Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) serves the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi in the northern part of the country and is the second-busiest airport in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in the south. Between the two is the 4th busiest route in the world with more than 450 flights per week.
The airport is located around 30 km north of central Hanoi, in the Phú Minh commune, across the Red River from the city.
Noi Bai Airport handled over 35 million passengers in 2025, ranking among the 10 busiest airports in Southeast Asia.
Major Airlines - Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air
Noi Bai is a major hub for Vietnam Airlines, the flag carrier. The national airline flies to all other major airports in the country, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Can Tho, etc. It also operates direct flights to more than two dozen international destinations in Southeast and East Asia, and Europe.
However, VietJet Air is the airline with the most flights at HAN. The low-cost carrier offers the cheapest way to over 35 destinations, both within Vietnam and within the region, and as far as Central Asia, with stopovers allowing direct flights to Europe.
Bamboo Airlines is another large Vietnamese airline that offers domestic flights to/from Hanoi.
Foreign airlines present at HAN include several East Asian carriers, for example, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, ANA, Japan Airlines, and Air China.
Global carriers you can use to connect to the rest of the world via their major hubs include Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Click here to see all airlines with scheduled services at HAN and their routes.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Noi Bai Airport has two separate passenger terminals:
Terminal 1 for domestic flights: An older and smaller terminal on the east side. Has 17 gates spread over 5 concourses (A to E)
- Terminal 2 for international traffic. Built in 2014 and much more modern. Located about 1.2 km to the west of Terminal 1. Uses 30 gates, numbered 21 to 50. Spread over 4 levels:
Level 1: International Arrivals.
Level 2: International Transfer/Departing passengers and arriving passengers.
Level 3: International Departures.
Level 4: Business class lounges and commercial service areas.
Free shuttle buses connect the two terminals on the landside. They run every 15-20 minutes between 5 AM and 1 AM, stopping on Level 1 of each terminal, directly in front of the entrances:
Floor 1 (Hall A) of Terminal 1.
Floor 1, Lane 2, at Poles 11 and 12 of Terminal 2.
It’s also possible to walk between the terminals - it would take around 15-20 minutes.
Both terminals remain open 24/7, and the Security Checkpoints at both operate around the clock. Staying inside overnight is allowed but requires a valid boarding pass.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Hanoi Airport
Noi Bai is a transit hub, especially for Vietnam Airlines.
International-to-international transfers are actually the easiest. You will arrive on Level 2 of Terminal 2, and all you need to do is go up to Level 3, where you can remain within the airside transit area until your next flight. The transfer counters are located in the central area on Floor 2, before Immigration.
International transits are also possible for VietJet, despite it being a low-cost airline. You may have to take your boarding pass at one of the transit desks.
Domestic-to-domestic transfers are also reasonably simple, as you won’t have to leave Terminal 1 and won’t go through any checks.
For transfers between domestic and international flights, you will need to change the terminal. As noted in the section above, you can use the free shuttle bus, walk, or take a taxi for the short trip.
You will need to go through Security and Immigration. Usually, 90 minutes is enough for the whole process.
A notable exception is if you arrive on an international flight and proceed to a domestic flight bound for Phu Quoc. Since the island is a special visa zone where most nationalities can enter visa-free, you don’t necessarily need a visa for Vietnam. You will be escorted from the international terminal to the domestic terminal. The conditions are that your next flight is on the same day and on the same ticket reservation (PNR).
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Free WiFi is available throughout both terminals of the airport. Select “@Airport Free Wifi - Goldsun” from the list of available networks, which will automatically open a welcome page. Click on the “Connect to the Internet" button to begin using the wi-fi. It’s not limited in duration or bandwidth.
Other passenger services at HAN include:
ATMs: At least 8 different banks have ATMs in Terminal 1, and at least 6 different banks have machines in Terminal 2, all in the public areas.
Currency Exchange: Vietinbank and ACB Bank have exchange desks in Terminal 1, while BIDV Bank, Maritime Bank, Vietinbank, and Techcombank have exchange desks in Terminal 2.
Luggage storage: Available 24/7 on the second floor of Terminal 2. The daily storage fee is 120.000 vnd.
Baggage carts: Available in both Arrivals and Departures of both terminals.
Baggage wrapping: Several machines are available in the check-in area of both terminals.
- Medical assistance: Available in three locations:
In the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 2.
In the transit area of Terminal 2.
In the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 1.
Lost & Found: All found items are uploaded here.
Lounges at Hanoi Airport
Vietnam Airlines has a lounge in each of the domestic and international terminals:
Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge (Terminal 1, Domestic): Located near Gate 3. Open from 4 AM to 10 PM.
Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge (Terminal 2, International): Located near Gate 28. Open 24/7.
Both lounges accept premium passengers of the airline and of SkyTeam alliance partners.
There are also independent Song Hong Lounges:
Business and Premium Lounge near Gate 5 of the Domestic Terminal. Open from 5 AM to 10 PM.
Business and Premium Lounge near Gate 29 of the International Terminal. Open 24/7.
Anyone can enter those lounges by paying 35 USD at the door or using one of the many lounge membership passes.
Lastly, the ACV Business Lounge is also available in the International Terminal, between Gates 36 and 37 (west wing). The lounge is open 24/7. It’s spacious, modern, and offers business facilities, meeting rooms, a rich buffet, massage chairs, and more. The 3-hour pass costs 35 USD.
Dining Options at HAN
Dining is not very extensive at Hanoi Airport, but there are enough restaurants, cafes, and fast food options to satisfy most travelers.
There is a fair number of options in both the public and the airside areas.
A popular local cafe is the Highlands Coffee, which you can find in the public areas of both terminals, as well as the transit area, zone D of the Domestic Terminal (T1).
Another local favorite is Big Bowl: perhaps the airport’s most recognizable sit-down dining chain. It serves pho, bun cha, fried rice, local beer, and other Vietnamese dishes. You can find it in several places, both before and after security in both terminals.
Fast food chains at HAN include Burger King, Popeye’s, and Starbucks. All have outlets in both terminals except for Popeye’s, which is only available in the International Terminal.
Also worth listing are the noodle bar Two Tigers, located in the transit area of T2, and the sit-down restaurant PuroGusto, which has two locations in the public area of T2.
Transport to and from the airport
Despite the long distance to the city center, Noi Bai Airport has several public transport links to the downtown areas. Most are very useful for travelers and much cheaper than the other options you can read about below.
Three lines link HAN to Hanoi’s city center:
Bus 86 or 86CT: The most direct and thus fastest option. Stops at both terminals, then goes through the historic centre of the city and terminates at Hanoi Train Station. Costs 50.000 VND and runs every 45 minutes.
Bus 17: Stops only at the Domestic Terminal. In Hanoi, it terminates near Long Bien Bridge on the eastern edge of the city centre. Costs 15.000 VND with a frequency of around 15 minutes.
Bus 90: Stops at both terminals, then at the Cát Linh" metro station in the west part of Hanoi. Costs 15.000 VND.
Other buses go to different parts of the city. For example, Bus 07 goes to Cau Giay, Bus 109 goes to My Dinh, Bus 68 goes to Ha Dong, and Bus E10 goes to Ocean Park.
Buses are air-conditioned, rarely too crowded, and relatively comfortable even for travelers with a lot of luggage. Tickets are purchased on board the bus, either sold by the driver himself or by an attendant.
All buses run from roughly 5 AM until around 10 PM, every day, including weekends, and holidays such as Tet. There is no overnight public transport.
Two minivans, NB01 and NB02, also serve the airport. The first uses Ring Road 2, while the latter connects to various urban areas. Both have a frequency of 45 minutes and cost 90.000 VND but aren’t particularly useful to tourists.
Traditional taxis are the most convenient option, but also significantly more expensive than public transportation. Several companies are licensed to operate at Noi Bai Airport, including the largest in Vietnam, Mai Linh. Fares vary very little between companies - around 15.000 to 17.000 VND per kilometer for small cars, plus tolls, depending on the route - inquire beforehand. A trip to Hanoi’s Old Quarter usually costs around 300.000 - 450.000 VND.
Ride-hailing is extremely popular in Vietnam, including Hanoi and the airport. Grab is the most popular app. It is widely used and usually cheaper than airport taxis. A trip to the city center costs around 200.000 to 350.000 VND via Grab.
Hotels near Noi Bai Airport
If you need a bed at the airport, you can use the VATC SleepPods, located on:
The 3rd floor of the Domestic Terminal (T1)
The 2nd floor of the International Terminal (T2)
Both locations offer small sleeping cabins with shared bathrooms. Both are in the public areas of their respective terminals, thus you cannot use them while in transit. Prices are around 10 USD per hour, or 50 USD per night.
Near the airport, one of the best options is the Noi Bai Airport Hotel, just 250 meters from the International Terminal. The hotel features clean, comfortable rooms and a rooftop swimming pool with views of the runway.
Also in the same area are several small transit-focused hotels, for example, the Phương Nam Airport Hotel and Huy Hoang Airport Hotel, both within walking distance of the International Terminal.
Click here to discover more hotels in Hanoi and near Noi Bai Airport.
Hanoi, Viet Nam
