There are plans to build a metro to the airport, but in the near future both terminals will only be accessible by road.

Cheap and fairly reliable transport is provided by regular public transport buses supplemented by comfortable airport minibuses and a plethora of taxis.

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City buses to Hanoi

Hanoi's public transport buses are clean, modern and safe. Their biggest advantage lies in their very low price, while the disadvantage is the long journey.

Normally the journey to the city centre takes around 60-75 minutes in the morning and evening and between 80 and 100 minutes during the day.

There is no all-night public transport to the airport. The first buses from the centre leave around 5:00 am and the last buses from the airport leave between 10:00 pm and 10:30 pm.

While there is no web-based overview page on buses in Hanoi, on the contrary, the BusMap Ha Noi mobile app (available on: Google Play / App Store) will provide very clear information on stop locations, routes and current prices.

Stops and lines

Buses (with the exception of line 17) always stop at both terminals.

• International Terminal 2 - the stop is approximately 30 metres to the left of the arrivals hall exit (signposted "Bus to City")
• Domestic Terminal 1 - the stop is approximately 50 metres to the right of the arrivals hall exit (signposted "Bus to City")

The airport is served by several lines to downtown and the northern half of Hanoi.

Buses 17, 86 and 90 to downtown

There are 3 routes to the historic centre.

• Route 17 - terminates at the eastern edge of the historic centre near Long Bien Bridge, but only runs from the domestic terminal.
  • Price - 9 000 VND
  • Frequency - 10 to 15 minutes
  • Travel time - 80 to 105 minutes
• Route 86 - The fastest bus with the fewest stops travels through the entire historic centre to the main train station. Some buses are marked as line 86CT, but run on the same route and at the same prices as line 86.
  • Price - VND 45 ,000
  • Frequency - 45 minutes
  • Travel time - 60 to 90 minutes
• Route 90 - goes to the western edge of the historic centre to the "Cát Linh" metro station.
  • Price - 9 000 VND
  • Frequency - 20 to 30 minutes
  • Travel time - 80 to 105 minutes

Buses 7, 68, 109 outside the centre

You can also use other bus routes to the outskirts of the centre.

• Route 7 - goes to the lake and Thu Le Zoo on the western edge of the wider centre
  • Price - 8 000 vnd
  • Frequency - 10 to 15 minutes
• Route 68 - runs along the western edge of the wider centre to the southwest of Hanoi. You can use the line, for example, to travel to "Ga Láng" metro station.
  • Price - 50 000 vnd
  • Frequency - 45 minutes
• Route 109 - the least usable for tourists. It only goes to the western edge of the city.

Where to buy tickets?

You can buy the ticket inside the bus. When travelling from the airport on express bus routes 68, 86 or even 90, take a seat and wait for the driver to pass the car and issue tickets to each passenger.

When travelling to the airport or other bus lines, pay the driver directly during boarding.

Tickets can only be paid in cash.

Taxi

Traditional taxis and mobile app taxis are the most widely used transport option.

There are taxi ranks outside both terminals and there are always plenty of cars available. However, queues can be up to 20 minutes long at peak times.

Taxis do not run according to a meter, but have set prices to specific parts of the city. However, taxi drivers always try to negotiate an individual price. Payment can only be made in cash.

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For many travellers, the most convenient taxis will be via mobile apps, where you can see the price in advance and pay by credit card.

The most commonly used taxi app in Hanoi is Grab.

Taxi prices from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi are roughly as follows:

• Regular taxi - around 400 000 VND
• Grab - between VND 200 ,000 and VND 350 ,000

Minibuses

You can also get to the city centre by minibuses from private companies. The vans are comfortable, air-conditioned and modern.

The journey is slightly faster than city buses as minibuses have significantly fewer stops.

There are stops in front of both terminals (follow the "Mini Bus" signs).

The most frequent service is provided by Van Don Xanh's minibuses, which run every xx:00 from 5:00 to 22:00. The journey takes 60 minutes and you can buy your ticket online at book.distribusion.com for 350 000 vnd. However, the price is similarly expensive to regular taxis.

Airline buses

The spacious buses of the various airlines also offer a comfortable journey to the centre.

Currently, only VietJetAir operates its buses to the city.

The bus service is only available to VietJetAir passengers who purchase a bus ticket during the ticket purchase process or subsequently on the website vietjetair.com under "Manage Booking".

A one-way ticket from downtown Hanoi to the airport costs VND 36 ,000.