Getting Around Hanoi in Hanoi
Part of the Hanoi travel guide — see every topic in All Hanoi Guides.
Hanoi is busy, but it is not hard to get around. The Old Quarter is best on foot. For longer trips, ride-hailing apps are cheap and simple. The city also has two metro lines and a large bus network. This guide explains your options and how to travel between Noi Bai airport and the city.
Grab, taxis and motorbikes
Ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to move around Hanoi. Grab is the best known, and there are local apps too. You can book a car or a motorbike taxi, see the price before you ride and pay in cash or by card. Motorbike taxis are fast in traffic and cheap, and the driver gives you a helmet. Metered taxis are also common. Use well-known companies and check that the meter is on. Traffic is heavy at rush hour, about 7 to 9 am and 4:30 to 7 pm, so allow extra time then. Have your hotel address written in Vietnamese on your phone.
The metro
Hanoi has two metro lines open. Line 2A opened in 2021 and runs on an elevated track from Cat Linh, west of the Old Quarter, to Yen Nghia in the Ha Dong area. Line 3 opened its first elevated section in 2024, from Nhon to Cau Giay in the west of the city. An underground extension of Line 3 to the main railway station is still being built. The trains are clean and air-conditioned. Fares are low and based on distance. You can buy tickets at stations, and the lines also accept QR codes and contactless bank cards. Neither line reaches the Old Quarter or the airport yet.
Buses and walking
Hanoi has many city buses. They are cheap and air-conditioned, but routes can be confusing. A bus map app helps you find the right number. Some city tour buses with open tops also run around the centre. In the Old Quarter, walking is the best way to explore, but pavements are often full of parked motorbikes and food stalls. To cross the road, walk at a slow, steady speed and do not stop suddenly or run. Drivers will go around you. Use traffic lights and crossings where you can, and take extra care at night.
Noi Bai airport links
Noi Bai International Airport is north of the city, about 30 km from the Old Quarter. The drive takes about 45 minutes to one hour, depending on traffic. Grab and taxis are the easiest choice, and many hotels can book a car for you. The 86 airport express bus runs between the airport, the Old Quarter area near Long Bien and the main railway station. It is cheap and has space for luggage. Other public buses go to different parts of the city but are slower. Terminal 1 is for domestic flights and Terminal 2 is for international flights. Check your ticket before you go.
Practical tips
Get a local SIM or eSIM at the airport or in the city, so you can use ride-hailing apps and maps. Keep some small notes for buses and street vendors. Many places now accept QR payment through Vietnamese bank apps. Cars cannot enter some narrow Old Quarter lanes and the weekend walking street area, so drivers may stop at the edge. Long-distance trains leave from Hanoi Railway Station, south-west of Hoan Kiem Lake. For day trips, private cars with drivers are easy to book through hotels and travel agents. Always agree on the price first.
Getting Around Hanoi at a glance
| Airport | Noi Bai, about 30 km north; about 45 minutes to one hour by car; 86 express bus to the centre |
|---|---|
| Hours | Metro and most buses run from early morning to about 10 or 11 pm; Grab runs all day |
| Cost | Metro and buses are cheap; Grab shows the price before you ride |
| Best time | Avoid rush hour, about 7 to 9 am and 4:30 to 7 pm |
| Metro | Line 2A (Cat Linh to Yen Nghia) and Line 3 (Nhon to Cau Giay) |