Special Services

Special Meals

Special Meals

Vietnam Airlines offers a wide selection of special meals to suit different dietary styles. All special meals must be booked at least 24 hours in advance of your flight.

View details

Order Special Meals

Infants & Children

Infant & Children

We care about the safety and comfort of your children. That's why we have outlined travel guidelines to ensure a pleasant trip.

  • Baby stroller

    • Passengers should check-in their baby stroller, or they may use it up to the boarding gate. However, some airports may deny carrying strollers inside the boarding areas. Please ask the airport personnel if this is possible at the time of check-in.
    Space on board is limited, so checking-in your stroller is strongly encouraged. Strollers, as checked baggage, will be returned as quickly as possible upon arrival.

  • Bassinet service

    • Vietnam Airlines offers a bassinet service free of charge. This service is available on board for infants up to 2 years of age if the weight of the infant does not exceed 11 kgs. Please note that bassinets are available in limited quantity, and bassinets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

  • Portable in-flight bed for children

    • Travel gadgets that convert into leg rests or in-flight beds for children - Portable In-flight Bed (PIB) may be used on-board as long as our instructions for accepted use are followed. For more details about PIB, please click here.

  • Special meals

    • Baby meals are free of charge. Please note that the availability of baby meal service depends on routing and each airport's catering. Please see more details in Special Meals.

    Note

    • Newborns under 7 days of age, premature or unhealthy infants being fed in an oxygen tent, are typically not accepted onboard. However, if passengers must travel with a premature infant or an infant undergoing medical issues, medical clearance will be required. Please see passenger with medical requirements.
    • Infants under 2 years of age are not allowed to occupy the seat.
    • Every child must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. The child and the accompanying passenger must travel in the same compartment of a flight or the child will be considered as an unaccompanied minor.

Eligibility

The accompanying passenger should meet the following requirements:

  • From 18 years of age
  • Be an able-bodied person not requiring any special service (except “special meal”)
  • Taking full responsibility over the infant
  • Not be the accompanying person of a disabled passenger at the same time

The maximum number of infant(s) and children traveling with each adult

INFANT UNDER 2 YEARS CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS CHILDREN FROM 6 YEARS NOTE
01
01 No limitation Accompanying cabin crew service is required for each infant/child exceeding this limitation.
0 02 No limitation

Adults: From 12 years old at the time of traveling on the first flight.

Children: From 2 to 12 years old  at the time of traveling on the first flight.

Infants: From 7 days to 2 years old (at the time of traveling on the first flight for itineraries wholly operated by Vietnam Airlines; at the time of traveling on the last flight for itineraries having a flight operated by other airlines).

Any child who has not reached his/her second birthday on the date of commencement of a flight segment may not travel alone under any circumstances.

The bassinet service must be registered at least 24 hours prior to estimated departure time by one of the following methods:

Bassinet Service

Special Meal

Unaccompanied Minors

UNACCOMPANIED MINOR SERVICE

Vietnam Airlines is pleased to bring comfort to our unaccompanied minor passengers when traveling on our flights.

Age Required service Optional service
From 2 years of age up to 6 years of age Unaccompanied minor service
Accompany cabin crew service
From 6 years of age up to 12 years of age Unaccompanied minor service Accompany cabin crew service
From 12 years of age up to 18 years of age Unaccompanied minor service
Accompany cabin crew service

The service request of unaccompanied minor and accompanying cabin crew can be submitted as follows:

Service Registration time
Unaccompanied minor service At least 24 hours before departure time
Accompany cabin crew service

At least 3 days before departure if your itinerary involves only Vietnam domestic sectors

At least 5 days before departure if your itinerary involves one or more international sectors

Please click here for more information.

  • The accompanying adult and the minor must be present at the departure station at least 2 hours before departure. Passengers are required to bring along all documents when on-board any and all flights with unaccompanied minor service requested.
  • The person accompanying the minor to the airport must show all necessary identification documents to certify the information as written in the “Handling Advice for Unaccompanied Minor”.
  • The person seeing off the minor at the departure station must complete all procedures for the minor before departure and wait until the plane takes off.

    • The person meeting the minor on arrival must be present at the destination station at least 30 minutes before arrival.
    • The person meeting the minor at the arrival station must show all necessary identification documents to certify the information as written in the “Handling Advice for Unaccompanied Minor”.

    Passengers with Disabilities

    Passenger With Disabilities



    Deaf Passenger Service (free of charge)

    		Blind Passenger Service (free of charge)

    Disabled passenger’s wheelchair (free of charge)

    Wheelchair Service (free of charge)

    Specialized facilities are not available at some specific Vietnam domestic airports. See more details here.

    		Service dog accompanying disabled passengers (free of charge)

    		Accompanying cabin crew service – fee applied; (except on flights to/from the US)

    Important Note

    Vietnam Airlines accepts carriage for the passenger with disabilities if he/she is otherwise healthy and does not require medical clearance. Please click here for more details on Passengers requiring medical clearance.

    The escort accompanying a passenger with physical challenges must be 18 years of age or older, able- bodied, not accompanied by an infant/a child and not requiring any special services (with exception for special meals). Passengers with physical challenges are highly recommended to travel with an escort. Passengers should let us know in case of traveling alone or traveling with your companion at the time of reservation.

    On flights to/from the US, passengers click here for more details.


    1. Traveling with a service dog

    If passengers are traveling with a service dog, emotional support dog or psychiatric service dog, animal as checked baggage procedure must be completed, except on flights to/from the US when the dog is transported in the cabin.

    2. Traveling with supportive devices

    Walking aids such as canes and crutches can be carried on-board. These need to be small enough to fit in the priority stowage area (on flights to/from the US) or be stowed under your seat or in the overhead compartment, and must not to protrude into any other seating, floor space, or the main aisle.

    3. Traveling with your wheelchair

    The wheelchair that you are using is accepted without fee. Please provide us with the following information upon reservation.

    • Manual type Wheelchair:
      1. Collapsible or not;
      2. Size (height, width and depth);
      3. Weight;
      4. Gas spring type or not (for international flight).
    • Battery-operated electric type:
      1. Types of battery;
      2. Collapsible or not;
      3. Size (height, width and depth);
      4. Weight;
      5. Gas spring type or not (for international flight).

    Special service requests can be made as follows:

    • Request at Vietnam Airlines offices .
    • Request Vietnam Airlines offices via email. Your request via email should have relevant information such as passenger‘s full name, booking, ticket, services needed and other special request.
    • Call our Contact Center at 19001100 (for calls within Vietnam) or +84 24 8320320 (for international calls).
    • Register online with the forms below:

    wheelchair assistance

    ANIMAL ACCOMPANYING the DISABILITIES

    Blind Passenger Service

    DEAF PASSENGER SERVICE

    DPNA Passenger services

    For flights to/from the US: check out reservation timing here.

    For flights to/from other destinations: check out reservation timing here

    See more details on services for passengers with disabilities here.

    Check-in

    Passengers are advised to come to the airport early with sufficient time to check-in with priority boarding service and have your wheelchairs and/or supportive devices well-packaged and checked. Vietnam Airlines recommends that passengers arrive at least one hour prior to the check-in timing. 

    Priority boarding service

    Vietnam Airlines offers priority boarding for passengers with physical challenges. Please contact our staff near the gate for this service.

    In the Cabin

    Passengers are requested to sit upright in a straight-back seat with the seat-belt fastened. Flight attendants will assist you between your seat to and from the aircraft lavatory. Flight attendants on international routes can help you write your embarkation form.

    Important information: While our cabin crew shall do everything possible to provide assistance to passengers during the flight, please note, however, that we are unable to provide passengers with any assistance for personal care needs such as feeding, elimination functions including assistance in side the lavatory, or other personal care needs. Additionally, cabin crew are trained only in first aid and are not permitted to administer any injection or medication.

    Special meals

    If you have a meal preference, please request the special meals when making the reservation.

    Vietnam Airlines offers a wheelchair at the arrival airport. Our airport staff or your escort will help to physically carry you down the stairs upon, boarding and deplaning the aircraft.

    Pregnant Passengers

    Pregnant Passengers

    Consultations with doctors

    Pregnant passengers should consult your physician in advance to see if it is safe for you to fly.

    Documents required


    		 Pregnancy period (*) Travel on Vietnam Airlines Documents required (**)
    1 Within 32 weeks Pregnant passengers are accepted to travel as regular passengers.

    As normal passenger
    2 From 32 weeks to under 36 weeks
    		 Pregnant passengers are required to provide Medical Clearance.

    MEDIF I

    MEDIF II

    3 From 36 weeks; or expected child bearing time of within 07 days before departure; or within 07 days after delivery
    		 Air travel during this period is prohibited due to safety concerns
    4 Special cases: Uncertain time of being pregnant or estimated date of delivery;
    Previously having twin, or triplet children;
    Having complications which can arise when deliverying;
    Being pregnant by artificial insemination.
    		 Pregnant passengers are required for Medical Clearance. MEDIF I

    MEDIF II

    (*) The pregnancy period of the pregnant passenger is calculated until the flight date

    (**) MEDIF II can be replaced by sets of documents, each set containing one copy of a fetus examination book, an ultrasound examination result, etc.. which states by specialized physicians:

    • Whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy
    • The estimated week of pregnancy
    • The expected date of delivery
    • That pregnant passengers are in good health and the pregnancy is progressing normally, without complications
    • That pregnant passengers are fit to travel.

    If a passenger’s itinerary involves international sector travel, passengers must prepare an additional set of documents in English certified by a notarial office with legal status.

    Medical certificate dated within 7 days of the initial travel date. The same medical certificate is valid for the next sector(s) provided that there is no complication during the journey and the pregnant passenger fulfills the requirement of traveling within 36 weeks on the day of commencement.

    Please contact Vietnam Airlines Branch Offices or order service by filling in the online form.

    Pregnant passengers are advised to prepare all tickets, travel documents and medical clearance for their flight(s). All required documents must be valid for the whole itinerary. If passengers choose not to carry a medical certificate, or your medical certificate is out of date, or it does not contain the information required, for your safety, Vietnam Airlines reserves the right to deny boarding.

    Some countries place limitations on the entry of non-national pregnant women. It is advisable to check with the local consulate to confirm the country's specific requirements.

    Extra Seats

    Extra Seat for Passenger

    Extra seat service is the service offered to oversized passengers requiring 2 adjacent seats on board in the same flight; or the service offered to passengers requiring 2 adjacent seats for added convenience.

    Reservation
    • Request must be made at least 24 hours before departure time.
    • There is no limitation on the number of extra seats offered on each flight.
    • Extra seat is required to be booked on the same flight, same date, and the same class of service.
    Cost
    • See here for the costs of special service requests.
    • For ordering this service or getting more information, please contact our Vietnam Airlines' branch offices or fill-in the online form.

    Order Extra Seat

    Passengers with Medical Conditions

    Passengers With Medical Conditions

    Passengers requiring medical clearance include:

    • Passengers requiring Oxygen services.
    • Passengers requiring stretcher service.
    • Passengers bringing with their own syringes or hypodermic needles on board.
    • Pregnant passengers or passengers requiring special medical care.
    • For more details about passengers requiring medical clearance, please click here. These requirements are not applied to flights to/from the U.S.

    Passengers need to provide the documents below before traveling with Vietnam Airlines:

    • MEDIF I: Medical Clearance Form - Part I: should be filled in.
    • MEDIF II: Medical Information Form - Part II Guidance to the physicians should be brought to medical centers for health status certification.
    Special services Document completion time
    Passenger requiring a stretcher and/or oxygen Within 7 days before the departure of each sector
    Passenger requiring medical services
    Others Within 14 days before the departure of each sector

    Note:

    Special service passengers requiring medical clearance are not required to travel with an escort when:

    • Not being in serious status, being able to comfort themselves with their illness, being certified to travel by themselves by medical centers.
    • Being able to move, feed, and care for themselves during the flight.

    Before the flight, passengers requiring medical clearance are required to make reservation in advance at Vietnam Airlines‘ branch offices or by filling-in the online form.

    PASSENGER REQUIRING MEDICAL CLEARANCE

    See more details on special service charges here.

    At the airport, special service passengers are accepted for carriage so long as they adhere to principles, conditions, and medical clearance required:

    • Advance reservation and confirmed by Vietnam Airlines.
    • All required documents are legally adapted.
    • Passengers are in stable health status and fit to travel by air.
    • The carriage of the MEDA passenger does not affect the safety of the aircraft, cabin crew, or other passengers, or their property.


    Passenger and the escort to be seated on assigned seat number and instructed safety regulations.


    Passengers will be assisted by ground staff to disembark complete necessary procedures.

    Passenger Requiring Oxygen Services

    Passengers requiring oxygen for medical purposes have to complete MEDIF I, MEDIF II, and bring them on their flights.

    Your physician should specify the liters-per-minute flow rate required in the forms above.

    Passengers must travel with an escort who is capable of helping the passengers with their medical needs and assisting them to the exit in the event of an emergency evacuation. The escort must have professional medical qualifications.

    Requests for oxygen should be made at least 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight. In-flight medical oxygen can be registered through any of the following means:

    • Contact our branch office in advance
    • Fill in the online form below at least 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight.

    REGISTER OXYGEN SERVICES

    Subject to availability, oxygen for medical purposes (up to a maximum flow rate of 4L/min) may be available on Vietnam Airlines' flights

    Passengers requiring oxygen service will be charged. See details here.
    Please contact our branch office directly to obtain specific pricing information for your flight. Please note that this charge shall not include the costs of ambulance, hospitalization, expenses of travelling attendant(s) or other expenses (if any).

    Acceptance of carriage

    At the airport, special service passengers are accepted for carriage so long as they adhere to principles, conditions, and medical clearance required:

    • Advance reservation and confirmed by Vietnam Airlines.
    • All required documents are legally adapted.
    • Passengers are in stable health status and fit to travel by air.
    • The carriage of the MEDA passenger does not affect the safety of the aircraft, cabin crew, or other passengers, or their property.

    Check-in timing

    Passengers are required to be presented at the airport early enough to complete all procedures before flight. Vietnam Airlines recommends passengers arrive at least two hours prior to their scheduled departure time. See more details here. 

    Passenger Requiring Stretcher Service

    Passengers traveling on a stretcher have to complete MEDIF I, MEDIF II. 

    Stretcher services can be registered through any of the following means:

    • Contact our branch offices in advance
    • Fill in the online form below

    REGISTER STRETCHER SERVICE

    In order to determine whether a stretcher will be available for your flight and arranged for medical clearance, please contact our branch office or fill-in the online form below at least 72 hours in advance of the scheduled departure time.
    For flights to/from the U.S, passengers are required to make a 48 hour notice prior to the scheduled departure time.

    Passengers traveling on a stretcher will be charged an additional fee to cover the additional costs associated with this service here.
    Please contact our branch office directly to obtain specific pricing information for your flight. Please note that this charge shall not include the costs of ambulance, hospitalization, expenses of traveling attendant(s), or other ground expenses (if any).

    Acceptance of carriage

    At the airport, special service passengers are accepted for carriage so long as they adhere to principles, conditions, and medical clearance required:

    • Advance reservation and confirmed by Vietnam Airlines.
    • All required documents are legally adapted.
    • Passengers are in stable health status and fit to travel by air.
    • The carriage of the MEDA passenger does not affect the safety of the aircraft, cabin crew, or other passengers, or their property

    Check-in timing

    Passengers are required to be presented at the airport early enough to complete all procedures before flight. Vietnam Airlines recommends passengers arrive at least two hours prior to their scheduled departure time. See more details here. 

    Special Service Charges

    Special Service Charges

    Vietnam Airlines provides special services to satisfy our passenger’s needs at the lowest possible price:

    Special Services

    Charges

    Remarks

    Oxygen for medical use on board (OXYG)(*)

    For passengers using oxygen service on board

    • Fare: passengers pay the fare as a normal passenger.
    • Free baggage allowance: passengers get 2 times the free baggage allowance weight limit of their respective journey.

    Charges for using oxygen service on board include:

    • Fee for using portable oxygen units on board 

      • + For Vietnam domestic sectors: VND 2,000,000 per one unit (net fare).

      + For international sectors: USD 200 per one unit.

    • Fee for the seat occupied by the portable oxygen unit: Equal to the highest applicable adult fare plus surcharges for each seat.

    The escorts of passengers using OXYG pay the fare with free baggage allowance like normal passengers.

    Accompanied cabin crew service provided on the request

    Stretcher service on board (STCR)

    For passengers using stretcher service on board:

    • Fare: passengers pay the fare as a normal passenger.
    • Free baggage allowance: passengers get 6 times the free baggage allowance weight limit of their respective journey.

    Charge of stretcher service: Equal to 6 times of the highest applicable adult fares plus surcharges.

    The escorts(**) of passengers using STCR pay fare with free baggage allowance like  normal passengers.

    Accompanied cabin crew service provided on the request

    Oxygen and stretcher service on board (STCR/OXYG)

    For passengers using the oxygen and stretcher service on board:

    • Fare: passengers pay the fare as a normal passenger.
    • Free baggage allowance: passengers get 6 times the free baggage allowance weight limit of their respective journey.

    Charge of oxygen and stretcher service:

    • The fee for using portable oxygen unit on board:

      • + For Vietnam domestic sectors: VND 2,000,000 per one unit (net fare).

      + For international sectors: USD200 per one unit.

    • The rate for seat occupied by portable oxygen unit: Equal to the highest applicable adult fare plus surcharges for each seat.
    • The fee for seat occupied by stretcher: Equal to 6 times of the highest applicable adult fares plus surcharges

    The escort (**) of passengers using OXYG and STCR pay the fare with free baggage allowance like normal passengers.

    Accompanied cabin crew service provided on the request

    Unaccompanied Minor (UM)

    UM pay the fare for children/adult as normal passengers. 

    Charges: VND500,000 (net fare) for Vietnam domestic sectors or USD50 for international sectors. 

    Accompanying cabin crew charge (if any): Applicable adult fare on the same class of service of UM and appropriate surcharges.

    Extra seat service (EXST)

    Fare: passengers pay the fare as a normal passenger.

    Free baggage allowance: passengers get 2 times the free baggage allowance weight limit of their respective journey.

    EXST charge: equals 100% of the applicable adult fare plus surcharges for each additional seat at the time of purchasing.

    Accompanied cabin crew service provided on the request

    Wheelchair for cabin (WCHC)

    Wheelchair for step (WCHS)

    Wheelchair for ramp (WCHR)

    Free of charge. 

    The wheelchair of the passenger shall be accepted for carriage free of charge. 

    The passengers pay the fare like normal passengers.

    Accompanied cabin crew service provided on the request

    Deaf passenger service (DEAF)

    Blind passenger service (BLND)

    Free of charge

    The passengers pay the fare like normal passengers.

    Accompanied cabin crew service provided on the request

    Adult traveling with two or more infants

    Adult and Infant(s) pay the fare as normal passengers 

    The accompanying cabin crew charge includes applicable adult fare and surcharges on the same class of service of passenger

    Accompanied cabin crew service provided upon the request

    Note:

    (*) For itineraries to/from the U.S, oxygen for medical use on board is free of charge.

    (**) The charge is not imposed for a safety assistance on flights to/from the U.S.

    • The Special service charge applies to Vietnam Airlines operated flights only. If the required Special service includes more than one segment on Vietnam Airlines operated flights, the Special service charge shall be the sum of all charges of each segment.
    • On segments operated by other carriers, Vietnam Airlines follows their Special services policy.
    • Refund fee is applied if passenger cancels Special Service after reservation and payment
      • Within 24 hours or after flight departure: 50% of Special service charge including surcharges.
      • Before 24 hours to flight departure: 10% of Special service charge including surcharges.
    • Change fee:
      • Stretch service: If passenger changes after reservation and payment.
        +  Within 24 hours or after flight departure: 50% of Special service charge including surcharges. 
        +  Before 24 hours to flight departure: 10% of Special service charge including surcharge. 
      • Other Special services: Change fee is not applied.

    Fees for Special Services on Code-Share Flights

    On Vietnam Airlines codeshare flights operated by other airlines the optional services and fees may be provided by Operating carriers with different fees from Vietnam. Please visit the Operating Carriers’website for details.

    Air France Finnair Alitalia Jetstar
    China Airlines Cathay Pacific Delta Air Lines Etihad Airways
    Garuda Indonesia Korean Air Kenya Airways Cambodia Angkor Air
    Royal Dutch Airlines China Eastern All Nippon Airways EL AL Israel Airlines
     AirEuropa Jet Airways  SNCF Czech Airlines
    Vasco                    Phillipines Airlines                                     Lao Airlines                                    Xiamen Air                  
    Bangkok Air