How to get to Hanoi, Vietnam

1. How to get to Hanoi, Vietnam

a. By plane – The most common way to get to Hanoi

As the capital of the country, there are so many daily flights from other cities to Hanoi. You can refer to the fares of airlines such as Jetstar Pacific, Vietjet Air or Vietnam Airlines.

Getting from the airport into Hanoi: 

Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport is located 45 kilometers from central Hanoi. Therefore, if you want to get to the center of Hanoi, you have to choose one of the options below:

b. By train – From another big city in Vietnam

If you do not want to get to Hanoi by airplane because of this cost, you can choose train for its cheaper cost. However, the travel time will be much longer and you can comfort like travel by airplane. But it is still a good option.

Hanoi’s main train station is located not far from the center of Hoan Kiem, on the border of Ba Dinh district on Le Duan Street. If you are traveling in some big city in Vietnam, you can take a train ticket and get to Hanoi.

• Hue to Hanoi: Hard sleeper with air-con 27-36 US$, soft sleeper with air-con: 36-37 US$ VND, 13 hours.
• Da Nang to Hanoi: Hard sleeper with air-con: 28-37 US$, soft sleeper with air-con:41-42 US$, 15.5 hours. It is a part of the way from Hoi An to Hanoi
• Nha Trang to Hanoi: Hard sleeper with air-con: 50-65 US$, soft sleeper with air-con: 67-68 US$, 25.5 hours
• Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi: Hard sleeper with air-con: 64-67 US$, soft sleeper with air-con: 68-69 US$, 33 hours.

Here are the detailed guides to travel from some big cities to Hanoi for you  including Singapore to Hanoi, Siem Reap to Hanoi, Hong Kong to Hanoi, Luang Prabang to Hanoi,  Halong Bay to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Danang to Hanoi

2. How to get around Hanoi, Vietnam

a. By “xe om”/Grab bike

Hanoi is the bustling city and it is quite crowded. Therefore, traffic jam always happens. The site to visit is quite far apart, so if you want to get around Hanoi, the best option for you is to choose Grab bike or “xe om”. The way to use Grab bike is shown above, you can take a look again. With “xe om”, they appear all around with the sign “XE OM’’ in front of the motorbike. Several places too close so you can walk to visit.

Xe om’s price is much more expensive than Grab bike but it is very convenient to take. To take a Grab biker, you must have the app on your phone and the internet, even sometime you must wait too long for the driver. Therefore, If you are urgent, the best way to get around is “xe om”.

b. By taxi

If you do not like the motorbike, you can easily hail a taxi on the street or request one from the comforts of your hotel. This taxi service is suitable for some destinations far from the center of Hanoi (Hanoi airport, Halong bay, Ninh Binh, Hai Duong …). Because in the center of Hanoi, the street is so small, people are so crowded and choose the taxi service downtown, the old quarter, Hoan Kiem,  will quite difficult to move.

Taxi drivers in Hanoi are also loath to give back change. If this is a big deal for you, bring smaller bills to pay the exact change.

Some of the most popular taxi companies & phone numbers in Hanoi:

• Taxi CP (+84 43 826 2626).
• 52 Taxi (+84 43 852 5252).
• Hanoi Taxi (+84 43 853 5353).
• Mai Linh Taxi (+84 43 861 6161).

c. By electric car/cyclo

In Hanoi Old Quater, there are 2 types of transport to sightseeing is an electric car and cyclo. Each type has its own interesting.

For the electric car, which runs by the battery and owned by Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company. At this time, the station in front of Dong Xuan market has 12 cars with 8 seats per car. The price of a city tour ticket is quite cheap. Tourists can enjoy a 30-minutes route in the old quarter by electric bus with only 1 US$. The electric bus takes passengers slowly with speed of 12km/h so that tourists can enjoy the whole beautiful sight of Hanoi.

The ticket stall is located on Dinh Tien Hoang Street – the tree-lined boulevard right next to Hoan Kiem Lake and the (weekend) walking street.

Cyclo is Hanoi’s bicycle rickshaws. Passengers ride in the front cab, while the driver sits behind the passenger. Cyclo cabs are made for two passengers and are ideal for exploring short distances within Hanoi Old Quater.

A ride in a cyclo should cost you about 5 US$ for an hour’s ride. If can find a cyclo in any place of Hanoi Old Quater, just take it like take a taxi.

d. By motorbike rental

If you want to have some driving experient in Hanoi, you can rent a motorbike on your own to explore Hanoi. The foreigner said that “Traffic in Vietnam is crazy, especially in Hanoi’’, so that you must consider lots before hiring a motorbike.

All are priced at US$ 3 to US$ 4 per day. Be aware that when traveling by motorbike, you must carry all vehicle documentation like a driver's license, vehicle registration, and also passport with the foreigner. Besides, you must comply with road safety regulations & prepare some types of equipment such as helmets, gloves, glasses, vehicle speed, etc for your safety. If you are not an experimenting driver, this option is not to be recommended.

In my point of view, the motorbike is the most convenient vehicle for travelers: cheap, easy to use, easy to repair and you may travel to many destinations as Ha Giang, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Halong bay, Hai Phong, Hue …

Some hotel can easily rent a motorcycle or book a tour for you or someplace for you to rent a motorbike:

• Van Chinh Motorbike
  Address 2: 24D Ta Hien Street, Hang Buom Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
  Phone: 0989 595 533
  Website: www.chothuexemayohanoi.vn
• Phung Motorbike
  Address: 13 Ngo Huyen, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  Phone: 090 425 34 91
• Flamingo Hanoi Motorbike
  Address: 66 Dao Duy Tu, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  Phone: 024 3926 4012
• Gia Hung motorbike rental
  Address: Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  Phone: 093 634 51 23