Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River, is one of the oldest capitals in the world, where travelers can find well-preserved colonial buildings, ancient pagodas and unique museums in the city center, known as old neighborhood.
And if you are planning to come to Hanoi and wondering what are the best ways to get from Hanoi Airport to the Old Quarter , this topic is definitely for you.
Distance from Hanoi Airport to the Old Quarter
Hanoi Airport is the second largest airport in Vietnam with 40 airlines operating from this airport. The largest airlines are Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air, which serve 42 different destinations. For an overview of all flights departing from Hanoi Airport, see this Hanoi flight map.
Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is located approximately 30 km (i.e. 45 minutes to 1 hour journey) north of the city center. Traveling from Hanoi Airport to the Old Quarter is easy as there are many transportation options to choose from. Let’s see what these transports are.
Best ways to get from Hanoi Airport to the Old Quarter
1.Taxi from Noi Bai Airport to Old Quarter
Taking a taxi from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter is a very quick and convenient way of transportation. For a 30 km transfer it will cost you approximately 13-15 USD for a 4-seater taxi. It will take about 35-60 minutes to get to the city center from Hanoi airport depending on the traffic situation, because the traffic in Hanoi is crazy and during rush hour it is so jammed.
Hanoi Airport Taxi is very easy to find at the airport as many drivers have parked their taxis at the domestic and international arrival halls of Noi Bai Airport. Many companies offer taxi services at Noi Bai Airport, so make sure you choose a taxi from a reliable company to get the best service.
However, it would be good if you ask the price first because some drivers charge foreigners more, around 20-25 USD.
2. Bus from Noi Bai Airport to Old Quarter
From Hanoi Airport to the city center, there are several buses to choose from. Specifically, if you want to take a bus from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter, you can consider some options for your trip.
Local bus 17 is a public bus line connecting Noi Bai Airport to Long Bien Transit Station, located not far from Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
The bus departs only from Hanoi Airport’s domestic terminal (Terminal T1). If you are flying to Terminal T2 and want to take this bus, you must take a shuttle or electric car running between two terminals (the journey takes about 5 minutes), then change to the public bus to get to city.
Express bus 86 is the best bus for tourists traveling from Hanoi airport to the city. The bus can accommodate 60 passengers, so it is normally not very crowded. Buses on this route depart from Noi Bai Airport, go directly to Hanoi Old Quarter, and end the trip at Hanoi Railway Station. Traveling on this bus saves time compared to other public bus lines because there are fewer stops on the 86 bus route.
The Vietnam Airlines shuttle is the transfer service from Hanoi Airport to Hanoi Old Quarter provided by the Vietnamese national airline Vietnam Airlines. You do not need to fly with Vietnam Airlines to board the airport shuttle. Vietnam Airlines Shuttle Bus is a 16-seater minibus, which departs according to Vietnam Airlines flight schedules. However, there is a problem with this shuttle because it normally leaves from Hanoi airport to the city only when it is full of passengers and sometimes you have to wait a long time for it to leave.
The Vietjet Air shuttle is another easy and inexpensive way to get from Hanoi Airport to the city center. You do not need to fly Vietjet Air to board this bus. The bus schedule corresponds to the Vietjet Air flight schedule to and from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). If the bus passes your destination along the route, you can ask the driver to stop anywhere.
To summarize more information about the shuttle schedule and price for you:
| Itinerary | Bus stops | Travel time and price per person | Opening hours and Frequency |
| Local Bus 17 Noi Bai Airport → Long Bien Transit Station | Noi Bai Airport – Highway No. 2 – Chuong Duong Bridge – Long Bien Transit Station | ~1h15 Price: 9,000 VND | 5 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. every 10-15 minutes |
| Express bus 86 Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Railway Station | Noi Bai Airport Terminal T1 -T2 – Au Co – Yen Phu – Hanoi Central Post Office – Hanoi Railway Station | ~50 mins Price: 35,000 VND | 5:10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m. every 20-30 minutes |
| Vietnam Airlines Shuttle Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Old Quarter | Noi Bai Airport – Vo Nguyen Giap – Nhat Tan Bridge – Hanoi Old Quarter | ~30-40 mins Price: 60,000 VND | 6:40 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. every 30-45 minutes |
| Vietjet Air Shuttle Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Old Quarter | Noi Bai Airport – Thang Long Bridge – Hoang Quoc Viet – Tran Nhan Tong | ~40-60 minutes Price: 40,000 VND | 4:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. every 30-45 minutes |
3. Private car from Noi Bai Airport to Old Quarter
For travelers who prefer a more private way to get to Hanoi Old Quarter from Noi Bai Airport, you can choose to take a private car. This type of transportation requires advance booking for the best price and arrangement. When you arrive at Hanoi airport, a guy holding the welcome sign with your name will be waiting to pick you up and transfer you to your destination.
Private transfers can be booked online through local agencies. The price range depends on the type of car you choose, the number of people in your group.
You can see the details of the prices listed below:
| Types of cars | Car (price/car) |
| 4 places (1 – 3 people) | 350,000 vnd |
| 7 places (4 – 6 people) | 380,000 vnd |
| 16 places (7 – 14 people) | 650,000 vnd |
