Hanoi essentials
Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi Old Quarter: Every Option, Price and Time (2026)
Every way from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter with 2026 prices and times: Grab and taxi fares, airport bus 86, private transfers, SIM cards, cash and avoiding scams.
Quick answer
Noi Bai Airport is about 27 km north of the Old Quarter, 40–60 minutes by car. The easiest option is a Grab, Xanh SM or Be car (about 280,000–400,000 VND, fixed in the app); the cheapest that reaches the Old Quarter is airport bus 86 to Hanoi Railway Station (45,000 VND); official taxis run about 300,000–450,000 VND. There is no metro or train to the airport yet.
On this page
- The short version
- How far is Noi Bai from the Old Quarter?
- Every way into the city, compared
- Airport bus 86: cheapest way to the Old Quarter
- Grab, Xanh SM and Be: easiest door to door
- Official metered taxis
- Private transfers and our airport help
- Avoiding airport taxi scams
- SIM card, eSIM and Wi-Fi
- Getting cash on arrival
- Your first day in Hanoi
- Related tours
- FAQ
- Sources
The short version
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is about 27 km north of the Old Quarter – roughly 40 minutes to an hour by car. Pick your route by how you travel:
- Easiest, door to door: a Grab, Xanh SM or Be car, about 280,000–400,000 VND (US$11–16), price fixed in the app before you book.
- Cheapest that reaches the Old Quarter: airport bus 86 to Hanoi Railway Station, 45,000 VND per person.
- Groups, late arrivals, no data: an official metered taxi from the rank, about 300,000–450,000 VND.
- Want it arranged? Message us on WhatsApp and our team can book a taxi to bring you to your tour meeting point.
How far is Noi Bai from the Old Quarter?
The airport is about 27 km north of central Hanoi, across the Red River by Nhat Tan Bridge. Allow 35–50 minutes off-peak and 45–60 minutes in rush hour (roughly 07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00). There is no metro or train to the airport yet, so every option below is by road.
Every way into the city, compared
| Option | Price (2026) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab / Xanh SM / Be (app car) | 280,000–400,000 VND (US$11–16) | 35–50 min | Door to door, fixed price |
| Official metered taxi | 300,000–450,000 VND | 35–50 min | Groups, late arrivals, no data |
| Private hotel/tour transfer | About US$15–20 | 35–50 min | Arranged in advance, name board on arrival |
| Airport bus 86 (express) | 45,000 VND per person | 50–70 min | Budget, light luggage, near Hoan Kiem |
| City bus 17 (and 7, 90, 109) | About 9,000 VND | 70–90 min | Lowest cost, plenty of time |
Local tip: prices and timetables change. The app always shows a live, all-in fare (tolls included), so it is the easiest way to know what you will actually pay before you get in.
Airport bus 86: cheapest way to the Old Quarter
Bus 86 is the airport express run by Transerco, Hanoi’s public bus company. It links both terminals (T1 and T2) with Hanoi Railway Station on Le Duan Street, crossing Nhat Tan Bridge and passing the Long Bien area and Hoan Kiem Lake. For the Old Quarter, get off at the stops around Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Fare: 45,000 VND per person (about US$1.80). Luggage travels free.
- Hours: roughly 05:15 to 22:15, about every 45 minutes.
- Payment: cash to the conductor on board, and contactless card is also accepted.
- Journey: about 50–70 minutes depending on traffic; air-conditioned, with luggage space.
- Last stretch: from the Hoan Kiem stops, walk or take a short Grab to your hotel.
Grab, Xanh SM and Be: easiest door to door
The ride-hailing apps Grab, Xanh SM (all-electric cars) and Be all work at Noi Bai and show a fixed price before you book, so there is no meter to watch and nothing to negotiate. A car to the Old Quarter is typically 280,000–400,000 VND, a little more at night or in the rain.
- Install the apps and add a payment method before you fly.
- You need data or airport Wi-Fi to book – see the SIM section below.
- Follow the app to the ride-hailing pickup point; it is a short walk from arrivals.
- Check the plate number and driver match the app before you get in.
Official metered taxis
If you would rather not use an app, go to the official taxi rank outside arrivals and ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal. Reputable companies include Mai Linh (green), Taxi Group (white), G7 (yellow) and Xanh SM (electric). A metered fare to the Old Quarter is usually about 300,000–450,000 VND, tolls included.
- Make sure the meter is on, or agree the full price before you set off.
- Have your hotel address written down, ideally in Vietnamese.
- Any toll or surcharge should be explained at the start, not added at the end.
Private transfers and our airport help
A pre-booked private transfer (about US$15–20) meets you in arrivals with a name board and takes you straight to your hotel – the most relaxed option after a long flight. Our own tours do not collect you from the airport, but if you message us on WhatsApp in advance, our team can arrange a taxi to bring you from Noi Bai to your tour meeting point. See hotel pickup and meeting points for how that works.
Avoiding airport taxi scams
Most arrivals are smooth, but a few tricks are worth knowing. The UK government and local operators report these around Noi Bai:
- “Taxi? Where are you going?” inside the terminal. Legitimate drivers wait at the rank or match an app; walk past anyone touting rides at the door.
- “Your hotel is closed / has moved.” A driver who says this is steering you to a place that pays him commission. Insist on the exact address you booked.
- A “free” airport transfer you did not arrange. Only use a car you booked, an app car that matches, or the official taxi rank.
- Rigged meters or no meter. Use an app for a fixed price, or agree the fare before you leave.
SIM card, eSIM and Wi-Fi
Getting online on arrival makes everything easier – maps, ride-hailing and messaging your hotel or guide.
- Carriers: Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone, with official counters in the arrivals area.
- Buy from an official counter rather than an unofficial seller, and bring your passport – you need it to register a SIM.
- eSIM: if your phone supports it, a Vietnam eSIM set up before you fly gets you online the moment you land.
- Free airport Wi-Fi covers the terminals if you just need to book a ride first.
Getting cash on arrival
You will want some Vietnamese dong for a bus or taxi. There are ATMs and exchange counters outside the arrival gates. Airport exchange rates are usually a few per cent worse than in town, so many travellers change only a small amount here or withdraw a modest sum from an ATM, then sort out the rest in the city. More in our money and tipping guide.
Your first day in Hanoi
Most of our Hanoi tours include free hotel pickup around the Old Quarter; if you stay elsewhere, you meet us at 46 Nguyen Huu Huan Street or the Hanoi Opera House. If you land in the morning and want an easy first outing, a short tour such as our 2-hour jeep city highlights tour fits an arrival day well. For a tour on the day you land, message us on WhatsApp first so we can confirm the timing. Next: getting around Hanoi.
Tours this guide helps with
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Half-Day Electric Scooter City Tour
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From $60
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per adult
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi Old Quarter?
The easiest option is a Grab, Xanh SM or Be car (about 280,000–400,000 VND, price fixed in the app). The cheapest that reaches the Old Quarter is airport bus 86 to Hanoi Railway Station (45,000 VND). Official metered taxis cost about 300,000–450,000 VND and suit groups or late arrivals. The airport is about 27 km north, 40–60 minutes by car.
How much is a taxi from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter?
An official metered taxi is usually about 300,000–450,000 VND with tolls included. A ride-hailing car (Grab, Xanh SM, Be) is often a little cheaper at 280,000–400,000 VND, with the price fixed in the app before you book. Avoid drivers touting rides inside the terminal.
How much is Grab from Noi Bai Airport?
A Grab, Xanh SM or Be car to the Old Quarter is typically 280,000–400,000 VND (about US$11–16), a little more at night or in the rain. The app shows the full fare, tolls included, before you confirm, so there is nothing to negotiate.
How much is the airport bus 86 and where does it go?
Bus 86 costs 45,000 VND per person and runs between both airport terminals and Hanoi Railway Station on Le Duan Street, passing Hoan Kiem Lake. For the Old Quarter, get off at the Hoan Kiem stops and walk or take a short Grab from there. Luggage travels free.
What time does airport bus 86 run?
Bus 86 runs roughly from 05:15 to 22:15, about every 45 minutes. You pay the conductor on board in cash, and contactless card is also accepted. The journey takes about 50–70 minutes depending on traffic.
How long does it take from Noi Bai Airport to central Hanoi?
About 27 km and 35–50 minutes off-peak, or 45–60 minutes in rush hour (roughly 07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00). The airport bus takes a little longer, around 50–70 minutes.
What is the cheapest way from the airport to the city?
Ordinary city buses such as route 17 cost about 9,000 VND but are slow (70–90 minutes) with little luggage space and drop you near Long Bien, about 1 km from the Old Quarter. For a few times the price, airport bus 86 (45,000 VND) is faster and far more comfortable.
What is the best option late at night or with lots of luggage?
A ride-hailing car or an official metered taxi. Both go door to door in 35–50 minutes, carry luggage easily and run at any hour, while bus 86 stops around 22:15. A pre-booked private transfer (US$15–20) is the most relaxed if you want someone waiting with a name board.
How do I avoid airport taxi scams at Noi Bai?
Use an app for a fixed price, or take a taxi from the official rank outside arrivals – Mai Linh, Taxi Group, G7 or Xanh SM. Walk past anyone offering a ride inside the terminal, insist on the exact hotel address you booked, and never accept a “free” transfer you did not arrange.
Where can I buy a SIM card at Noi Bai Airport?
Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone have official counters in the arrivals area. Buy from an official counter rather than an unofficial seller, and bring your passport, which you need to register a SIM. If your phone supports eSIM, you can set up a Vietnam eSIM before you fly.
Can Eco Trip Asia pick me up from the airport?
Our tour vehicles do not go to the airport, but if you message us on WhatsApp in advance, our team can arrange a taxi to bring you from Noi Bai to your tour meeting point. For getting into the city on your own, the airport bus, Grab and taxis are all covered above.
Should I change money at the airport?
Change only a small amount or withdraw a modest sum from an airport ATM for your first ride, as airport exchange rates are usually a few per cent worse than in town. There are ATMs and exchange counters outside the arrival gates; sort out the rest of your cash in the city.
Sources
We check facts against these sources. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the official source before you travel.
- Noi Bai airport bus 86 – price, timetable and stops (Thaiest, updated 2026) (as of Oct 2026)
- Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi Old Quarter – 2026 options and prices (Day Trips Vietnam) (as of Oct 2026)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Vietnam travel advice (taxi and transfer scams) (as of Oct 2026)
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