All opinions welcome

Don't really know much about them besides its growing in size. I do like their new livery though the dark bluish green with the golden lotus.

Yes I love the new livery. I travelled with Vietnam Airlines earlier this year and thought the service was okay but the flight was exceptionally smooth. And the hostesses were gorgeous. Anyway, it seems like Vietnam Airlines is growing pretty fast at the moment.

I believe in a few years Vietnam Airlines become one of the best airlines in Asia. The service and quality will be still improve untill then.

http://www.vietnamonline.nl/images/Vn11.jpg

Don't they have most of the airline market in Viatnam? All I Know is my Uncle lives there(he is British by the way) and he said most of the planes at HO CHI MIN CITY (spelt wrong?) were Viatnam Airlines.

I flew with Vietnam Airlines in 2002, Ho Chi Min to DaNang, , their rep came to my hotel with the tickets ,excellent service all round no problems . But HCM airport is very outdated and needs urgent rebuilding, very poor facilities

I think it was really cool, flew one or twice when in Asia, but man the airport needed major upgrade at Saigon. The airport just growth so much I mean traffic increases, therefore, I think the airport should upgraded as should as possible to leviate the traffics. Other than that, Think VA will be a major in airline in Asia some day.

I hope that Vietnam Airlines will buy the A380 (largest aircraft) when they want to play a major player in the region because of Thai, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific. They all have ordering that typ.
I also hope the number of ordering B7E7 gets higher than 4.

I hope that Vietnam Airlines will buy the A380 (largest aircraft) when they want to play a major player in the region because of Thai, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific. They all have ordering that typ.
I also hope the number of ordering B7E7 gets higher than 4.
Hmm...the three southeast Asian airlines have indeed ordered the A380, but Cathay?

I dont know..do they serve Pho in the plane?? :) That would be perfect for me then~!

about the A380 plane, I don't think vietnam needed that yet because the country air traffics is not much compare to Singapore, Thai, or Cathay airway. However, I urge that Vietnam upgraded it major airports like Saigon and Hanoi because those airport cannot handle the number of inflow traffics, specially are not advance enough. About the A380 plane, Vietnam can order that later when in traffics increase, or begin a direct flight to the U.S.

about the A380 plane, I don't think vietnam needed that yet because the country air traffics is not much compare to Singapore, Thai, or Cathay airway. However, I urge that Vietnam upgraded it major airports like Saigon and Hanoi because those airport cannot handle the number of inflow traffics, specially are not advance enough. About the A380 plane, Vietnam can order that later when in traffics increase, or begin a direct flight to the U.S. Goodluck Vietnam Airline

Awesome livery

I flew Vietnam Airlines earlier this year from Hanoi to Bangkok and I thought they were very good. Too bad they don't fly to London! The hostesses do have gorgeous ao dai uniforms but the girls on my flight were not as beautiful as I had hoped. Hanoi Airport is actually brand new and very attractive but there aren't enough shopping and dining options. As someone mentioned earlier they dominate market in Vietnam but have relatively few long haul international routes.

I've seen some of their advertisements, they look luxurious!

I heard some news that Saigon airport called Tan Son Nhat had an upgrade started in the last August or so, maybe this will add some luxury to the airport

I flew Vietnam Airlines earlier this year from Hanoi to Bangkok and I thought they were very good. Too bad they don't fly to London! The hostesses do have gorgeous ao dai uniforms but the girls on my flight were not as beautiful as I had hoped. Hanoi Airport is actually brand new and very attractive but there aren't enough shopping and dining options. As someone mentioned earlier they dominate market in Vietnam but have relatively few long haul international routes.

Don´t worry, one of the destination Vietnam Airlines will add in the next few years is also London. They have already an office there.

Business Class B777-200

http://nro.vietnamair.com.vn/picture/KhoangBusiness.jpg

http://nro.vietnamair.com.vn/picture/Ghe_07.jpg

What I like is the colour combination of blue and gold, very modern and luxury.

Don´t worry, one of the destination Vietnam Airlines will add in the next few years is also London. They have already an office there.Thanks for the info. I thought they might do that. When I visited one of their offices they had a huge poster of London's Tower Bridge with the Vietnam Airlines logo. I thought it was strange that they had such a poster given that they don't fly to London yet but I guessed that it might be in anticipation of a new route. :)

I loved that Lotus, I saw once at HK Airport

I flew with Vietnam Airlines earlier this year and I thought it was quite good. Aircraft was modern and somewhat comfortable. Entertainment and customer service could have been better though.

Will be flying with Vietnam Airlines in late January 2005 for Vietnamese New Year.

Vietnam Airlines to buy four Boeing 7E7s at US$500 million

SEATTLE, United States : Vietnam Airlines has agreed to buy four wide-bodied Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner jets with a sticker price of around 500 million dollars.

The jets are scheduled for delivery to the Vietnamese national carrier in 2010 and will be used to expand its international traffic.

"The 7E7-8 will allow Vietnam Airlines to further develop our route structure to include city pairs that would otherwise not be financially viable," said the airline's Nguyen Xuan Hien in a statement issued here.

The deal between Boeing and Vietnam Airlines is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2005. While the planes are worth a total of 500 million dollars, bulk purchase deals are usually worked out.

Vietnam Airlines is the eighth carrier to sign up for the next-generation Boeing jets, which are due to enter service in 2008 and on which the US company is staking its future.

Boeing has received 126 orders for 7E7s, 56 of them firm. But the number of orders is well below the company's stated target of 200 for 2004 following the launch of the Dreamliner project in April.

The 7E7 has faced enormous competition from the just-launched A350 built by the European consortium Airbus.

Boeing jetliners make up Vietnam Airlines' entire long-range fleet, which included six 777-200ERs and four 767-300ERs.

The carrier serves destinations including Moscow, Paris, Beijing, Sydney, Melbourne, Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo, Taipei and Manila from its bases in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

- AFP

that's cool Asia need fierce competition so that when I fly to that area airfare will be cheap, but services will be great. Competition create cheap airfare and nice services.

I heard that Thai Airway had ordered like 8 or 10 Boeing 7E7 right guys?

I heard that Thai Airway had ordered like 8 or 10 Boeing 7E7 right guys?
I have not seen the news on this yet?

It makes sense for Vietnam Airlines to order the 7E7. It means they can service the substantial Vietnamese communities that live long distances away in the West without having to regularly fill up a big airliners like 747, 777, A330, or A340.

I would love to see a Vietnam Airlines B7E7 service to Marseille or Geneva/Lyon!

BTW, where do they get the money to buy such expensive toys such as the B777 and 7E7? I thought Vietnam was still quite poor (no offence to any Vietnamese here). :)

I´ve heard that a netherland bank will help VN, but I´m not 100% sure.

The vietnamese pilots get not so much money like the foreign pilots, althought they all work for Vietnam Airlines and I believe the stewardess don´t get also much money like other who works in an international niveau. You can say the fact is everybody who works for Vn don´t get much money but for them thats enough. That´s wahy VN makes a lot of money. (800-900 billion € in 2004, inrease of nearly 30%)

that's the loan for 10 Airbus 321, but only 40% loan I think, half from the French and half from the government

I heard some news that Saigon airport called Tan Son Nhat had an upgrade started in the last August or so, maybe this will add some luxury to the airport

Right. Construction have begun for the new Terminal at Saigon's Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Model of the new teminal

http://img97.exs.cx/img97/157/News0827143301.jpg


Here are some articles concerning Vietnam's aiport infrastructures

NEW HCM CITY AIR TERMINAL TAKES OFF

HCM CITY — Work started last Friday on the VND3.4 trillion (US$216.5 million) terminal at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which is expected to handle eight million passengers a year.

At the ground-breaking ceremony, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said the new high-tech terminal at HCM City’s international airport was a timely boost for Viet Nam’s aviation industry.

Khai told airport staff they could learn from experiences and short commings at recently built Noi Bai international terminal in Ha Noi.

The PM said the Southern Airport Authority (SAA) will need to train qualified workers to staff the terminal when it is completed in 2006.

He also asked the Transport Ministry and city’s People’s Committee to upgrade roads linking the airport with the city centre, and start planning the new international airport in Dong Nai Province, 50km east of HCM City.

The new terminal will be located next to the existing one, on an area of 92,929sqm. When it starts operating in 2006, the terminal is expected to receive about 8 million foreign passengers annually.

SAA ‘s general director, Nguyen Nguyen Hung, said the terminal will be fully equipped with the latest technology.

"The new international terminal will consist of eight sets of passenger-boarding bridges, eight moving walkways, 20 escalators, 18 elevators, 43 x-ray machines, 10 automatic doors, many cameras and a modern information system," said Hung.

In addition to current duty-free shops it will also offer other services such as the internet, online ticket sales, entertainment areas, and health and beauty care, he said.

"While the new terminal is under construction, existing areas will also be upgraded to accommodate various planes, including heavy civilian aircraft like the Airbus A340 or Boeing 747-400."

Hung said in the future domestic flights would be moved to the current international terminal.

The Japan Bank for International Co-operation is providing a preferential ODA loan of 22,77 billion yen ($183.6 million) covering design, construction supervision, building works and equipment, which is 85 per cent of the project’s total costs, with the rest provided by the Vietnamese Government.

Under the supervision of the project’s designers, Japan Airport Consultants, a consortium of Japanese contractors — Kajima, Tasei, Obayashi, and Maeda —will be responsible for construction of the terminal and acquisition of equipment.

Hung said airport authorities were determined to put an end to the current "monopoly" in airport services provision that resulted in more expensive charges.



PLANS FOR THE NEW HUB

"The SAA is also preparing a pre-feasibility study for the construction of Long Thanh International Airport," the general director said.

The proposed international airport will be built near HCM City in the province of Dong Nai, at an estimated cost of $4.5 billion. Its runway would be 4km long, 60m wide and capable of accommodating heavy aircraft such as the Airbus A380.

The new international airport, which would be commissioned by 2015, is expected to cater for 80 million passengers a year.

The Tan Son Nhat Airport is the country’s busiest passenger airport with an average six million passengers a year. It also hosts 21 international airlines.

In recent years, the SAA have focused on upgrading infrastructure facilities such as runways, terminals and landing pads to ensure safe takeoffs.

In 2000 alone, the agency invested VND1 trillion (US$60 million) in self-acquired capital, to upgrade runways and install equipment to accommodate heavier passenger planes in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

The investment also went to expanding an old terminal, raising its capacity from 3 to 6.5 million passengers a year.

Alongside Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the SAA also manage six other domestic airports: Buon Ma Thuot, Lien Khuong, Phu Quoc, Rach Gia, Con Dao and Ca Mau.

The SAA has a staff of 1,600 engineers, technical workers and other employees. It achieved a capital labour capacity of $483 billion a year, the highest figure in the country.

The SAA contributes an average of VND180 billion ($11.46 million) to the State budget and re-invests VND400 billion ($26 million) in upgrades. — VNS

SOURCE http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2004-08/28/Stories/03.htm

When will the Long Thanh International airport be constructed?

When will the Long Thanh International airport be constructed?



I couldnt find any info about the construction schedule. I believed it will be at least many years after the completion of the current new terminal before any construction starts on the new Long Thanh International Aiport. Atleast around mid to late 2010s.

In some news I heard about Airbus are in talk with Vietnam Airlines for the A340. Will they lease or buy these aircrafts?

From now Vietnam Airlines serves non-stop flights to Hanoi and Ho-Chi-Minh. So the passenger can avoid a stop-over in Moscow.
That´s very great because now the route will become the shortes flight to Vietnam from Germany. And I believe more passenger will chose VN instead of Thai. I know that, I live in Germany and my dad always prefere Thai because that´s cheap, the service is great, Vietnam Airlines is more expensive and the stop-over most of the vietnamese in may town don´t like it. :)

http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairlinerphotos/photos/big/00003906.jpg
source: caratabase.net

These are the current 7E7 orders
Air New Zealand
2

All Nippon Airways
50

Blue Panorama
4

Continental
10

First Choice
6

Japan Airlines
30

Primaris Airlines
20

Vietnam Airlines
4

The A380 is awesome. Doesn't look that much bigger than the jumbo jet but has 50% more space.

Vietnam Airlines looks good,have to check it out:)

btw do also post everything that has to do with Vietnam-aviation in asian aviation thread :)

A340 is longer than the A380, especially the A340-600.

United Airlines has started Boeing 747-400 service from California (either LAX of SFO) to Hong Kong and then on to Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon. I don't know if they are making money on the Vietnam leg of the trip, but I know that there is a lot of interest in Vietnam in the US. Not just because of the war, but also because there is a large Vietnamese community in the US and there is quite a lot of manufacturing being developed in Vietnam.

Everybody known that Japan airline is filthy rich that why they ordered like 50 7E7 plane.

Heck....there are things like discounts and concessions thou! :D

I known huaiwei :). but if u poor how can you get discount if you only bought 4 7E7 planes instead of 50.

I'm probably to lazy to read the whole thread but is Vietnam Airlines gonna order some A380's? That A380 picture looked pretty nice. An A380 and 7E7 will look really nice sitting together.

Vietnam has already ordered 4 Airbus A380 to the tune of $500 million dollars.

Vietnam has already ordered 4 Airbus A380 to the tune of $500 million dollars.

I think that's 7E7's. I did a Google search only to find Vietnam Airlines ordering 4 Boeing 7E7's. Let me know where you got the info for Vietnam and Airbus A380's. I would love to see more airlines jump on the A380 and 7E7. Both are very cool looking airliners.


SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/205975_vietnam31.html

Vietnam Airlines plans to order 4 Boeing 7E7s
Friday, December 31, 2004

By JAMES WALLACE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER AEROSPACE REPORTER

Vietnam Airlines, one of the fastest-growing carriers in Asia, became the latest customer to announce it will order The Boeing Co.'s new 7E7 jetliner.

It plans to buy four of the jets, for delivery in 2010. A firm deal is expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2005, Boeing and the airline said in a joint statement.

The announcement came one day before time runs out for Boeing to get as close as possible to its sales goal of having 200 orders for the 7E7 by the end of the year.

With the four jets from Vietnam Airlines, Boeing now has 126 orders and commitments, of which 56 are firm.

Boeing's jetliner sales team has been scrambling to try to complete as many last-minute deals as possible with potential customers that have previously put down deposits but stopped short of actually ordering or committing to buying the 7E7.

Deposits are required to hold early delivery positions for the 7E7, which will enter service in 2008.

In the past week, Boeing has announced orders from Japan Airlines, Continental Airlines and now Vietnam Airlines.

Boeing had been working for months to add Vietnam Airlines to its 7E7 customer list and had hoped to make the announcement just before the industry gathering at the Farnborough Air Show outside London in July.

Vietnam Airlines has been expanding before the scheduled start of service to the United States early next year and had said previously that it was in negotiations with Boeing for four 7E7s.

The 7E7s eventually will replace the carrier's fleet of Boeing 767-300s. In addition to four 767-300s, Vietnam Airlines operates six Boeing 777-200ERs.

The carrier recently signed an agreement with Airbus to buy 10 A321 jets as part of its expansion plans.

And it is in talks with Airbus about its 555-passenger A380 that will enter service in 2006.

The four 777s that Vietnam Airlines bought from Boeing -- the other two are leased -- represented the largest trade deal between the United States and Vietnam since a bilateral trade agreement took effect in late 2001.

Oh hahaha sorry. I got Qantas mixed up with Vietnam Airlines. I'm Vietnamese Australian LOL

Which one is the main hub in vietnam, Hanoi or Saigon? or which main routes do each serve like Hanoi-Moscow and Saigon-Paris?

Vietnam Airlines, one of the fastest-growing carriers in Asia...it is in talks with Airbus about its 555-passenger A380 that will enter service in 2006.

by seattlepi.com
talkabouttravelling.com

Ha Noi, Jan. 20 (VNA) - The Vietnam Airlines Corp. has set a target of grossing 19,000 billion VND this year, an increase of 13.6 percent against 2004.

The airline expects to carry 5.7 million passengers and nearly 100,000 tonnes of cargo this year, according to General Director Nguyen Xuan Hien.

To achieve these targets, the General Director said, Vietnam Airlines will implement a number of projects, including the purchase of new aircraft to expand business and increase its competitiveness, overseas training for pilots and recruitment of more stewards and stewardesses.

In addition, during the year, the airline will raise its fleet of aircraft to 40 by leasing three more aircraft. It will seek to open direct air routes between Viet Nam and Nagoya of Japan and between Ha Noi and Buon Ma Thuot, the provincial capital of Central Highlands Dac Lac province. - Enditem

Vietnam Airlines has grown considerably since 2000.

I don't think Vietnam airline going to order the new super jumbo A380 plane because right now vietnam don't have any airport that can handle the A380 plane, or any terminal upgrade in the future for A380. Therefore, it will be quite a while for vietnam airline to order the new A380 plane. Between now and 2007, not so many airports in the world that can accomondate the A380 plane.

Hanoi's airport expansion might be big enough for a A380, but quite unlikely.

I don't think Vietnam airline going to order the new super jumbo A380 plane because right now vietnam don't have any airport that can handle the A380 plane, or any terminal upgrade in the future for A380. Therefore, it will be quite a while for vietnam airline to order the new A380 plane. Between now and 2007, not so many airports in the world that can accomondate the A380 plane.

the A380 can operate to a non terminal ready airport, it just has to park at a parking slot and passengers are tranfered by bus. Well if each bus takes 50 passengers then to load/unload the A380 11 buses are required :runaway:

what about the runway, I think they have to upgrade the runway to meet A380 plane standard too, do they. about the business, it must take like an hour to unload all of that passengers, too long :).

Well Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport is construction a new International Terminal so hopefully they have the A380 in mind when doing the runway.

I suppose it could just be able to bearly fit, but ALOT of space is needed on the apron.

what about the runway, I think they have to upgrade the runway to meet A380 plane standard too, do they. about the business, it must take like an hour to unload all of that passengers, too long :).

The A380 does not need a bigger runway than a 747, and it doesn't have to be strengthened either. Although the A380 weighs more than the Boeing 747, the A380 has more tires and thus there is less downward force on each tire. :)

It's a bit like landing one of the Antonov freighters.

Vietnam Airlines got 3/5 stars by Skytrax.
Do you agree with them?

http://www.airlinequality.com/Airlines/VN.htm

Vietnam Airlines to open Chu Lai-Ha Noi commercial air route

Go to >>>>>>> (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=3318056#post3318056)

Is Chu Lai a brandnew airport?

I believe in the next years Vietnam Airlines will buy some new B777-200LR, how they already said to need the most modern and best aircrafts for their expanding.

Vietnam Airlines to launch in-flight telecom services

Vietnam Airlines has received approval to launch in-flight telecommunications services on four Boeing 777 aircraft, said an official Wednesday.
New services will include internet connection, electronic mail, and hi-tech entertainment.

By the end of this year, Vietnam Airlines and the Boeing will co-operate to install the necessary technical facilities into four aircraft.

source: thanhniennews.com/travel/?catid=7&newsid=5317

Vietnam Airlines Corporation posts annual growth of 17 percent in revenue
Wednesday, 10 August 2005

Vietnam Airlines Corporation has recorded an average annual growth of 17 percent in revenue over the past five years and contributed 2,966 billion VND to the State budget.

The figure was reported at the Vietnam Airlines Corporation emulation congress in Ha Noi on August 8, with the attendance of 300 delegates from all its subsidiaries.

The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, under the corporation has carried more than 22 million passengers during the 2001-05 period, surpassing its target by 3.1 percent. The corporation has also set the target of becoming a strong economic group by 2010.

Please post a route map of Vietnam Airlines, I'd like to know what destinations they serve. Thanks! :okay:

Vietnam Air Sees Strong Revenue Growth
October 5, 2005

Vietnam Airlines said its revenues rose 28.9 percent to 15.6 trillion dong (USD$984 million) in the first nine months of this year as the economy grew and more people visited the country.

The national carrier said in a statement it carried 4.48 million passengers in the period, up 21 percent from a year earlier, but gave no profit figures.

It filled 69 percent of its seats, up from 65.4 percent in the first nine months of last year, as domestic economic growth of more than 7 percent and higher foreign investment provided momentum, the statement said.

The government said 2.56 million foreigners have visited Vietnam so far this year, up 20.6 percent from the same period last year.

Vietnam Airlines said higher oil prices and tight finances in an expensive industry and the risk of bird flu outbreaks had limited its growth.

But it expected to fly nearly 1.5 million more passengers during the remaining three months of this year, it said.

The airline set a revenue target of 19 trillion dong for this year, up 9.3 percent from last year.

In June, it signed a deal to buy four Boeing 787 aircraft worth around USD$500 million at list prices.

Vietnam Airlines has nearly 40 planes, including 8 Boeing 777-200ERs, four 767-300s, six Airbus A321s, 10 Airbus 320s, nine ATR-72s and two Fokker-70s.

It has said it will expand the fleet to 75 by 2010.

(Reuters)

They look nice (the planes). Don't know much else, since they don't fly that much outside of SE Asia.

Vietnam Airlines takes Delivery of 10th Boeing 777
8 December 2005


Vietnam Airlines today celebrated the delivery of its 10th 777-200ER. With its lotus tail gleaming, the airplane is loaded with a special cargo of textbooks collected by Seattle University and will depart for Hanoi Noiboi International Airport Friday. The textbooks are being donated to Vietnam National University in support of the development of English-language technical degree capabilities in Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines' newest 777 is the sixth that the airline has leased through International Lease Finance Corp. In addition, Vietnam Airlines also owns four 777-200ERs.

To coincide with the airplane's delivery flight from Seattle to Hanoi, Seattle University collected textbooks from students and faculty over the past several weeks. Among the subjects of the donated books are aviation and aerospace technology and information technology journals and reference books.

"A fleet of 10 Boeing 777s is a key element in our business plan and provides Vietnam Airlines with a significant international presence," said Nguyen Xuan Hien, president and CEO, Vietnam Airlines. "Additionally, we are very pleased to participate in this program to enhance educational opportunities for Vietnamese students."

The new donation by Seattle University follows two previous donations of computers, office equipment and textbooks by Boeing during 2005. Boeing and Seattle University hope that the donations will provide additional opportunities for Vietnamese students and provide lasting relationships between the universities.

"This is a great example of the long-standing ties between Seattle University and the Boeing Company," said Joseph Phillips, dean of the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University. "Boeing has long been a supporter of Seattle University, and this project is a natural partnership for us. Working together, we are able to have an impact in Vietnam that we could not do by ourselves."

Vietnam Airlines' 777s feature the spacious "Boeing Signature Interior" that was designed to provide maximum comfort to passengers on longer intercontinental flights with large overhead stowage bins that are designed to open downward for convenient loading and a high ceiling that provides passengers a more spacious, open environment.

Vietnam Airlines needs more aircraft for growing business
01.03.2006, 04:14 AM

HANOI (AFX) - Vietnam Airlines said it desperately needs to find more aircraft for lease in order to operate its growing business but there very few suitable planes currently available.

'There are currently almost no aircraft to lease on the international markets,' said Vietnam Airlines spokesman Nguyen Chan.

'Even when some are available, they are owned by big financial groups, asking a very high price,' he told Agence France-Presse.

The flag carrier carried 2.8 mln foreign passengers last year, up almost 18 pct on 2004. It recorded six mln passengers in all on some 50,000 flights, both record figures.

The airline, one of the most profitable state-owned enterprises in Vietnam, has recently bought several Boeing and Airbus aircraft but they will only be delivered over the next few years.

Vietnam Airlines president Nguyen Xuan Hien said in a Vietnam Investment Review report that his company was targeting growth of 14-16 pct this year but without additional aircraft, that may not exceed 5.0-6.0 pct.

Nguyen Chan refused to comment on these figures but said the company would have to keep trying hard this year to find Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s.

'It looks difficult because demand is growing rapidly,' he said. 'We would prefer Airbus A330s but if we find any (smaller) A320s available, we would take them,' he said.

An industry insider, who asking not be named, confirmed the shortage.

'At the moment, there are only five A330s available ... They used to belong to the former Sabena (now SN Brussels Airlines) and are currently owned by banking pools and export-credit agencies,' he said.

Several other airlines are interested in leasing planes but the owners would prefer to sell them, he added.

Vietnam Airlines has averaged a growth rate of 14 pct over the past 10 years. In the coming five years, it plans to double the number of passengers carried to 12 mln.

The International Air Transport Association has said Vietnam's air travel industry will grow by 10.5 pct per year for the next 10 years.

Don't they have a Monopoly of the Vietnamese market?

don't know much about them to have an opinion...

Vietnam Airlines helps introduce art treasures to the world

Images of Vietnam's culture and the motto "bringing Vietnam's culture to the world" of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines have been promoted through an on-going exhibition in Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris.

Le Thanh Dung, Vietnam Airlines representative in France said at a party in Paris on January 6 to introduce the exhibition titled ‘Art treasures from Vietnam: Champa sculpture’ that the airlines financed to the three-month exhibition, which opened in mid-October last year.

Vietnam Airlines carried more than 23 tonnes of antiques from Vietnam to Paris for the exhibition, Dung said.

The exhibition brings together collections of Champa art (5-15th centuries) from Vietnam's museums and Guimet museum as well as sculptures preserved on the My Son site in central Quang Nam province.

The principal Champa art styles, which reflects religious concepts oscillating between Buddhism and Brahmanism, are illustrated by a representative collection of stone and bronze sculptures, and a selection of plate and ritual objects made of precious metal, most of which are being displayed for the first time.