Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Hanoi to London. The London approach on the left side is the more spectacular and sustained visual experience — tracking over one of the world's most recognizable cities for 10–15 minutes of descent. The Hanoi departure on the right is worthwhile but brief. Left wins overall for the London arrival alone.

During takeoff from Noibai International (HAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Noi Bai's primary departure runway 11L/29R means westbound departures head roughly northwest, putting the Red River delta and Hanoi city center on the right side. You get a clear view of the Red River's braided channels and the dense urban grid of central Hanoi before climbing out over the northern plains. Notable sights include: Red River (Song Hong) and its braided delta channels, Hanoi city center and Hoan Kiem district, West Lake (Ho Tay) — Hanoi's largest urban lake, agricultural patchwork of the Red River plain.

When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow's standard westerly ILS approaches on runways 27L/27R bring aircraft in from the east over Greater London. The left side tracks directly over central London — you see the Thames snaking through the city, with the City of London, Canary Wharf towers, and the curve through Westminster all clearly visible on descent through 5,000–8,000 feet. Notable sights include: River Thames through central London, Canary Wharf tower cluster (Isle of Dogs), City of London and its skyline, Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park (final approach).

The flight from Noibai International (HAN) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 11–12 hours.

The route tracks northwest from Hanoi over Yunnan province in southern China, then across the Tibetan Plateau's southern edge where Himalayan peaks including Everest are potentially visible from cruising altitude on clear days. The flight then crosses Central Asia — Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan's steppe and desert — before entering Russian airspace over the Ural region, then descending across Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and the North Sea before entering UK airspace over East Anglia.