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RGN destination photo
HAN destination photo

RGNHAN

Our Recommendation
8.5

Left Side of the Plane

The left side offers superior views of the rugged Hoang Lien Son mountain range and more dramatic river crossings as you transition from the Shan Plateau into northern Vietnam.

Left Side Highlights
8.5
⛰️

Shan Plateau

Rolling limestone hills and elevated plateaus of eastern Myanmar shortly after takeoff.

🌊

Mekong River

A striking aerial view of the Mekong as it borders Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos.

☁️

Luang Prabang Range

Densely forested, mist-shrouded peaks of northern Laos providing a dramatic backdrop.

🏔️

Hoang Lien Son Range

The highest mountains in Indochina, featuring sharp ridges and deep valleys near the Vietnam border.

🌾

Red River Delta

A patchwork of vibrant green and gold rice paddies as the aircraft descends into Hanoi.

Choose the left side for afternoon flights to avoid direct southern sunlight. In the dry season (Nov-Feb), visibility is highest, offering clear views of Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak, during the final 20 minutes of the flight.

Right Side Highlights
7.5
🏞️

Salween River

One of the longest free-flowing rivers in the world, visible cutting through deep gorges in Myanmar.

🌳

Northern Laotian Jungles

Expansive stretches of remote tropical rainforest and mountainous terrain.

💧

Black River (Song Da)

The winding path of the Black River as it flows through the valleys of northwestern Vietnam.

🏗️

Hoa Binh Reservoir

The massive blue expanse of one of Vietnam's largest man-made lakes and hydroelectric sites.

🏙️

Hanoi Suburbs

The dense urban sprawl and colonial architecture of Hanoi's western districts on final approach.

The right side is ideal for morning flights to keep the sun behind you. Look for the massive Hoa Binh Dam about 15 minutes before landing. Note that seasonal haze can sometimes obscure distant landscape details in early spring.

Top Activities in Hanoi
Route Information

Distance: 1,124 km (698 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 30 min

Departure: RGN (16.907300949099998, 96.1332015991)

Arrival: HAN (21.221200942993164, 105.80699920654295)

Route Type: International

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