I noticed that this airline hasn't yet been reviewed and thought if I was the only Ciao-person who has flown it, I had a duty to write about this fantastic little airline. I flew with them about 18 months ago so please forgive a little rustiness on the detail - I also don't know what it cost for reasons that will be apparent below.
I wasn't supposed to be on a Vietnam Airline flight - it was just a lucky mistake. I was on a business trip to Vietnam with two colleagues and we were booked BA from Heathrow to Bangkok with a Thai airlines connection to Ho Chi Minh City. However, sometimes things go wrong in order for something else to go right - and Vietnam Airlines was a happy experience.
As an aside, it's worth knowing you CAN'T fly UK to Vietnam direct - normal options are Malaysian Airlines or Air France - I'd recommend Malaysian.
Our BA flight was horribly late (about 4 hours) before we'd even left Heathrow. We'd been in touch with the travel agent who pulled out all the stops with alternative flight bookings and a hotel in Bangkok 'just in case'. The pilot put his foot down and made up a lot of the 4 hour delay but we'd already missed the Thai airlines connection and were expecting to be stuck in Bangkok. However, by some miracle - and I don't know whether we should be blessing BA or Vietnam Airlines or the Bangkok airport - we made it to the airport with a 30 minute connection to the last flight of the day with VA. We ran like crazy - my boss turning purple with the effort - and made the connection. I gave up all hope of my bags doing the same.
So picture the scene. Three sweaty business class passengers gasping for their breath flop into the front row of the VA plane. The attendants - beautiful women in local costume and handsome stewards - brought us drinks and cold towels as we settled into the comfortable seats. The flight was short - around an hour - yet they served lots of really nice wine and a Vietnamese prawn curry that was one of the most exceptional inflight meals I've ever experienced.
On landing, I prepared myself for the aggro of explaining that my bag would be coming later and giving them the hotel details. But it wasn't needed - by some amazing stroke of luck, despite missing the flight we were on, the lengthy immigration meant my bag beat me to the luggage belt. How? No idea - there wasn't another passenger flight that night so maybe it was some kind of freight arrangement or perhaps the fairies brought it. I don't know but I was happy to see it.
So apologies that this is only a review of business class and of a relatively short flight but I give 10 out of 10 to this lovely little airline for going the extra mile - and then some.
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I have flown this airline quite a bit in Vietnam and the surrounding region, it is good. I will try to post a review soon. One point of interest; other well connecting flights to Vietnam are possible on Thai, Cathy Pacific, Singapore and, if you want to transit Frankfurt or Paris on Vietnam Airlines itself (but it is not cheap from Europe). More will follow
tiger645 20.04.2006 15:14
good review might try these guys when next thinking about holiday
dan654321 20.04.2006 07:55
Thought I would return the compliment and read one of your reviews. I found it very entertaining and of particular interest as I have flown Heathrow to Bangkok several times and am planning to go repeat the journey many times in the future. (I am always looking for alternatives to BA) and so far the best airline (and cheapest) for me has been EVA.
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