From Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter
You land tired in a new city, so pick the transfer that fits your hour and your bags.
For most arrivals, a pre-booked car or Grab is the easy way from Noi Bai to the Old Quarter. The public bus is simple and low in cost if you travel light in daylight. Choose by your landing hour, bags and who is with you.
How far is it, and what does that mean?
Noi Bai (airport code HAN)1 is about 35 km north-east of downtown Hanoi2. That is a real drive, not a short hop.
Traffic and the hour change the time, so we give no fixed duration. Allow a buffer on the first day, and do not book a tight activity right after landing.
How do the four options compare?
| Basis | Public bus | Grab | Taxi | Pre-booked car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost level | Least | Middle | Middle to high | Highest |
| Effort | Walk to stop, then to hotel | Find pickup point | Queue, agree meter | Meet driver at arrivals |
| Bags and elders | Hard | Fine | Fine | Easiest |
| Price certainty | Fixed fare | Shown in app | Meter | Agreed in advance |
| Night arrival | Check last service | Usually available | Available | Best |
What do we know about the bus?
Hanoi bus 86 runs between Noi Bai terminals T1 and T2 and the Old Quarter and Hanoi Railway Station, with a fare listed at 45,000 dong when we checked3. Fares change, so confirm before you go.
Check the last service against your landing time. The bus works for one or two adults with small bags who can walk the last stretch to the hotel.
When is Grab the better choice?
Grab operates in Vietnam4, so you can order from your phone, see a price and follow the route. Set up the app with a data plan or airport Wi-Fi before you leave the terminal. Confirm the pickup point at the airport, because it may be a short walk.
Our guide to airport pickup, Grab or taxi explains the trade-offs in more depth.
Who should pre-book a car?
Pre-book if you land late, travel with a child or elder, or carry large bags. You pay more, but the driver waits with your name, and the price is agreed before you fly. See late-night arrivals and transfer planning if your flight lands after dark.
What should you check before you leave the airport?
- The exact hotel address, saved offline in Vietnamese.
- Your pickup point, and a number to call.
- A small amount of dong for tips, bought before or at the airport.
- Whether your Old Quarter lane is too narrow for a car, so the last walk is short.
Pick your stay area first with Hanoi Old Quarter and Hanoi Old Quarter vs other stay areas. For the wider city, see the Hanoi guide. Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi are listed with AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and VietJet Air5. More route help is in Getting around Vietnam.
Tell us your landing time, bag count and who is with you, and we can say which way into the Old Quarter fits your arrival.
Common questions
What is the easiest way from Noi Bai to the Old Quarter?
A pre-booked car with your name at arrivals is the easiest, especially after a long day or with elders. You pay a fixed price agreed in advance and skip the queue. If you travel light and want to save, the airport bus is simple and far lower in cost.
Is the airport bus safe for first-timers?
It is a normal public bus, so keep your bag on your lap and your phone zipped away. It suits one or two adults with small bags in daylight. With a stroller, a suitcase each or a late landing, a car is less stress.
How do I avoid being overcharged by a taxi?
Use the official taxi line, ask for the meter before you sit and have the hotel address ready in Vietnamese. Refuse drivers who approach you inside the terminal. If you are unsure, order Grab or a pre-booked car instead.
Should I pay the driver in cash or by app?
Follow the booking. Grab lets you pay in the app, and a pre-booked car can be paid in advance, so you need not count cash after a flight. Keep small dong notes for a tip or for the bus.
Sources
- Noi Bai International Airport has IATA code HAN and ICAO code VVNB. Wikipedia
- Noi Bai is about 35 km northeast of downtown Hanoi. Wikipedia
- Hanoi public bus 86 runs between Noi Bai terminals T1 and T2 and the Old Quarter and Hanoi Railway Station, fare 45,000 VND. Wikipedia. Fare changes; check before travel.
- Grab operates in Vietnam; GrabTaxi first launched in Ho Chi Minh City in February 2014. Wikipedia
- Kuala Lumpur International to Hanoi Noi Bai is listed as served by AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and VietJet Air. Wikipedia. Wikipedia destination table; check airline sites for current schedules.
Keep planning
Tell us your landing time, bag count and who is with you, and we can say which way into the Old Quarter fits your arrival.