I do believe that of all the hundreds of articles I’ve written here on SANspotter.com over the years, this Vietnam Airlines A321 business class review makes me the hungriest. I’m actually sitting at Gatwick Airport in London as I write this, having just eaten one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in a good long time. I’m so stuffed that I couldn’t eat another bite, yet thinking back on all the great food I ate the day of this flight is making me crave fried rice and pork dumplings in a way I can’t physically understand.
Basically what I’m trying to say is that the food (both in the airport and on the plane) was better than the flight itself. If that’s all you need to know, then…well…thanks for reading, and I’ll be back again next week with another thrilling SANspotter airline review!
VN654
Singapore (SIN) – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (SGN)
Monday, February 4, 2019
Aircraft: A321-231
Registration: VN-A608
Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes
Seat: 3G (business class)
My full review of Vietnam Airlines A321 Business class from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City
Why is Changi Airport in Singapore so dang amazing? There are many reasons (the movie theater, wide variety of traffic, etc), but for me, it’s IACO code (SIN) tops them all. I wouldn’t doubt for a moment that the board of directors over at McCarran Field in Las Vegas are jealous as hell, and as far as I’m concerned, they’ve got every reason to be. It’s gotta be one of the coolest IACO codes of them all. Right behind FAT and FUK of course.
The other really amazing thing about Changi Airport is the food courts. Before security or after, the food courts in this place are on another level. I had a full meal before checking in, and another one immediately after. I’ll spare you the pics (and details) since this is supposed to be a Vietnam Airlines review, but just know that it’s critically important to arrive at this airport hungry.
As if I didn’t already have enough to eat within two hours of arrival, I took advantage of the complimentary Plaza Premium lounge access that came as part of my Vietnam Airlines business class ticket.
Roughly 30 minutes before boarding, I ripped myself away from the food went back down to the main departures level to wait for boarding.
The boarding process
Before going any further, now would be a really good time to put your expectations in check. This review is focused squarely on the A321 short haul (regional) business class product. That means that any hope you have of reading about the latest and most technically advanced flat beds needs to be doused with a healthy dose of reality. Get ready to see recliners.
Seat overview
Regional business class on the Vietnam Airlines A321 consists of 16 seats total arranged in a typical 2-2 layout. They’re all fairly standard recliner style seats that do not lie fully flat. Think of it as Asiana A321 business class – but in a completely different color.
Hot towels were distributed while at the gate, as were the usual drink orders.
The departure out of Singapore
Based on the large group of people waiting in the gate area to board this flight, I had assumed it was going to be a full load up in business class tonight. However, just as it was with my EVA Air A321 business class experience from ICN to TPE two years ago, I found myself pretty much alone once the boarding door was closed.
I don’t know very much about flight attendants, but it’s pretty easy to recognize the fact that empty cabins make them really happy. The two nice ladies working the business class cabin this evening were two of the happiest and most relaxed flight attendants I’ve ever seen, and I had a pretty good feeling this was going to be a really positive Vietnam Airlines review as we started pushing off the gate.
The meal service
Within minutes of departing Singapore, I could hear the clatter of dishes and silverware coming from the galley. And then I started to smell something cooking. This is normally the kind of thing that would make me do a little happy dance in my head (but never with my body because I’ve got no moves), but today all I could do was hold my head in shame for what was about to happen.
There were two meal options on this evening’s flight up to SGN: Vietnamese or something western. I wasn’t even remotely hungry enough to be curious about which each consisted of, so I went with the Vietnamese option with a shrug.
Whatever. It’s highly likely I wouldn’t have eaten anything at all if I wasn’t SANspotter (the nerdy trip report guy), but I needed the content for this blog and my YouTube channel so I had no choice. It wouldn’t be a proper Vietnam Airlines review without it!
Was it the best business class meal I’ve ever had? Not by a long shot. Was it better than what the competition (Singapore Airlines 737 MAX 8 business class) is offering on the same route? Not really.
It was basically a glorified economy class meal if I’m being honest, but the personalized attention from the flight attendants made it something really special.
Seat and cabin comfort
Look. I could easily rattle off a long list of places that are worse than Vietnam Airlines A321 business class. Complain all you want about this being a lowly regional business class product, but I found it to be quite comfortable thank you very much.
The descent and arrival into Ho Chi Minh City
Wanna know a secret? I was feeling a little bit apprehensive about flying with Vietnam Airlines (and through SGN) before this flight. It was an airline I knew absolutely nothing about, and on top of that, there was a bit of mental baggage that I had to deal with as well…
I’ve heard a lot about Vietnam since I was a child, as my father and two uncles were drafted during the war (well before I was born). Thankfully my father got to stay in the US, but both uncles weren’t so lucky. Neither of them have ever talked to me about their experiences, but everything I’ve heard from other sources made it seem like Vietnam was hell on earth. And I’m sure it was for those who fought (on both sides).
Seeing Vietnam with my own eyes for the first time (if only breifly) was surreal. As I stepped off the plane, I couldn’t help but to think what my uncles would have been feeling at that moment if they were here with me too. Worse yet, I tied to imagine what it must have felt like for all the freshly-drafted US Marines who arrived in Vietnam for the first time for the start of their tour of duty back in the 60’s. War is hell no doubt.
Anyway, enough about that. This is a Vietnam Airlines review after all, so I’ll try to end this on a happy and positive note. Which, now that I think about it, is a really easy thing to do. The people of Vietnam are so warm and generous. From the ground staff at SIN, to the flight attendants up in the air, and the ground staff at SGN, I was met with friendly smiles and “can do” attitudes from all.
So what do you think? What is this enough to convince you? If not, I highly recommend reading my review of Vietnam Airlines A350-900 business class next. I promise that’ll make you a believer.
James B.
the lights are from towns I think… or volcanoes.
SANspotter
Yeah it was some kind of village or market I think – I’ve never seen anything like it!