When planning our journey to Seoul, we selected flying with Vietnam Airways, permitting us to get pleasure from 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 have been excited for a brand new expertise, however in fact additionally to see how they catered for his or her vegan passengers, or certainly anybody who chosen their VGML (vegan) particular meal possibility. 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 sorts and two completely different meals choices in every course. Beneath is an sincere overview of our maiden enterprise class expertise with Vietnam Airways from check-in by to arrival, permitting you to determine whether or not Vietnam Airways is a ‘vegan-friendly’ airline that it is best to contemplate on your subsequent vegan journey journey.
Departing from Changi Airport, Singapore
Departing from Terminal 3, we have been capable of utilise the Vietnam Airways devoted enterprise class check-in desks, which have 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 have been capable of entry the SATS Premier Lounge, which was the place we first foraged for any vegan or plant-based choices that may be accessible.
Every little thing was clearly labelled, which made it straightforward to grasp there was little or no for us to select from. Salad, roast potatoes, cauliflower with black fungus and goji berries have been the one objects 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 offered us with another choice as new dishes have 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 provides 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 mixture of the recliner being damaged, a headrest that didn’t keep in place and a footrest that didn’t prolong meant that our brief flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis was not as snug because it ought to have been. Fortunately, our VGML meal was a really tasty tofu in black bean dish that was stuffed with flavour.
This was served with a combined mushroom and tofu salad, which we didn’t eat however seemed excellent, additionally a bread roll with vegan butter and minimize fruit. The principle 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 have 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 take a look at the vegan choices that have been or weren’t accessible. Effectively, 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 workers have been unable to assist with something as they have been so busy. We discovered a cushty seat within the nook, away from the crowds (the lounge was packed), and awaited our onward flight.
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Our flight from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis to Seoul
Our subsequent flight was on board certainly one of Vietnam Airways’ Dreamliner 787s, which was way 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 wished to sleep, however in fact needed to see what VGML providing had been loaded for us on this leg of our journey.
Effectively, we have 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 have been higher, particularly for the salad, which can have been because of the additional area within the galley on board the 787, however the meals in fact 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 solution 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 vibrant, trendy and spacious with loads of locations to take a seat 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 little thing was clearly labelled and had been provided by Grand Hyatt Seoul. However we had been given an exquisite breakfast field from Government Sous Chef Mike and his crew 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 absolutely reclining seat in enterprise class actually made our journey extra snug. We have been intrigued to seek 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. Effectively, it was completely different however typically you’ll want to watch out what you want for as our earlier repeat tofu dish was far superior. First have been ‘canapés’ that consisted of a single fruit skewer, two cherry tomatoes, half an olive and a few dried fruit which have been all in fact 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 have been so chilly they have been nearly frozen and have been served with no sauce, which meant no flavour. Our predominant course was additionally despatched again, a mix of beans that have been dry and flavourless with accompanying greens that have been overcooked. This was presumably the worst vegan meal in enterprise class that now we have ever been served and was very disappointing certainly. The crew have been very apologetic as they may see that all the pieces we have been served was uninspiring and never of a comparable normal to what different passengers have been consuming. They managed to seek out some instantaneous noodles that have been vegan and ready these for us which have been very tasty, however we didn’t e book and pay for enterprise class flights to eat instantaneous noodles.
Lately, 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 lately, Emirates introduced they now have practically 500 vegan recipes in rotation, exhibiting that they’re one of many airways which might be really main the way in which in the case 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 solution 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 snug. The vegan meals nevertheless was disappointing total, 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 inns and resorts in Southeast Asia with a deal with sustainable journey, eco journey and vegan journey. At the moment primarily based in Malaysia, Paul additionally writes about sporting occasions and a number of the best golf programs all through the area.
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