Vietnam Airlines

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Vietnam's flag carrier and a major full-service airline serving domestic and international markets.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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First read: Nov 4, 2026
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Overview

Vietnam Airlines is the flag carrier of Vietnam and the central airline brand of Vietnam Airlines Corporation. Its headquarters are in Hanoi, while its principal operating hubs are Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. The airline provides scheduled passenger and cargo transportation on domestic Vietnamese routes and international services linking Vietnam with destinations in Asia, Europe and Australia. The published network described in reference material comprises 117 routes across 19 countries, excluding codeshare services. The airline originated in January 1956, when the North Vietnamese government created Vietnam Civil Aviation after nationalizing Gia Lam Airport. Its early civilian operation was closely connected with the air force and depended largely on Soviet and Chinese assistance. The initial fleet included Lisunov Li-2 aircraft, later supplemented or replaced by Ilyushin Il-14 and Aero Ae-45 aircraft. War, international isolation and the country's difficult economic circumstances limited the carrier's development for much of its first decades. After the war, it began rebuilding its network, opening Beijing and Vientiane services in 1976 and Bangkok service in 1978, followed during the late 1980s and early 1990s by links to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. Vietnam's normalization of relations with the United States was an important turning point. The lifting of the US trade embargo in 1994 made it easier for the airline to obtain Western-built aircraft and move away from an ageing Soviet-era fleet. Vietnam Airlines subsequently introduced leased and purchased Airbus and Boeing aircraft, developed longer-haul services and established relationships involving aircraft leasing, technical support and crew training. In 1993 it became a state enterprise and the country's flag carrier. In 1995, the government consolidated Vietnam Airlines and other aviation-related businesses into Vietnam Airlines Corporation. The corporate structure was reorganized again in 2010 as a limited liability company. The brand's commercial proposition is that of a premium full-service network carrier rather than a purely low-cost operator. Its offer has included economy and business-class travel, domestic connectivity, international long-haul services, cargo transportation, aircraft maintenance, catering and associated aviation services. The Golden Lotus Plus frequent-flyer programme was introduced in 1999. Subsidiaries and affiliated businesses have included Vietnam Air Service Company, Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company, Vietnam Airlines Caterers and Vietnam Airlines Cargo; the corporation has also participated in aircraft leasing and airport ground-service activities. Vietnam Airlines owns Vietnam Air Service Company and has held an almost 99 percent stake in Pacific Airlines according to the cited reference material. Fleet modernization has been a recurring strategic theme. The airline acquired Boeing 777-200ER aircraft in the early 2000s, later ordered Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft, and expanded its Airbus narrow-body fleet for regional and domestic flying. It joined IATA after meeting IOSA safety requirements and entered SkyTeam in June 2010, becoming the first Southeast Asian carrier to join that alliance. Vietnam Airlines has also participated in regional partnership development, including the creation of Cambodia Angkor Air with the Cambodian government in 2009. Vietnam Airlines remains a state-controlled, publicly listed national airline. The reference material states that, as of September 2021, the Vietnamese state held 86.34 percent and All Nippon Airways held 5.62 percent. The carrier's continuing role combines commercial air transport with national connectivity, tourism promotion and broader economic development. Its present identity is therefore shaped by three linked functions: national flag carrier, full-service international airline and core…

History

Vietnam Airlines was established in January 1956 as Vietnam Civil Aviation after the nationalization of Gia Lam Airport. The early organization was created by the North Vietnamese government and operated with support from the Soviet Union and China. Its first aircraft were Soviet- and European-designed types, including Lisunov Li-2s, Ilyushin Il-14s and Aero Ae-45s. Because of the Vietnam War, international restrictions and limited access to Western aviation technology, the carrier remained relatively small during its first decades. After the war, the airline began rebuilding a civilian network. Beijing and Vientiane became early international destinations in 1976, followed by Bangkok in 1978. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the network expanded to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. The carrier also began exploring Western aircraft, although early leasing efforts were complicated by US restrictions on aircraft containing American components. It eventually introduced Boeing and Airbus aircraft through leasing arrangements involving overseas lessors and airline partners. Cooperation with Air France included Airbus leasing, customer support and training. A major institutional transition occurred in 1993, when the airline completed a restructuring programme, became a state enterprise and was recognized as Vietnam's flag carrier. In 1995, Vietnam Airlines and other aviation-related businesses were brought together in Vietnam Airlines Corporation. The lifting of the US trade embargo in February 1994 accelerated fleet modernization and helped the airline replace Soviet-era aircraft with Airbus and Boeing equipment. By the mid-1990s, the carrier served a growing domestic network and international destinations including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Sydney and Melbourne. Business-class service began in 1996, and the Golden Lotus Plus loyalty programme followed in 1999. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Vietnam Airlines expanded its long-haul capabilities. It received Boeing 767 aircraft through leasing arrangements and later signed a landmark agreement with Boeing for four Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. The first purchased Boeing 777 was delivered in 2003. The airline continued to increase international coverage and resumed or developed services to destinations in East Asia and Europe. It also pursued Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 orders to replace older or leased aircraft and support future network growth, although Boeing delivery delays affected the original planning timetable. The corporation broadened beyond passenger flying. Its activities came to include cargo, aircraft engineering and overhaul, catering, aircraft leasing and ground services. It also developed ownership and partnership interests in other carriers, including Vietnam Air Service Company, Pacific Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air. In 2009, Vietnam Airlines and the Cambodian government established Cambodia Angkor Air as a joint venture, with the Vietnamese airline holding 49 percent and the Cambodian government 51 percent. Vietnam Airlines joined IATA after satisfying IOSA requirements and became a SkyTeam member in June 2010. This strengthened its international alliance position and connected its network to partner airlines. The airline has remained predominantly state-controlled while pursuing partial privatization and public listing. The proposed privatization timetable was not achieved, but the company later became listed under the HVN ticker. As described in the reference material, the Vietnamese state still held a large controlling stake in September 2021, with All Nippon Airways retaining a strategic minority position. Vietnam Airlines today operates as a state-backed, listed full-service carrier whose commercial and national roles remain closely linked.

2010
Joins SkyTeam
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
Vietnam Airlines became the first Southeast Asian carrier to join SkyTeam.
2009
Cambodia Angkor Air is established
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
Vietnam Airlines and the Cambodian government created Cambodia Angkor Air as a joint venture.
2003
First purchased Boeing 777 arrives
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
The airline received its first Boeing 777-200ER purchased directly from Boeing.
2001
Boeing agreement is signed
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
Vietnam Airlines signed an agreement to acquire Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, marking a major step in its long-haul fleet development.
1999
Golden Lotus Plus launches
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
The airline introduced its frequent-flyer programme, Golden Lotus Plus.
1995
Vietnam Airlines Corporation is formed
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
Vietnam Airlines and other aviation-related businesses were consolidated into Vietnam Airlines Corporation.
1994
US trade embargo is lifted
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
The lifting of the embargo enabled broader access to Western-built aircraft and accelerated fleet modernization.
1993
Becomes Vietnam's flag carrier
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
Following restructuring, the airline became a state enterprise and was formally recognized as the national flag carrier.
1976
First postwar international destinations
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
Services to Beijing and Vientiane marked the rebuilding of the airline's international network after the war.
1956
Vietnam Civil Aviation is established
[1]Vietnam Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
The North Vietnamese government created Vietnam Civil Aviation after nationalizing Gia Lam Airport, establishing the institutional origin of Vietnam Airlines.

Products and positioning

Premium full-service flag carrier combining national domestic connectivity with international passenger and cargo services.

Passenger air transport
Domestic passenger network
Vietnam Airlines connects major Vietnamese cities and regional destinations through its two principal hubs at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat. The domestic network supports business travel, tourism and national connectivity, and is complemented by regional services operated through affiliated airlines.
Passenger air transport · 1976
International passenger services
The airline operates international routes from Vietnam to destinations across Asia, Europe and Australia. Its full-service proposition includes economy and business-class travel, with long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 supporting international operations.
Air cargo
Vietnam Airlines Cargo
Vietnam Airlines Cargo is the corporation's cargo business, using the passenger network and associated aviation infrastructure to transport freight on domestic and international routes.
Loyalty programme · 1999
Golden Lotus Plus
Golden Lotus Plus is Vietnam Airlines' frequent-flyer programme, introduced in 1999. It provides the loyalty framework associated with the airline's repeat-passenger and premium-service proposition.
Aviation services
Aircraft engineering and overhaul
Through associated engineering businesses, the Vietnam Airlines group provides aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities. These activities support the airline's fleet and form part of the corporation's diversification beyond scheduled passenger transport.

Controversies

2026
Report finds brakes activated before Vietnam Airlines 787 overran Munich runway
A report found that the brakes were activated before a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 overran the runway at Munich. The finding concerns the activation of the brakes prior to the overrun event involving the airline's Boeing 787 aircraft at Munich.
Source
1997
Tu-134 crash near Phnom Penh
A Vietnam Airlines Tupolev Tu-134B crashed while approaching Pochentong Airport in Phnom Penh in bad weather on 3 September 1997. The accident caused more than 60 fatalities.
Source

2008Miss World 2008 transportation sponsorship
Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines was selected as the sponsoring airline for transportation associated with the planned Miss World 2008 event in Vietnam. The event was later moved to Sanya, China, so the original arrangement did not proceed as initially anticipated.
Outcome. The host location changed from Vietnam to China.
Source

Brand decisions

2010
Entry into SkyTeamStrategy
Background
The airline sought stronger global connectivity and alliance access as its international network expanded.
Action taken
Vietnam Airlines joined SkyTeam in June 2010.
Aftermath
It became the first Southeast Asian carrier in the alliance, increasing its international partnership profile.
Source
2007
Airbus A350 and A321 order planProduct launch
Background
Vietnam Airlines planned to supplement its future Boeing 787 fleet and expand its narrow-body capacity.
Action taken
Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Company signed a memorandum covering ten Airbus A350 XWBs and twenty additional Airbus A321s.
Aftermath
The order plan positioned Vietnam Airlines to become one of Asia's significant Airbus operators and supported later fleet renewal.
Source
2005
Order for Boeing 787 aircraftProduct launch
Background
Vietnam Airlines sought new long-haul aircraft to expand its network and replace older or leased aircraft.
Action taken
The airline ordered four Boeing 787-8 aircraft and later expanded the order; in 2010 it shifted the planned type from the 787-8 to the 787-9.
Aftermath
Delivery delays affected the original fleet and business-planning timetable, while the 787 remained part of the airline's modernization strategy.
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
Reported2026.10.28
Kolet launches eSIM partnerships with Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines[4]Kolet与新加坡航空及越南航空开展eSIM合作ttgasia.com
Kolet expanded its Asia-Pacific eSIM distribution through airline partnerships; Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines are live with Kolet.
Unconfirmed
Reported2026.09.29
Report finds brakes activated before Vietnam Airlines 787 overran Munich runway[3]Report finds brakes activated before Vietnam Airlines 787 overran Munich runwaynews.google.com
A report found that the brakes were activated before a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 overran the runway at Munich.
2022.01.25
Reported2022.01.25
Vietnam Airlines resumes regular London–Hanoi flights[5]越南航空恢复伦敦至河内定期航班en.vietnamplus.vn
Vietnam Airlines conducted its first regular flight from London to Hanoi after a gap of almost two years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021.11.28
Reported2021.12.02
Vietnam Airlines begins nonstop service between Vietnam and the United States[6]Vietnam Airlines 开通越南至美国的直飞服务airlinegeeks.com
Vietnam Airlines launched its first nonstop flight to the United States on November 28, with its inaugural flight from Ho Chi Minh City arriving at San Francisco International Airport.
2021.11.28
Reported2021.11.29
Vietnam Airlines begins regular direct flights to the U.S.[7]越南航空开通定期直飞美国航班e.vnexpress.net
Vietnam Airlines operated its inaugural regular nonstop commercial flight from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco, marking the first such flight operated by a Vietnamese carrier to the U.S.
2021.11.17
Reported2021.11.17
Vietnam Airlines announces planned first scheduled commercial nonstop flight to the United States[8]越南航空宣布计划开通首条飞往美国的定期商业直航zh.vietnamplus.vn
Vietnam Airlines announced that the first scheduled commercial nonstop flight between Vietnam and the United States was expected to depart on November 28, 2021. The article also says regular service between Ho Chi Minh City and San Francisco was planned from December 2021.
2021.11.16
Reported2021.11.17
Vietnam Airlines receives approval for scheduled direct flights to the United States[8]越南航空宣布计划开通首条飞往美国的定期商业直航zh.vietnamplus.vn
Vietnam Airlines received approval to operate scheduled direct flights to the United States, becoming the first Vietnamese airline to receive such approval.
Unconfirmed
Reported2021.07.06
Vietnam Airlines receives Skytrax COVID-19 safety certification[9]越南航空获Skytrax新冠疫情防控五星级认证vietnam.vnanet.vn
Skytrax awarded Vietnam Airlines a five-star COVID-19 safety certification, making it the first airline in Vietnam to receive the certification and the ninth worldwide.
2020.11.19
Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines announce VITM ticket discounts[10]Vietnam Airlines与Pacific Airlines宣布VITM机票折扣vietnamnews.vn
Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines announced that they would offer thousands of discount codes for tickets purchased on their websites or mobile apps during VITM 2020. The codes provided discounts of 10 to 40 percent on eligible domestic itineraries.
2020.06.22
Reported2020.06.22
Vietnam Airlines opens three routes from Can Tho[11]越南航空开通从芹苴出发的三条航线zh.vietnamplus.vn
Vietnam Airlines opened three routes from Can Tho: to Buon Ma Thuot, Vinh and Hai Phong. The routes operate three or four round trips per week, depending on the route.

Sources34 sources

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