Getting Around in Hanoi
Hanoi: Getting there and around on the cheap
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam with its unique blend of heritage and modernity, has been a favourite place for almost newcomers who set foot in Vietnam, especially in the first time. For travelling to and around Hanoi, there are various means of transportation available to you. However, the uninitiated may get troubles or be cheated by unfriendly local drivers. Here is some comprehensive information for your smooth move in Hanoi.
Getting there
Noi Bai International Airport is located about 40 kilometres Hanoi city center. For travellers, the main bit of advice is to seek quickly a comfortable vehicle to move to the city center after a long flight as well as to have a rest. To avoid getting scammed, please read carefully the following list of reliable vehicles.
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The Airport Shuttle bus
Vietnam Airlines has provided shuttle bus transfer from Noi Bai Airport to the center. The capacity’s minibus would be 16 people. You can book a seat even you don’t fly with this airline. A bus leaves every 30-45 minutes from 4.00 a.m to 21.00 p.m. It’s easy to find the bus because it parks in front of the domestic terminal. On the way, if you want to be dropped any place, just ask the driver or bus assistant. The bus fare is VND 40,000/seat/way.
Another option for you is taking a shuttle bus of Vietnamese budget airline VietJet. The bus leaves outside the inland terminal to the Old Quarter. The scheduled route currently runs along Nhat Tan Bridge – the Sofitel Plaza – Tran Quang Khai Street – the east of Hoan Kiem lake. The ticket price is around VND 30-40,000 per person. The disadvantage is that the bus only leaves if it’s full, so you may have to wait.
- Private minibus
A private minibus is quite safe and available 24 hours daily, especially you have to go downtown Hanoi at night. But you may be confused with a variety of minibuses near the airport. Maybe, you are unlucky to meet an unfriendly driver. You also have wait until the minibus is loaded with people. Some minibuses transport tourists directly to their hotel while others drop them off near their hotel to have a walk or a short taxi. Please check the price and the quality of service first. It costs approximately VND 30,000 per one.
- Airport pick-up
One of the most secure vehicles is the airport pick-up. You should be picked up by the hotel’s minivan if you’ve booked a room in advance. It’s important to confirm the address of your hotel before taking a seat in order not to travel to the wrong one. The really good thing is that you can enjoy comfortable and high safety standards. Remember to connect with the exact pick-up time before the day you arrive. The ticket price is normally included in the full service arranged by the hotel, but the cost is probably higher than other vehicles.
- Taxi
If you are looking for fast and suitable transportation, taxi is possibly fine for you. Metered taxis of numerous taxi brands are available around the airport. Unluckily, Noi Bai airport is infamous for its hotbed of dodgy taxi drivers. Be cautious if some drivers try to persuade you to get the cab or even lead you the nose to get a quite high price. There are some recommended taxi brands such as Mai Linh Taxi, Airport Taxi, Noi Bai Taxi, Taxi Group,… Taxi ride downtown Hanoi takes about 30 minutes and the fare ranges from VND 300,000 to VND 350,000.
- Public bus
The most economical way for your tight budget is getting a public bus. The bus stop lies on the right side of the terminal exit. There are three types of buses to connect Noi Bai Aiport with Hanoi city center: number 7, number 17 and number 86. Bus number 7 runs from the airport to Kim Ma bus station. Bus number 17 transfers from the airport to Long Bien bus station. The cheap price is VND 9,000 but it’s often crowded. Pay attention to the departure so that you don’t miss it. If the bus leaves, another bus will come in the next 20 or 30 minutes. It takes you at least 40 minutes to more one hour in case of a traffic jam. Bus number 86 is likely to make you feel better because it carries fewer passengers than those two buses. Especially, the ticket costs VND 30,000 because it is faster and smoother than others. It’s easy for you to find it because his bus is eye-catching with yellow and orange painting. The fixed route includes the airport, Hoan Kiem lake and Long Bien station. It’s convenient that you can ask the bus assistants to stop at the nearest bus station to your hotel. The operation hour of three buses is from 5 a.m to 10 p.m. Therefore, if you travel during the night time, you certainly choose another transportation.
Getting around
Tourists may be amazed by the traffic in the city that has long been chaotic with the endless flow of motorbikes, cars, buses and people. It’s easy to spot a foreigner who is cowering at an intersection or staring the bustling traffic in fear. Obviously, you may get lost in town with a range of weaving and winding streets that seem to be alike to each other at first glance. Here are some suggestions for you.
- Motorcycle Taxi (Xe om)
Motorbike taxi (Xe om) is the perfect local commuting experience for tourists. It’s a piece of cake to find a xe om driver because they always appear nearby hotels, shopping malls, bus stops, stores,… Some tourists are initially worried that it’s unsafe to go with a strange driver. However, most of xe om drivers are plain and kind, especially familiar with local areas. They can easily worm one’s way through congestions and busy streets to take you wherever you want to go. Motorbike taxi rides within 2 kilometres should be around VND 30,000. You should search the distance to estimate the cost and possibly make a bargain with the driver. If you don’t trust drivers on the street, you may book a motorbike taxi from Grab Bike. Grab Bike offers a much cheaper price than the traditional motorbike taxi.
- Cyclo (Xich lo)
A good tip is to travel by a cyclo – a fairly unique method of transportation in Hanoi. This three-wheel cycle is mostly taken by tourists with an aim to enjoy the unforgettable journey around Hanoi Old Quarter. You can not only do sightseeing but also take great photos. The average fare and price range from VND 50,000 to VND 70,000 for an hour-long ride. It’s noted that you should carefully negotiate the rate because you may be given an outrageous price.
- Electric car
If you’re a big fan of environmentally friendly vehicles, an electric car – without the smoke – is the best idea to get around some destinations. It’s particularly safe for the elderly and kids. You can jump in an electric car for one of three scheduled route. The Old Quarter route includes some outstanding streets among 36 old streets such as Hang Buom, Hang Bac and Ma May, and around Hoan Kiem Lake. Route 2 covers Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Railway Station, Hoa Lo Prison and the Opera House. Besides, Route 3 consists the Hanoi Pharmacy University, the Government Guesthouse, Quan Su Pagoda. The drivers know a little English, so he sometimes guides something and points out places. If you join a group, request your hotel to book the electric car tour. The average price is about VND 300,000 for an hour.
- Public bus
There are over 100 different bus routes throughout Hanoi, so just get on and get off the bus to travel everywhere following your plan. The bus is the best option if you want to save money without any worry about air pollution, hot weather and rain. However, you may feel uncomfortable because of the bad smell, the overload capacity and the time-consuming journey in peak hours. A good tip is to write your destination on the phone and then show it to the bus assistant so as not to go the wrong way. The usual bus ticket fee is VND 7,000 – VND 8,000.
- Taxi
If you visit Hanoi for the first time and still wonder how to travel around, taxi is the best option. Taxies are safe, abundant and, best of all, air-conditioned. Nevertheless, it’s not uncommon for taxi drivers to earn an extra fare. You should remember some companies of good repute such as Mai Linh Taxi, Hanoi Taxi, G7,… Most taxi drivers speak very little English, you should write the address of your destination down for the driver. It is about VND 11,000 per kilometre for 4-seat taxi and about VND 15,000 for the 7-seat taxi.
- Bike or Motorcycle Rental
If you are confident to take risks, hiring a bike or a motorcycle to go around Hanoi is not really a bad idea. You can easily find some shops around Ta Hien, Dinh Liet and Hang Bac with remarkable signs of advertisement “Motorbike Rent”. The renting price is relatively reasonable, you be able to negotiate a discount if you’re renting for some days or a week. In the standard price, it costs VND 5,000/hour/bike and VND 120,000/day/motorbike. It may be obviously dangerous for a foreigner to go for a drive in the crazy traffic in Hanoi. Therefore, you should go at medium speed, especially keep slow in busy streets and wear a helmet. It’s noticeable that driving a motorbike on your own is only perfect for a short journey.