The left side combines the strongest visual moments of the trip: the New York City skyline at departure and the Mekong Delta and Saigon cityscape at arrival, bookending a long, mostly remote polar and Siberian cruise phase.
Flown JFK to SGN? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
New York to Ho Chi Minh City is 8,881 miles (14,293 km), a flight of about 16 hours 30 minutes.
Route passes over northern Canada, the Arctic Ocean margin, Siberian tundra and taiga, and the mountains of eastern Russia/Mongolia before descending across southern China into Vietnam.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from JFK
LEFTDepartures from JFK toward the north for a transpacific/polar routing typically bank left after takeoff, giving passengers on the left side a sweeping view of the Manhattan skyline, the East River, and Long Island Sound before the aircraft turns north over Westchester and New England.
Landing at SGN
LEFTOn approach into Tan Son Nhat, especially during the northeast monsoon when arrivals favor runway 07, the left side offers views of the branching channels of the Mekong Delta and the Saigon River winding through Ho Chi Minh City before landing.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Tansonnhat International (SGN)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Ho Chi Minh City. The left side combines the strongest visual moments of the trip: the New York City skyline at departure and the Mekong Delta and Saigon cityscape at arrival, bookending a long, mostly remote polar and Siberian cruise phase.
What can I see during takeoff from John F Kennedy International in New York?
During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departures from JFK toward the north for a transpacific/polar routing typically bank left after takeoff, giving passengers on the left side a sweeping view of the Manhattan skyline, the East River, and Long Island Sound before the aircraft turns north over Westchester and New England. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, East River, Long Island Sound, Throgs Neck Bridge.
What can I see when landing at Tansonnhat International in Ho Chi Minh City?
When landing at Tansonnhat International (SGN), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach into Tan Son Nhat, especially during the northeast monsoon when arrivals favor runway 07, the left side offers views of the branching channels of the Mekong Delta and the Saigon River winding through Ho Chi Minh City before landing. Notable sights include: Saigon River, Mekong Delta waterways, Ho Chi Minh City skyline, rice paddies.
How long is the flight from New York to Ho Chi Minh City?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Tansonnhat International (SGN) takes about 16 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 8,881 miles (14,293 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the New York to Ho Chi Minh City flight path pass over?
Route passes over northern Canada, the Arctic Ocean margin, Siberian tundra and taiga, and the mountains of eastern Russia/Mongolia before descending across southern China into Vietnam.