Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Ho Chi Minh City. Left side wins both the departure over Istanbul's historic waterways and the arrival over the Saigon River and Ho Chi Minh City. During the cruise, the left side also faces south toward the Himalayas as the route crosses northern India and Myanmar, offering distant views of high-altitude peaks on the horizon.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Ataturk typically departs eastbound on runway 06, so the left (north) side gives you the Bosphorus Strait, the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet, and the Golden Horn as you climb out over the city. The right side faces the Sea of Marmara but the urban core and iconic waterways are clearly to the north. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Golden Horn inlet, Sultanahmet historic peninsula (Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque visible as distinct structures), Galata Bridge.

When landing at Tansonnhat International (SGN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Tan Son Nhat typically lands on runway 25L/25R approaching from the east, meaning the aircraft tracks westward over the city. The left (south) side gives a prolonged view over central Ho Chi Minh City's dense urban core, the Saigon River bends, and the sprawling low-lying delta landscape. The right side faces the more industrial northern outskirts. Notable sights include: Saigon River and its distinctive bends, Ho Chi Minh City urban core, Mekong Delta wetlands to the south, Binh Chanh canal network.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Tansonnhat International (SGN) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The route tracks southeast over Turkey and crosses into Iran near Lake Van, then over the Iranian plateau and Pakistan. Over northern India the Himalayas are visible to the north as a distant white wall on the horizon. The route then crosses Bangladesh and Myanmar, passing over the Irrawaddy River delta and the forested hills of the Thai-Myanmar border before descending over Cambodia and the flat Mekong Delta into Ho Chi Minh City.