Review of China Southern flight from Guangzhou to Ho Chi Minh City in Economy

Intro

This trip schelduled to be a SGN-SZX-WUH / CKG - SZX -SGN trip, but turned into CKG-CAN-SGN instead

However, the night before, on 22:00 GMT+8 Jan 2, CZ informed CKG-SZX leg was to be delayed due to weather/airspace activities… which means I will miss my SZX-SGN sector, and plus, the later 23 pm CZ8473 was cancelled for the day. That being said, if I continue flying CKG-SZX as normal, I'd likely be stuck SZX for an day… 

As well, with Chongqing is that the winter are very fog + haze before 8-9 AM, meaning theres a high probability the flight will be delayed. 

So off I go, had a 1-2 hours online chat with CSN's online customer service via the APP.      

DETAILS:
CZ373 CAN-SGN
STD 1250
STD 1312 

STA 1435
ATA 1430

Transit - Boarding at ZGGG

At 11:45 LT, the aircraft of the day, B-20CS at 5.3 years old, slowly entered Stand 170 (Gate A170), from Qingdao ZSQD. 

Boarding began around 12:20 PM in the noon. 

CZ has upgraded CAN-SGN, BKK, HAN particular to "Air-shuttle" service, but well, it doesn't serve any significance, with 4 MAX 8/daily.. 

I've flown somewhat alot of CZ's 737 MAX 8 now, but its always great to snap a "side" view of the operative jet. 

My first time on B-20CS, so to snap the template as usual, which is a notable one right above L1, compared to airbus's sneaky hide-and-seek template on L1. 

CZ does J + "Pearl Economy" + Economy on MAX 8s, with charging outlets under. 

PUSHBACK & DEPARTURE

After everyone has boarded B-20CS, cabin crew armed the doors, flight crews contacted the ATC for pushback and taxi. 

These day, A320 and MAX 8 are the strong backbone for CZ's Southeast Asia, such as HAN, SGN, BKK, KUL, SIN. 

At 12:35 PM, the safety video began playing. 

At 12:43 PM, B-20CS was finally cleared for pushback, with the LEAP1B-27 tuning on. 

Around 12:50, B-20CS began taxi to Rwy 01R. 

The taxi route for the day, was approximately:
Stand 170 - TWY J, C, T2, E, J1, F10 - Rwy 01R. 

Since ZGGG is CZ's HQ, during taxi on Twy T2,  I managed to snap some jets, but particularly B-5020 and B-2695, CSN's legend non-WL 738s. 

At 13:10 LT, B-20CS arrived Rwy 01R, with clearance to line-up. 

At 13:12 LT, B-20CS began rolling, and took-off 13:13. 

That new runway on the left, was put into use in Feb/Mar 2025, turning into Rwy 01L. 

CRUISE

Around 13:23 GMT+8, as B-20CS climb through 4800 m (15800 ft), at 10 minutes post-departure, some strong moderate turbulent occurred.

Flight deck bell ringing, then cabin crew announcing please buckle seatbelts tight. 

At 13:33 GMT+8, B-20CS passed above Macau at 7600 m (25000 ft). 

At 13:41 (05:41 Z), B-20CS reached cruise (9754m - 32000 feet). 

Shortly, the cabin crew came over with lunch.

However, although its a rather late lunch as its at 13:40 LT (12:40 GMT+7), I didn't have lunch yet, so I was excited.

CSN's lunch comes with a box and hot meal itself, with bread, banana, and salad in the box, and a chicken rice as the hotmeal. 

Overall, this chicken rice doesn't taste bad. 

DESCENT & ARRIVAL

A cloudy overcast Jan 3 day above VVTH/VVCR (0655 Z)

METAR VVCR 030630Z 01018KT 9999 OVC034 26/20 Q1012 NOSIG=

As we near VVTH/VVCR, VVTS advises B-20CS to reduce speed, as its near the descent top. 

At (0703 Z), as B-20CS turns towards 231/232 degrees, the descent for VVTS also begins. 

At (0720 Z), after a 15-minutes descent through OVC clouds, B-20CS made it down to 1780 m (5900 ft)

In the distance over there, its VVLT. 

Long Thanh Airport, as HCMC's 2nd airport, will take-over all international operations after its launch in mid to late-2026.

Thus, with Long Thanh, the experience of air-travel will be more smooth, and more slots availability. 

At (0426 Z - 1426 LT), B-20CS aligns onto Rwy 25R above HCMC's National University area. 

HCMC's daytime view isn't bad either, with the Landmark 81.

At night, Landmark 81's lights makes it even more shining. 

Bamboo's A321 and Vietjet A320 lining up for departure, after B-20CS touches down. 

Whelp, rather a late touchdown at 0729 Z, with 7 knots of wind. 

METAR VVTS 030700Z 34007KT 300V050 9999 SCT044 BKN073 31/22 Q1008 NOSIG=

B-20CS didn't touchdown on Rwy 25R until Twy P3, 800 m away from the standard touchdown zone.

Hard breaks were applied, such B-20CS can stop in next 800 m to vacate Rwy 25R via Twy P5. 

At 14:32 LT (0732 Z), as B-20CS exits Rwy 25R, and crosses Rwy 07R, that VJ A320 also departs. 

At 1438 LT (0738 Z), B-20CS made it to Stand 16 (Gate 15). 

VVTS's afternoon classics, QR 77W, KAL 333, PAL 321, CSN MAX 8 and 321ceo

At 14:40 (0740 Z), parking breaks applied.

B-20CS parked next to VN-A683, flying VJ890 SGN-KHH at 14:35 (but Vietjet is aknown for its delay, not strange that VN-A683 took off instead at 15:22.

As the gate aligned to the B-20CS cabin L1 door, passengers began the disembark.

Shortly, I also began disembark, but as a Avgeek, definitely sitting at the rear is great, allowing to once again snap the CZ MAX 8 cabin and engine view.