Noi Bai, and the long road into Hanoi
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Noi Bai airport is 35 km from Hanoi's Old Quarter, across the Red River, and the drive is the longest airport transfer at any major Vietnamese city. None of it is difficult. The choice is between a cheap coach that takes an hour and a car that takes most of one.
Which terminal do you arrive at in Noi Bai?
Noi Bai has two terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international ones. Terminal 2 opened in 2015 and handles every international arrival. The two buildings stand about a kilometre apart, linked by a free shuttle bus that runs through the day.
The distance matters when leaving. A domestic connection after an international arrival means moving between the terminals, and a driver taking you to the wrong one costs ten minutes you may not have. Check the terminal on the booking rather than assuming.
How do you get from Noi Bai to Hanoi?
The way from Noi Bai to Hanoi is either bus 86, a Grab or a taxi. The coach costs about 45,000 dong and takes 50 to 70 minutes. A car costs 250,000 to 350,000 dong and takes 40 to 60 minutes.
| Option | Cost | Time to the Old Quarter | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 86 | About 45,000 dong | 50 to 70 minutes | One or two people, daytime |
| Grab or Xanh SM | 250,000 to 350,000 dong | 40 to 60 minutes | Late arrivals, groups |
| Metered taxi | A little more than Grab | 40 to 60 minutes | No app or no data |
| Hotel pickup | Fixed, usually higher | 40 to 60 minutes | A very late flight |
The difference in time is small because both use the same road. The difference in price is roughly a factor of six.
Is bus 86 worth taking?
Bus 86 is worth taking for anyone arriving in daylight with a bag they can lift. It is an orange coach with luggage space, and it runs from outside both terminals to the Old Quarter, the Opera House area and Hanoi railway station for about 45,000 dong.
Pay the conductor in cash on board. The bus stops near Hoan Kiem lake and on the edge of the Old Quarter, which leaves a short walk or a cheap motorbike taxi to most hotels. It stops running in the late evening, so a night arrival needs a car.
Where do you find a Grab at Noi Bai?
Grab and the other ride apps collect from a marked pickup area rather than the kerb at arrivals, and at Noi Bai it is a short walk, sometimes across a car park. The app shows the current point, and following the pin beats following anyone who approaches you inside.
The official taxi rank sits outside arrivals, and the metered companies there are fine. Refuse the unmarked drivers offering a fixed price in the hall. The airport to city guide compares Noi Bai with Tan Son Nhat and lists the desks to walk past at both.
What should you sort out before leaving the terminal?
Two things are worth doing before leaving the terminal at Noi Bai: a SIM card and cash. The mobile networks sell tourist SIMs at counters just past customs, and several bank ATMs stand in the arrivals hall.
The exchange desks give a poorer rate than the ATMs, so change only what a first ride needs. A working SIM makes the ride app usable, which is the difference between choosing a car and accepting one. The SIM guide and the money guide cover both.
How early should you leave for a flight from Noi Bai?
Leave the Old Quarter about three hours before a domestic flight and four before an international one if the flight is in the evening. The drive takes 40 to 60 minutes, and the traffic on the way out of the city is worst between four and seven.
The airport adds its own queue. Terminal 2 check-in and security fill up for the evening departures to Europe and the Gulf, and Terminal 1 is busiest around Tet and summer weekends. A morning flight from Hanoi is the easy one.
Where do people go straight from Noi Bai?
Many arrivals at Noi Bai never stay in Hanoi on the first night. Buses and limousine vans for Sapa and Ha Long Bay collect from the city rather than the airport, so the practical route is still into Hanoi first.
The Hanoi to Sapa guide and the Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide set out those onward legs, and the Hanoi where to stay guide covers the first night in town.
FAQ
How far is Noi Bai airport from Hanoi's Old Quarter?
About 35 km, and 40 to 60 minutes by road depending on the hour. The route crosses the Red River on the Nhat Tan bridge, and the traffic on the approach to the city is what decides whether the drive takes the shorter or the longer figure.
Which terminal is which at Noi Bai?
Terminal 1 handles domestic flights and Terminal 2 handles international ones. The two buildings are about a kilometre apart and linked by a free shuttle bus, so check the terminal on your booking before taking a car to the airport.
How much is bus 86 from Noi Bai airport?
About 45,000 dong, paid in cash on board. Bus 86 is a proper coach with luggage space that runs from both terminals to the Old Quarter and Hanoi railway station, taking 50 to 70 minutes.
How much does a Grab cost from Noi Bai to Hanoi?
Roughly 250,000 to 350,000 dong to the Old Quarter, depending on the time and the car. The app quotes the fare before you accept, and the metered taxis at the rank charge a little more for the same trip.
How early should you get to Noi Bai for a flight?
Two hours before a domestic flight and three before an international one, plus the drive. From the Old Quarter that means leaving about three hours ahead of a domestic departure and four ahead of an international one in the evening peak.