How do you get to Hanoi?
Getting There6/10Easier to reach than about 55% of cities
- Main airport
- Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: en.wikipedia.org, vietnam.travel
Good to know
Good to Know
- Airport toll fee (15,000 VND) may be added to metered taxi fares; ask driver upfront.
- Bus 86 Express was designed specifically for travelers with ample luggage space and stops at major tourist attractions.
- Avoid unmarked taxis and unofficial drivers at airport; use official taxi stand or Grab app to prevent scams.
- Traffic is heaviest during rush hours (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM); allow extra time during these periods.
- Hanoi Railway Station has two gates (A & B) serving different destinations; check your ticket to use correct entrance.
- Train bookings often require voucher exchange at station with tour company agents; allow extra time if booked via agents.
- Metro Line 6 (airport line) is under construction; expected connection to airport planned but not yet operational.
- Book intercity buses in advance during peak travel seasons (holidays, summer).
- Hanoi's bus network is comprehensive but can feel crowded; download Moovit or TìmBuýt app for real-time scheduling.
- Long-distance buses often depart early morning (4-7 AM) or overnight; plan accommodation accordingly.
Bus
Major Stations
My Dinh Bus Station
- Capacity
- 500-600 buses per day; 10,000+ passengers daily
- Location
- Cau Giay District (western side)
- Served By
- Primary station; northern and northwestern routes
- Destinations
- Sapa, Ha Giang, Mai Chau, Moc Chau, Ha Long Bay, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Quang Binh
Giap Bat Bus Station
- Capacity
- Multiple daily departures
- Location
- Hoang Mai District (southern side)
- Served By
- Northern, central, and southern routes
- Destinations
- Provinces across Vietnam north to south
Nuoc Ngam Bus Station
- Capacity
- ~800 departures daily
- Location
- South of city center
- Served By
- Southern interprovincial routes
- Destinations
- Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Ho Chi Minh City
Yen Nghia Bus Station
- Location
- National Road 6, Yen Nghia Ward (eastern side)
- Served By
- Eastern routes
- Destinations
- Hoa Binh, Dien Bien, Kon Tum, Son La, Vung Tau, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa
Long Bien Bus Station
- Location
- Near Long Bien Bridge in Old Quarter area
- Served By
- Eastern and northeastern routes
- Destinations
- Regional destinations
Intercity Buses
- Frequency
- Regular, frequent departures throughout day
- Comfort Options
- Standard, sleeper, luxury minivans (limousine vans with WiFi)
Rail
- Address
- 120 Lê Duẩn Street, Hoàn Kiếm District
- Booking
- Online (baolau.com, 12go.asia) or Vietnam Railways website; in-person at station
- Main Station
- Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Hà Nội)
- Location Note
- 2 km from Old Quarter; in city center
Terminals
- Gate A
- Main terminal; southbound trains (Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang)
- Gate B
- Tran Quy Cap Station; northbound trains (Lang Son, Hai Phong, Dong Dang)
Major Routes
32-36 Hours
- Route
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City (Reunification Express)
- Frequency
- Daily
- Train Types
- Standard & luxury sleeper trains
Overnight (~8-9 Hours)
- Route
- Hanoi - Lao Cai (Sapa)
- Frequency
- Regular
- Train Types
- Sleeper trains; luxury tourist trains available
~3 Hours
- Route
- Hanoi - Hai Phong
- Frequency
- Limited (weekends/holidays only)
~2 Hours
- Route
- Hanoi - Ninh Binh
- Frequency
- Available
- Train Types
- Soft-seat, soft-sleeper options
~6 Hours
- Route
- Hanoi - Dong Dang (Chinese border)
- Frequency
- Regular
- Notes
- Metre gauge; requires transfer to Chinese train at Pingxiang
Ferry
- Internal Ferries
- Tam Coc and Trang An (Ninh Binh area) offer sampan/boat tours through scenic waterways; accessible by bus/car from Hanoi
- Note
- Hanoi is not a coastal city; ferry access requires travel to nearby provinces
Day Trip Ferry Access
Ha Long Bay
- Access
- Organized cruises depart from Hanoi with roundtrip transport; common day-trip option
- Distance
- ~150 kilometers; 2.5-3 hours by car
- Activities
- Boat tours, kayaking, swimming, cave exploration
Cat Ba Island / Lan Ha Bay
- Access
- Ferry from Cat Ba Island; accessible via bus from Hanoi (3+ hours)
- Distance
- ~150 kilometers northeast
Airport
- Name
- Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)
- Distance From Center
- approximately 30-35 kilometers northeast
Terminals
- Terminal 1
- Domestic flights
- Terminal 2
- International flights
Ground Transport
45-60 Minutes
- Cost
- ₫30,000
- Type
- Bus 86 Express
- Details
- Orange express airport bus runs from both terminals to Old Quarter and Hanoi Railway Station
- Frequency
- every 30 minutes, 6:30 AM - 11 PM
1 Hour
- Cost
- ₫40,000
- Type
- Shuttle Bus (Vietjet/Vietnam Airlines)
- Details
- Direct to downtown drop-off points; convenient with light luggage
- Frequency
- 4 AM - 9 PM
1-1.5 Hours
- Cost
- ₫9,000
- Type
- Public Buses 7 & 17
- Details
- Budget option; less convenient for luggage; terminates at Kim Ma or Long Bien stations
- Frequency
- every 15-20 minutes, 5 AM - 10 PM
45 Minutes - 1.5 Hours Depending on Traffic
- Cost
- ₫300,000
- Type
- Metered Taxi
- Details
- Available from official taxi stand outside arrival halls; can add 15,000 VND toll fee
- Frequency
- 24/7
45 Minutes - 1.5 Hours
- Cost
- ₫250,000
- Type
- Ride-hailing (Grab/Be)
- Details
- Fixed fares via app; requires Vietnamese SIM or international plan; often cheaper than traditional taxis
- Frequency
- 24/7
45 Minutes - 1 Hour
- Type
- Private Transfer
- Details
- Pre-booked transfers meet you with name sign; best for families, heavy luggage, or late arrivals
- Frequency
- 24/7
Nearby Nomad Hubs Day Trip Access
Ninh Binh (Tam Coc/Trang An)
- Access
- Bus from My Dinh or Giap Bat stations; organized day-trip tours available
- Distance
- ~100 kilometers; 2-2.5 hours by bus/car
Ha Long Bay
- Access
- Organized day-tours with hotel pickup/dropoff; or independent bus + local transport
- Distance
- ~150 kilometers; 2.5-3 hours
Mai Chau Valley
- Access
- Bus or organized tour; popular for homestays and cultural experiences
- Distance
- ~140 kilometers southwest; 3-4 hours
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Hanoi
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.