About Noi Bai Intl. Airport
Noi Bai International Airport has the largest passenger capacity in Vietnam and was opened in 1978 in the capital city of Hanoi. Noi Bai International Airport is open to the Vietnamese army for the use of their military aircrafts, as well as civilian flights and in 2001, a modern terminal building was built. In 2006, as part of the expansion project, the second runway was opened at the airport and in 2015, the second terminal building was opened. There are thirty two airlines that operate out of Noi Bai International Airport mainly from Moscow, Tokyo, Seoul, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Istanbul and 34 metropole flights. The airport serves at least 20 million passengers annually.
Getting to the City Center from Noi Bai Intl. Airport
Hanoi airport connects the country and the world with Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi. It is also the largest and busiest airport in the country. Noi Bai International Airport, the airport’s official name, is located 45 kilometres from the city centre. Many airlines like Pacific Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Air Asia, Cathay Pacific, and Hong Kong Airlines fly to Hanoi airport. The expectation of travellers are met thanks to the restaurants, cafes, and duty free stores inside the airport. You can conduct your banking transactions at the airport with ease thanks to the presence of ATMs and bureau de change (currency exchange) offices. Buses, minibuses, taxis, and shuttle services are all transportation modes that can be utilized to reach the city centre. Hiring a vehicle would be a good option if you are planning to visit different areas of the city, as well as well as the historical and touristic spots in the outskirts of Hanoi. You can hire a vehicle from the airport. In general, taxi fares are not too high in Hanoi. However, you can also share a taxi from the airport to reduce the cost of travelling to the city centre. It is advisable for travellers planning to use taxis to negotiate a price with the driver before getting into the vehicle. If you are planning to use public transportation, it is recommended that you carry the local currency: the Vietnamese dong. Even though public transport drivers may accept dollars and euros, using the local currency is likely to be more advantageous. You can reach the city centre and the historical and touristic spots outside of the city by also using a shuttle service from the airport. You can travel to many areas of Hanoi by using a minibus. However, it should be noted that minibuses are generally overcrowded and could be inconvenient for tourists that have little information about the city. You can comfortably use buses that transports travelers from Noi Bai International Airport to the city centre. The bus ticket price of the journey from the airport to many central points of the city is affordable. Nonetheless, it is important to keep in mind that buses are not the most comfortable mode of transportation in the city. Bus routes 7 and 17 connect the airport to the city centre, and are parked outside of the airport terminal building. The journey to the city centre by bus takes approximately 1 hour, and costs 5,000 dong; equivalent to 0.3 dollars. The buses that depart every 20 minutes operate from 05.00-22.00. Bus route 7 terminates at the Kim Ma bus station, and bus route 17 terminates at the Lon Bien bus station. Even though it is not as cheap as bus fares, minibuses are also an economical mode of transportation in Hanoi. Minibuses that are stationed a few metres outside of the airport terminal can reach the city centre a little quicker when compared to buses. A one-way trip from the airport to the city centre will cost around 32,000 dong, which is about 2 dollars. Minibuses stationed outside of the airport start to move only when they are full with passengers. If you are planning to reach the airport from the city centre, you can find minibuses in front of the Vietnam Airlines office in Quang Trung. In comparison to bus and minibus fees, taxis are more expensive, but the fee of travelling with a taxi around the city is still not too high when considering the distance travelled. You can find yourself on the streets of Hanoi city centre in around 30 minutes by getting a taxi stationed outside the domestic and international terminal buildings. The taxi fares are determined by the distance travelled, and the area of the city you are planning to visit. However, on average, taxi fares are 320,000 dong; equivalent to 20 dollars. Another mode of transportation available could be the airport shuttle services provided by hotels. Travellers are picked up from outside the airport terminal and escorted to the hotel. You must book in advance with your hotel to benefit from this service. Travellers avoid paying high taxi fares and overcrowded minibuses by booking a hotel shuttle service in advance. There are also alternatives for travellers that wish to be transported to Noi Bai International Airport with a luxurious vehicle. By searching online, you can ensure that a luxurious vehicle will be waiting for you outside of the terminal building. Even though hiring a luxurious vehicle, including a chauffeur if required, is in general used by business travellers, you can also take advantage of this alternative. After landing at Noi Bai International Airport, you can resume your trip by hiring a vehicle from a car rental agency. The rate for car rentals is relatively reasonable. Although there is heavy traffic in Hanoi in specific hours of the day, renting a vehicle would be a more comfortable alternative when compared to buses and minibuses. You can reach the city centre from the airport in almost 30-35 minutes with your hired vehicle by following directions. Bus
Minibus
Taxi
Hotel Shuttle Service
Luxurious Vehicle
Car Rental
Getting to Noi Bai Intl. Airport from the City Center
Buses, minibuses and taxis are among the vehicles you can use to get to the Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport from the city center. Moreover, the fares of these vehicles are generally affordable. If you want to have a more economical transportation service from the city center to the airport, you should choose buses and minibuses in the city.
If you are traveling with your children or want a more comfortable vehicle, you have a chance to get to the Hanoi Airport from the city center by taxi for about 20 US dollars. You can also get to the airport by using the minibuses departing from the city center, but since these minibuses usually move after they are full (jam-packed with passengers), if you need to catch your plane, the taxi will be a much more suitable choice for you.
Bus
The first public transportation alternative you can use to get to the Noi Bai International Airport from Hanoi city center is buses. You can easily arrive at the airport by using bus routes 7 and 17 that you can find in the city.
The fare for using buses carrying passengers to the Hanoi International Airport by moving from Kim Ma and Long Bien stops in the city center is 5,000 dong for each passenger. That's equal to 0,3 US dollars.
The travel to the city by bus takes about 1 hour and there are bus services from the early hours of the morning until the evening hours.
Minibus
You have a chance to arrive at the Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport by using the minibuses in the city. The minibus moves from the city center and carries its passengers to the airport quickly and comfortably. But the amount you need to pay for the travel is not as affordable as the bus fare. You should pay dong equaling to 2 dollars for benefiting from the minibuses. You can get information from your hotel about the minibus stops for going to the airport from the city.
If you plan to use minibus option to get to the airport, remember to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure time of your plane. So you can reduce the risk of missing your plane because of any unexpected situations.
Taxi
When you need to travel between one of the central locations of the city and the airport or when you want to visit a place in the city which is not too far away, you can easily evaluate taxi option among your alternatives. In the city, the taxis offer service for 24 hours a day and therefore, you can flag down any taxi whenever you want without any restriction. You can arrive at Hanoi Airport in about 30 minutes by taxi. You can save time by completing your travel much faster than by bus or minibus. The amount you need to pay for taxis in the city is around 20 US dollars in general, although it varies depending on your location in the city center. If you want to reduce this amount a little, you can share your taxi by finding other passengers going to the airport.
Airport Services
If you are staying in one of the hotels located in the center of Hanoi, you can also arrive at the airport by using one of the services offered by your hotel. Airport services in the city are both convenient and highly advantageous. However, please note that you should contact your hotel before planning your travel in order to receive information on availability of services. In Hanoi, the prices of both taxis and public transportation vehicles such as buses and minibuses are not very high. For this reason, you have a chance to travel with these vehicles without exceeding your budget. Airport services can be provided by certain hotels for free or a nominal fee. You can also get information about the fees before heading away and make your reservation accordingly.
Car Rental
Public transportation in Hanoi is generally sufficient for passengers going to the airport. Moreover, the fares of these vehicles are generally affordable for passengers. However, if you want to visit different places in the city, you can consider the option of renting a car. There are many alternatives to rent a car in the city. You can continue your travel with the car you have rented by choosing among these alternatives depending on your needs and budget.
Luxury Vehicles
If you want to travel around Hanoi with a more luxurious and comfortable vehicle, different alternatives are waiting for you in the city center. The luxurious vehicles you can rent in the city usually have their own drivers. You can travel anywhere you want without having to drive in a very comfortable way. However, you should know that these vehicles will cost higher than the alternatives such as buses, taxis and car rental.
Airport Information
In Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, which connects Vietnam's capital city Hanoi with the major cities of the world and Far East, there are many options waiting for you before and after your travel. Although the airport is not very large, it is extremely comfortable. It also provides passengers with almost all the services found at a standard airport, especially buffets, restaurants, cafes, duty free shops and stores where you can buy souvenirs.
At the airport, international flights are performed from Terminal 2 and domestic flights are performed from Terminal 1. Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport also has a parking lot for passengers arriving by car. You can be at the airport terminal for in just a few minutes after parking your car here.
There is also a free shuttle service offered by the airport for the transportation between terminals. If you want to spend time at Noi Bai International Airport before or after your flight, you can visit the stores located in the terminal building where you can also find interesting souvenirs.
ATMs are also available at the airport, where you can perform various banking transactions such as withdrawing or sending money. From the information desk found at Hanoi Airport, you can get help and support for many issues, including alternative vehicles that you can use to go to your destination in the city. From here, if you need, you can get information about the phone cards that you can use to make calls in Vietnam or abroad.
