Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Hanoi to Shanghai. Right seats dominate the outbound leg with superior delta views during climb. While left seats improve on approach, the extended scenic value during the first 30 minutes of departure from the Red River Delta makes right-side seating the better overall choice for this route.

During takeoff from Noibai International (HAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Red River Delta as the aircraft climbs northwestward from Noibai. The river's distinctive meandering channels and patchwork of rice paddies are clearly visible during the initial 10-15 minutes of climb, with the river system spreading across the right wing. Notable sights include: Red River Delta (agricultural grid pattern), Hanoi city sprawl to the south, Thai Nguyen Province highlands emerging to the northwest, Gulf of Tonkin coastline to the northeast.

When landing at Hongqiao International (SHA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer the best views during approach to Hongqiao. As the aircraft descends from the northwest, the Yangtze River's massive delta system becomes prominent on the left, with Shanghai's urban grid and Huangpu River visible before touchdown. Notable sights include: Yangtze River Delta (extensive water channels and islands), Huangpu River winding through Shanghai, Shanghai's urban districts and high-rise clusters, Hangzhou Bay to the south.

The flight from Noibai International (HAN) to Hongqiao International (SHA) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses northern Vietnam and southern China, passing over the Truong Son Range (visible as a dark, forested ridge running north-south), then transitions into the Yangtze River valley system. Around the midpoint near the Vietnam-China border, the landscape shifts from mountainous terrain to increasingly flat, developed lowlands. The Poyang Lake region (China's largest freshwater lake) may be visible to the left on clear days during cruise, appearing as a large irregular water body surrounded by agricultural land. As the aircraft approaches Shanghai, the Yangtze Delta's extensive water management infrastructure becomes increasingly prominent.