Vietnam Airlines review by Craig 2014-12-29

Business Class - Vietnam Airlines - Melbourne to HCM ----- Business Priority Check In, Immigration Express Pass, Access to Qantas Business Lounge via Voucher, Priority Boarding, Seating approx. 60% capacity in business with seating to the same standard as any other carrier - lie flat bed, universal power points, USB point, IFE with a decent selection. Food and drinks service was exceptional. If you want additional drinks or snacks after the main service all you have to do is press the call bell. Throughout the radio channels they actually remind you to do this. Business Class - Lounge Access - HCM --- Lounge is easy to find, and very welcoming. Its usually very quiet. Reasonable range of hot and cold snacks, a make your own noodle bar and a few local food options served hot. Toilets but no shower facilities. Most seats are big and comfy with their own power sockets (adapters available) and good selection of books and magazines. Lighting is a little harsh at night (resembles flood lighting). Great selection of spirits and wines including an electric wine cellar that you can help yourself to. Flights are announced and screens are available to check times. A quiet corner also has a massage chair for use. Its a decent lounge but after a two or three hours you will be over it. Business Class - Vietnam Airlines - HCM to London Gatwick (via Germany) ----- These planes are older and a lot more worn out. Don't expect the same standard as the Australia flights. The seats recline well and they are very comfy but there is no power on this plane, no usb sockets, the IFE is unusable so they give you an iPad instead (the selection is limited but decent). No privacy screens. Food and drink service is excellent and staff were extremely accommodating when asked for additional wine, spirits or snacks. On a couple of occasions I asked for a snack and wine and I was given a sample platter and even had my wine topped up without prompt. Its a shame they don't swop the plane types around as the older planes is used on the longest part of the journey to the UK. The stop over in Germany is seamless and pretty quick. Its a good opportunity to buy duty free at European prices too. I flew back to Melbourne from Paris via HCM. In Paris its a very confusing process to check in. This has nothing to do with Vietnam, its just the way the airport is designed. You go to the Vietnam Airlines check in desks and its just a free for all trying to queue to check in. As your travelling business class, all you do is check in on the automated kiosk and proceed to the priority check in zone for Sky Team which is a good bit down the other end of the terminal. They take your bags, escort you to priority security. You have access to the Air France lounge which is really nice and the food was awesome, particularly I enjoyed a salmon risotto dish which was yummy. Boarding was good with easy priority for business customers. Plane was again about half full. Transit Tour in HCM --- Vietnam Airlines ran a special promo for long stop overs where I was met at HCM transit zone by my tour guide, taken on a comprehensive tour of HCM in air conditioned mini bus, taken to a lovely 4 star hotel for an all you can eat seafood buffet and drinks. I was given a lovely room with en suite and mini bar and got about 4 hours sleep before I was picked up again and taken to the airport. They sort out your visa and escort you through the whole process so don't worry about that (although I did arrange a visa on arrival just in case this didn't go through ok). Overall --- Vietnam Airlines do not do themselves any favours - their website is dull and does not go to much lengths to show off the good service they provide in reality. I was really pleasantly surprised with how great the whole process was, and how good business class is in Vietnam Airlines. They go out of their way to assist. If your like me, and you want good leg room and lots of wine you�re in for a good deal! If your very particular about the detail and modern fittings you may be a little disappointed. But for the price, you�re lucky if you could even buy premium economy on rival airlines. I would not hesitate to use them again and I have already recommended them to friends and colleagues. One tip - If you want to get to London, it may be best to fly to Paris and get a quick transfer to wherever in the UK you want to go as the lay over in Germany is a little annoying.