Vietnam Airlines

Long haul flight from Gatwick to Ho Chi Min in an old aircraft. Apart from dishing out obligatory drink and meals did not see cabin crew until time to land. They seemed indifferent and uninterested in passenger welfare or need. Had to help ourselves to drinks (as did other passengers from a tray left in serving place). Cabin crew were solemn faced. Would not fly again or recommend.

Sydney-Saigon. Aircraft seemed pretty new. Everything worked. Food of adequate standard. On time. Seat pretty cramped but typical. Service polite and efficient but not friendly. Saigon-Hanoi: Old clunky aircraft. Video screens and audio did not work properly. Meal not heated properly. Hanoi-Hoi An: Cambodian Air plane. Seemed pretty new. Everything worked Only water and wipes on one hour flight. Hoi An - Saigon: Old clunky aircraft. Only water and wipes on this flight. Saigon - Sydney: Another old aircraft. Seat old. Delayed half hour. A hole in armrest where some button had once been. Screen small and would not stow in seat. Picture on screen poor. Games control button deeply encrusted with filth. Edge of tray broken and very uncomfortable to use. Food was served hot and of acceptable quality. Fairly cramped and uncomfortable. Usual efficient service.

Singapore to Hanoi return. An acceptable service for the money paid staff tried really hard aircraft getting on a bit so entertainment poor for a 3hr flight but not a deal clincher. Would certainly fly Vietnam again.

Business on domestic flights excellent with real BC seat. On the international flight from Hanoi to Paris we disliked the seat very hard an angle of only 156° decades behind other Asian carriers. Food very mediocre and limited choice. No wine list and asking for a dry white Bordeaux we got a dessert wine. We refused it and was changed for a white burgundy. The VOD was not working so sleeping was the only impossible alternative but seen the poor seat and with the passenger in front almost on your knees makes sleeping almost impossible.

I travelled back home in business class with a broken collarbone and ribs on the flight form Ho Chi Minh City to Paris. Although I was mentioned as a passenger needing medical assistance I never got any support from staff on the plane. Upon arrival the other passengers had to help me get with hand luggage and with my clothes. I find this absolutely unacceptable.

SIN-HAN. Experience ok food good. Took over an hour and a half to collect meal trays after service. Leading to a 20+ person queue for bathrooms. Hostess's did job without being friendly or smiling. Left and landed on time.

HKK - Hanoi on 30th Jan then Hanoi-Danang 1st Feb Danang-BKK (via HCM) on Feb 7th. All routes were on relatively new looking A321s or A320s. International service was good with decent entertainment and food. Flights from their hubs (Hanoi and HCM) were on time but our Danang-HCM leg was delayed 90 mins with no explanation. We had lounge access in HCM which was comfortable though the drinks selection was poor. Danang airport was very nice in contrast to HCM and Hanoi especially - very old and a terrible waiting area for domestic flights. The HCM domestic-international transfer requires you to leave switch terminals by walking outside. Overall however a good experience and recommended for domestic/regional routes.

In Feb 2013 we took four flights with VN and two with their codeshare partner Cambodia Angkor Air (49% owned by VN). These flights were SIN-HAN HAN-HUI HUI-SGN SGN - REP and return (K6 flights) and SGN- SIN. We were travelling in Business Class but we were very impressed with VN's (and K6's) overall performance. AF and KLM could learn from the way in which VN handle priority boarding and (except on one flight) baggage handling. A couple of the A321s were brand new the others in good condition. The food was well judged for the length of flight and time of day. We had supper in Hanoi with friends who had travelled LGW-HAN the previous night one couple in Business Clas one in Premium Economy (called De Luxe by VN). Their comments backed up those who refer to IFE systems not working on VN's long-haul flights.

LGW-HAN and SGN to LGW. Both flights departed and arrived on time. No problem getting window seats / seats together no unexpected stops. Crew did their jobs to an 'acceptable' standard one or two were quite good. Upholstery had seen better days and the first set of headphones we got on the way out were dodgy. Food was fine - two choices at each meal and no problem pre-ordering a vegetarian meal. Films were 2012 releases and a new one on me they have selectable camera views from the cockpit and beneath the plane which can be quite dramatic during take-off and landing. Direct flights saved us a lot of time and airline choice saved us a lot of money - would definitely use again.

SGN to Danang return on Airbus 321. Avoid seat 39 on the starboard bulkhead. It does not recline. Clean airplanes and OK cabin staff. Return flight to SGN left 30 minutes late because of late equipment arrival which seems to happen a lot with VN Air later in the day. Insipid annoying background music while boarding and disembarking. Every carrier plays it and I do not understand why. My inflight experience is certainly not enhanced.