is prohibited. Hence, the airport has reserved specific smoking zones where passengers can smoke. They are present in the Departures transit area as well as Arrivals public concourse.

Medical services - The airport caters to medical services along with emergency paramedic. There are first aid rooms that are present at various locations of the airport. Pharmacies are also available at regular intervals of the terminal.

Prayer rooms - There are separate dedicated prayer rooms for men and women at the airport terminal. The prayer rooms are located in pairs and are present at the departure and arrivals zones of the terminal. Details of the same can be found on Muscat International Airport's website as well as the information desk of the airport.

Nursing stations - To cater to new mothers with infants, the airport has installed various nursing stations and baby care rooms. The maps located at the airport will guide you to these rooms. They are well-maintained and regularly sanitized. Not to mention how they also have baby essentials, in case the parents exhaust their products.

WiFi - Free WiFi can be availed at the airport. You can log in to the system by learning about the same at the airport's information desk. You can further receive more details on Muscat International Airport's website.

Special assistance - You can opt for special assistance at the airport. It would be more convenient to get in touch with the airlines as that would give them time to arrange for all the necessary requests. Special assistance is mostly granted to senior citizens, expectant mothers, mobility disabled and more.

Spa - Muscat International Airport has a dedicated Be Relax Spa which would transport you from all the hustle-bustle of the airport. The spa's decor is of high quality, and the services are also world-class. One can easily relax at the airport's spa while waiting to board flights. There is premium also offers available for travellers. The spa offers a plethora of services ranging from aromatherapies to nail care.

Restaurants and cafe - Food establishments and joints are spread across the terminal of the airport. You can find all kinds of food at the airport from vegetarian to non-vegetarian to vegans. Muscat International Airport also has exquisite dining experiences at the lounge facilities.

How to reach Muscat International Airport

Muscat International Airport is perfectly located between Muscat and Al-Seeb cities. If you are travelling from Muscat, you should take Sultan Qaboos Highway which connects from the west of Muscat City. The same route needs to be followed if you are coming from Seeb. Reaching the Muscat International Airport from other parts of Oman is very easy.

Public buses and shuttle services

If you have booked your accommodations within the city, then you can avail shuttle bus services. It would be imperative that you complete your immigration and other essential formalities before you can get to the bus. Besides the hotel shuttle buses, there are public transportations also available at the airport. Operated by Mwasalat Transport Company, the bus station is situated on the ground floor, close to Muscat International Airport building. Business and first-class passengers get the luxury of services provided by the airport where they will be transported to their destinations from the airport. You can do the same to reach the Muscat International Airport.

Car rentals and taxicabs

Right outside the Muscat International Airport, you can find taxi services. There are booths at the arrivals where you can book car rentals and taxicabs as well. If you check out the Muscat International Airport's official website, you will be able to directly call up some of the car rental services and book them online or on the phone. The offices are open 24/7, making it perfect for travellers. Besides this, there are taxicab services and airport shuttle cars also available from hotels and accommodations.