Take bus 86 if you are travelling light, arrive between early morning and mid-evening, and your hotel is near Hoan Kiem Lake or Hanoi Railway Station: it costs about 45,000 dong per person and takes roughly 50 to 70 minutes (). Take a Grab if there are two or more of you, you have big bags, or you land late, because one car to the Old Quarter usually costs about 230,000 to 320,000 dong including tolls and drops you at the door.
Cover and social-card photograph: Christakis Mina, CC BY-SA 4.0; cropped and resized.
Noi Bai International Airport is about 30 km north of central Hanoi. Most international flights use Terminal 2 and domestic flights use Terminal 1; bus 86, Grab and taxis serve both. The trip crosses the Red River on the Nhat Tan Bridge and enters the city near West Lake before reaching the Old Quarter.
| Your situation | Better starting choice | What to check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, light bag, hotel near Hoan Kiem or the railway station | Bus 86 | Cash in small notes |
| Two or more people, or large suitcases | Grab | Pickup point set to your terminal |
| Landing after about 10 pm | Grab or a licensed taxi | Last bus 86 departure |
| Hotel in Ba Dinh, West Lake or Cau Giay | Grab | Drop-off address in Vietnamese |
| Lowest fare, plenty of time | City bus 90, 109 or 17 | Which terminal and city stop it uses |
| Arriving at evening rush hour | Either, with extra time | Allow over an hour by road |
Bus 86 is the dedicated airport express route, linking both terminals with Hanoi Railway Station. Heading into the city it passes the Long Bien area and the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, so many Old Quarter hotels are a 5 to 15 minute walk from a stop. Buses run about every 25 to 30 minutes, roughly from 5:15 am to 10:10 pm, with first departures from the airport a little after 6 am and the last ones before 11 pm (mia.vn).
The fare is about 45,000 dong per person, luggage included, paid to the conductor on board. Carry small notes, because change for large ones is not guaranteed. At Terminal 2 the stop is a short walk along the kerb from the taxi lanes; follow the bus signs from arrivals.
Photo: KK70088, CC BY-SA 2.0; cropped and resized.
Set the pickup to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 in the Grab app, and book once you are out of customs; the app shows the exact pickup lane. The fare is fixed when you book. Recent reports put a GrabCar to hotels near Hoan Kiem Lake at about 250,000 to 290,000 dong, within a wider range of 230,000 to 320,000 dong depending on demand and drop-off point, tolls included (The Traveler). Surge pricing can push it higher at busy times.
By car the trip takes about 35 to 45 minutes in light traffic and an hour or more at rush hour. Old Quarter streets are narrow, so a driver may stop at the nearest corner rather than the hotel door. Licensed taxis from companies such as Mai Linh and G7 also queue outside arrivals, with metered fares typically around 300,000 to 400,000 dong.
For one person, bus 86 at about 45,000 dong is roughly a fifth of a Grab fare. For two people, two bus tickets still cost far less than a car, but a Grab saves the walk from the stop with bags. For three or four people, one Grab of around 250,000 to 300,000 dong is often the simplest choice, especially at night.
The hotel location matters too. Bus 86 suits the Hoan Kiem and railway station area. If you are staying in Ba Dinh, around West Lake or out in Cau Giay, Grab avoids a second leg across town.
Photo: cloud.shepherd, CC BY 2.0; cropped and resized.
Regular city buses also serve the airport for under 10,000 dong. Route 90 runs to Kim Ma via Giang Vo, route 109 to My Dinh bus station, and route 17 to Long Bien (mia.vn). They are slower, have little luggage space and stop in places less convenient for most visitors, so they suit backpackers with time to spare.
Bus 86 stops running before 11 pm, so for a late arrival plan on Grab or a licensed taxi from the official queue. Ignore drivers who approach you inside the terminal. If you are using Grab, check your fare in the app before you leave arrivals, and share your hotel's address in Vietnamese so the driver can find it quickly.
Withdraw or exchange a small amount of dong at the airport if you plan to take the bus. If you plan to use Grab, install the app, add a payment method and save your hotel address before you fly. Note your terminal, because international and domestic arrivals use different buildings.
A co:sim data-only eSIM can be installed before departure so Grab and maps work as soon as you land. It provides data only, without a Vietnamese phone number, so keep your home SIM active for SMS codes if your phone supports two lines.
Decide by group size, luggage and arrival time first, then compare co:sim for the rest of your Vietnam trip.
About 45,000 dong per person, paid in cash on board, with luggage included. Check the fare at the stop in case it has changed.
The last buses leave the airport before 11 pm. Arrivals later than that should plan on Grab or a licensed taxi.
Usually, yes. A GrabCar to the Old Quarter is often about 230,000 to 320,000 dong with tolls, while metered taxis typically run about 300,000 to 400,000 dong. Grab also shows the price before you book.
You need data to book a Grab and see where your driver is waiting. Bus 86 needs only cash, but data helps you follow the route and walk to your hotel.
A co:sim data-only eSIM provides data without a phone number, calls or SMS. You can set it up before departure and use it as soon as you land. Compare network and validity details on co:sim's Vietnam plan page before choosing.
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co:sim Team