Vietnam Airlines Business Class Review: Lie-Flat Comfort with a Vietnamese Touch
Vietnam Airlines Business Class may not receive the same level of attention as Singapore Airlines, Emirates, or Cathay Pacific. But that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.
On the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350, the airline gives you all the basics you’ll need on a long-haul trip. Expect fully flat beds, direct access to the aisle, priority airport services, lounge access, multi-course dining, and many thoughtful extras.
Where Vietnam Airlines really shines, though, is its character. It is not just another generic international business class product. Let’s explore why it shines.
A Smooth Start at the Airport
Business class travelers receive priority treatment at the airport. They can expect their own check-in desk, priority baggage handling, faster security and immigration if available, priority connections, and an earlier boarding position.
Passengers can visit Vietnam Airlines’ Lotus Lounges in the main hubs of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Although the experience differs slightly by location, all lounges blend contemporary style with discreetly Vietnamese touches.
Expect comfortable seating, work areas, Wi-Fi, hot and cold meals, beverages, and plenty of room to relax before departure.
Facilities within the lounge may include showering facilities, office areas with computers and printers, and outstanding views over the apron.
Vietnamese cuisine itself will form the core part of your meal selection. You may find pho, sticky rice, fried pork with a stir-fry, Vietnamese meatballs, chicken curry, and local breakfasts, plus more widely known international choices. Beverages include coffee, soft drinks, beer, and wine, among others.
Not each Lotus lounge is equally impressive. The bigger ones have ample space and are well equipped, while smaller establishments seem a bit simpler. Even so, they offer a wonderful haven from the terminal itself when you’re waiting for that long intercontinental flight.
Outside Vietnam, business class passengers also have access to other SkyTeam lounges. In some places, these partner facilities are even bigger, with showers, quieter zones, fast Wi-Fi, and larger, more varied international buffets.
Two Aircraft, Two Different Business Class Seats
Before booking Vietnam Airlines Business Class, it’s important to know that the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350 do not have identically designed seats.
On the 787-9, you will mostly find a Zodiac/Safran Cirrus seat arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration. There are 28 seats, and all passengers have direct aisle access.
Window seats angle toward the window frames. These offer excellent seclusion for solo travelers.
The seat transforms into a fully flat bed. It includes storage cupboards, a tablet holder, personal reading lights, and conveniently located power outlets. So, you can expect a highly functional space for a long trip.
Some planes don’t have overhead compartments over the middle seats either, so the cabin feels slightly more open.
The design is well-proven – you’ll see various versions of this exact seat family on several leading international airlines – though it’s not ultra-new. Some passengers find the footwell rather cramped, especially if they’re trying to sleep – and there may be visible signs of wear on older planes too.
The A350 features a different business class seat, usually set up in a staggered 1-2-1 arrangement.
Like on the 787-9, each passenger has easy aisle access and a fully flat bed. In bed mode, some people notice it’s a bit narrower than they expected, although the seat offers plenty of personal space when you’re sitting upright.
Neither cabin features the sliding doors you’ll find in newer Business Class products today. But both still give you enough separation and private space to stay comfortable on extended intercontinental flights.
If you’re very specific about your seat preferences, it may be worth checking which plane they plan to use before booking your ticket.
Dining Is Where Vietnam Airlines Shines
Even though the seats are a little out of date compared to the latest generation, the food really helps bridge that gap.
Business Class passengers can choose between Vietnamese and Western menus, all served with proper tablecloths, cutlery, glasses, and napkin rings.
Long-haul flights feature two meal services: a full multi-course meal shortly after takeoff and a lighter meal just before arrival.
Western dishes could include marinated prawns with salmon, mushroom soup, steamed fish with jasmine rice, chicken pie, or a cheese course.
However, if you’d like a more distinctly Vietnamese experience, go for the local menu.
Depending on your route, you might find grilled chicken with papaya salad and tamarind sauce, sugarcane prawns, dim sum, glass noodle soup with fried eel, or a steaming bowl of pho.
And yes, enjoying authentic Vietnamese noodle soup while flying halfway around the world will be far more interesting than yet another bland airline pasta dish.
The beverage list comprises international wines, beer, spirits, soft drinks, tea and coffee. The service tends to be attentive but never too stiffly formal, which helps you relax even when there are numerous courses.
Mealtimes are always a standout part of the Vietnam Airlines Business Class experience.
Entertainment Covers the Basics
Both the 787 and A350 employ the Thales Avant entertainment platform, providing movies, TV shows, music, and flight information.
On the 787-9, business-class passengers get a 15.4-inch HD screen. It is quite sufficient. Though it looks somewhat humble next to the enormous 20+ inch 4K screens starting to appear on the latest business class seats.
The library combines Western, Vietnamese, Korean, and other Asian content, offering a solid selection for a long trip.
The moving map display shows useful information like altitude, speed, direction, and flight progress. However, aviation enthusiasts might miss the exterior cameras and a few more advanced map functions that certain rivals offer.
Vietnam Airlines-branded wired headsets are supplied. These are comfortable enough for films and music, although serious audiophiles might wish they’d brought their own headsets.
Connectivity too is being improved. Wi-Fi has been added to fitted A350 planes, with messaging, an hour’s browsing time, or full-flight bundles. Business class passengers also get free access as part of the airline’s roll-out and test phase. Availability on the 787 does vary. So do be sure to check what’s happening on your actual flight.
Cerruti 1881 Amenities and Comfortable Bedding
Vietnam Airlines retains its Business Class amenities, both elegant and pretty traditional.
On long-haul flights, passengers might receive a Cerruti 1881 amenity bag filled with skincare from French beauty brand Payot.
Inside, you will usually find useful travel basics like lip balm, moisturizer, an eye mask, dental items, earplugs, and other personal-care products.
Slippers are also offered, along with a soft pillow and blanket for sleeping.
The bedding won’t turn the seat into a hotel-style suite. But it will make the fully flat bed much more attractive as the cabin lights dim.
Combined with the quieter atmosphere of the 787 and A350, this creates a very comfortable setup for getting several hours of genuine sleep.
The Bottom Line
Vietnam Airlines’ Business Class isn’t trying to outdo others with the biggest screen or tallest privacy door. Rather, it attends to the basics very effectively.
Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350S offer fully flat beds with direct access to the aisle, while priority airport services and lounge access really do make your journey easier right from the start.
Add some truly enjoyable Vietnamese cuisine, friendly service, very practical facilities, and continually improving Wi-Fi – and your whole travel experience will be surprisingly appealing.
If you’d like to experience all this without paying the full listed Business Class rate, Simply Business Class (SBC) might be able to assist travelers in saving up to 50 % on those expensive tickets, depending on the route and how readily available they are.
You may start with the lie-flat bed. But don’t be surprised if the bowl of pho at 35,000 feet is what stays with you the longest.
