Find Your Best Way from Hanoi (Noi Bai) Airport to The Old Quarter

Overview

Hanoi is situated in the delta of Northern Vietnam, making it a perfect location for the capital to spread its transportation system. This aspect is getting more attention in recent years as Hanoi has become a favorite destination for tourists. Even foreign friends can easily find a suitable transport to explore the featured heritages of Hanoi.

Overview Hanoi (Noi Bai) Airport

One of the best spots to explore ancient architecture and real local lifestyle is the Old Quarter. In fact, the route from the airport to the Old Quarter has the most searches. If you're looking for the best way to get to Hanoi Old Quarter from Hanoi Airport (HAN), you've come to the right place.

Not as close to the city center as Danang Airport or Tan Son Nhat Airport, Hanoi Airport (Noi Bai International Airport) is located almost 30 kilometers away from the Old Quarter. Still, as the second-largest airport in the country, Hanoi Airport makes it easy for you to transport to the city center and other regions. But too many options can be confusing! Follow us as we show you the 4 best ways to get from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi's Old Quarter, the heart of the entertainment and preserved culture.

How to travel from Hanoi Aiport to the Old Quarter

By Airlines’s Shuttle Bus

The bus can be an option worth considering for its clear routes and competitive prices. You can simply catch a bus from Hanoi Airport to the Old Quarter, as there are plentiful options to choose from, whether it is Airline’s Shuttle Bus or Public Bus. If you want to travel with convenient and affordable transport, Airport Shuttle Bus is a great option for transiting to the city center.

Hanoi (Noi Bai) Aiport to the Old Quarter by Airlines shuttle bus

According to the newest update, there are 3 airlines Vietnam Airlines, VietjetAir, and Jetstar Pacific serving buses to pick up and drop off passengers from Noi Bai Airport to the city center and vice versa. Here is the useful information that you need to know about each:

1. Vietnam Airlines

Destinations: T1 Terminal Gate - No.1 Quang Trung Street, Hanoi

Time and Frequency: 30 -45 minutes/ride, from 5 a.m to 10 p.m

Ticket price: 40.000 VND ($1,7USD)

2. Vietjet Air

Destinations: T1 Terminal Gate - No 69. Tran Nhan Tong Street, National Circus, Hanoi

Time and Frequency: 30 -45 minutes/ride, from 4 a.m to 10 p.m

Ticket price: 40.000 VND ($1,7USD)

3. Vietnam Airlines

Destinations: T1 Terminal Gate - No.37 Quang Trung Street, Quang Trung Bus Station, Hanoi.

Time and Frequency: 30 -45 minutes/ride, from 4 a.m to 10 p.m

Ticket price: 40.000 VND ($1,7USD)

The operating hours of the Airport Shuttle Buses are quite broad, so you can depart from Hanoi Airport even in the early morning or late at night. Also, you don't have to fly with the above airlines to board their airport shuttle bus, but the departures will correspond to each supplier's flight schedule.

Hanoi (Noi Bai) Aiport to the Old Quarter by Vietjet Air shuttle bus

Please be aware that the minibusses from the airlines will only leave from Hanoi Airport to the city when it is full of passengers, so sometimes you have to wait a long time for them to depart.

By Public Bus

If you are in no rush and want to save a little bit for the trip budget, you can choose among the public buses depending on your target locations.

The luggage storage will be shared among all passengers and has limited space, so if you have large luggage, we recommend scrolling down to find a more suitable mode of transportation.

Bus No.86

1. Bus No.86

Route: T1 & T2 Terminal Gate – Hanoi Railway Station

Time and Frequency: 30 minutes/ride, from 5 a.m to 9 p.m

Ticket price: 30.000 VND ($1,3USD)

2. Bus No. 07

Route: Parking lot P2, Terminal T1 – Cau Giay

Time and Frequency: 15-20 minutes/ride, 5 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Ticket price: 8.000 VND (0.4USD)

3. Bus No. 17

Route: Parking lot P2, Terminal T1 - Long Bien

Time and Frequency:  10-15 minutes/ride, 5 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Ticket price: 8.000 VND (0.4USD)

4. Bus No. 90

Route: Parking lot P2, Terminal T1 –  Kim Ma

Time and Frequency:  20-30 minutes/ride, 5.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.

Ticket price: 8.000 VND (0.4USD)

Bus No.90

The cheapest options for taking a bus from Hanoi Airport are buses 07, 17, and 90 but these buses can only access the airport's domestic terminal (Terminal T1). If your flight arrives at Terminal T2 and you want to take this bus, it will take you about 5 minutes to take a shuttle bus or electric car to switch to the other terminal.

Bus 86 can depart from either terminal, so you can choose this bus from the gates of the T1 & T2 Terminals. For a higher price, you will get a larger space with 60 seats, modern facilities, and a direct stop to the Old Quarter. For buses 7, 17, and 90, you have to transfer from bus to bus because they don’t contain stops inside the Old Quarter zone. Remember to search the route carefully beforehand if you don't want to spoil the trip right from the start.

Local tips! You may not want to catch the bus during rush hours (8 a.m. – 9 a.m., and 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.) as the buses will be much more crowded and the travel time can be much longer. Try to avoid these time periods.

Please take note that most Vietnamese drivers can’t speak English fluently, so you can ask for help or use translating apps. To pay for the ticket, you also have to prepare some small amounts of VND as they prefer cash. Or else, you can book a transfer service at reasonable prices offered by many local travel agents.

By Taxi

Taking a taxi from Hanoi airport to the Old Quarter is a good option if you want to avoid sharing a vehicle with strangers and be flexible with drop-off locations.  There are 2 ways for you to catch a taxi after you land at Hanoi International Airport: traditional taxis and Grab cabs.

Traditional Taxi

Taxis are arranged to wait for guests right on the ground floor, the public area of T1 & T2 arrival halls. You can see the area if you walk out of the airport's entrance doors; also, don't be surprised if some drivers approach you and offer you a ride. There are plenty of taxis there and you should look for some reliable and legalized taxi brands.

The taxi meter in front of the cab will show you how much to pay. For a 30 km transfer, the taxi fare will be around 13-15 USD. However, to avoid scams or overpaid fares, you should ask the price first before getting in, and it’ll be even better if you learn some bargaining skills to deal with that.

Traditional Taxi

Note: Make sure you find a way to communicate with the driver, or at least be able to show them the right destination, as they mostly don’t speak English. The driving time can fluctuate from 35 to 60 minutes, depending on the traffic situation.

Grab taxi

Technology taxis are now very popular in Vietnam, and they are a great alternative to traditional taxis for avoiding untrustworthy taxis and other risks. The only thing you need to do is download the taxi app and the booking process will be explained in detail. Be careful in pinning down the drop-off location, as the different gates of the airport can be confusing.

Grab Taxi

Note: After you finish the booking, the driver may call or text you to confirm some information or to know your exact standing point, so pay attention to your phone until the taxi comes.

By Private Car

If you don’t want to spend too much time picking the right taxi and prefer a more private way to transfer from Noi Bai International Airport to the Old Quarter, you can consider a private car service. This type of transportation has a higher fare than the others mentioned, but there will be no queuing, no waiting, and unknown costs. In fact, you should pre-book this service in advance for the most optimized price and choices in car mode, luggage storage, and optional English driver requirement.

Most agencies can arrange a driver to pick you up right at the arrival hall at Hanoi Airport. They will hold a sign with your name on it, so you won’t need to search around. If you provide your flight code, the driver will make sure to pick you up on time, so you won’t check in late at hotels in the Old Quarter.

Private Car of Vietnam Airport Car

You can have your hotel reserve a private car for you or actively book the service online. Vietnam Airport Car has experience in serving private transfers, including a variety of car models - all in new conditions with experienced drivers. Contact us now to receive devoted assistance based on your group size and preferred pick-up time don’t want to miss your flight or be late for the check-in procedure...

That is some advice we think you will need to have a pleasant journey from Hanoi airport to the downtown of the Old Quarter without worrying about tourist scams, as well as making sure that you have the most updated information. If you want to explore the culture and many other aspects in other parts of Vietnam after your stay in Hanoi, you can travel to Tam Coc - Ninh Binh for golden rice fields, or Halong Bay for world heritage sightseeing.

Those two destinations are both close to Hanoi and can be reached by private car service from Vietnam Airport Car.

We hope you can use this blog to help you plan your trip to the amazing destinations in Vietnam!