Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class from Hanoi to Frankfurt
Jeanine and I flew to Bangkok in March for our Hyrox race. The idea was to fly back to Spain after a month, but things turned out differently.
With all the hassle in the Middle East and an unplanned visit to Japan during Sakura season, it made it quite difficult for us to get back to Europe. It is therefore a godsend that we can eventually return from Hanoi via Frankfurt on points,
In this review, you will read how I like Vietnam Airlines’ Business Class and how I booked this flight with KLM by using Miles.
Why we flew into Frankfurt? That has to do with the fact that at the time we flew, Vietnam Airlines did not yet fly directly to Schiphol. From June 2026, by the way, that will change and you can indeed fly direct from Hanoi to Amsterdam.
Vietnam Airlines Business Class
Business Class check-in Hanoi
Coming from Da Nang, we initially land at Hanoi’s Domestic terminal. We can take the (free) shuttle bus from the Domestic to the International Terminal. This is a mess.
There is no normal queue, everyone pushes forward, the bus is small and filled to the brim. So up to here, no Business Class experience whatsoever.
Thankfully, that changes when you get to the International Terminal. Vietnam Airlines has a neat row of counters there set up for Premium and Business class travellers. Checking in was therefore a snap.
Executive Lounge Hanoi
Both based on my status with Skyteam and our ticket, we got access to the Vietnam Airlines lounge. A detailed review of the lounge can be found here.
Vietnam Airlines Business Class seat
After our stay in the lounge, it’s time for the flight from Hanoi to Frankfurt. The flight takes about 12 hours and I am seated in seat 4D.
The whole cabin looked dated. It is slightly yellowed out for my liking and compared to KLM or Qatar, the seat offers little privacy and storage space.
As you might expect, the seat can fully flatten and features an infotainment system, remote control for the screen and games, controls for the seat itself and a reading light here and there.
Chair cover
A nice touch was that you got a cover around your chair after take-off. It’s hardly a mattress, but it adds a nice touch to the idea of your chair turning into a bed. Apart from that feeling, you don’t notice much in terms of comfort from the cover.
Vietnam Airlines Food & drink on board
The choice in terms of food and drink on board is sadly sparse. Yes; they hand out a menu card for food and drink, with champagne, cocktails and wine, but in terms of food, there is little choice.
For instance, you can choose from two dishes for dinner and there is limited choice for breakfast. It is also unfortunate that mid-flight – if you feel like it – there are no snacks to go with a movie, for example.
Where you normally still get pringles, snickers or M&Ms, on Vietnam Airlines you unfortunately get nothing.
Amenity Kit Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines’ Amenity Kit is by Samsonite. You get a nice pouch containing the usual items, such as a comb, toothbrush, sleeping masks, cream and earplugs.
Toilet
Again, nothing special here. The toilet is as you would expect from an in-flight toilet. However, it is kept clean regularly, which is nice as Business Class is completely full.
Internet and WiFi Vietnam Airlines
Here, we can be brief. Internet is not available during our flight. There is a wifi channel you can connect to, but it does not work.
Vietnam Airlines ticket price
As I mentioned in the intro, we are lucky to be able to book the flight on points. Where – due to the war in the Middle East – flight prices were going through the roof, I was able to book this flight for 131,000 Miles and still had to pay ~€400 extra. That’s the price for two people.
Want more information about earning Miles? Then read my extensive page on SkyTeam and Flying Blue.
Advantages
- Comfortable chair
- Good night’s sleep
- You will arrive rested and less affected by jet lag
Cons
- Dated cabin
- Little privacy compared to KLM or Qatar.
- No internet on board
- Food is mediocre
Conclusion
Up front, I am especially happy that we can fly from Hanoi to Frankfurt for a reasonable price in Business Class. That Vietnam Airlines also flies to Amsterdam after June 2026 is nice, but it is not an airline I prefer.
When I compare Business Class to KLM or Qatar, the hard product is just much less. Even compared to, say, Saudia, the soft product (food on offer e.g. ) is much less.
Overall, a Business Class seat is easily a fine and comfortable way to fly from A to B, but if I paid the top price for this, I would have preferred to spend it on another airline.
