Our vegan Enterprise Class expertise with Vietnam Airways

When planning our journey to Seoul, we selected flying with Vietnam Airways, permitting us to take pleasure in a metropolis stopover in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis on the way in which dwelling. Having by no means flown within the premium cabins with Vietnam Airways, we had been excited for a brand new expertise, however after all additionally to see how they catered for his or her vegan passengers, or certainly anybody who chosen their VGML (vegan) particular meal choice. With a short-haul flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis adopted by an extended onward flight to Seoul, we’d be experiencing two plane varieties and two completely different meals choices in every path. Under is an sincere overview of our maiden enterprise class expertise with Vietnam Airways from check-in via to arrival, permitting you to resolve whether or not Vietnam Airways is a ‘vegan-friendly’ airline that you must contemplate to your subsequent vegan journey journey.

Departing from Changi Airport, Singapore

Departing from Terminal 3, we had been capable of utilise the Vietnam Airways devoted enterprise class check-in desks, which had been skilled and environment friendly. Our baggage was checked in for each of our flights and we acquired boarding passes for every flight additionally. With Vietnam Airways not working their very own lounge at Changi, we had been capable of entry the SATS Premier Lounge, which was the place we first foraged for any vegan or plant-based choices that is perhaps accessible.

Every thing was clearly labelled, which made it simple to understand there was little or no for us to select from. Salad, roast potatoes, cauliflower with black fungus and goji berries had been the one gadgets that we may have eaten with steamed white rice. There was delicious-looking marinated tofu however the sauce was not vegan, which was a traditional case of ‘practically, however not fairly’. Our flight was delayed, which supplied us with an alternative choice as new dishes had been launched to the buffet, together with a black-eyed peas curry and kailan with fried garlic, which each paired completely with the aforementioned steamed white rice, making for a tasty and nutritious pre-flight chunk while ready for our delayed departure.

Our flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis

Vietnam Airways use their A321 on many of those regional flights, the place enterprise class gives a 2-2 configuration with spacious reclining seats, loads of legroom and footrests. Sadly, even after altering from our pre-assigned seats, we had non-functioning seats. A mix of the recliner being damaged, a headrest that didn’t keep in place and a footrest that didn’t lengthen meant that our quick flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis was not as comfy because it ought to have been. Fortunately, our VGML meal was a really tasty tofu in black bean dish that was filled with flavour.

This was served with a blended mushroom and tofu salad, which we didn’t eat however appeared excellent, additionally a bread roll with vegan butter and reduce fruit. The primary dish was scrumptious and one of many tastier vegan meals we’ve loved on board in current occasions.

Lotus Lounge at Tan Son Nhat Worldwide Airport, Ho Chi Minh Metropolis

With a restricted layover time, we had been solely capable of go to the Vietnam Airways signature ‘Lotus Lounge’ for a brief go to, however that allowed us to utilise the services and refresh ourselves for our onward in a single day flight and likewise try the vegan choices that had been or weren’t accessible. Nicely, it’s fortunate we weren’t hungry as there was nothing to eat aside from fruit. Each dish on the buffet was not appropriate for vegans and the employees had been unable to assist with something as they had been so busy. We discovered a cushty seat within the nook, away from the crowds (the lounge was packed), and awaited our onward flight.

Our flight from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis to Seoul

Our subsequent flight was on board one in all Vietnam Airways’ Dreamliner 787s, which was much more luxurious for our longer in a single day flight because the 1-2-1 configuration allowed for more room all through and the very welcome flat beds. With our late departure and an early arrival, we actually needed to sleep, however after all needed to see what VGML providing had been loaded for us on this leg of our journey.

Nicely, we had been served precisely the identical as on the earlier flight, mushroom salad and the tofu with rice that we had loved a lot only a few hours beforehand. The plating and presentation had been higher, particularly for the salad, which can have been because of the further area within the galley on board the 787, however the meals after all tasted precisely the identical. There was one welcome shock, which was an precise dessert as an alternative of fruit, which was certainly very welcome. A moist sponge cake with a berry sauce was the proper technique to finish our meal earlier than a couple of hours’ sleep was subsequent on the agenda.

Korean Air Lounge at Incheon Worldwide Airport, Seoul

Earlier than our return flight, we had entry to the Korean Air Lounge situated in Terminal 1. That is the place we relaxed pre-boarding and accomplished our Vegan Meals Quest on this current vegan journey journey.

The lounge was vivid, trendy and spacious with loads of locations to sit down and showers for anybody who had an extended layover. The buffet was fairly small however did have a couple of vegan choices together with mushroom soup with perilla seed, sautéed mushrooms with rice and a pasta salad. Every thing was clearly labelled and had been equipped by Grand Hyatt Seoul. However we had been given an exquisite breakfast field from Government Sous Chef Mike and his workforce at Conrad Seoul, so selected to eat that as an alternative. A flavour-packed fried rice with tofu and grilled veggies made for the proper vegan lounge breakfast earlier than our flight.

Our flight from Seoul to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis

Our return flight was again on board the Dreamliner 787, so we knew what to anticipate by way of structure and seat / flat mattress. It was a daytime flight, so we didn’t plan to sleep however the totally reclining seat in enterprise class definitely made our journey extra comfy. We had been intrigued to search out out if we’d be served the identical VGML meal once more, or really get to strive one thing else from the kitchens that put together meals for Vietnam Airways. Nicely, it was completely different however generally you want to watch out what you would like for as our earlier repeat tofu dish was far superior. First had been ‘canapés’ that consisted of a single fruit skewer, two cherry tomatoes, half an olive and a few dried fruit which had been all after all edible, however hardly inventive or thrilling.

Subsequent was an unappetising appetiser which we despatched again. It comprised a stuffed pepper with beans and greens that had been so chilly they had been virtually frozen and had been served with no sauce, which meant no flavour. Our foremost course was additionally despatched again, a combination of beans that had been dry and flavourless with accompanying greens that had been overcooked. This was probably the worst vegan meal in enterprise class that we now have ever been served and was very disappointing certainly. The crew had been very apologetic as they might see that the whole lot we had been served was uninspiring and never of a comparable customary to what different passengers had been consuming. They managed to search out some prompt noodles that had been vegan and ready these for us which had been very tasty, however we didn’t guide and pay for enterprise class flights to eat prompt noodles.

In recent times, issues have improved for vegan travellers with airways globally including to their plant-based providing with inventive and thrilling choices accessible for pre-order. Solely not too long ago, Emirates introduced they now have practically 500 vegan recipes in rotation, displaying that they’re one of many airways which are actually main the way in which in terms of catering for his or her vegan travellers.

Our expertise with Vietnam Airways was a reminder that the variability and high quality that’s provided nonetheless has some technique to go. We encountered pleasant and useful crew on all three of our current flights, and aside from the defective seats on our first flight, the exhausting product on the 787s, while not being ground-breaking, was very comfy. The vegan meals nevertheless was disappointing general, two an identical meals and one which was completely missing in creativity and flavour. Being primarily based within the area, we’re more likely to fly with them once more and may solely hope the vegan meals that we’re served is of equal high quality to the crew that taken care of us.

Paul Eyers

Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Meals Quest who write about luxurious accommodations and resorts in Southeast Asia with a concentrate on sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. At present primarily based in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and a few of the best golf programs all through the area.