Hanoi Transportation

Hanoi

Hanoi is served by Noi Bai International Airport, located in the Soc Son District, approximately 40 km (25 miles) north of Hanoi. Noi Bai is the only international airport for the northern regions of Vietnam. Direct daily flights are available to other cities in Vietnam, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Flights to and from the Americas usually involve a transit. The airport has recently been rebuilt with modern facilities.

There are two main highways linking the airport and city. The route to the city via Thang Long Bridge is more direct than Highway 1, which runs along the outskirts of the city. The main highways are shared by cars, motor scooters, with separate lanes by the side for bicycles. Taxis are plentiful and usually have trip meters, although it is also common to agree on the trip price before taking a taxi from airport to the city center. Tourists also sometimes tour the city on Cyclos especially in the Old Quarter.

Hanoi is also the origin departure point for many train routes in the country. The Union Express (tàu Thống Nhất) runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi station (formerly Hang Co station), with stops at cities and provinces along the line. Trains also depart Hanoi frequently for Hai Phong and other northern cities.

The main means of transport within the city are motobikes, buses, taxis, and bicycles. Motobikes remain the most common way to move around the city, due to their flexibility in navigating small streets, lack of parking spaces for cars, and also being more fuel economic than automobiles. The number of private cars are however rising every year, and traffic at peak hours can be very heavy at main intersections.

Public buses run on many routes and fare can be purchased on the bus. For short trips, "xe ôm" (literally, "hug vehicle") motorcycle taxis are available where the passenger sits at the rear of a motobike and the driver will take you to your destination. A taxi is more convenient for longer trips, and if you do not wish to travel in open air.



Noi Bai int'l Airport: 40-50min. by car
Airport tax: Int'l $10, Domestic 20,000D
Access:
Shuttle bus $3 Can get off at major hotels.Taxi $10
Caution: Choose your transportation before you leave the terminal because you will be surrounded by drivers outside. Negotiate the price, make sure it includes the highway charge.
Transport to Airport
City Bus: #7, #17 from Buho
Shuttle bus: $3 from Vietnam airline office, $4 pick-up at your hotel
Taxi: You can reserve at Cafes such as, Queen Cafe $8 for 1, $10-12 for more than 2

Caution: From the airport choose your taxi driver before you leave the terminal because you will be surrounded by drivers outside. Negotiate the price, make sure it includes the highway charge.

ietnam Air: 1 Quang Trung T8250888 F8248989
M-Sa 7:00-18:30, Su8:00-11:30,13:30-17:00
Branch: 15 Ngo Quyen (Pullman-Metropole) T8243222
Branch: 27 Thai Phien T8216165
To Danang 950,000D, To Dien Bien 620,000D, To Hue 950,000D, To Nha Trang 1,400,000D, To Saigon 1,650,000D, To Nasan 520,000D

Fares at travel agents:

TRAIN STATION Ga Hanoi Le Duan St.1km SW from the Hoan Kiem Lake By cyclo from center. 7-8 min. (5,000-8,000D). ticket office: 7:00-12:30, 13:00-20:50


Train fares: H: Hard, S: Soft, A: a/c, U: Upper, M: Middle, L: Lower Prices in 1,000D
South bound

North bound

to Haiphong: HS 20,000D
to Dongdang, HS29,000D, to Nin Nang: SB 600,000D, to Beijin: SB 1,700,000D

to Lao Cai:

LC1: HS 62,000D, HB 96-117,000D, SB 121,000D
LC5: HS 65,000D, HB 99-123,000D, SB 155,000D

Travel agents organize buses traveling from Hanoi to Hue, Hoian, Nhatrang, Dalat(if it is not included, the fare is cheaper.) and to Saigon.You can break jouney at any of those destinations. It is called "Open Tour" tickets. It is supposed to be the same price even if you buy separately. But at this moment, some traevl agents offer discount prices for Hanoi to Saigon(with/without Dalat). If you use only buses for this route, compare the difference of the fares.
Fares at Sinh Cafe: Bus to southbound dep 19:00, to Hue: 18 hrs $7,
To Hoian: $18, To Dalat: $18, to Saigon: $22.5
Bus to Lao Cai: $10-13,

Bus to Laos
Tourist buses
Hanoi to Vientiane Laos.
Sinh Cafe $22(2004info), WSu dep18:00
Bao Long GH: $38 WSu dep18:00, $35? Th20:00,
Culture Tours: #1 Hang Be T9260424 $28-29?, depTu6:00
To Savannaket
Bao Long GH: $24, 5:00(ask which day the bus runs)

Public Bus
Take a bus From Hanoi to Vinh , then Vinh ->Trong Tam? $2 2hr, Trong Tam?->Cao Treo, jeep $3 1hr . Cross the border, then from Kaew Neua -> Laksao 15000kip 1hr , then Laksao ->Vientiane 15000k 3.5hr. Connection is not good at all. Expect to wait for long time at each town.