Having flown Vietnam Airlines Business Class four times last year, I already had a pretty good idea what to expect when I boarded VN772 from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City.
My previous flights had all been on the Airbus A350-900 and I’d come away impressed. Is the seat as wide as Singapore Airlines or the individual space quite as private as Emirates? No. But once you’re sitting down, does that really matter? Not particularly.
The seat is comfortable, with a generously long seatbelt, converts into a fully flat bed and now comes with complimentary Wi-Fi.
This time I was travelling on the 10.15am departure from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City, again aboard an A350-900, and settled into seat 1D in the centre of the Business Class cabin.
The cabin is configured 1-2-1, giving every passenger direct aisle access. Having previously flown in Vietnam Airlines’ window seats, however, I’d still choose a window position when travelling alone.
That’s not because the centre seats lack privacy. Quite the opposite: the high shell around each seat creates a surprisingly private little space, with only the footwell area open between the two centre seats.
There is, however, one quirky benefit to sitting in the middle. During take-off and landing, when your own entertainment screen is stowed, you can see your neighbour’s screen across the divide. Perfect for watching the safety video. Once your own screen swings back into position, it blocks the view and you’re back in your own space.
More screens than you can shake a stick at
My main reason for preferring a window seat is exactly that: the window. Seat 1D is roughly level with one, but because of the angle and position of the seat, you can’t really see outside. For someone like me who likes looking out during take-off and landing, that’s enough to make a window seat my first choice.
Seat controls are refreshingly straightforward and I particularly like the position of the entertainment remote, embedded at around shoulder height. It’s easy to reach when you need it but completely out of the way when you don’t.
The entertainment system has a large screen and a broad selection of movies, TV shows and games, with noise-cancelling headphones provided. An amenity bag was waiting at the seat and there is plenty of space to settle in for the flight to Vietnam.
One thing that wasn’t quite so comfortable was the temperature.
We took off at 10.37am and the cabin was noticeably warm from the beginning. I expected it to cool down once we were in the air but it never really did.
The upside? There was absolutely no need for the blanket.
A Big Improvement: Wi-Fi
One significant change since my previous Vietnam Airlines flights is the arrival of Wi-Fi.
When I flew with the airline last year, it wasn’t yet available. This time Business Class passengers received four hours of complimentary Wi-Fi, which for a daytime flight is a genuinely useful addition. It’s plenty of time to deal with emails, messages or a bit of work and then put the laptop away and enjoy the rest of the flight.
All passengers receive 15 minutes of complimentary messaging, while those wanting to stay connected throughout the journey can purchase a full-flight internet plan, priced from US$18 to US$25, with unlimited data for the trip.
For me, four complimentary hours in Business Class was more than enough.
And Then There Was Lunch
Peking duck breast with cucumber salsa and mizuna
Food was one of the standouts of my previous Vietnam Airlines flights and VN772 certainly didn’t change my opinion.
Lunch began with a choice of Peking duck breast with cucumber salsa and mizuna or smoked salmon and salami with celeriac remoulade and cherry tomato, followed by a fresh vegetable salad and creamy pumpkin soup.
Four mains were offered: stir-fried cube beef with steamed rice; grilled lamb rack with mint jus, potato gratin and green beans; duck confit with red wine sauce, egg fried rice and sautéed silverbeet; or pan-seared salmon fillet with lemon dill cream sauce and olive oil mashed potato.
And Vietnam Airlines still understands the importance of bread. Garlic bread, white bread, ciabatta, herb rolls and soy and linseed rolls were all offered.
Dessert included cheese, fresh fruit, miniature pastries and chocolate ice-cream.
It was an extensive menu for a flight of this length and, more importantly, the food was excellent.
A second refreshment service later in the flight offered tuna tataki with grilled prawns; deep-fried chicken breast with nasi goreng rice; or stir-fried noodles with prawns and hot bean sauce.
You’re certainly not going to go hungry.
The Verdict
There wasn’t anything particularly flashy about VN772 and I don’t mean that as a criticism. It was simply an extremely easy flight.
The A350 is comfortable, the seat becomes a proper flat bed, the food is excellent and the addition of complimentary Wi-Fi makes Vietnam Airlines’ Business Class product even better suited to a daytime flight.
My only real criticism was the overly warm cabin. As a solo traveller, I’d also choose a window seat next time, primarily because I like being able to see outside rather than because there is anything wrong with 1D.
The flight was smooth and somehow the hours disappeared remarkably quickly.
That’s probably one of the better compliments you can give any flight.
Traveltalk travelled as a guest of Vietnam Airlines.
