Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 flights operate in Vietnamese airspace each day, including both domestic and international flights. The Vietnamese aviation industry is experiencing rapid growth, presenting both opportunities and challenges. As flights are no longer simply a means of transportation but become part of a lifestyle, former journalist and vlogger Tran Viet Phuong (Travip), who has taken over 1,000 flights across 30 countries and territories, offers insightful perspectives on modern travel styles and the journey of finding "your own flight" within a diverse market.

Tran Viet Phuong, also known as Travip – the vlogger "Love Airplanes" – currently boasts over 233,000 followers on Facebook, nearly half a million subscribers on his YouTube channel, and over 1 million followers on TikTok. From a Bangkok-based correspondent to a full-time travel content creator, he has transformed his passion for "the sky" into a source of creative inspiration, where each flight is not just a journey but a captivating story of experience.

Before becoming a content creator specializing in aviation and travel, Mr. Phuong worked in journalism for many years. He started as a correspondent for Thanh Nien Newspaper in Bangkok (Thailand), thanks to his studies abroad and knowledge of the country. After returning to Vietnam, he continued working at Thanh Nien and Tuoi Tre newspapers, covering international news. During his nearly 10 years in journalism, he had the opportunity to interact with many cultures, airlines, and stories from his travels. Throughout that journey, Mr. Phuong realized his greatest passion was travel and flying experiences. From participating in international communities for aviation enthusiasts, he came up with the idea of ​​building a similar sharing channel in Vietnamese to help Vietnamese people easily access and spread interesting "air travel" stories. He started writing a blog, sharing photos and videos, and then created the YouTube channel "Yêu Máy Bay" (Love Airplanes), where he recounts his journeys from a relatable and authentic perspective.

“At that time, not many people in Vietnam were creating content about flight experiences or air travel tips. I simply thought of sharing for fun, but gradually realized that many people were also curious, interested, and wanted to understand more about what was happening behind the scenes of each flight, as well as lesser-known experiences and benefits of air travel,” Phương shared.

In 2013, the aviation market boomed, especially in Asia, with a wave of first-time flyers, sometimes encountering comical or even dangerous situations (passengers opening emergency exits without permission, bringing unauthorized items onto the plane, etc.). At the same time, in Vietnam, low-cost airlines developed, and the number of first-time flyers increased significantly, leading to a growing need for information and guidance. The "Love Airplanes" channel became a reliable source of information, helping viewers better understand the procedures, services, and culture of flying. Anh Phương initially shared his experiences in travel, then gradually focused on learning more about the services of international airlines, becoming a familiar face in the Vietnamese travel community. Although many consider this a rather limited niche, Anh Phương persevered, believing that if the content is valuable enough, it will attract followers. This means that, in addition to passion, meticulousness, perseverance, and long-term vision are also necessary.

Before the pandemic, he averaged 120 flights per year; in 2022, it was 124 flights, and in 2024, it was around 104 flights. The vlogger, Yêu Máy Bay (Love Airplanes), doesn't chase numbers about "how many countries he's visited," but focuses on the quality of his experience. "Each flight teaches me a lesson, about culture, people, and service," he shared. Even so, he has visited around 30 countries and territories, some places he's visited multiple times, such as India, Nepal, Malaysia, Maldives, and South Korea.

Phuong's "Love Airplanes" channel doesn't just review airlines to help viewers make suitable choices, but also delves into less-noticed aspects such as: meals suitable for religious dietary needs and passengers' nutritional requirements; special services for people with disabilities; and technological innovations... "Small details often hold a great attraction for me; they are where the spirit and identity of an airline are expressed," he says. Instead of sleeping throughout the flight, he chooses to observe the smallest details, learn about new cultures, and recount the unique "colors" of each flight. Each video is a diary entry, full of inspiration and sincerity.

With extensive "aerial" experience, Tran Viet Phuong has witnessed the dramatic transformation of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian aviation over the past 10 years. He stated: "The greatest success of regional aviation is the increasingly deep and extensive level of connectivity. Today, destinations that previously required layovers can now fly directly, a testament to sustainable development and long-term vision, as well as a cultural bridge that brings people from different countries closer together."

Alongside this, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines are constantly improving their service quality, creating a diverse and healthy competitive landscape. Recently, Sun Group also launched Sun PhuQuoc Airways, which is expected to operate international routes in 2026.

Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines, the national airline, is making significant improvements in its culinary offerings and digital platforms, providing in-flight Wi-Fi to keep up with global trends. Meanwhile, Vietjet is expanding its international network, operating routes to India, Kazakhstan, and Australia with business class lie-flat seats, along with many new routes such as Ho Chi Minh City - Bali and Hanoi - Bali with high daily frequency. These routes, once unthinkable, have now become a bridge for tourism and transit between Vietnam and the region.

The rising living standards of people in Southeast Asia have led to increased travel demand, resulting in more choices and more competitive prices among airlines. Furthermore, the increasing number of international airlines operating flights to Vietnam demonstrates Vietnam's growing attractiveness on the global tourism map. As traditional markets like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand become saturated, Vietnam is seen as an emerging and promising market. Numerous international airlines are opening new routes and increasing flight frequencies, making the market more vibrant and dynamic than ever before.

Competition among airlines is not only based on price and service but also on destination networks and itinerary flexibility. Choosing the optimal airline depends on the destination and specific customer group. Many Vietnamese airlines have a significant advantage due to their close relationship with domestic customers, offering a familiar and reassuring experience through their Vietnamese flight attendants and distinctive service style. Meanwhile, many international airlines such as Starlux, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and EVA Air are also striving to strengthen their connections with the Vietnamese market by recruiting Vietnamese flight attendants to create a more familiar and welcoming experience for passengers.

According to Mr. Tran Viet Phuong, passengers now have a variety of ways to buy tickets, such as through travel companies, airline ticket agents, or, more conveniently, directly on the websites or apps of airlines. In addition, there are third-party websites such as price comparison services, where passengers can choose suitable flights, like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Traveloka… They also refer to information and reviews about airline services through social media platforms connected to their lives such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, with visual, lively, and multifaceted sharing.

"When choosing an airline, passengers are usually concerned about ticket prices, included services (baggage, meals, seating), and on-time performance, with cost remaining the top deciding factor," he added.

Therefore, the emergence of reputable and high-quality flight service rating and recognition platforms is essential, providing travelers with more options to choose from and motivating airlines to improve and enhance their services.

2025 marks a turning point as Hotlist Travellive Editor's Pick – an annual platform honoring outstanding brands, individuals, and initiatives in the travel industry – introduces the airline category for the first time. This is an opportunity for the best airlines to be recognized, and for Vietnamese passengers to access objective reviews from a team of experts.

As a member of the Hotlist 2025 Advisory Board, Mr. Tran Viet Phuong shared: “This year, Hotlist has added an aviation category, so I want to contribute my perspective and practical information to arrive at results that are relevant to consumers. This event will provide travelers with more options to choose suitable services, while also spreading the image of a prestigious Vietnamese event to the region and internationally. Honoring outstanding brands and services is also a way to motivate other businesses to continue improving the quality of service for customers.”

Overview of Hotlist 2025