Duc, who lives in Hanoi, had been travelling to Spain on a business trip with a planned transit in Doha, Qatar. However, his flight was diverted to Muscat after regional conflict intensified.
With the airport overcrowded and luggage yet to be returned, Duc was left with only the clothes he was wearing and a few personal belongings. Facing a wait of several days for a departing flight, he and three other Vietnamese travellers decided to take a taxi on March 2 to buy clothes at a budget shop in Muscat.
Unable to pay in local currency and hoping to use a credit card, Duc was initially turned down by a driver. Moments later, after learning the group had been stranded due to the unrest, the driver invited them into the car and offered the 4-km ride free of charge.
Despite language barriers, Duc said he sensed the driver’s goodwill through gestures and expressions. Before parting, he gave the driver a VND 10,000 banknote as a small keepsake.
Another Omani taxi driver later offered to take the group back to their hotel without insisting on payment. The travellers eventually gave him five euros they had on hand.
Duc said he was struck by the hospitality of people in Oman, where strangers often greet visitors with smiles and waves, and shop staff offer friendly assistance.
He and other passengers from the diverted flight have been accommodated by Qatar Airways in several luxury hotels in Muscat, including InterContinental Muscat, Hilton Muscat, Wyndham Garden Muscat, Hyatt Regency Muscat, Novotel Muscat Airport and The St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort.
According to Duc, rooms cost around VND 10 million (about USD 380) per night, while meals are estimated at VND 3-4 million per day per person, with all expenses covered by the airline.
The unexpected stopover has allowed him to briefly explore Muscat, where he noted wide roads, orderly urban planning and rows of white-painted buildings.
Due to the disruption, Duc has cancelled his planned business trip to Barcelona. He is expected to fly from Oman to Thailand on March 6 before continuing to Vietnam, as no direct flights from the Middle East to Hanoi are currently available.