The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, began as a small town on the Red River and became a city in 1010, also being the capital of imperial Vietnam. From its humble beginnings, Hanoi has been one of the most important cities in the country, if not the most important. It has been a French colony since 1883, leaving a French-inspired mark on the city’s architecture that is still visible today. Hanoi once again became the capital of a united Vietnam in 1976, after the Vietnam War. Today, Hanoi is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors with its mix of architecture, from the narrow streets of the Old Quarter to temples and pagodas, French-inspired avenues, museums, lakes and modern shopping malls. Apart from all that, Hanoi is a good destination because it is very cheap. You can stay in good hotels, eat in elegant restaurants and buy everything you want without straining your pocket.
Noi Bai International Airport
If you have just arrived in Vietnam, Hanoi is the perfect place to start your visit to the country. Hanoi Airport, officially Noi Bai International Airport, is the second busiest airport in Vietnam, but the largest in terms of capacity. Noi Ban has replaced Gia Lam Airport as the city’s main airport and has two terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights.
Hanoi Airport is north of the city center, about 30 kilometers to be exact, assuming you go downtown and cross the Red River. The good news is that getting from Hanoi airport to the city is easy, relatively quick and quite cheap, especially when you consider that there is a new bridge that allows you to shorten the travel time.
To get from Hanoi airport to the city, you have several options. Metered taxis are waiting outside the terminal, but you can also book a taxi or van in advance to ensure someone is waiting for you. To travel cheaper, you can opt for the public bus or the shuttle bus. Transportation to your accommodation can also be arranged for some hotels in Hanoi.
From Hanoi airport to city by taxi
Taxis waiting at Noi Bai International Airport © TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock.com
There are two options for taking a taxi from Hanoi airport to the city. The first option is conventional public taxis that wait outside the terminal. Another option is private company taxis, which can be booked in advance online, similar to a limousine but not as luxurious.
Although public taxis can be a good option if you arrive in Hanoi late in the evening and have not booked another mode of transport, they can cause some problems. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous drivers who try to overcharge tourists or take a longer route to reach their destination. Another problem you may encounter when landing late is that almost all transport options from Hanoi airport to the city have ended their service, therefore taxi is the only option. As taxi drivers know, in such cases they try to charge even more. Therefore, if you are forced to take a public taxi, negotiate the price before getting inside, although it is best to pre-book a private taxi.
Private taxis and vans can be booked online via 12Go.asia. This site works with trusted private taxi companies to easily get you from Hanoi Airport to the city. The price of a taxi will be more expensive than other means of transport, but you will enjoy a door-to-door service in a comfortable and modern vehicle. If you have three or more people, taking a taxi makes more sense as you will pay the same price for booking a vehicle. If you’re more than one traveller, you can book a van for nine passengers, and by dividing the cost between everyone, the individual price will be very cheap. It takes approximately 50 minutes by taxi from Hanoi Airport to the city, depending on traffic.
Hanoi airport to city with hotel transfer service
Pickup area at Noi Bai International Airport © evgenii mitroshin / Shutterstock.com
While this service is not usually provided by the hotel itself, it is something they can arrange if you have already booked accommodation with them. The best thing about this option is the ease it offers as there will be a car or van waiting at the airport to take you directly to your hotel. This is a more reliable service than others as this way there will be no mistakes or misunderstandings to get to your accommodation.
The disadvantage of this option is that it is not a free service as it is in some Western countries. The price may be higher than a taxi, but as we say, the ease and comfort it offers surpasses other modes of transport.
From Hanoi airport to the city by public bus
Bus number 86 with a large luggage compartment © evgenii mitroshin / Shutterstock.com
Traveling by city bus in a foreign country can be quite an experience if you are not used to using this mode of transport or do not know the local language. In Vietnam, taking the public bus from Hanoi airport to the city is relatively easy and by far the cheapest way to get to the center, as it costs only 0.35 euros (9000 VND), although it is quite slow. Look for buses 7 and 17 that depart from the arrivals hall. Bus No.7 goes to Kim Ma Bus Station and Bus No.17 goes to Long Bien Bus Station. You’ll probably need to take a taxi to your hotel from any destination, so the total cost will increase a bit.
Another bus that tourists usually travel on is bus number 86, which costs 1.35 euros (35,000 VND). This bus has Wi-Fi and offers an express service. It runs from 6:18 to 23:00 and departs every 30 minutes. It picks up passengers from Terminals 1 and 2 and makes eight stops to Hanoi Central Station. Tickets can be purchased on the bus.
Airline bus from Hanoi airport to the city
Two airlines, Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines, operate shuttle buses from Hanoi Airport to the city. With Jetstar you travel in a large and modern bus, easily recognizable by its orange color. Vietnam Airlines often uses minibuses, which are not so comfortable. They are reliable services but the routes they follow are fixed and you may need to take a taxi to your hotel.
There are several transportation options from Hanoi Airport to the city. We always recommend booking your tour in advance at 12Gothanks to which you will know that someone is waiting for you at the airport and you will not have to worry about additional costs or not knowing the driver’s language.