Arguably, this is one of the most comfortable airplane seats I have been in, with generous legroom (38 inch pitch) and width, as well as a remarkable 15-degree seat recline and raisable footrest making for a comfortable and soothing 8.5-hour red-eye.

The Premium Economy seat also comes with a sturdy, stowable tray table hidden in one of the two armrests, which took me about 5 minutes to figure out how to deploy.

Up above, you’ll find call lights and personal reading lights. No personal air vents are provided on this aircraft, however, similar to other A350s on competitor airlines. Perhaps this is a standard feature of the A350.

Fortunately enough, I had the privilege of having an empty seat next to me on this flight meaning extra wiggle-room & a spacious sensation throughout.

One aspect that truly stood out to me was the exceptional hospitality extended not just to me, but to all passengers in the Premium Economy cabin.

As is often the case with Asian carriers, and Vietnam Airlines in particular, the stewardesses were warm and welcoming from the moment we boarded the aircraft. Their professionalism and kindness shone through during every interaction—whether during meal service or in the way they consistently went the extra mile for passengers.

One instance that comes to mind was before takeoff when a larger-sized passenger seated behind me requested to move to a bulkhead seat for the additional legroom. The crew promptly took note of this and, after the seatbelt signs were turned off, arranged for the passenger to make the switch—a thoughtful gesture that undoubtedly improved their comfort.

A personal highlight for me involved a similar act of consideration. I had requested to move to a window seat during takeoff and landing for recording purposes. Due to a slight language barrier, my request may not have been fully understood at first, and I remained in my original seat. However, after the seatbelt signs were turned off, the stewardess returned to offer the seat change—an effort that truly impressed me.

These small but significant gestures made me realize that Vietnam Airlines’ customer service and hospitality are genuinely world-class. The crew’s dedication to ensuring each passenger has the best possible experience is a hallmark of their exceptional service.

The crew were also very diligent in providing hand towels - I did appreciate this a lot. I can be a clean-freak at times, and I deeply appreciated this service pre-boarding, pre meal and even after awaking from my nap.

When it comes to meals in Premium Economy, the offerings typically fall into one of two categories: Business Class meals or, as is the case for Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy passengers, Economy-class meals. This distinction is also very much reflected in the ticket price.

Passengers on this flight are served two meals: one shortly after departing Ho Chi Minh City and another before arrival in Sydney.

For the first meal, described as “supper” but more akin to a late dinner, passengers were given two options:

1. Vietnamese Braised Pork with Galangal and Fish Sauce, Steamed Rice, Mixed Asian Vegetables

2. Buttered Spaghetti with Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Sauce and Vegetables

Feeling slightly adventurous, I opted for the Western selection—a rare choice for me, as I almost always favour the Oriental Asian options on Asian airlines.

While the dish didn’t rise to Business-class standards or reach an “out-of-this-world” level, I absolutely devoured it. It was one of those meals that, while not visually impressive or exotic, keeps you going back for more.

The pasta salad served as a solid appetizer, and I particularly enjoyed the dessert cake, which was light and satisfying—a perfect way to round off a long day.

Each meal tray also included a warm bread roll, fresh fruit slices, and a choice of soft drinks, juices, or alcoholic beverages.

Catering: Breakfast

Shortly after the stunning sunrise you just witnessed, the cabin lighting on our A350 brightened as the crew began distributing menus and taking breakfast orders in the Premium Economy cabin.

For breakfast, passengers were offered two options:

1. Vietnamese Sticky Rice with Mashed Mung Bean, Roasted Chicken, Coconut, and Five-Spice

2. Frittata with Bell Peppers and Potatoes, Grilled Pork Sausage, Sautéed Spinach, and Grilled Tomato

After a brief rest earlier, I was feeling peckish and opted for the latter, which seemed like the more filling choice.

The frittata, packed with its listed ingredients, was delightfully savory, with the potatoes acting as the star of the dish. The pork sausages were decent, while the grilled tomato added a subtle “Western” touch to the meal.

Each of the 36 Premium Economy seats on the aircraft features a 10.6” entertainment screen, an IFE remote located below the armrest, a personal power outlet, and USB ports for charging handheld devices.

The range of entertainment selections was extensive, particularly for local Vietnamese content, with a decent variety of international movies and music also available. In my opinion, any IFE system is fantastic as long as it includes a Korean movie or two (my favorite!). With the flight lasting 8.5 hours, I had plenty of time to enjoy the 100-minute Korean movie Love Reset at a leisurely pace.

Whilst the in-flight map was suitably filled with necessary flight information (2d geographical map, cruise speed, altitude etc.), I definitely think the addition of a Heads-Up Display or perhaps even live cameras would turn VN’s IFE offering from great to absolutely world-class.

The Premium Economy lavatories were separate from those in other cabins and were kept impeccably clean throughout the flight. I appreciated the crew’s attention to detail, as they frequently used a floor towel to clear water droplets after passenger use—a small but considerate gesture.

Amenities such as razors, toothbrushes, and hand cream were readily available in the lavatory compartments for passengers to use at any time during the flight.

Not all of Vietnam Airlines' flights are equipped with Wi-Fi, and that was the case for my flight today. Fortunately, as this was a red-eye flight with a comfortable seat, I was more than happy to spend the time watching movies and getting some much-needed rest

And now, the most critical aspect of this review: price. Let’s start by looking at the market for the SGN-SYD route. Vietnam Airlines is the only full-service carrier ( FSC) operating non-stop flights on this route.

Competing with low-cost carriers like VietJet Air and Jetstar, Vietnam Airlines arguably provides the most suitable product for long-haul travel between Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney. As an FSC, its pricing is often comparable to the premium classes of its budget competitors—SkyBoss from VietJet and Business from Jetstar.

However, given the limited market for direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney, ticket prices for any class can soar dramatically during peak travel seasons, such as the Tet holiday period in January and February.

Overall looking at pricing over the course of the year the Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy product is great value.

Vietnam Airlines is absolutely worth it on long-haul travel. Whilst there are a few minor flaws in some aspects of the hard product such as the lack of WiFi, the soft product & specifically hospitality is something that sets a very high standard for my future perceptions & reviews of flights on full-service carriers.

In my honest opinion, VN is great and has the potential to evolve to the level of the Middle Eastern Carriers or Singapore Air - and I look forward to my next flight with them to feel the continuous improvement of the Golden Lotus