My name is Tra. I am a student who watched Love story in Havard and I dreamed of one day studying abroad on a beautiful university campus of my own. After travelling through 4 continents and visited multiple prestigious schools I finally decided to moved to Ireland for a MSc program at Maynooth. If you are reading this blog, congratulation. You may have just found your dream university too. As you will soon discover it is hard to find another beautiful place in Ireland quite like our Maynooth University especially in the autumn. So, get ready to arrive with excitement and an open heart! I believe your time at Maynooth will be one of the most beautiful bold youth of your life.

Ok back to the topic, preparing for the study abroad journey can feel overwhelming, especially if this is your first time travelling abroad. From choosing the right flight to deciding what to pack, here are some practical tips based on my own experience -your Vietnamese friend in Maynooth.

1. Booking Your Flight

From Vietnam, several airlines offer routes to Ireland:

• Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways: Typically 2–4-hour layovers in the Middle East, with two checked bags of 23–25 kg each, depending on the airline and fare.
• Turkish Airlines: Usually a 3–5-hour layover in Turkey.
• China Eastern Airlines (CEAir): Some routes include a long layover in Shanghai, with two checked bags of 23 kg each on eligible fares.

My tip: Compare flights departing from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Also, check student travel programmes offered by airlines such as Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, as they provide extra baggage benefits. I initially considered Qatar Airways, but I eventually chose CEAir because I had over 50 kg of luggage. Buying extra baggage can cost a significant proportion of your ticket price, so make the most of your student benefits!

2. My experience with China Eastern Airlines

I travelled from Ho Chi Minh City with China Eastern Airlines and had a 17-hour layover at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). Although such a long layover might sound exhausting, it turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to explore Shanghai!

China Eastern Airlines offered a complimentary transit hotel and free city tour options departing from the airport. There were several tour departure times throughout the day, and the airport also offered free tours. Depending on your schedule, you can book in advance or check whether walk-in participation is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

2.1 How to Book a Free Transit Hotel

Here is how I arranged my transit hotel:

1. Visit the China Eastern Airlines website and search for “Free Hotel Transit.”
2. Enter your flight details and passenger information to check your eligibility.
3. If your ticket qualifies, the booking option should appear.
4. Complete your booking and check your confirmation email.

My ticket was eligible for the service. Once my booking was confirmed, I received an email, followed by another confirmation containing the hotel name and a QR code. Keep these details accessible when you arrive!

2.2 Arriving at Shanghai Airport

A hotel representative was waiting for me near the aircraft arrival area with a sign displaying my name. He provided me below instruction regard of the shuttle pick-up location, time and vehicle registration number. If you miss the representative or shuttle, ask the transit service counter for assistance.

Important tip: If you plan to leave the airport for a hotel or city tour, follow the Arrivals/Exit signs, do not enter the airside Transit which will lead you back to the boarding gate and get out of it can be complicated.

Another student travelling with me had bought a ticket through an agent, but her fare did not qualify for the free hotel. I asked the representative if she could share my room and whether there would be an extra charge. Surprisingly, he said it was free! We were given a twin room without being asked for her details.

This was a wonderful bonus, although I recommend confirming the hotel’s guest policy rather than assuming the same arrangement will be available to everyone.

I skipped the free airport tour because I wanted to rest first. After a few hours at the hotel, we took a taxi to the Bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront and the hotel offer free delivery us back to the airport. It turned a long layover into a memorable mini-adventure on my journey to Ireland, their service is great I would to book again next time! If you have a similar itinerary, check the available hotel and tour options in advance to make the most of your transit time.

3. Something you need to complete before the flight.

These are essential tasks that can cause you a big trouble if you miss it, so before packing your suitcase, take care of these first.

• Activate international roaming: This can help you receive one-time passwords (OTPs) for banking transactions and other important services while abroad.
• Check your national ID card’s expiry date: Make sure your ID are still valid. As it expires will lock all your bank card that you need to go back to Vietnam to solve.
• Prepare visa photos: if you want to travel to Schengen countries or the UK. Getting photos taken in Ireland can be relatively expensive, so preparing some in advance may save you money.
• Consider getting a credit card: Card payments are widely used in Ireland, so having a suitable payment card can be convenient.
• Keep copies of important documents: Prepare digital of your passport and printed copies of university offer letter and health insurance certificate. Immigration officers definately ask to see supporting documents, so keep them accessible in your hand luggage.
• Prepare some euro coins: If you plan to take a bus from the airport, having coins can be useful. Buese in Ireland use TFI Leap Card or you can pay by exact fare by coin as they do not provide change.

4. What Should You Pack?

Food is one thing you shouldn’t overlook when packing! You might find yourself missing the flavours of home more than you expect, especially when you can’t find your favourite ingredients in Ireland. To make the transition a little easier, I recommend bringing some of the following items from home, particularly those that are difficult to find locally or very expensive.

Bring some extra below can help you settle in more comfortably and avoid spending too much on essentials immediately after arrival.

These are just suggestions, so prioritise the items you use regularly and the things that are difficult or expensive to replace. You still can buy Vietnamese products here but the price is very high and not plenty as home for sure.

You can bring basic kitchenware, such as a pot, frying pan, bowls, plates and cups as well if you have enough luggage space. However, here’s a tip to save both money and space: during Orientation Week, the university may organise a visit to a reuse room where you can collect a lot of kitchenware and household items left behind by previous students, which are still in very good condition.

Ireland’s weather can be unpredictable, with frequent rain, strong winds and chilly days. You need to priority to bring as much warm clothes as possible and water-proof jackets plus medicines (vitamins, supplements are cheap here so no need to bring). A fun fact that many food here is much cheaper than Vietnam.

I hope these tips make your journey a little easier and help you start your university experience in Ireland with greater confidence. Safe travels, and see you in our beloved Maynooth