Airline review: It’s no Rolls-Royce, but this business class is good value

The Airline: Vietnam Airlines

• Route Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney, flight VN77
• Frequency Daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne. Vietnam Airlines also has three flights a week from Hanoi to Sydney and Melbourne.
• Aircraft Airbus A350-900
• Class Business class, seat 5G
• Flight time Eight hours, 10 minutes

Vietnam Airlines flies Airbus A350s between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City.Credit: Airbus

Checking-in

While trumpets do not sound and no angels appear from the heavens as we approach check-in for our first business-class flight, everything else proceeds just as imagined. The late-afternoon queue is, well, there isn’t one, and we’re swiftly ushered to an equally empty business security line. The whole process is as smooth and efficient as it should be, with the added bonus of everyone around appearing as delighted as we are that we’ll get some sleep on our punctual overnight flight.

Baggage

Absence of baggage lockers above middle rows gives an airy, spacious feel.

Business passengers are allowed two bags weighing no more than 32 kilograms plus two items of carry-on no more than 10 kilograms each, with a total weight not exceeding 18 kilograms. One accessory is also allowed. I stop puzzled at my centre-row seat: there are no overhead luggage bins, instead there’s just that most coveted of in-flight attributes – open space. My small case is whisked away by an attendant and stowed above a window-aisle seat opposite me.

Loyalty scheme

Lotusmiles. Passengers earn points when flying with Vietnam Airlines, Vasco, Pacific Airlines, and other partner airlines. They can also earn points when using various banking telco, hotel and shopping services. Points can be redeemed for air tickets, seat upgrades, use of lounges and additional checked baggage. Until March 31 next year (2025) members who recruit more members via a QR code or link gain 300 bonus points.

The seat

All the 29 beds in business class lie flat at the push of a few buttons.

My lie-flat seat is one of 29 in a one-two-one herringbone formation. Couples travelling together are usually seated in the centre aisle, as we are, so we can chat and share a table if we wish. Business seats have a seat pitch of 42 inches (107 centimetres) and a width of 21 inches (53.3 centimetres) – three inches wider than economy. All have direct aisle access and seatbelts that are chunky-soft on one side due to built-in airbags.

There’s an adjustable armrest, personal reading light, magazine rack, coat hook, fold-out table, water bottle holder, a ledge with a pillow and a triangular storage area deep enough to hold a phone, a book and glasses. On a side panel is a USB port, universal power plug, seat/bed control buttons, and a removable remote control with call button. A footrest offers slippers and the all-important mattress topper. The cabin and seat are in a bland taupe but this is the only dull thing about them: lie-flat options never get old. Once fully extended, I’m snug, comfortable, and have an excellent sleep.

Entertainment & Tech

The fact that there’s no wi-fi on this flight doesn’t seem to perturb our fellow passengers, most of whom are ready for bed straight after supper is served, despite there being a big and varied selection of newish (The Holdovers) and not-so-new movies (The Game starring Michael Douglas – perfect flight fodder) plus music, newspapers, video games and TV shows. The provided headphones are comfortable but not noise-cancelling. Personal touch screens must be folded away during take-off and landing.

Service

All the attendants – the women in graceful ao dai traditional dress – are friendly and attentive. Soon after take-off I’m offered a hot towel, sparkling wine and given a vinyl amenities pack holding a fold-up brush; lip butter, body lotion with argan oil, serviceable socks, an eye-mask, earplugs, toothbrush and paste and stickers to affix to the back of my seat advising if I wish to be woken up for breakfast or for duty-free sales. Would I like my bed “made-up” with the mattress-topper? Yes please.

The food

Business passengers have access to the Lotus Lounge so we’ve already snacked on dumplings. Supper is served not long after take-off and it’s a tale of two menus. The Vietnamese option? Chicken terrine; grilled prawn, coriander vegetable salad and dipping sauce followed by a noodle soup with prawn, chicken and herbs, or stewed pork spare ribs with beans, fried rice and bok choy. Sounds good? We thought so too, but alas only the Western menu (crepe with crab, roasted beef tenderloin and salad followed by grilled grouper, salsa verde and buttered fettuccine) is available.

The salad and fish are enjoyable if a bit bland, but this is offset by the novelty of a tablecloth, proper cutlery, salt and pepper shakers and a choice of bread. I decline a ″⁣Beloved Hue″⁣ signature cocktail (whiskey, apple juice, lemon, ginger and sugar) and opt for another sparkling wine. Dessert is a tasty banana cake. The breakfast menu offers noodle soup, congee or, my pick, a frittata and fried potatoes with a slightly odd accompaniment of a beef patty.

Carbon emissions

1.47 tonnes. This year Vietnam Airlines signed a co-operation agreement to participate in the CO² emissions measurement project developed by the International Air Transport Association, becoming the first airline in Vietnam to do so.

The verdict

What value can you place on a good night’s sleep? A lot, judging by the spring in the step of our fellow passengers as we glide off the plane in Sydney the next morning.

This may not be the Rolls-Royce of business class flights, but it delivers in providing a truly restful overnight flight with all the little luxuries for a very reasonable price.

One more thing

Triple-check your visa details. We hear of several instances where visitors are made to pay a fine on landing in Vietnam for having a missing number or an incorrect letter on their issued visa.

Price

From about $4200 from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh return in business class.*

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

The writer travelled as a guest of Vietnam Airlines and AVG Travels avgtravels.com

*Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.