Noi Bai International Airport Guide

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Noi Bai International Airport

Address

Phú Minh, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, Vietnam

Get directions

Phone +84 24 3886 5047

Web Visit website

Noi Bai Airport is one of Vietnam's two main air gateways and the second busiest airport in Vietnam with the capacity to handle over 20 million passengers annually. It's a hub for VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, Cambodia, Angkor Air, and Bamboo Airways.

Direct flights between Noi Bai and airports in America are not available. American travelers will need to fly into Hanoi via Asian hubs like Singapore's Changi Airport, Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, and Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport.

Noi Bai is a major domestic hub for the Vietnamese air network, Jetstar, and Vietnam Airlines connect Hanoi to other airports in Vietnam. Low-cost carriers like Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, and Tiger Airways link Hanoi to other cities in Southeast Asia.

Airport Code, Location, and Contact Information

Vietnam's capital Hanoi welcomes airborne visitors through Noi Bai Airport (HAN), about 40 minutes by car from the Hanoi city center.

• Noi Bai Airport is located about 15 miles (25 km) north of downtown Hanoi.
• Phone Number: +84 24 3886 5047
• Website: http://noibaiairport.vn
• Flight Tracker: https://flightaware.com/live/airport/VVNB

Know Before You Go

Upon leaving any airport in Vietnam, attendants will check your baggage stubs, so make sure you hold on to them and keep them in a safe place.

There are two terminals in Noi Bai Airport that service two different types of flights. Terminal 1, the older terminal, services domestic flights almost exclusively and Terminal 2, which opened in 2014, services international flights.

The two terminals stand about half a mile apart–if you're transferring from a domestic flight to an international one, or vice-versa, take the travel time between terminals into account. A shuttle bus regularly services the gap between the two.

Noi Bai Airport Parking

Each terminal has its own parking garage, and all offer short-term parking. You will be charged a small fee for the first hour and a smaller fee for every 30 minutes after that.

Driving Directions

From Hanoi, you have two options for getting to the airport. You could either take AH-14 or the Võ Văn Kiệt Highway.

Public Transportation and Taxis

The bus is the cheapest way to get to Hanoi from the airport, but also the most crowded and the one that takes the most time. There are multiple bus routes available, depending on where in the city you want to go to. Each bus takes about an hour to arrive at its respective bus station.

• Bus 86 connects airport arrivals directly to Hanoi city stops. This yellow-and-orange bus follows a route from the airport, down through Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter, and terminating at the Hanoi Central Railway Station. Departing visitors can also board the bus as it returns to the airport from the city.
• Bus number 7 runs from Noi Bai to Kim Ma bus station, on the western side of Hanoi.
• Bus number 17 runs from Noi Bai to Long Bien bus station, on the northeast side of the Old Quarter.

Alternately, several airlines offer shuttles between Noi Bai and Hanoi, and this can be a great option for departing the airport.

• Jetstar Pacific offers both drop-off at, and pick-up from, the Jetstar office at 206 Tran Quang Khai Street. The bus departs Noi Bai Airport shortly after the arrival of its flights. To score a seat, reserve and pay on the flight itself before boarding.
• Vietnam Airlines offers both drop-off at, and pick-up from, the Vietnam Airlines office at 1 Quang Trung Street. Buses depart every 30-40 minutes from Terminal 1 arrivals.
• VietJet Air, Vietnam's own home-grown budget airline offers a shuttle bus service between the airport's T1 and the city. Seats must be booked on the official VietJet website at least 24 hours before the flight.

A taxi is the quickest way to get from the airport to downtown. Taxi stands can be reached outside Noi Bai's arrival terminals; exit and walk to the first island beyond the arrivals terminal to find the queue of taxis. You may be approached by "helpful" people inside the terminal asking if you need a taxi, but you would be wise to turn them down and hail a cab from the official area. Another alternative is to download the Grab app to summon either a taxi or a hired car to pick you up at the arrivals area.

Before you decide how you're getting to Hanoi, check to see if your hotel offers a transfer service. The porter will wait at the arrivals gate with a placard bearing your name, and he'll whisk you straight to your hotel from the airport. Sure, it may cost a little extra, but you pay for greater peace of mind in hustle-heavy Hanoi. You can also hire a third-party transfer service to either pick you up from the airport or take you there like Cat Ba Express and Hanoi Transfer Service.

Where to Eat and Drink

Each terminal has its own food court with chains like Burger King and Popeyes, as well as spots to have Vietnamese food like Bigbowl and Lucky Cafe.

In Terminal 1, you can sit down Lucky Cafe for a full meal or stop at one of the cafes like Skyboss where you can grab something quick to eat.

How to Spend Your Layover

If you have a short layover and are looking for a place to simply lie down, you'll find sleep pod services in both terminals. One is located on the third floor of Terminal 1 and the other is located on the second floor of Terminal 2. Each room is bookable by the hour has a TV, a bed, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

It will take at least 30 minutes by cab to get from the airport to Hanoi if there's no traffic, so if you want to explore the city on a layover, you will need at least seven hours. If you are a U.S. passport holder, you will be required to obtain an e-visa to visit Vietnam. You can apply for your visa online up to two days before your trip. Once you are approved, you will receive a letter, which you should print out and bring to the airport with you to show to the customs officers who will stamp your passport with your visa.

If you have large bags you'd rather not bring with you, luggage storage is available in Terminal 2 on the second floor.

Hanoi's Old Quarter is the most popular with tourists and a good place to explore during a short layover in Vietnam. You can also check out one of the traditional water puppet shows at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, visit the pottery village at Bat Trang, or sign up for an Electric Bus Tour.

If your layover is overnight, consider booking a stay in one of the nearby airport hotels like the Viet Village Hotel or Airport View Hotel.

Airport Lounges

At Noi Bai International Airport, there are premium lounges available, each of which is equipped with showers. Many are accessible for a fee, whether or not you have a first or business class ticket.

Vietnam Airlines operates two Lotus Lounges strictly for their business and first-class passengers in Terminal 1, on the third floor, and in Terminal 2, on the fourth floor near Gate 29. The Lotus Lounges are spacious and even feature a theatre room with massage chairs.

If you're traveling in economy class, you can still purchase entrance into one of the other lounges in Terminal 2 like the Song Hong or Noi Bai Business Lounge. In Terminal 1, you can check out the Song Hong Premium Lounge.

Wi-Fi and Charging Stations

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. If it's a little slow, you'll also find many restaurants and shops advertising their own Wi-Fi networks, which may provide a faster connection. Charging stations can be found in many locations throughout Terminals 1 and 2, but can usually find them in the airport restaurants as well.

Noi Bai Tips and Tidbits

• Each terminal has a play area for children, which includes a jungle gym, swings, and seesaws.
• You can fill up your water bottle at one of the "Free Drink" machines scattered throughout the terminals.
• In Terminal 2, on the 3rd floor near Gate 36, there is a rest zone with soft lounge chairs open for all passengers.
• There are a couple of smoking rooms on the third and fourth floor of the international terminal.