Why you should fly Vietnam Airlines Business Class.

Disclosure: I was invited by Vietnam Airlines on a presstrip to Vietnam & Cambodia.

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What makes a trip to Vietnam even better? Being upgraded to Vietnam Airlines Business Class! I have had the honor of flying in their business class for the second time now, and am here to tell you – you are in for a treat.

On my most recent trip I flew from Frankfurt to Bangkok with a short layover in Ho Chi Minh City. Since I was taking quite a bit of luggage as I was going to be in Thailand for the rest of the year, I was keen to book premium economy. Vietnam Airlines is amongst the view airlines from Europe to South East Asia offering a premium economy class (I will tell you more about that soon) which made my choice easy.

Nevertheless I am never one to say no to an upgrade. Would you? Vietnam was also on my ‘must return as soon as possible to eat more bun cha’ bucket list and flying Vietnam Airlines business class was the extra springroll on top of my bun cha. 

The Ins & Outs of flying Vietnam Airlines business class

A quick walk through the bridge and I was at my seat, there are no long annoying queues in business class. If you fly during Christmas you will be greeted with decorations on the walls, my second flight on Easter Sunday was quite empty meaning every one of us got spoiled even more.

Before I could even get seated I already had a Vietnamese iced coffee and a glass of bubbles – Toto, we are not in Kansas economy class anymore! 

Vietnam Airlines Business Class seats

For many, the most important aspect when flying business class are the seats and how much space you get for your money. Business class seats are not created equal but will very much depend on the aircraft type and route you are flying. 

When flying Vietnam Airlines 787 business class or with the Airbus A380 you are in luck: seats are 42” and they recline a full 180 degrees. Once you are ready to take a nap you can simply push a button and your seat will turn into a flatbed. 

Both aircraft configurations allow aisle access for each seat and you almost sit/sleep in a little pod. While you have no partition towards the aisle, you have quite a bit of privacy even when you sit in the middle in a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. 

To get cozy you get a non-electrostatic blanket and a fluffy pillow – yes with a fabric pillowcase, non of these weird paper/plastic covers in Vietnam Airlines business class! 

The one thing I missed: some more padding for my ‘bed’. While every seat got covered with a padded sheet of sorts at the beginning of the flight, I could have done with something more mattress-like so you don’t feel the cracks and armrests as much. 

And while I fit snuggly in my bed in the sky, I reckon someone taller than me (I am 1,75m) will struggle as there is very little wiggle room if you want to lie flat. 

Still, what a huge luxury after spending too much time in coach! 

Vietnam Airlines business class food

If you want to review Vietnam Airlines business class you gotta talk about the food. I could go on and on about how much I love Vietnamese food, there are few countries I love more when it comes to eating than Vietnam. 

I have admitted this before but I get excited about airline food even in economy. I don’t know why, I know it is weird. Something about different dishes in little containers and usually free drinks excites me beyond belief. Take this excitement and add the excitement of eating in business class and getting Vietnamese food and I was ready to order the whole menu. 

Our dinner menu offered 2 starters, a soup, 4 different mains, fresh bread and rolls as well as dessert or cheese with fruit. The mains came with 2 international choices and 2 Asian dishes. 

I started my meal with a salad with South Tyrol ham, Shepard’s cheese, and balsamic glaze with a pretzel roll. During my second flight in business I got a beautiful salmon tartare with avocado creme which was as delicious as it sounds.

For mains I got even more spoilt. Since the lovely crew knew I was here to work (don’t I know how lucky I am to call this work?!), they offered me two mains to try. I think it was also due to the fact that the flight wasn’t full because sometimes you will have to fight for your food choice, even in business class.

I went for the pork belly and the fish. To be honest, I was too full to really enjoy the fish but gosh, the pork belly was incredible. Pork is always a highlight in Vietnam and this one was no exception.

For desert, they usually come around with trays full of fruit, cheese, nuts and small sweets – of course, you are allowed more than one!

Breakfast was my favorite: a croissant that actually tasted fresh, coconut white chocolate yogurt, and Vietnamese congee. If you are not a fan of congee or Asian breakfast staples, there is always the option of ordering an English or Continental Breakfast. 

While I tend not to drink alcohol anymore when flying, I do make an exception in business class. Vietnam Airlines offers some signature Cocktails as well as a variety of red and white wines and spirits. My favorite part: you actually got served in a proper glass. 

And have I mentioned how great the Vietnamese coffee is they offer? It is properly frothy, creamy and sweet – the perfect start to your Vietnam trip. I maybe have had a few which in hindsight explains why I had trouble sleeping.

And in case you wonder: there is no food cart being pushed around in business class. Your designated flight attendant will take your food order after take-off and bring food to each guest individually. Of course, your tray table will be covered with white linens and your meals are served on china and with real cutlery. 

Entertainment when flying Vietnam Airlines

Flight time is movie time for me. Even better when that movie time comes on a 15.4” personal flip screen, bigger than my laptop that I usually use when watching things. 

Vietnam Airlines offers a huge selection of movies, TV shows, audio programs, and games in all of their classes, not just business class. Amongst the movies a decent selection of new releases as well as some classics (hello, Wicked!). 

They also have the cutest safety videos I have seen in a long time – you will feel like you are already in Vietnam.

The only downside of those amazing screens: you can only flip them once the plane is in the air which makes it hard/ impossible to watch during take-off. But to be fair, that is a small price to pay for having a huge screen right in front of you while you are having dinner & drinks later. 

There are plenty of charging ports next to your seat, an LED lamp as well as a remote for both your TV screen and to adjust your seat. 

Is there wifi onboard Vietnam Airlines? That depends. Apparently some aircrafts and routes offer wifi packages for purchasing, alas not on the flight I have been. One can hope that this service will be expanded soon. That said, I am perfectly able to survive a flight without.

Vietnam Airlines Staff

Not all flight crews are equal, and this is where Vietnam Airlines really shines: the cabin staff on all of my flights I had with them was incredibly nice and attentive. Plus, they wear an áo dài as their uniform, a traditional Vietnam dress that just looks so pretty and elegant. 

My latest flight still managed to surpass all expectations thanks to cabin chief Diệu. She and her team were not only friendly but fast, efficient, and just all around wonderful humans. 

Amenities when flying business class with Vietnam Airlines 

Travel Kit

You also get an amenity kit when flying Vietnam Airlines business class. While I personally don’t need most of the contents, I still get a bit giddy when I get a good travel kit. 

Eye mask, comb, toothbrush set, socks, earplugs as well as moisturizer and lip balm was included. In addition, it came with “Do not disturb” and “Wake me up for meal” stickers. My favorite was the extra slippers that were provided – perfect when you need to use the bathroom and don’t feel like putting your own shoes back on. In fact, mine were so cozy that I took them with me (I hope I was allowed to take them, if not I just publically admitted to theft – ups). 

Vietnam Airlines business class baggage allowance

One of the perks when flying Vietnam Airlines business class is a very generous luggage allowance. You are allowed 2 pieces at 32 kg each as check-in luggage. In addition, you can take 2 hand luggage items and one accessory with a maximum combined weight of 18 kg. Not included in this allowance is a personal item like an overcoat, infant carry basket, walking stick, etc. 

Vietnam Airlines Airport Check-in

To me one of the best perks when flying business class is SkyPriority. When flying Vietnam Airlines business class that starts with a designated check-in counter – I hate waiting in lines and chances are, your line at the priority check-in will be a lot shorter. Obviously, it will depend on the time of the year how long the lines are but traveling in December I was incredibly grateful I didn’t have to check in at the economy counters. 

In addition to a dedicated Business Class check-in counter, the SkyPriority also offers you an expedited security line and immigration at most airports. And of course, your luggage will get the coveted tag saying ‘priority’ and you will get it first when it gets to baggage claim.

When flying from Frankfurt airport as I did, keep in mind that all Vietnam Airlines flights depart from terminal 2. I jokingly call it the ‘crappy’ terminal even though all my favorite airlines depart from there. But you will need to take a bus or the SkyLine to get to terminal 2 if you are coming from the train station or terminal 1. Not a big issue, but it can add 15 minutes or more to your trip. 

Lotus Lounge

Vietnam Airlines lounges are called Lotus lounges and they offer food and beverages, space to work and relax, high-speed wifi, and plenty of other amenities. Unfortunately, there is no Lotus Lounge in Frankfurt so business class passengers flying from there can currently use the Japan Airlines lounge. 

As you know I am a huge fan of airport lounges especially during a long layover, another great reason to book yourself on Vietnam Airlines business class.

Flying with Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines is a 4-star airline connecting Vietnam with Europe, Australia, and other destinations in Asia. They offer a few weekly direct flights from Frankfurt to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. In addition, they connect to 20 domestic destinations, super practical and comfortable if you need to get around in Vietnam. This also gives you more options for good connections within Asia so you can minimize your layover time in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh (or maximize it if you want to explore the city).

Prices for Vietnam Airlines business class 

Yes, I left the most important question for last. How much are business class flights to Vietnam? This will obviously depend on where you are flying from and when you are flying.

According to Vietnam Airlines, you will get the best prices for business class when booking at least 90 days in advance, and rates start at € 2709 for a round-trip from Frankfurt. Don’t be scared to fly on public holidays or events like NYE. Flights on Easter itself were by far the least expensive ones during April and it was so empty at the airport. I have made similar good experiences on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

If that is not in your budget you may want to check out the Vietnam Airlines premium economy, starting at € 1285. I am a huge fan of premium economy especially for a long-distance flight when you want to sleep because usually seats are wider and recline more. And you can always get lounge access with Priority Pass making it an almost business class-like experience. 

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