Select Airport
HAN Noi Bai International
45 min to city

Hanoi

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is 35 km north of Hanoi's Old Quarter. The most reliable option is a Grab…

How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From HAN
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION50m
TRANSIT45m
EXPLORE1h 15m
RETURN45m
BUFFER55m
Recommended Itinerary

Your layover plan

Arrive & Immigration
~50 min · HAN
  • Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
  • Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
  • No e-gates for foreign passport holders at T2. Evening arrivals from Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei bunch up between 20:00-23:00 and can push immigration queues past 45 min. Have your e-visa printout or QR ready; officers scan it at the counter.
Transit into the city
45 min

Airport bus 86 (45,000 VND, every 20-30 min) is the cheapest route to central Hanoi; departs from the bus bay outside T1 and T2 arrivals. Grab and Be apps usually beat airport taxis on price (280,000-350,000 VND vs 400,000). If taking a metered taxi, stick to Mai Linh or Vinasun to avoid fare scams.

Explore Hanoi
~1h 15m of free time
The round-trip commute from HAN to the Old Quarter takes 90 to 120 minutes, leaving almost no usable city time for a 3 to 6 hour layover after clearing immigration. Stay airside at the airport. The international terminal has cafes and a lounge area. Use the time to eat, rest, or visit the lounge if you have access.
Return to HAN
45 min back to airport
  • Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
  • Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
  • Set an alarm 100 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~55 min buffer before gate
  • Re-entry security at HAN typically takes 10-20 min
  • Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
  • Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat

Best eats for a layover

What to See

Top sights for your time window

Practical Info

What you need to know

Currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND). ~25,000 VND = 1 USD (2026). ATMs across Hanoi accept foreign cards with 3-4% fees. Cash dominates street markets, taxis, and small eateries; cards work at hotels, mid-range restaurants, and supermarkets. Small bills (10,000-50,000 VND) are essential for daily spending.
Language
Vietnamese is the official language. English is common in hotels, airlines, and Old Quarter tourist restaurants but limited with taxi drivers and street vendors. Google Translate camera mode handles menus and signs well. Useful phrases: 'xin chào' (hello), 'cảm ơn' (thank you), 'bao nhiêu' (how much).
Visa
Most nationalities need an e-visa ($25, 90-day single or multiple entry via evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, 3 business days processing). UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Nordic passports get 45 days visa-free. ASEAN citizens get 21-30 days. Transit under 24 hours allowed airside without visa at HAN. Verify before travel, visa rules change.
Transit
HAN sits 27 km north of the Old Quarter. Metered taxi 350,000-400,000 VND, 35-45 min (insist on meter or agree fare upfront). Grab or Be ride-hail 280,000-350,000 VND. Airport bus 86 runs every 20-30 min, 45,000 VND, reaches Hanoi Railway Station in ~50 min. No airport metro line yet.
Weather
Subtropical with four seasons. Hot and humid May-Sep (30-35°C, heavy rain, typhoon risk Jul-Sep). Cool and damp Dec-Feb (14-18°C, often overcast with light drizzle). Best windows Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr with dry weather and mild 20-25°C temperatures.
Tipping
Not traditional but increasingly expected in tourist areas. 5-10% at sit-down restaurants if no service charge; round up at local pho joints. Hotel porters 20,000-50,000 VND per bag. Spa staff 50,000-100,000 VND. Taxis: round up to the nearest 10,000 VND.
Emergency
Police 113, Fire 114, Ambulance 115. General emergency 112 from mobiles. Tourist Police operate in the Old Quarter (Hoàn Kiếm District). For international-standard care, head to Vinmec International Hospital or Hanoi French Hospital.
Time Zone
Indochina Time (ICT), UTC+7. No daylight saving. 12 hours ahead of US Eastern, 7 hours ahead of UK, 1 hour behind Tokyo and Seoul, 3 hours behind Sydney.
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