Vietnam Airlines 787-9 Seat Map & Best Seats (2026)
Vietnam Airlines flies the Boeing 787-9 on long-haul routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Europe, Australia and North Asia. There is a genuine version lottery here: most of the fleet is a three-class aircraft (Business, Premium Economy, Economy), but a few frames are two-class (Business and Economy only, with a much larger economy cabin). Your first job is to identify which one you're on; this guide then gives the genuine best and worst seats in each cabin with specific row and seat numbers.
✈️ Quick Verdict
Two configurations, one lottery — confirm Premium Economy is present before you book if you want it. Best seats: business window suites (A/K, any row 2–6) or centre pairs 3D/G, 4D/G, 5D/G for couples; Premium Economy windows 11A/K, 12A/K, 14A/K; economy windows 27A/K, 31A/K, 34A/K (3-class) or 35A/K, 38A/K (2-class), plus bulkhead/exit legroom (row 16, row 26 or 34). Avoid PE row 10 (lavatory bulkhead), the economy lav blocks (23–25 & 38–40 on 3-class; 32–33 & 46–50 on 2-class) and the no-window seats 37A/K (3-class) or 45A/K, 47A/K (2-class).
| Aircraft | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (two configurations) |
| 3-class | 28 Business · 35 Premium Economy · 211 Economy (274 seats) |
| 2-class | 28 Business · 283 Economy (311 seats) |
| Layout | Business 1-2-1 reverse herringbone · Premium Economy 2-3-2 · Economy 3-3-3 |
| Version lottery | Yes — confirm Premium Economy is present before you book if you want it. |
| IFE | Thales Avant, on-demand audio/visual |
| WiFi | Viasat Ka-band satellite |
How to Tell Which Version You're On
| Clue on the seat map | Version |
|---|---|
| A distinct Premium Economy cabin (2-3-2) sits between Business and Economy, rows 10–15 | 3-class (28J / 35W / 211Y) |
| Business is followed straight by a large Economy cabin (rows 16–50), no Premium Economy | 2-class (28J / 283Y) |
The three-class aircraft is the one to want if you care about comfort — it has a smaller, quieter economy cabin and the option of Premium Economy. It typically operates the flagship Europe, Australia and Japan routes.
Business Class — Best & Worst Seats
28 seats in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone layout across rows 1–7 (identical on both versions): every seat angles toward the window with direct aisle access, a large side shelf and a fully flat bed. Window seats (A/K) are best for solo travellers; the centre D/G pair suits couples (a lowerable divider lets you talk and dine together).
✅ Best Business seats
- Solo: any A or K window suite in rows 2–6 — in a reverse-herringbone cabin these all face the window with good privacy and low aisle exposure.
- Couples: the centre pairs 3D/3G, 4D/4G, 5D/5G — mid-cabin and away from the galleys at either end.
🚫 Business seats to avoid
- 1G, 1K — row 1 sits against the forward galley/lavatory; 1K also has a bassinet position.
- Row 7 (centre) if you're noise-sensitive — closest to the curtain and galley behind Business.
Premium Economy (3-class only) — Best & Worst Seats
35 seats in a single 2-3-2 cabin, rows 10–15 (there is no row 13). Seat letters are A C | D E F | G K, so window passengers sit in a true two-seat pair. Premium Economy adds ~38" pitch, a deeper recline, leg and foot rests and a larger screen, and is only on the three-class aircraft.
Don't book the bulkhead by reflex. Row 10 is the bulkhead with extra legroom, but it sits directly against a lavatory — the window and aisle seats (10A/C/G/K) are rated poorly for traffic and noise, and it's a bassinet row. For a calm seat, sit a row or two back.
✅ Best Premium Economy seats
- 11A/K, 12A/K and 14A/K — window pairs in the calm middle of the cabin, with no middle-seat neighbour and away from the lavatory.
- Legroom (with trade-offs): the bulkhead row 10 has the most space, but accept the lavatory traffic and the tray-in-armrest seats.
🚫 Premium Economy seats to avoid
- Row 10 (10A, 10C, 10G, 10K) — bulkhead against the lavatory, with bassinets.
- The E middle seats in the centre 3-seat block — no window or direct aisle.
Families note: row 15 carries bassinet positions — good for infants, less so for quiet.
Economy — Best & Worst Seats
Economy is 3-3-3 (seat letters A B C | D E F | G H K). On the three-class aircraft it runs rows 16–40 (211 seats); on the two-class aircraft it runs rows 16–50 (283 seats). The key is to grab a well-aligned window or a legroom row while steering around the lavatory blocks.
The lavatories are mid-cabin, not just at the back. On the 3-class aircraft a galley/lavatory block sits around rows 23–25, with another at the rear (38–40). On the 2-class aircraft the mid-cabin block is around the over-wing exits (rows 32–33), with the rear block at 46–50. Avoid the rows immediately beside them.
✅ Best Economy seats (3-class)
- 27A/K, 31A/K and 34A/K — the best-aligned windows, clear of galleys and lavatories.
- Legroom: the bulkhead aisles 16C and 16G, and the exit row 26B, 26G, 26H (the 26A/K windows have exit-door intrusion).
✅ Best Economy seats (2-class)
- 35A/K and 38A/K — the best windows.
- Legroom: the exit row aisles 34B, 34C, 34G, 34H (34A/K have door intrusion). The bulkhead row 16 has legroom but sits against a lavatory.
🚫 Economy seats to avoid
- 3-class: rows 23–25 and rows 38–40 — against the lavatory blocks. 37A/K have no window.
- 2-class: rows 32–33 (over-wing exits, against lavatories) and rows 46–50 (rear galley/lavatories). 45A/K and 47A/K have no window.
- Either version: the B, E and H middle seats are the least comfortable in 3-3-3.
Quick-Pick Summary by Traveller
| Traveller | Pick |
|---|---|
| Business, solo | Any A/K window suite, rows 2–6 |
| Business, couple | 3D/G, 4D/G or 5D/G |
| Premium Economy | 11A/K, 12A/K, 14A/K |
| Premium Economy, avoid | Row 10 (lavatory bulkhead) |
| Economy window (3-class) | 27A/K, 31A/K, 34A/K |
| Economy window (2-class) | 35A/K, 38A/K |
| Economy legroom | Row 16 bulkhead aisles, or the exit row (26 / 34) |
| Economy, avoid | Mid-cabin & rear lav rows; 37A/K or 45A/K, 47A/K (no window) |
Vietnam Airlines 787-9 vs Other Long-Haul Aircraft
| Aircraft | Business | Prem Econ | Economy | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 787-9 (3-class) | 28 (1-2-1) | 35 (2-3-2) | 211 (3-3-3) | Long-haul with a PE option |
| 787-9 (2-class) | 28 (1-2-1) | None | 283 (3-3-3) | Higher-density routes |
| A350-900 (Cirrus) | 29 (1-2-1) | 36 (2-4-2) | 240 (3-3-3) | Slightly wider, quieter cabin |
| 787-10 (2-class) | 24 (1-2-1) | None | 337 (3-3-3) | Highest density — least space |
If economy space matters, a three-class 787-9 or an A350-900 is more comfortable than the high-density 787-10.
Known Quirks & Practical Tips
| Note | Detail |
|---|---|
| 3-class vs 2-class | Only the three-class 787-9 has Premium Economy. Confirm the cabin between Business and Economy before you book. |
| Premium Economy is 2-3-2 | One consistent 2-3-2 cabin (A C | D E F | G K), rows 10–15, no row 13 — not a mixed 2-3-2/2-4-2 layout. |
| Lavatory bulkheads | Both the PE bulkhead (row 10) and the economy bulkhead (row 16) sit directly against a lavatory, which undercuts the extra legroom there. |
| No-window seats | 3-class: 37A/K. 2-class: 45A/K and 47A/K (solid wall instead of a window). |
| Over-wing exits (2-class) | Rows 32–33 are split exit rows by the lavatories; the good exit-row legroom is at row 34. |
| Connectivity | Thales Avant IFE with Viasat Ka-band WiFi across the 787-9 fleet. |
More Vietnam Airlines Seat Guides
- Vietnam Airlines A350-900 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
- Vietnam Airlines 787-10 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
- Vietnam Airlines A321 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Vietnam Airlines 787-9 have Premium Economy?
Only the three-class version does. The two-class version has Business and a larger Economy cabin only. Check the seat map: a 2-3-2 cabin in rows 10–15 between Business and Economy means you have Premium Economy.
What is the Premium Economy layout?
A single 2-3-2 cabin (seat letters A C | D E F | G K) in rows 10–15, with no row 13 — so 35 seats. Window passengers sit in a true two-seat pair.
What are the best Premium Economy seats?
The window pairs 11A/K, 12A/K and 14A/K are the calmest. The bulkhead row 10 has the most legroom but sits against a lavatory and carries bassinets, so it's a trade-off.
What are the best Economy seats?
On the three-class aircraft, the windows 27A/K, 31A/K and 34A/K, or the bulkhead aisles 16C/16G and exit-row 26B/G/H. On the two-class aircraft, windows 35A/K and 38A/K, or exit-row 34B/C/G/H. Avoid the mid-cabin and rear lavatory rows.
What are the best Business Class seats?
Any A or K window suite in rows 2–6 for solo travellers (the reverse-herringbone layout gives them all good privacy), or a centre D/G pair in rows 3–5 for couples. Avoid row 1, which is by the forward galley.
Is the 787-9 good for long-haul?
Yes — especially the three-class version with its smaller, quieter economy cabin and Premium Economy option. Vietnam Airlines' A350-900 has a marginally wider, quieter economy cabin if you have the choice.