Ignore the criticism! The Vietjet bikini calendar goes viral with 910,000 views!

The Vietjet 2018 calendar features cabin crew in January. (Photo courtesy of Vietjet)

The Vietjet 2018 calendar shows ground staff assisting passengers with check-in and boarding in August. (Photo courtesy of Vietjet)

The Vietjet 2018 calendar highlights different team members each month, such as baggage handlers in November. (Photo courtesy of Vietjet)

Vietjet’s brand-new 2018 calendar features well-known models in sexy bikinis, showcasing unique styles through various crew roles. (Photo courtesy of Vietjet)

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is Southeast Asia’s first self-made female billionaire, with an estimated net worth of over $1 billion. (File photo)

Vietnam’s largest low-cost airline, Vietjet Air, also operates flights to Taiwan, and many Taiwanese travelers to Vietnam have likely flown with this carrier. Aside from its affordable fares, Vietjet gained global attention in August 2012 when it hosted a bikini show on board a flight, prompting the Vietnamese civil aviation authority to fine the airline 20 million Vietnamese dong (approximately $1,000).

Vietjet’s open image often sparks controversy in the more conservative regions of Southeast Asia. With increasing global discussions on passenger and crew sexual harassment and in-flight sexual assault in recent years, many believe Vietjet overly sexualizes its flight attendants and other crew members.

Nevertheless, Vietjet remains committed to its “sexy bikini babes” marketing strategy. Despite the criticism, the 2018 calendar continues to feature renowned models in bikinis, portraying various crew roles to showcase Vietjet’s service, friendliness, and enthusiasm in a unique style. The calendar has stirred an online storm in Vietnam, drawing both criticism and support. Since its release on YouTube in late November last year, the calendar and behind-the-scenes video have garnered over 910,000 views.

The calendar uses airports, aircraft bodies, and cabins as backdrops, with beautiful bikini-clad women taking on roles such as pilots, technicians, maintenance staff, flight attendants, ground crew, and air traffic controllers. They gracefully demonstrate the services and teamwork behind each journey. For example, January features friendly crew members, February showcases professional pilots in the cockpit, April and November highlight baggage handlers, May features maintenance technicians, June presents airport route controllers, and August and September depict ground staff helping with check-in and boarding. Each role plays a key part in delivering Vietjet’s high-quality and enjoyable flying experience.

Vietjet’s female CEO, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, once told Bloomberg: “People have the right to wear what they like, whether it’s bikinis or traditional Vietnamese ao dai. We don’t mind if people associate Vietjet with bikinis. If others are happy, we’re happy too.”