Vietnam Airlines has its origins in January 1956, when it was established by the North Vietnamese government under the name Vietnam Civil Aviation following the nationalization of Gia Lam Airport. The airline was created as part of the air force for civilian purposes with support from both the Soviet Union and China; initially, its fleet consisted of two Lisunov Li-2s that were later replaced by two Ilyushin Il-14 and three Aero Ae-45s.

The airline's development and expansion was seriously damaged by the Vietnam War (1954–1975). Following the war, its first international destination was Beijing, followed by Vientiane in 1976. During that year, the airline was known as General Department of Civil Aviation in Vietnam. In 1978, another important destination of Vietnam Airlines was added, with flights offered to Bangkok. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the expansion of the network to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore.

In 1990, the company initiated discussions regarding the incorporation of Western built aircraft into the fleet. Which was still banned, being one of the consequences after the war. However, the carrier had to cancel the acquisition of two Airbus A310s due to their use of US-manufactured engines. By July 1991, Vietnam Airlines organized a similar but more complicated deal with TEA Basle, who spent the rest of 1991 negotiating a deal with US authorities. Eventually, a solution stating that "[the Boeing 737] must be positioned outside Vietnam, with no logo or lettering of Vietnam Airlines. On these conditions, it could operate on behalf of Vietnam Airlines".

In December 1991, Cathay Pacific and Vietnam Airlines agreed on a 50–50 joint venture to operate between Hong Kong and Vietnam, as the airline's Tupolev Tu134 fleet did not meet Kai Tak Airport's noise restrictions. In October 1992, the Boeing 737 was supplemented with an Airbus A310. However, with repair issues after the aircraft sustained an engine failure it led Vietnam Airlines to switch from Airbus to Boeing. Hence, a Boeing 767-200ER, leased from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services (AWAS), arrived in January 1993, and a Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767-300ER, arrived the following year.

In October 1993, the first Airbus A320-200 was incorporated over a two-year wet-lease contract with Air France. Vietnam Airlines by now had started discussions with Air France about a partnership, and the French carrier agreed to lease its Airbuses to Vietnam Airlines, and also to provide customer support and pilot/crew training. By that time the route network had further expanded internationally, seeing the incorporation of destinations such as Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Sydney, and Melbourne.

In 2009, Vietnam Airlines and the Government of Cambodia established a joint venture, having 49% and 51% stockholding, respectively, with the goal of boosting tourism in Cambodia. The joint-venture was a new Cambodian national airline named Cambodia Angkor Air, which started flying in July the same year, using ATR-72 aircraft, and Airbus A321. Also in 2009, the carrier signed a deal for another 16 Airbus A321s plus two Airbus A350s, during the Paris Air Show. Vietnam Airlines joined SkyTeam on 10 June 2010.  In February 2012, Vietnam Airlines boosted its stake in the low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific Airlines to 70%, with Qantas holding the balance. 

In late April 2012, the aircraft lessor ALC announced the placement of an order for eight Boeing 787-9s, which will be leased to Vietnam Airlines; deliveries are expected to start in 2017. In July 2014, a new route to Tokyo-Haneda from Hanoi was introduced. Vietnam Airlines received its first Airbus A350-900 in late June 2015, becoming the second operator of the type worldwide after Qatar Airways. In August 2015, the airline's first Boeing 787-9 entered the fleet. London operations were transferred from Gatwick to Heathrow in 2015; the airline operates its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft to London. 

In November 2018, the carrier took ownership of its first Airbus A321neo. Vietnam Airlines is aiming to become the second-largest full-service carrier in Southeast Asia. The airline is interested in launching services to the United States, where more than 1.2 million Vietnamese reside. While the airline had launched flights to London-Gatwick, Beijing and Shanghai, as of April 2018, it also plans to re-open flights to Berlin, and commence flights to Adelaide, Perth, Amsterdam, Milan, Prague, Mandalay, Dalian, Nanjing, Hangzhou and African cities. 

A new type joined the Vietnam Airlines fleet in the Summer of 2019, as the biggest member of the Dreamliner family, the Boeing 787-10 helped the airline increase seating capacity on its most popular routes and opened up new ones, potentially to the USA, as the airline is planning.

Following a comprehensive restructuring programme, by 2020 the airline group will consist of Vietnam Airlines itself, as well as three carriers; in total, the corporation will comprise 26 independently audited companies. 

Source: Wikipedia.org / Vietnam Airlines