Now appearing on flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City and also Sydney-Hanoi, the Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 offers business class travellers the usual staples of a fully-flat bed and direct aisle access: but as is often the case, some seats are certainly better than others.
Australian Business Traveller maps out your top inflight pics whether travelling solo for work or on holidays with your partner.
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 business class: the basics
Business class on Vietnam Airlines’ Dreamliners comes in a pleasing 1-2-1 layout, with space for 28 passengers in total:
Seats by the windows are labelled ‘A’ and ‘K’, while those in the middle pairs are ‘D’ and ‘G’. Unlike some other airlines flying from Asia, Vietnam Airlines numbers its business class cabin from row 1: 1A being a front-row window seat, and so on.
Also read: Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 business class review, Sydney-Hanoi
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 business class: best seats
For solo travellers – the window seats: It should come as no surprise in a 1-2-1 cabin that individual passengers will find the most comfort in the single seats by the windows which come sans seatmate.
For couples – the centre seats: Another straightforward selection to tick off the list: centre seats of two, for two people travelling together. Conversation can be a little difficult if your seats are both fully upright, but the seat can slide forward so that you’re both within view.
Now for the fussier flyers…
For a cooler ride – the ‘A’ + ‘K’ seats: Yes, Vietnam Airlines’ Boeing 787s have personal adjustable air vents, and yes, they’re available at every seat – but if you sleep best with the air conditioner cranked up at home, choosing a seat by the windows gets you two air vents rather than one for that little extra comfort.
For light sleepers – aim for rows 4, 5: As the galleys and lavatories border rows 1 and 7, these particular rows are best-avoided by travellers prone to waking at the slightest noise.
In addition, three fixed TV screens are also in place ahead of row 1 and often display the moving inflight map at full brightness (below) – even when the cabin lights have been switched off – so aiming for a seat in rows 4 or 5 keeps you away from that light (and the forward galley noise) without getting too close to the sources of noise behind you.
For good views and natural light – avoid row 1: Choosing a window seat doesn’t necessarily guarantee you the best view, with passengers in row 1 having less natural light and only one window to peer through compared to two windows for most passengers behind.
For parents with young children – 1A, 1K: These seats might not have the best views but they do have bassinet capabilities for parents travelling with little ones (another reason why light sleepers are best-placed further back in rows 4-5).
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2562
Do you mean Sydney - Hanoi Chris?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
Indeed... always good to get the destination right when you're flying!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Feb 2017
Total posts 25
Just flew the B787 from SYD-SGN return last week - great nice hard product with direct aisle access for each seat. Would've preferred to have been closer to the window however as the console makes you so far from the window it's almost pointless to book a window seat.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Oct 2016
Total posts 177
Great product, worth their Skytrax 4 star
Did the day flight PE and the night Business last November then a week in Danang
Connections to Europe are crap, but they do run the A350 on that leg
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
20 Dec 2013
Total posts 31
I have done the MEL-SGN-LHR trip twice in business in the 787s on Vietnam Airlines. Good seats on the window. Only negative is the poor layovers to and from LHR, especially on the return journey despite the free limo, free hotel room, free meals and free tour of the city. It's probably the annoying waiting at arrivals as the local man organises your free visa. All free but too much rigmarole. Why can't Vietnam Airlines give Aussie travellers better connections?
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