Vietnam Airlines
Jun 12, 2006 | 5:30 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SF Bay Area
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Posts: 1,148
Vietnam Airlines
I just finished four domestic flights on Vietnam Airlines and thought I'd share my experiences. The first two were in business class, from Saigon to Danang and then Danang to Hanoi. Each of these was on a 777-200ER, with a business class section of perhaps five rows, 2-3-2. Ground services were fine, with the chaotic checkin typical for the third world (including x-rays before checkin in Saigon) but a decent business class lounge with actual air conditioning. The plane itself was pretty nice. I don't know the business class seat pitch but it was comparable to United C with a more comfortable seat. The seat is a "Sicma Aero" according to the label under the tray. Each flight was a bit over an hour, in which time the staff managed to serve a meal. The first leg was all female staff and the second leg all male, with no real difference in service.
The meals were comparable to the United first class domestic flights I have been on, decent but nothing special. The entertainment system did not appear to be working, they may have not turned it on, and there was no amenity kit. The plane left on time and arrived in good order. I think the 777s are the same planes they use to Europe.
Hanoi to Nha Trang was on an Airbus A320, a relatively old one, in economy class. Economy checkin was a complete zoo, with no apparent desk assigned for my flight. I played dumb and walked up to the business class counter (for all flights) and they checked me in after reprimanding me. Boarding never got announced in English, but at about the right time I followed the crowd to the gate. Some confusion arose from the fact that the destination was labeled as either Nha Trang or Cam Ranh in different spots. I later learned that the old Nha Trang airport has been changed and a new one opened at the site of the old U.S. base. My first guess about boarding gate was wrong, but they pointed me to another spot where my boarding pass was taken. The plane itself was threadbare, with perhaps 31" pitch but otherwise similar to other 320s I've ridden in Europe and North America. The "meal" consisted of a box with water and a nasty sandwich with what looked like head cheese. I waited for arrival at my hotel for some delicious Vietnamese food.
Nha Trang (Cam Ranh) to Saigon was on a ATR72, long in the tooth and with the typical tiny seats and leg room. Check in was a circus. For some reason VN has two flights leaving for Saigon ten minutes apart, on identical airplanes. There are two checkin desks, so a long line ensues as all of the hotel shuttles and taxis arrive at once for these two flights. Luckily I was a bit early and a long line formed behind me. Boarding was quite confusing, as the flight announcement mentioned both flights (probably telling us it was one and not the other) but the English was so bad I could only make out the two number and not which was which. I imagine the situation was worse for the many tourists (mostly Japanese) who spoke limited English and no Japanese.
All I can say about that trip is that I arrived safely, but I'm not sure that decent service or in flight amenities would have made any difference. The best feature of the flight is that it was short, a bit over an hour.
The meals were comparable to the United first class domestic flights I have been on, decent but nothing special. The entertainment system did not appear to be working, they may have not turned it on, and there was no amenity kit. The plane left on time and arrived in good order. I think the 777s are the same planes they use to Europe.
Hanoi to Nha Trang was on an Airbus A320, a relatively old one, in economy class. Economy checkin was a complete zoo, with no apparent desk assigned for my flight. I played dumb and walked up to the business class counter (for all flights) and they checked me in after reprimanding me. Boarding never got announced in English, but at about the right time I followed the crowd to the gate. Some confusion arose from the fact that the destination was labeled as either Nha Trang or Cam Ranh in different spots. I later learned that the old Nha Trang airport has been changed and a new one opened at the site of the old U.S. base. My first guess about boarding gate was wrong, but they pointed me to another spot where my boarding pass was taken. The plane itself was threadbare, with perhaps 31" pitch but otherwise similar to other 320s I've ridden in Europe and North America. The "meal" consisted of a box with water and a nasty sandwich with what looked like head cheese. I waited for arrival at my hotel for some delicious Vietnamese food.
Nha Trang (Cam Ranh) to Saigon was on a ATR72, long in the tooth and with the typical tiny seats and leg room. Check in was a circus. For some reason VN has two flights leaving for Saigon ten minutes apart, on identical airplanes. There are two checkin desks, so a long line ensues as all of the hotel shuttles and taxis arrive at once for these two flights. Luckily I was a bit early and a long line formed behind me. Boarding was quite confusing, as the flight announcement mentioned both flights (probably telling us it was one and not the other) but the English was so bad I could only make out the two number and not which was which. I imagine the situation was worse for the many tourists (mostly Japanese) who spoke limited English and no Japanese.
All I can say about that trip is that I arrived safely, but I'm not sure that decent service or in flight amenities would have made any difference. The best feature of the flight is that it was short, a bit over an hour.
