The Hanoi Times - Vietnam Airlines has agreed to buy six new aircraft, including four Airbus A380 superjumbos, from Airbus in a deal worth almost $1.8 billion, according to a list of deals signed between France and Vietnam during a visit to Hanoi by the French Prime Minister.

In addition to the A380s, the deal includes two A350XWB-900 wide-body planes and is worth about $1.79 billion at list prices.

The agreement between the flag carrier and Airbus, the plane making unit of EADS, also includes an industrial partnership to build certain parts for Airbus and the establishment of a pilot and engineer training centre in the country.

The deal is a boost for Airbus o­n eve of Dubai airshow at which it will scrap with U.S. rival Boeing for thinning pile of orders due to the global economic crisis.

Vietnam Airlines officials have recently expressed concern about production delays to its order of 16 of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The carrier had intended to use the aircraft to serve its long haul services including direct flights to the United States.