Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs - Vietnam Airlines schedule questions

I'll be traveling in Vietnam soon and I'm looking at flying between Ho Chi Minh City/Danang/Hanoi/Hue on some sort of yet-to-be-determined routing. The airline has scheduled departures on practically an hourly basis to/from Danang. Do they actually run all those flights or do they bump people until they get enough on a flight to make it worthwhile for them? I'm having a hard time believing this frequency can even be a wash for them. Also, on some flights, it looks like only "business flex", their most expensive fare, is available regardless of whether you are looking to fly tomorrow or next year. Not that business flex is so expensive on a "western" basis - round about $250 OW - but still, kinda odd no? Comments?

I've flown Vietnam several times, and always with excellent/on-time results. Danang is the third largest airport in the country (VN flies wide bodies there from both SGN and HAN - 330 and 777 as well as the 320). Danang just recently opened a new terminal which now allows more international flights, and several have started (Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong).

I think one reason Vietnam Airlines has been so successful, and the reason for hourly flights, is the fact that there is no other really good means of transport in this country. Train service is fairly crude, and road travel damn dangerous. It's not only tourists who fly these days - the Vietnamese middle class is getting larger every day. While domestic travel on Vietnam is quite good, I would not even think of using this airline for long haul (NE Asia, Australia and Europe) - just too many better carriers out there at similar prices. I have flown Vietnam to Laos a few times, but that's as short a run as many domestic routes.

Booking on the Vietnam Airlines site is quick and quite safe - VN uses the Sabre booking engine.

I flew Vietnam between Saigon and Hanoi earlier this year - on a 777.

I had originally booked on Jetstar but after abysmal reviews and worried about the delays with my short trip, I thought it best to rebook on Vietnam.

It was a great flight, good service and we got a meal. Also got miles.