What is the cheapest way to get from Hanoi airport to the city?
Bus 86 at 45,000 VND is the cheapest option — runs every 20 minutes from both terminals to Long Biên bus station, then 10-minute walk or 20,000 VND xe ôm to Old Quarter. Grab to Old Quarter: 200,000–250,000 VND. Official airport taxis: 280,000–350,000 VND metered. Avoid unmarked cabs offering flat rates inside the terminal.
Nội Bài airport is 30km north of central Hanoi. The price difference between the cheapest and most expensive options for the same journey is enormous — from 45,000 VND to 500,000+ VND depending on what you take. Here’s the full comparison.
All options, cheapest to most expensive
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 86 | 45,000 VND | 50–80 min to Long Biên | Needs transfer to Old Quarter |
| Shared minibus shuttle | 60,000–90,000 VND | 45–70 min + fill time | Fixed drop points only |
| GrabBike | 150,000–190,000 VND | 30–50 min | Solo, no luggage |
| GrabCar | 250,000–340,000 VND | 35–55 min | Luggage ok, price upfront |
| Official metered taxi | 280,000–380,000 VND | 35–55 min | Mai Linh or Noi Bai Taxi only |
| Unofficial taxi | 400,000–600,000+ VND | Same time | Avoid — scam risk |
| Hotel pickup | 350,000–600,000 VND | Coordinated | Most convenient, most expensive |
Bus 86 in detail
Bus 86 departs from a covered stop directly outside both Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (international) arrivals. Frequency: every 20–30 minutes, 5am to 10pm. The bus terminates at Long Biên bus station on the eastern edge of the Old Quarter.
From Long Biên to Hoàn Kiếm Lake: 10–15 minutes on foot (1.2km) or a 15,000–20,000 VND xe ôm. Most hotels in the Old Quarter are within 15 minutes walk of Long Biên.
Buy the ticket from the conductor on the bus — no advance purchase needed.
Best for: travelers with minimal luggage, arriving during daylight hours, and not exhausted from a long flight. Less practical for late arrivals or anyone with significant bags.
Grab in detail
Grab is available at Nội Bài through a designated pickup zone in arrivals. Open the app, enter your destination, confirm the pickup location at the airport zone marker. The price is shown before booking.
GrabBike is cheapest but only works solo with a backpack-sized bag. GrabCar handles standard luggage and costs roughly 60,000–80,000 VND more. A full breakdown of Grab pricing is in the Grab cost guide.
Official taxis
Two reliable metered taxi companies operate at Nội Bài: Noi Bai Taxi (white cars, distinctive logo) and Mai Linh (green). Both have designated taxi ranks in arrivals. The meter starts at around 13,000–15,000 VND/km. Expect 280,000–380,000 VND to the Old Quarter at standard rates.
Only use taxis from the official rank — not drivers who approach you inside the terminal.