Vietnam Airlines Business Class Review: Hanoi HAN to Paris CDG aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Long-Haul In-Flight Review Vietnam Airlines VN19 Business Class

Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN) Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Lotus Lounge
The Boeing 787-9
Business Class cabin
Cabin crew
The Business Class seat
Champagne & cocktails
Dinner & catering
The full-flat bed
Arrival in Paris
Our verdict
Contact

Our mood was a bit sad. As always, when we leave Vietnam. Only a pleasant flight, from Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN) to Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG), could soothe our gloomy soul. The domestic airport was overcrowded when we landed, back from Saigon; Vietnamese people travel a lot in the replenishing post-COVID period. What a contrast with the deserted international departure area: Vietnam was still waiting for Western tourists at the time of this journey.

Therefore, it took only five minutes to deal with our transit. Our luggage had been registered in Tan Son Nhat International Airport, our boarding passes issued, and we had plenty of time ahead to head to the Lotus / Sky Team Lounge, after a quick security procedure via the Business Class passengers' fast-track lane.

Though our upgrade allowed us Sky Priority privileges, we were surprised to hear from the charming hostess filtering the entrance that only passengers who had paid the full Business Class fare could get admission. We had no problem at all in Paris to step into the Air France / SkyTeam Club Lounge, and were astonished by this policy. A call to the supervisor solved the problem: we were welcome!

Lotus Lounge Hanoi Noi Bai Airport

This was important to evaluate the Lotus Lounge, and we can say that it had whatever we could expect from an excellent airline. The design is trendy. The intimacy is optimum. We liked the buffet, with a convenient selection of super-fresh salads, Vietnamese snacks, and even appealing bowls of Pho. The selection of soft drinks is plethoric; it is more limited when it comes to the liquors, but the quality is fair.

The Wi-Fi was fast, there were plenty of plugs to charge our phone and laptop, and we particularly liked the top-quality automated massage chairs. This was a pleasure to relax our legs and back before a long flight. Thumbs up to the adorable staff. Vietnam Airlines had improved a lot in terms of service, and we felt it was becoming a serious competitor to the better-established airlines of Southern Asia.

Lotus Lounge at Hanoi Noi Bai Airport — Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge, Hanoi Noi Bai Airport.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The Lotus Lounge was located close to the departing gate. Despite its cyclopean size, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was 100% full. Boarding went super smoothly, with plenty of staff taking care of the passengers. At least 90% of them were Asian. Separate and priority boarding for Business Class passengers was as soft as silk: within three minutes we were courteously welcomed in the elegant front cabin of the Dreamliner, seating 28 passengers in a 1-2-1 configuration, with 35 in Premium Economy and 211 in Economy on the aircraft configuration reviewed.

Operating flights between airports in Vietnam as well as throughout Europe and North-East Asia, this is one of our preferred planes. Its air-control system helps keep the atmosphere mild and comfortable, while the large dimmable windows contribute to the feeling of space. The Boeing 787 is tailored for long-haul flights such as the approximately thirteen-hour Hanoi-Paris journey.

Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Business Class cabin — Business Class cabin aboard the Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Traditional elegance and faultless service

The flight attendants wore the traditional Ao Dai. A reflection of Asian elegance and devotion, they provided a faultless quality of service from boarding to arrival. We never pushed a button to call them to our seat, as they simply anticipated all our needs. That's what we call real executive-class treatment. Pleased to fly again after two years stuck on earth, they shared their happiness with the passengers.

Vietnam Airlines Business Class flight attendant in traditional Ao Dai — Vietnam Airlines cabin crew in traditional Ao Dai.

A spacious, serene Business Class cabin

There is so much space to work, relax, or simply sleep! All this for a competitive rate, although Vietnam Airlines had raised its post-COVID fares, like all its competitors. You can see in the picture how high the cabin is, with a Zen white and olive-green finish. No risk of claustrophobia, but an immediate impression of well-being.

We took off on time at 10:35 PM for half a day above the clouds.

Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Business Class seat — Business Class seat aboard VN19 Hanoi to Paris.

The Zodiac Cirrus seat

Each Zodiac Cirrus seat, made in France, is equipped with an electrical socket, USB connection, remote control for the large TV screen, and a reading lamp. The large table is perfect for a laptop and makes the dining experience feel almost like a restaurant. We liked the generous space available for our belongings.

Easy to adjust, this reverse-herringbone seat is a model used by many airlines around the world and one of the best in our opinion.

Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Business Class seat details — Details of the Zodiac Cirrus Business Class seat.

Coats and jackets were promptly transferred by the attendants to a secured cloakroom, and we received our first glass of Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne. This was their traditional provider for many years, and the quality was fine. We sipped a second glass while observing the take-off from the window: we always book a window seat for more intimacy. Feeling like we were in a flying cocoon, we got the impression that we were in First Class.

Champagne in Vietnam Airlines Business Class — Champagne shortly after take-off.

Amenities and entertainment

After take-off, we adjusted our noise-cancelling headphones and listened to classical music. We received slippers and an elegant Cerruti 1881 amenity kit, featuring all we needed to feel fresh during and after the flight: comb, body lotion, lip balm, toothbrush kit, earplugs, socks, and eye mask.

Vietnam Airlines Cerruti 1881 Business Class amenity kit — Cerruti 1881 Business Class amenity kit.

The selection of cocktails featured a rich selection of classics such as Cuba Libre, Bloody Mary and Dry Brandy Manhattan. Liquors including whisky, fine Cognac, Bacardi rum, Martini, Baileys Irish Cream and Champagne were available from the open bar during the flight.

The cocktail menu was oddly presented on the flight attendant's smartphone. We found it a bit odd. Wouldn't it be more classy on paper?

Vietnam Airlines Business Class cocktail selection — The Business Class cocktail selection.

We already knew Vietnam Airlines' signature cocktail, Hello Vietnam (fresh orange juice, Sprite and Campari), created by Mr Vo Tan Si, President of the Saigon Bartenders Association. It was nicely presented; not with peanuts only, but also with some quality canaps. We did like that stylish presentation.

Dining above the clouds

The Lunch Menu although we started eating around midnight, so this was rather a dinner or supper was broadly the same as on our flight from Paris to Hanoi. We compared it with other recent reviews of Vietnam Airlines long-haul flights, and the offer appeared very similar.

Moreover, the selection was too limited for Business Class. This was no problem for us as leisure travellers, but it might look somewhat boring to frequent business flyers. Last but not least, they omitted to mention one of the best and most traditional Vietnamese dishes: Pho, served aboard just like in a small local restaurant in Hanoi.

Vietnam Airlines Business Class � la carte menu — Vietnam Airlines Business Class la carte menu.

All dishes, nicely presented by the friendly steward, were super-fresh and appetizing. The portions were just enough to feel comfortable for a pleasant night between the Far East and Europe. We like very much the quality of the bread served on VN flights, particularly the crispy Olive Baguette. We dropped extra olive oil on it.

Vietnam Airlines Business Class cuisine — Business Class dinner service.

Watch how smart the service was! It had improved since our previous experience with VN five years earlier. After some cheese, fresh fruits, and an excellent chocolate cake, we relaxed a bit.

Vietnam Airlines Business Class dessert service — Cheese, fresh fruit and chocolate cake.

We sipped a glass of Rmy Martin VSOP Cognac. In Business Class, VN should consider serving XO. We then preferred sleeping to watching all night long the rich selection of movies available in the IFE library. That was tempting; but we always travel Business Class to reach our destination fresh and ready for action, without jet lag.

Vietnam Airlines did not provide Wi-Fi aboard its long-haul flights at the time of this review. That was the one and only thing missing. All airlines which we had experienced recently had Wi-Fi, much used by passengers. This tends to be indispensable on a thirteen-hour flight.

We saw the flight attendants walking through the aisle regularly, checking whether everything was OK with our comfort and offering water or juice. Like five-star nannies, they kindly anticipated our requests from Hanoi to Paris.

Sleeping in a real bed in the sky

This is so good: to lazily spread oneself over a real bed in the air! With the armrests down, the spacious seat measures 21.5 inches (54.6 cm) wide. As far as seat pitch and bed length are concerned, you can expect 42 inches (106.6 cm) in pitch and 79 inches (2 metres) of bed length when fully lie-flat. Enough to host at ease a strong and tall passenger.

Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Business Class full-flat bed — Fully lie-flat Business Class bed.

Arrival in Paris

We landed on time at 7 AM at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG), with a priority exit procedure for Business Class passengers and a fast track in the airport. Luggage was delivered quickly compared with the other flights which landed shortly before and after VN19.

Vietnam Airlines operated direct flights from Hanoi Noi Bai and the larger Saigon Tan Son Nhat airport to leading destinations around the world, as well as to an increasing number of destinations in Vietnam and the rest of Asia. The frequencies and network described in the original review reflected the post-COVID timetable at the time of our journey and should therefore be regarded as historical rather than current operating information.

Vietnam Airlines Zodiac Cirrus Business Class seats — Vietnam Airlines Business Class Zodiac Cirrus seats.

Our verdict

VN19 Hanoi - Paris was a very pleasant long-haul Business Class experience. The Boeing 787-9 cabin offered excellent personal space, a genuine lie-flat bed and the privacy of a reverse-herringbone layout. The crew were particularly attentive and elegant, and the traditional Vietnamese touch of the Ao Dai added something distinctive to the experience.

The Lotus Lounge was comfortable, the catering fresh and carefully presented, and the open-bar offer generous. Our principal reservations concerned the limited menu choice and the absence of Wi-Fi at the time of the flight. Overall, however, Vietnam Airlines delivered the kind of calm, discreet and genuinely Asian hospitality we appreciate on a long journey between Europe and Vietnam.