SGN to HAN: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Hanoi (Soc Son) (HAN) is a 1,160 km (721 mi), roughly 1h 52m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SGN to HAN departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Night |
| December solstice | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views do not decide this route, so follow the shade side: left.
This route does not pick a view side. You sit left for shade, and the right side carries most of the sights.
Takeoff
After takeoff from SGN, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the first look at Ho Chi Minh City almost under you, then Vũng Tàu and Biên Hòa as you climb out.
En route
- 34m in← LeftKhone Phapheng Falls
About half an hour in, Khone Phapheng Falls sits on the left. It is a brief waterfall view, low and narrow from cruise height.
- 37m inRight →Virachey National Park
A few minutes later, Virachey National Park is on the right. You see a broad green block rather than a single landmark.
- 55m inRight →Da Nang
Around an hour in, Da Nang stays on the right. From up here it reads as a large city shape, not a close-up skyline.
- 1h inRight →Huế
Huế follows on the right a few minutes later. It is another city pass, with the urban area spread out below.
Landing
On descent into HAN, depending on the runway in use, Haiphong comes up on the right first, then Hanoi nearly under you right before landing. The approach is mostly about city shapes, not distant scenery.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from SGN to HAN?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on SGN to HAN flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from SGN to HAN?
The great-circle distance is 1,160 km (721 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 52m in the air on this northbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side of the plane is better for SGN to HAN views?
The route is views-neutral. Pick the left side for shade, not because views are clearly better there.
What do you see on the SGN to HAN flight?
You get a short city view after departure, then a left-side waterfall pass and several right-side city and park views before Hanoi on approach.