Landed In

Arrival guide

Landed in Hanoi.

Getting from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) into the city, what money to carry, the apps locals use, and how to get online.

Unlicensed taxi touts in arrivals quote high flat fares. Use the official taxi queue, Grab, or the bus instead.
Most visitors need an e-visa or an exemption. Check your nationality's rules before you fly.

From the airport to the city center

Cheapest

Public bus 86 to Old Quarter

₫35,000 to ₫45,000 (1.50 to 2)

45 to 75 min

  1. 1Collect your bags and clear immigration and customs.
  2. 2Exit arrivals and follow signs to the bus stops outside Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.
  3. 3Find the Bus 86 stand and board. It heads to Hanoi Railway Station via the Old Quarter area.
  4. 4Get off near Hoan Kiem Lake or the Old Quarter, then walk or take a short Grab to your hotel in the city center.

Runs through much of the day. Confirm the latest departure locally.

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Easiest

Grab car

₫250,000 to ₫400,000 (10 to 16)

35 to 60 min

  1. 1Collect your bags and connect to airport Wi-Fi or your eSIM.
  2. 2Open Grab and set your pickup to the airport car pickup point shown in the app.
  3. 3Enter your city center hotel as the destination and check the fare range.
  4. 4Match the license plate before getting in. Tolls may be added to the fare.
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Fastest

Official airport taxi (Noi Bai Taxi, Mai Linh, or Vinasun)

₫300,000 to ₫450,000 (12 to 18)

35 to 60 min

  1. 1Exit arrivals and walk to the marked taxi queue, ignoring touts inside the hall.
  2. 2Tell the dispatcher or driver your city center hotel name.
  3. 3Insist the meter is on, or agree a fare before you set off.
  4. 4Keep small notes ready for the fare and any tolls.
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Cheapest

Vietnam Airlines shuttle bus

₫50,000 to ₫60,000 (2 to 2.50)

45 to 70 min

  1. 1Exit arrivals and look for the Vietnam Airlines shuttle counter or stand.
  2. 2Buy a ticket and board the bus to the Vietnam Airlines office near the Old Quarter.
  3. 3Get off at the drop-off and walk or take a short Grab to your hotel in the city center.
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Want a driver waiting for you?

Book a fixed-price transfer before you fly and skip the taxi queue.

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Money

Vietnamese dong

VND

$1 is about ₫25,000

Cards

Cards work in hotels, malls, and larger restaurants. Street food, markets, and small shops are cash only.

Tipping

Not expected. Rounding up a taxi fare or leaving a small amount for good service is appreciated.

Cash

  • Carry small notes. Vendors and drivers often can't break ₫500,000 bills.
  • Check the zeros carefully. ₫20,000 and ₫200,000 notes look similar.
  • Count your change before walking away.

ATMs

  • Use ATMs inside banks like Vietcombank, BIDV, or Techcombank for better safety.
  • Expect a per-withdrawal limit, often around ₫3,000,000 to ₫5,000,000.
  • Decline dynamic currency conversion and choose to be charged in dong.

Apps to download

Grab

Must have

Rides, motorbike taxis, and food delivery

App StoreGoogle Play

Google Maps

Must have

Navigation and walking directions

App StoreGoogle Play

Zalo

Local messaging, used by many hotels and tour hosts

App StoreGoogle Play

Be

Local ride-hailing alternative to Grab

App StoreGoogle Play

Google Translate

Menus and signs, with offline Vietnamese downloaded

App StoreGoogle Play

Stay connected

Data is cheap and coverage in Hanoi is good. An eSIM set up before landing gets you online right away.

  • Install an eSIM like Airalo before you fly and switch it on after landing.
  • Buy a tourist SIM at the Viettel, Vinaphone, or Mobifone counters in arrivals. Bring your passport.
  • Use airport Wi-Fi briefly to order a Grab, then switch to mobile data.

Get your eSIM before you fly

Install it at home and you'll have data the moment you land, with no airport SIM queue.

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Good to know

  • Taxi touts in arrivals overcharge. Use the official queue or Grab.
  • Crossing the street takes nerve. Walk slowly and steadily and let motorbikes flow around you.
  • Phone snatching from passing motorbikes happens. Hold your phone away from the curb.
  • Take your shoes off when entering homes and some temples, and dress modestly at pagodas.
  • Agree prices before a cyclo ride or ordering from street vendors without a menu.
  • Fake or unmetered taxis near Hoan Kiem Lake are common. Use Grab or a known brand.
  • Tap water isn't safe to drink. Stick to bottled or filtered water.

Emergency numbers

Prices and tips are AI-written estimates, so double-check anything important.