This long-haul flight, like our inbound from Ho Chi Minh City, featured two meal services.

Lunch Service:
Shortly after takeoff, menus were distributed, and meal selections were taken. I started with the Marinated Prawn with Salmon Tarator and Oriental Mayonnaise—a light, flavorful seafood dish where the salmon stood out as the highlight. The meal tray included a beverage of choice, a salad with cheese slices, mushroom soup with croutons, and irresistible garlic bread. So irresistible was this garlic bread that I had three slices!

For the main, I had Steamed Ling Fillet Chinese-style with Fish Soy Sauce, Steamed Jasmine Rice, and Stir-fried Bok Choy—a perfectly steamed, tender fish dish that paired beautifully with the rice and sauce.

Desserts included fresh fruit, a very varied cheese-and-cracker selection. Assorted Cakes with Ice Cream served as the epilogue for an excellent service that left me feeling full, content and ready to take a long nap.

Refreshments Service:
Before landing, a lighter second meal was served, featuring three options:

• Smoked Salmon with Avocado Salad & Bread

• Chicken Mushroom Pie with Mushroom Ragout

• Dim Sum Trio (Char Siu Pork Bun, Spinach Prawn Dumpling, Pork Siu Mai)

For those unfamiliar, the latter and third option is what, in Chinese culture, we know as Dim Sum (点心), which actually transliterates to “Touching the Heart”.

The Pork Bun indeed ‘touched my heart’ as it was steaming hot and the perfect balance of sweet and savory, complemented by the addictive Siu Mai. The dumplings, packed with greens, balanced the meal.

After finishing, the crew offered a second dish, and I chose the Smoked Salmon, which, paired with avocado, made for a perfect light bite before arrival in Ho Chi Minh City—right before tackling immigration queues!

Business Class features a slightly larger screen than Premium Economy, enhancing the movie experience. The system offers Korean, Western, and Vietnamese movies, plus music and an inflight map displaying altitude, heading, and speed. While functional, features like a HUD view or external camera would be welcome upgrades.

An IFE remote is provided, along with Vietnam Airlines-branded wired headphones. The headphones are certainly no Sony XM4/XM5 caliber, but are a very suitable item for long flights and definitely an upgrade from the ones provided in Premium Economy.

Lavatory:
Business Class has two dedicated lavatories at the front, slightly more spacious than Economy/Premium Economy, stocked with lotions, disposable cups, and razors.

Amenity Kit:
Each Business Class passenger receives a Cerruti 1881 kit, containing:

• Toothbrush kit, earplugs, eyeshade, sleeping socks

• Payot moisturizer & lip balm, foldable comb

• Stickers (e.g., "Do Not Disturb," "Wake Me for Meals")

  The contents are comprehensive and cover most essential items that may be needed on an 8.5 hour flight.

Comfort:
Seats come with a soft pillow, thick blanket, and house slippers. While warm, the blanket may feel too thick for those prone to overheating.

WiFi:
Surprisingly, WiFi is unavailable on this long-haul flight.

One key element when considering options on the SYD - SGN route will be about the options available.

The routing, whilst highly in demand, is not served by a large multitude of carriers, or in high frequency. At any point in time, there are 1-3 flights a day, with Vietnam Airlines offering the only full-service Business Class product available.

Thereafter, one might consider alternatives, of which VietJet is the Low-cost option offering more affordable prices but with fewer perks.

Jetstar, a current operator of the route, does not offer any direct flights in the Summer 2025 season, based on their booking platform (Photo Caption).

Ultimately - the question goes : How much are you willing to spend on a Business Class flight?

At Sydney International, Vietnam Airlines’ Business Class passengers are entitled to a visit to the SkyTeam Alliance Lounge as the airline does not operate a lounge in the airport.

(Location of SkyTeam Plaza Premium Lounge)

Upon entering the venue, guests are greeted by a wall of frames containing the logos of various SkyTeam Airlines, which was fascinating to the little kid in me that went “Hey that’s China Eastern!” after seeing a familiar logo.

The lounge is not large, however can comfortably hold upwards of 100 guests at any given time. Buffet spreads are available at different areas and are segregated into courses; salads/appetisers, brews, pastries, mains as well as a bar.

I personally think the lounge is a no-brainer option to fully utilise, given how packed Sydney Airport’s regular-use facilities and cafes/shops are on a daily. The space in the SkyTeam lounge make for a splendid & calming time with a spectacular apron view whilst awaiting your journey out of town.

Vietnam Airlines’ long-haul A350s feature Safran Cirrus III Business Class seats in a reverse-herringbone layout, angling passengers toward the window. This seat type, also found on Cathay Pacific and Delta, offers a nearly lie-flat bed, direct aisle access, and a 15.4” retractable touchscreen IFE.

Each semi-private seat includes a coat hook, storage bin, extendable armrests, and a minibar-style space for small items. Legroom is ample, with a ~1-meter-deep foot cubby, personal reading lights, a sturdy side-stowed tray table, and a recline control panel.

Vietnam Airlines’ signature hospitality was on full display throughout this Business Class flight.

While Business passengers may receive extra attention, VN’s cabin crew consistently delivers top-tier service, rivaling the best. The VN772 crew was warm, welcoming, and always attentive.

Notable moments included a crew member frequently engaging with an infant in my row and another offering me tea and nuts the moment I woke up. Small but thoughtful gestures like these, along with the Chief Purser personally greeting passengers, highlight why Vietnam Airlines excels in service.