Hanoi Noibai Airport (HAN) Flights & Flight Status

Hanoi’s Noi Bai is an increasingly congested airport, which is why the government has now approved plans to build a new one. But as that second airport won’t be ready until 2050, we’ll be using Noi Bai International Airport for quite some time yet. In the meantime expansion works at the International Terminal are ongoing, and due to be completed by 2026.

All that said, it generally functions well enough despite passenger numbers exceeding its design capacity. Armed with a little knowledge, you should be able to get through and onto your flight with relative ease.

Terminal layout & finding your way around

Noi Bai has just two terminals. T1 is for domestic, and the newer T2 is for international. Neither will win any design awards but they are far from terrible (especially T2.) They’re located around 850 meters or a half mile from each other, and there’s a free shuttle to take connecting passengers between the two.

Check-in, security & immigration

This simple layout makes it quite difficult to get lost. At both terminals the route to your flight is straightforward. Check-in counters are in the first part of the departures hall, then it’s on to immigration (if travelling internationally) and after that, security.

It is possible for outgoing passport control to get very busy, so unless you’re travelling domestically it could be worth budgeting extra time. Security checks are standard issue and usually not too much hassle, but wait times do vary.

Fast track service

Hanoi’s Airport offers fast track services that are rather comprehensive, both for departure and arrival. In either case if you opt for the full package you’ll be met by a representative who will usher you through the process, bypassing queues through check-in, security, passport control and/or visa stamping as applicable. It’s not especially cheap but it is very convenient!

Transiting at Noi Bai

If you’re connecting at Noi Bai Airport from one international flight to another, the process of transferring is very simple. You’ll be able to stay in Terminal 2 and avoid leaving the secure area.

However if you’re connecting from international to a domestic sector, the process is more cumbersome. You’ll need to go through immigration & customs on arrival and get the shuttle to Terminal 1. Allow for plenty of time to do this, especially if on separate tickets.

Domestic arrivals

While I haven’t had this happen at international baggage claim, it’s worth remembering that when you land on a domestic flight and claim your luggage, you’ll be asked to show your baggage receipt (the little sticker that usually gets stuck to your boarding pass) to exit. It’s always worth holding onto those stubs in case your baggage gets/delayed lost anyway, but even more so here.

Airlines & destinations

Hanoi has excellent connectivity with other Asian cities alongside many domestic destinations within Vietnam. Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is one of the busiest domestic routes in the world with flights departing constantly throughout the day. The rapid growth of VietJet Air also means quite a bit of service both domestic and international around the continent.

Longer-haul there are fewer options, with most European carriers opting to serve Ho Chi Minh City instead. However you can reach Doha (Qatar Airways), Dubai (Emirates) and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). And home carrier Vietnam Airlines can take you direct from Hanoi to London, Frankfurt, and Paris.

Shopping

I don’t honestly come to Noi Bai Airport to shop. It has the usual duty free and souvenir offerings, but it’s nothing to budget extra time for. Of the souvenir shops the Bamboo Souvenir Shop is probably the best.

Interestingly there is the option to buy artworks and embroidery at the airport. If you’re leaving Vietnam and had meant to grab some art to take home, maybe it’s useful.

Dining

You’ll find all kinds of food offerings including proper sit down restaurants serving Vietnamese food as well as international chains offering fast food, and a few things in between the two. If you’re hungry and have a little time, I say it’s never a bad idea to pop in for a quick bowl of pho noodles.

Lounges

There are just a few lounges on offer at Noi Bai which at least reduces the amount of decision-making you’ll need to do. Vietnam Airlines business class passengers and Skyteam elite members will have access to Vietnam Airlines lounges. They have one each in the domestic and in the international terminals.

There is also a Song Hong contract lounge in both terminals, while the international side offers one additional option in the Noi Bai Business Lounge. Both offer paid access by the day. The Business Lounge is not part of the Priority Pass network but the Song Hong is. Given the choice I’d pick the Song Hong anyway.

Wi-Fi

The airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout, with a relatively easy sign-in process. It’s not always the fastest connection, but it does generally work.

Getting to and from Noi Bai Airport

The airport is located quite a ways from the city centre/old quarter of Hanoi and it’s a good idea to count on roughly an hour to reach it by car (though it may take more in the region of 45 minutes).

Taxi & ride-hailing apps

Most travellers will end up taking a taxi to and from the airport because it’s the most convenient and it’s also very affordable. Standard metered taxis are regulated and do the job well enough. Be aware they may tack on an extra charge for the airport toll (but it’s not much).

Note that there is no Uber in Vietnam. Instead, get yourself an account on Grab, the ubiquitous ride-hailing app around much of Southeast Asia. It’ll be very convenient to have while in Vietnam either way. Grabs do tend to be a bit cheaper than standard taxis, and I always use it for transport here.

Minivan

Some of the airlines offer shared minivan service between the airport and Old Quarter with a few stops along the way. If you don’t mind not going door-to-door right to where you’re staying, this can be a perfectly fine way to travel and it’s exceedingly cheap. You can catch one as you exit the arrivals hall.

Bus

If you’d like to save even more money, you also have the option of an express bus into town. Again the only downsides really are potentially having to wait a little while, and ending up at a fixed point downtown. The buses are orange – you can’t miss them.

What to do during a layover

Since the airport is quite far from the city centre and there’s not a great deal around it to do, I generally recommend only leaving the secure area if you have at least seven or eight hours between flights.

If you do have a full day between flights, however, the world (or Hanoi) is your oyster. If it were me I’d head to the Old Quarter and just stroll around. If you’re into Vietnamese food I always find joining up with a street food tour (easy to find online) makes for a great way to get a dose of Hanoi life and taste some interesting things at the same time.

Better yet, why not add an extra day or two between flights and get a driver to take you to Halong Bay, around 3 hours away. Unless you’re particularly in the mood for hectic city life (and Hanoi is charmingly chaotic if you are) this trip makes for a relaxing and beautiful escape.

Just make sure you leave enough time to get back to the airport and consider peak traffic times when you make that calculation.

Airport hotels

The selection of airport hotels around Noi Bai is not the best. All require a shuttle ride from the terminals and many are inferior in quality to what I would expect at a major airport. There are some that are just fine though. If I was looking for a full service hotel here I would probably opt for the Paragon Noi Bai.

However my preferred option is the sleeping pods available in both terminals. Pay a small fee and you get a small cabin to yourself. Potentially easier than catching a shuttle bus to an actual hotel, especially if your overnight stop is short. They’re spacious enough and they’re affordable, and can be booked for a short rest or for up to 24 hours (though I wouldn’t recommend staying quite that long!)