Here is Vietnam Airlines' old livery, which I think was very dull and plain:


And here's the one I've flown in earlier this year:




And who can forget this:

Vietnam airline attendants wear pink and blue aodai.

It doesn't really look like a lotus..

Not impressed with the graphic works.

Nope, they wear red ao dai and white pants. I flew, I know.



What graphic work?

The lotus

those airplanes look very nice and clean

The lotus is quite nice isn't it? It gives you a sense of elegence, calm and tranquility. That's what you need when you're flying. LOL

And oh boy, the journey was as smooth as silk.

The lotus flower.

It's too plain of a depiction and the color isn't eye-catching. To me, it's not illustrative of what VA's ultimate aim is, which is to promote a sense of tranquility.

Here's the meaning of the design -

Dramatic special livery design previews new direction for national carrier Hanoi, Vietnam, December 16, 1997.

Today Vietnam Airlines unveiled a special aircraft livery design on one of its 767-300’s. This special aircraft livery symbolizes the airline’s dramatic progress towards becoming a world-class airline. The special livery design represents the first step in the repositioning and branding of Vietnam Airlines, coupled with significant improvements in its infrastructure, operations and fleet.
This special identity features one of the most enduring and meaningful symbols of the Vietnamese people – the Lotus flower. The Lotus has long been an eloquent symbol of the link between Vietnam’s optimism about the future and its reverence for history and tradition.

The bold new design showcases Vietnam Airlines’ move towards modernization as Vietnam evolves and opens itself to the international community. The airline has made significant investments in upgrading the fleet and improving standards, safety and on-time operation. Vietnam Airlines is a key component of the country’s potential for growth and international competitiveness.

Vietnam is opening its door to foreign investment and trade and dramatically improving its infrastructure to be more competitive in the global market. Additionally, the country is emerging as a travel destination with great potential. As the market economy takes hold, standards of living rise and tourism increases, the national airline must be equipped to service the increased demand of this revitalized country.



The theme of Vietnam Airlines special new aircraft livery design – the Lotus – will help position the airline as a modern carrier with its roots firmly rooted in the heritage of Vietnam. The Lotus is an ideal visual representation of the grace, beauty and dignity of the nation of Vietnam. It is known as "the flower of the dawn", and has special significance for the Vietnamese people, with its connotations of steadfastness, purity and optimism.

The bold new special identity reflects the dramatic improvements that Vietnam Airlines has made in the past five years, such as the upgrading of the entire fleet to state-of-the-art aircraft, including Boeing 767-300s, ATR 72s, Fokker 70s and Airbus A320s. Other positive changes include improvements in in-flight service and airport passenger facilities

In Vietnamese culture, the lotus flower blooms most from the deepest and thickest mud. It symbolizes letting go of one's attachment to the outcome and changing of one's lives.

It also symbolizes changing our minds and believing lasting goodness works at the pace of a snail, realizing our dream at the last minute of our lives. Is this really what VA believe?

The old design is crap. Sorry for using that word, but there is no other word to decribe it. The new design looks extremely better. When you flew did use those personal TV screens?

This picture reminds me of the HK guy living in Vietnam

http://www.pazu.com/kongjr/

Yes I think the old design was crap too. Nope they didn't have personal tv screens like Singapore Airlines. However, they had a huge tv in every section and small tvs on top of the aisle on both sides. Let's just say the entertainment was lousy compare to Singapore Airlines but the service was ok. Seeing Vietnamese girls in red Ao Dai really warms your heart.

i like it alot more if the vietnamese air hostess wear see through white ao dai

My mom says she probably won't use Vietnam Airlines when she goes to Vietnam this year, because she thinks the stewardness will only give preferred service to whites and shrug Vietnamese people off. No offense but Vietnamese from Vietnam due tend to suck up to whites becuase they think they will get extra dollars from them.

you have to tip on airplanes? i didnt know that

No I don't think so, not most of them anyway. That's just a stigma that we Vietnamese people have. There are cases to the contrary also. I tend to be closer to Asians because I admire the Asian cultures, histories and traditions.

But back on topic, the hostesses were quite nice to us when we flew with Vietnam earlier this year. Very soft spoken, elegent and pretty. But if they ever give you crap, snap back at them or speak to the head hostess.

There are casinos that don't let Vietnamese in as well. Vietnamese=white suck ups.

Sucks up to get money

It's like that everywhere in Asia

What the fu-k are you talking about? What casinos?

Yes, the new livery is much better than the previous - however more costly due to the paint scheme covers the entire body.

Livery as seen on the A321


Livery as seen on the 777-200

It's better than the old one, but the graphics design on the new one can be better. It's too blue for me.

I like the design - simple and elegant. The one complaint is that the hue of yellow is a bit dull...they could have used a brighter yellow color.

Their aim was for this color, that's why VN Airline's frequent flyer programme is appropriately named ''Golden Lotus''.

Vietnam Airlines transports 2.3 million passengers in first haft year
07/15/2004 -- 17:15(GMT+7)

Ha Noi (VNA) - Vietnam Airlines said it transported over 2.3 million passengers on 22,000 domestic and international flights in the first half of the year.



The figure showed the rapid recovery of the aviation sector after the bird flu. On domestic routes, the number of passengers flying with Vietnam Airlines increased sharply this summer. This is attributed to Vietnam Airlines' efforts to expand its routes to the country's famous tourist spots.



The Viet Nam Aviation Service Company (VASCO), an affiliate of Vietnam Airlines put into operation direct flight services from Ho Chi Minh to Con Dao, Ca Mau and Vung Tau in May. Next month, it plans to launch flights from Vung Tau to Con Dao and from Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia.



Vietnam Airlines is applying on a trial basis special discounts and cooperating with hotels and tourism agencies to offer low-price international tours to domestic tourists.



At the same time, the national flag carrier is organising promotion campaigns abroad, focusing on key markets such as Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.



Vietnam Airlines plans to rent two more B.777 aircraft and buy four new A.321 planes to replace five rented ones nearing the end of their contracts.-Enditem

Blah, its a good thing for Casinos to not allow in Vietnamese. Gambling is a bad habit and its better if rich white foreigners are fleeced of their money. However, I did not realize that gambling was legal in Vietnam at all.

Not the casino types, only state-sponsored lotteries and horse-racing.

hmmmm......

"state-sponsored", u mean corrupted-officials-sponsored

edit: the design looks like a rip-of of the thai airlines design

I wouldn't think that you should go to that extreme to explain their reason for choosing the Golden Lotus. I am sure they didn't get together on one Friday night and come up with this. Vietnamese had always associated the Golden Lotus as something similiar to the Buddhism concept of noble and quest for enlightment.
Perhaps, the quest for enlightenment had attained since the Golden Lotus has blossomed and float on the water as opposed to the bulb that lay in the mud.

There are different interpretations by different people towards a "thing", just as there are many sides to a story. I don't think there is a standard definition of the lotus flower and its significance in Vietnamese culture/society/tradition. There's no point arguing over it.

Just to say the least, I think the lotus design is very groovy and the livery in general is very appealing compared to other global airlines' liveries.

Don't you think it's rather ironic that the government chooses this spiritual symbol while putting the entire leadership of the Vietnamese Buddhist church under house arrest for many decades now?

And what's more ironic is the government can make that claim with a straight face as though it is admitting that the article is propaganda by its own definition of the word. Silly people.

Ironic how you are able to turn something such as an airline logo into a political dispute.

Buddhism is deep-rooted into our culture that it became second nature. And I don't see why it can be separated due to political stigma.
As far as political insight if any, I don't think the current regime is very tolerant. They simply don't want anyone to challenge their political ideology (PERIOD!). Be it the Buddhist, Christian, poet, writer, musician, etc...that is always and has been their political dogma. But this is a different subject to delve into. If you want you can create another thread, I am sure we are more than happy to discuss this topic. I just don't want to hijack this thread from the original poster.