Vietnam Airlines

Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City. I have been flying regularly with Vietnam Airlines for more than 10 years. They have come a very long way, and the brand new B787, introduced this month to SYD, is exceptional. With new aircraft, not only are the passengers happier, but the staff seem much more attentive to service given the new environment. They seemed really proud of the improvement. The seats throughout are a vast improvement and are right up there with Singapore Airlines and the rest. I flew Premium economy and the seat was spacious and comfortable, and I am not a small framed man. Food was as good as previously and the IFE leaves the old systems for dead. Movie choice was good, screen excellent and headphones very good. I leave for Paris shortly and I look forward to my next journey. Particularly since I upgraded to Business Class. I must say that it intrigues me when I read reviews which criticise the service on Vietnam Airlines. I find the staff attentive, but not over patronising, which I prefer. I find the professional purring and fake smiles on some airlines just over the top. I do not expect the staff to become my new best friends when I fly, and I am happy with basic professional and polite service, and that is what you get on Vietnam Airlines. I am one very happy customer.

I'm an expat living in Vietnam, commuting to Australia 5 times a year on contract work. The only reason I choose this airline is the short layover in Saigon, 30kg check in and reasonable costs for additional weight. There is one other option I'll mention later. Since April 2013 I have flown with Vietnam Airlines 40 or 50 + times on domestic and international routes and I fly down the back in coach. Where to start? Flights to and from Australia are currently using the oldest planes in the fleet. That's evident in the tatty appearance and antiquated entertainment system (pictured). The movie selection, number of movies as well as the system itself is totally inferior to any other airline that I have flown with. Because videos are on a loop (no fast forward, pause or rewind) you have to start watching a movie after it has already started or wait for it to start again. March 13 2016 I flew on VN773. When we were able to use the system all movies were already started, 10 or 15 minutes in and no way for crew to reset. On VN772 on June 20 the two middle rows closest had 1 screen out of the 6 working and two mums working hard to entertain young kids. On VN773 flight on July 20 two of the three entertainment systems in the row behind me weren't working.  On my August 16 VN773 overnight flight my screen just displayed static (pictured) and could not be turned off.  The seat to my left also had a non operational screen.  Inflight meals are nowhere near as good now as what they were and even if you request the likes of a vegetarian meal I've found on a number of occasions that that can be a lucky dip. I've even shown my confirmation, including a vegetarian meal being ordered and confirmed, and been told that I should have rung the day before to check. Pardon me? Vietnam Airlines is supposed to be full service, not a low cost carrier. Crew in coach smile a lot but they are very hard to find and really don't seem to understand what service is all about. Emailed complaints fall on deaf ears and take up to 6 weeks to reply to. I've emailed on a half dozen occasions and replies are similar and sometimes a copy/paste from previous emails, Dear sir, after receiving your letter, we have forwarded your comments to technical departments requesting to correct the errors and to take measure to avoid these inconveniences in the future.If they had then I wouldn't constantly bang on about the same things. These planes are flying 16 hours out of 24 with no time for maintenance on the entertainment system. At least from September 18 2016 Cathay Pacific has increased to 30 kg of check in luggage and reduced the cost of their excess so there is another, vastly superior, airline to consider.

✅ Verified Review | On this return journey from Sydney to London via Ho Chi Minh, we had very good service with Vietnam Airlines. The aircraft are new (except the B777 from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh). Seat space and comfort were superb. We were provided with transit tours in each direction by the airline, which made the journey so much easier and more interesting. It certainly helped to be able to have a shower and rest and a sightseeing tour. Food and beverage service was good, although the Gluten free meals ordered (for my husband) had fish for lunch and breakfast (not quite to Australian taste). On the return journey we added no seafood and then these meals were great. The cabin crew fulfilled any requests we had quite happily. I would have liked a couple of more modern movies but otherwise the entertainment was terrific. All in all, I highly recommend Vietnam Airlines for any long haul trip.A very seamless and smooth experience for us.

Ho Chi Minh City to London Heathrow with Vietnam Airlines. Even though the B787 aircraft is relatively new it appeared tatty inside. Seat 28G was loose and the entertainment system did not work properly. Cabin crew did as much as was required of them which seems very little actually apart from serve food and drink. Most hours during the flight they were nowhere to be seen. Friendly they were not. It was the same on the journey over. The food that was served tasted ok but it was cold. The coffee was dish water and the wine vinegar. We flew with Virgin last year to LA same aircraft but the service was a world apart, the cabin crew couldn't do enough for us. I just expect more as a customer.

One way domestic flight with Vietnam Airlines from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on their new 787 Aircraft. I have flown with them previously and was impressed by the staff, aircraft and punctuality. They have an option to upgrade to Business Class for a nominal fee with a number of ifs and maybes. Two days before the flight my card was debited and an email received we had been pre-approved for the upgrade and to present at Biz class check in for final approval. Needless to say we arrived and told the flight is full but there were still persons to check in and to wait by the boarding gate at minus 30 mins to departure. We waited and were then told we had the seats and that they would be dealt with after boarding has started. It did start, we waited and then two Vietnam Airlines staff appeared in plain clothes with their ID's and they were presented with Biz class passes. They boarded and then the agent stated sorry we are full. Totally unacceptable behaviour which fell on deaf ears. Boarded the flight got middle row seats on a packed plane (we had previosuly emergency row seats booked). In the end having been promised that the funds over 300 USD would be refunded not one penny has been but I have had many emails asking how I liked the upgrade experience. Avoid any upgrade as staff get priority over paying passengers.

I used Vietnam Airlines to get from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang and was very surprised and happy at the quality. Extremely impressive considering the price. Would be more than happy to fly with them again and highly recommend.

✅ Verified Review | Bangkok to Paris CDG via Hanoi return. I was looking forward to the HAN to CDG leg as VN have new A350aircraft on this route. Prior to booking these flights I made a few enquiries to Vietnam Airlines, but emails to VN Australia and VN Vietnam went unanswered, only VN Thailand bothered to answer. Bangkok to Hanoi on a very old and tired A321 (in need of a refit). Only 4 PAX in business, not much to do, attendant served up a delicious beef dish to me and meals to the others, then returned to his seat and went to sleep, not a good look. Hanoi has a nice new terminal, passing through the transit counter to the lounge was easy. Lounge is new but not that good, reviewed in lounge reviews elsewhere here. Departure to Paris was delayed for 15 minutes while they went looking for 2 missing PAX, when these people did arrive they were drunk, not abusive or violent, but very loud and obnoxious, they should have never been granted boarding. As business class was not full everyone else (including me) moved as far away from the drunks as possible. Not a good start and ruined the atmosphere in the cabin for the duration of the flight. Flight attendants are obviously embarrassed and didn’t engage. Meal service was somewhat haphazard with different parts of the meal arriving at the wrong time. No turn down service is offered. Similar haphazard order for the breakfast service. 3 hours prior to arrival toilet paper had run out and was never replenished. Returning from Paris departed on time. I noticed ‘Tornado’ (similar to Fillet steak) on the menu and order that. But why would you put parmesan cheese on a steak? Pepper sauce, mushroom sauce, garlic sauce, sauce diane, even at a pinch perhaps a blue cheese sauce but not parmesan. As I’m familiar with VN now, we get the same haphazard service by non engaging attendants. Arrive at Hanoi, pass transit and go to lounge. VN611 is delayed 55 minutes, when we finally get airborne the aircraft (another old and tired A321) shakes violently on take off, slowly these vibrations stop, and we arrive uneventfully at BKK. On VN 19 (after the drunks incident) the captain informs us that they VN would appreciate feedback (he was obviously unaware of the drunks) and invites comments via the VN website. I did so after arriving home and waited 7 months for a reply that never arrived, so I asked why, not to VN Vietnam or VN Australia but (going on previous form) to VN Thailand, the deputy director of customer relations answered and asked me to resubmit as their site was hacked and my original email was probably lost, I did so and again heard nothing for over a month, so I sent another asking if they received my second submission. They simply replied yes, that was over a month ago now and I’ve heard nothing since, thus the delay in this review. With these new aircraft Vietnam Airlines has the potential to become a Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines but is unlikely to happen with their attitude. They would have a good product if only they could get their act together. You could do just as well with China Southern / Eastern or Royal Jordanian as they offer the same service for several hundred dollars less. Even Finnair, SriLankan airlines and Aeroflot are cheaper than VN.

✅ Verified Review | Kuala Lumpur to Seoul via Ho Chi Minh City. A basic A321 for 2.5 hours KUL-SGN with no entertainment. Food was good but cabin crew not groomed and playing with hand phone while aircraft are taxiing. SGN-ICN was an old B777. Seats are wide and huge legroom. I thought it was a Premium Economy seat but its actually a normal economy seat. Sadly the PTVs were small and entertainment was really limited and very bad interface. The food is satisfactory but cabin crew service needs to improve. English command was poor and so was the attentiveness.

✅ Verified Review | Travelled Hanoi to Bangkok with Vietnam Airlines on 7 November 2016. Bought an economy ticket and upgraded it later to business class through VNs partner, OptionTown. A small A321 did the job. At check in they were flexible and allowed me to check in luggage through transit with an airline outside Skyteam. Few passengers in economy, but business was almost full (10 out of 16 seats were taken. Pre-departure drinks included offering Monopole Brut French champagne. Offered 3 hot dish options. I tried 2 of them which were good. They had an awful French white wine which I could not drink. But not less than 4 brands of beers did the job. Staff were very observant and quite professional, but most of all, caring. Flight on time. No entertainment. No shopping, no IFE. But meal and drink service started from before take-off and almost continued until landing. Other carriers often cut the time of on-board service on this route, but Vietnam Airlines has improved their business class maintaining their 4 stars.

✅ Verified Review | Frankfurt to Ho Chi Minh City in Business Class on Boeing 787. Check-in in Frankfurt was done in just a few minutes without waiting time. Check in staff was very friendly. was greeted by a friendly flight attendent who showed me my seat and offered a hot towel and welcome drink (juice or champagne). Menu cards for dinner and breakfast were given. IFE with a good amount of movies and series in different languages. The lie flat bed was great to sleep for a couple of hours until breakfast service. The quality and quantity of the food was great and more than enough. Overall the crew was happy to assist during the whole flight.