Hanoi airport to the city: Noi Bai transfers by Express Bus 86, taxi and Grab

The Short Version: Arriving at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), travellers have several reliable routes into central Hanoi. Express Bus 86 costs 45,000 VND per person, leaves from outside both terminals, and stops beside the Old Quarter before terminating at Hanoi Central Railway Station. If travelling with heavy luggage or arriving late at night, book a GrabCar via the app for 250,000 VND to 350,000 VND (plus 10,000 VND to 15,000 VND for the airport toll barrier), or take an official metered taxi from Mai Linh or Taxi Group from the outdoor rank for approximately 320,000 VND to 400,000 VND. Pre-booked private transfers arranged online provide meet-and-greet service in the arrivals hall.

Noi Bai Airport terminal layout and orientation

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is located 30 kilometres north of Hanoi’s historic centre. The airport operates through two main passenger terminals:

• Terminal 1 (Domestic Flights): Serves all domestic flights across Vietnam, including routes from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc operated by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways.
• Terminal 2 (International Flights): Handles all international arrivals and departures. It is a modern multi-level facility featuring baggage reclaim and customs on the ground floor (Level 1) and departures on Level 3.
• Inter-terminal shuttle bus: A complimentary electric shuttle bus connects Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 every 10 to 15 minutes between 06:00 and 23:00. The shuttle stop is clearly signposted outside the main ground-floor exits of both buildings.

Once you have cleared passport control and collected your baggage in Terminal 2, the arrivals hall contains airline information desks, currency exchange counters, bank ATMs, telecommunications stands and official transport desks.

Comparison of transfer options

The table below outlines the primary transit choices between Noi Bai Airport and the central districts of Hanoi.

Or book a private airport transfer

Book a Noi Bai International Airport Private Transferad{rel=“sponsored nofollow noopener”} to meet your driver at the arrival gate and travel directly to your Old Quarter hotel without negotiating taxi fares.

Express Bus 86

Express Bus 86 is specifically designed for air travellers heading into the centre. The buses are bright orange, air-conditioned and fitted with spacious luggage racks in the front and centre vestibules.

• Boarding points: At Terminal 2 (International), exit the ground-floor arrivals hall, cross the first road lane to the central island, and locate the clearly marked Bus 86 column. At Terminal 1 (Domestic), the bus departs from the road platform outside the domestic arrivals wing.
• Paying your fare: You do not need to buy a ticket inside the terminal building. Board the bus, stow your suitcase on the luggage rack, and take a seat. A uniformed conductor carrying a handheld electronic ticketing machine will come down the aisle to collect 45,000 VND per passenger in cash and hand you a paper receipt. Have small denominations ready (such as 50,000 VND or 100,000 VND notes).
• Key stops along the route:
  • Au Co / Yen Phu (convenient for accommodation in West Lake / Tay Ho)
  • Long Bien Bus Interchange (northern edge of the Old Quarter)
  • Tran Nhat Duat / Nguyen Huu Huan (walking distance to eastern Old Quarter hotels)
  • Hanoi Opera House (ideal for the French Quarter)
  • Hanoi Central Railway Station (Ga Ha Noi on Le Duan street)

On your return journey from the city back to Noi Bai Airport, you can board Bus 86 at the same marked stops heading northbound, including the bus stop near the Melia Hotel on Ly Thuong Kiet or directly outside Hanoi Railway Station.

GrabCar ride-hailing

Mobile ride-hailing is exceptionally convenient in Vietnam. The Grab mobile application operates seamlessly in Hanoi, allowing you to secure a vehicle without language barriers or fare uncertainty.

• Setting up the app: Download the Grab app onto your smartphone before travelling. You can link your international credit or debit card directly to the app, which avoids handling cash on arrival.
• Booking your ride: Connect to the airport’s free terminal Wi-Fi or activate your mobile data connection. Open the app, enter your destination address (e.g., your hotel in the Old Quarter), and select “GrabCar” (4-seat) or “GrabCar Plus” for a larger, newer vehicle.
• Pickup location: At Terminal 2, exit the terminal doors and walk across to the passenger pick-up lanes. The app displays the vehicle registration plate, make, colour and driver’s name. Message or call your driver within the app if you need to coordinate your exact pillar number.
• Toll charges: Noi Bai Airport charges an automated barrier fee of 10,000 VND to 15,000 VND when passenger vehicles pass through the exit gates. If you pay for your ride by card in the app, the driver will enter this toll amount onto the digital receipt upon drop-off. If paying by cash, provide the extra toll sum together with the metered total.

Official metered taxis

Traditional taxis line up at designated airport ranks outside both terminal buildings. If you choose not to use mobile data or ride-hailing apps, stick strictly to established national fleets:

• Mai Linh Taxi: Recognisable by their solid emerald-green cars and uniforms. Mai Linh uses regulated digital meters calibrated to distance and waiting time. Contact hotline: 1055.
• Taxi Group: Fleet of crisp white saloon cars and seven-seater people carriers with distinctive red and navy blue side stripes. Contact hotline: 024 38 26 26 26.
• Avoiding touts: As you walk through the sliding exit doors, various drivers and unbadged coordinators will approach you whispering “Taxi? Where you go?”. Ignore them completely. Walk directly to the curb where uniformed taxi coordinators stand alongside marked company posts.
• Approximate cost: A standard metered ride to the Old Quarter or French Quarter runs between 320,000 VND and 400,000 VND, plus airport exit tolls. Several operators offer a flat negotiated airport rate of around 350,000 VND; if offered a fixed package, verify that highway tolls are included before entering the vehicle.

Private airport transfers

For late-night arrivals, large family groups with multiple suitcases, or travellers who prefer personal assistance, pre-booking a private airport transfer offers complete peace of mind.

• Booking platforms: Private transfers can be reserved in advance through platforms such as GetYourGuidead or directly via your accommodation’s concierge desk.
• Arrival procedure: Your driver will wait in the arrivals greeting area directly outside the secure baggage customs exit, holding a sign displaying your name. They assist with your luggage and escort you straight to an air-conditioned saloon car, SUV or multi-passenger minivan parked in the VIP collection area.
• Pricing: Standard pre-booked sedan transfers start around 300,000 VND to 350,000 VND, while spacious luxury minivans (such as Ford Transits or luxury limousines) cost 500,000 VND to 700,000 VND. Airport parking fees and highway tolls are normally bundled into the prepaid voucher.

Buying a local SIM card or eSIM at the airport

Having mobile internet is invaluable for navigating Hanoi, calling Grab rides, and translating menus:

• Airport telecommunications desks: Immediately after exiting customs into the Terminal 2 arrivals concourse, you will find retail kiosks for Vietnam’s primary mobile network operators: Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone.
• Data packages: Tourist SIM cards cost between 200,000 VND and 350,000 VND, typically including 3GB to 5GB of high-speed 4G data per day for 15 to 30 days, alongside local domestic calling minutes. Viettel provides the widest network coverage across northern Vietnam, which is particularly beneficial if you are continuing on excursions to Ha Long Bay or trekking in Sapa.
• Passport registration: Staff will photograph your passport photo page to register the physical SIM card officially into the national network database before installation.
• eSIM alternative: If your smartphone supports digital eSIM profiles, purchasing an eSIM online prior to departure allows you to connect automatically to local networks the moment your flight touches down on the tarmac.

Currency exchange and ATMs

Noi Bai Airport has full banking facilities to acquire your initial Vietnamese Dong:

• Cash exchange: Official bank booths (Vietcombank, BIDV) in the arrivals hall offer transparent currency exchange rates for major currencies including euros, US dollars, British pounds, Australian dollars and Singapore dollars. Notes must be crisp, clean and free of tears, ink stamps or heavy creases.
• Bank ATMs: Automated cash machines from Vietcombank, BIDV, Agribank and HSBC line the perimeter walls of the arrivals lobby. Standard ATM withdrawal limits range from 2,000,000 VND to 5,000,000 VND per transaction, with domestic machine fees typically between 30,000 VND and 60,000 VND plus your home bank’s international transaction fee. Keep small notes handy for your initial public transport fares and street food meals.

Once settled in town, continue planning your stay with our comprehensive Hanoi city hub guide and our neighbourhood breakdown of where to stay in Hanoi.

Before you land, set up data with eSIM for Vietnam and read money in Hanoi for dong and ATMs.