The only thing better than heading home after a long trip is doing so in style, discovers Nick Walton on a recent Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Ho Chi Minh City.

You’d be forgiven if you’d never thought of booking Vietnam Airlines. The flag carrier of Vietnam, much like its home country, has grown rapidly from obscurity over the past decade and now, as a member of the Skyteam alliance, offers a thoroughly competitive business class product on routes across the world, including Hong Kong and London Heathrow.

Check-in

I have a bit of a panic moment on my way to the airport when I check the Vietnam Airlines app only to find it confirming that my flight, VN50 from London to Ho Chi Minh City, scheduled for 5pm, had already departed. Fortunately, arriving at the check-in desk at Terminal 4, I was told that it was a glitch in the app that had sent other passengers into a sweat as well. I was quickly checked in and directed down a priority screening lane to the busy Blush Lounge, operated by Plaza Premium.

The lounge, like virtually every other run by the group, had good hardware – there’s hot and cold dishes, comfortable seating, and a full bar – but poor software, with the staff all hiding in the pantry while guests searched for cutlery and wine openers. Fortunately, the lounge was steps from the boarding gate, No. 2, where boarding onto the Vietnam Airline 787 commenced at 4.30 pm.

The Seat

Vietnam Airlines’ 787s are among the airline’s newest aircraft. However, its herringbone-styled business class product, which features 28 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, is ever-so-slightly behind the times. However, at 21.5-inches wide, my fully lie-flat seat, 2k, a window seat on the starboard side, is perfectly comfortable, and boasts a 16-inch monitor, dual reading lights, personal air vents, and AC and USB ports. While it’s a little short of storage options, when converted into a 78-inch-long bed, it proves to be very comfortable for the 11-hour 55 minute evening flight east. My only niggle would be that the monitor is showing its age and has a green tinge around everything that moves.

A Cerruti 1881 amenity kit filled with products by Payot, and a blanket and pillow are already in place and crew soon serve glasses of chilled Charles Mignon Premium Reserve Brut champagne and chilled towels before taking orders for the dinner service.

We don’t begin taxiing until 5.47 pm due to delays caused by stormy weather, and take off at 6.10 pm.

Dining

The dinner service begins with a well-made gin and tonic, although the airline also offers an intriguing selection of cocktails created by an in-house mixologist.

A choice of appetizers includes black cod with a tomato salad and lemon rapeseed oil dressing; or smoked salmon and beetroot with mustard dressing. This is joined by a fresh vegetable salad and a wild mushroom soup. The salmon was perfectly chilled and the soup was comfort food at its best, especially when paired with a glass of Maison Cazes “Ego” Cotes Du Roussillon Grenache Blanc.

For mains, we’re presented with the option of a beef fillet with a herb sauce, mashed potato, and roasted vegetables in honey; roasted duck breast with honey orange sauce and potato fondant; pan-fried seabass with Chinese sauce and fried rice; or stir-fried prawns with a ginger and onion sauce and rice noodles. The beef was perfectly cooked and well-proportioned, and I paired it with a Ventisquero Vertice syrah from Chile.

We’re also offered a selection of breads with the meal followed by a choice of fine cheeses, fresh fruit, miniature pastries, and coconut ice cream. I opted for the cheese plate as I finished up a movie from the entertainment system’s competitive selection.

As we approached Vietnam, we were served breakfast, which consisted of yoghurt, a selection of cereals, and the choice of a mushroom and spinach tortilla with chicken sausage and baked vegetables; beef bresaola with salami and Wensleydale cranberry cheese; or braised chicken with soy sauce and egg noodles. I went with the noodles, which were flavourful and had a slight chilli kick.

One of the best perks of flying Vietnam Airlines is the traditional Vietnamese iced coffee which gives you just the oomph you need after a long-haul flight.

Service

Instead of constantly remodelling its aircraft, what Vietnam Airlines has built its reputation on is the softer side of things, with cheerful, attentive crew that conducted themselves efficiently and professionally throughout the flight without becoming the robots you often encounter on other Asian carriers. There’s a genuine sense of hospitality that makes flights with the airline a real pleasure.

Hong Kong to London return in business class from US$3,35

For more Reviews click here.

STAY IN THE KNOW BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, & LINKEDIN