The main airport servicing the city of Hanoi is the Noi Bai International Airport located about 19 miles north of the city center. It is the largest and second busiest airport located in Vietnam and travels time from the airport to the Old Quarter in Hanoi takes about an hour.

If you have not booked a private transfer with us you have a few options for transportation to your hotel including taxis, buses and mini busses and shuttles.

Taxi stands can be found on the first floor outside the arrivals hall, taxis are metered and prices run around VND 330,000 (USD$16) from the airport to the city center. It is a good idea to have your hotel destination written down on paper in Vietnamese to hand to your driver. The journey to the city takes approximately 30 minutes.

Buses can be found outside the arrivals hall to the right, bus #7 is the cheapest option from the airport which stops at Dao Tan Street (near Daewoo Hotel) where you have to transfer to bus #9 which takes you to downtown Sword Lake, tickets cost approximately VND 5,000 (USD$0.40 cents) with about an hour travel time. Buses run every 15 - 20 minutes from 5:00 am until 10:00 pm.

Bus #17 is available with a similar route to #7, however, it can only be caught in the T1 parking lot and the last bus is at 8:30 pm.

City Bus #86 runs from the airport to Hanoi train station, the bus stop can be found outside the terminal and buses run from 6:30 am until 11:30 pm from the airport. Tickets cost approximately VND 30,000 (USD$1.40) one way, buses run every 20 - 30 minutes.

Shuttle buses and minibusses are available from the airport directly to most hotels in Hanoi and to the city center. The approximate cost is around VND 40,000 (USD$2). Buses only leave when full and luggage is limited due to lack of space.

Taxis are available in the city of Hanoi and a great option for traveling long distances, taxis can be hailed from the street, found outside major attractions and ordered over the phone at your hotel. Taxis are metered and most drivers speak little or no English so it is a good idea to have your destination written down in Vietnamese. Prices start around VND 20,000 (USD$0.87) for the first 1.5 miles then around VND 15,000 every 0.62 miles after that.

Uber is available in Hanoi and is more reasonably priced than a taxi, a 15-minute journey can cost around VND 60,000 (USD$2.64) depending upon the total distance traveled. Simply download the Uber app on your Smartphone and enter your pick up and drop off destination.

Xe Om (Motorbike taxis) are offered in abundance in the city of Hanoi and are especially popular in the Old Quarter. Fares should be negotiated in advance and generally cost around VND 10,000 per 0.62 miles; it is a cheap and easy way to get around. A motorbike taxi can also be hired by the hour for between VND 15,000 - 20,000 (USD$1 - 2). Xe oms can be found on just about every street corner in the city.

Cyclos are a common way of getting around in the city and can be found just about anywhere on the streets. A cyclo is a three-wheeled foot pedal bike with two seats powered by a driver. A great way to travel around Hanoi as a tourist and take in the sights, the cost is approximately VND 20,000 (USD$0.87) for a short ride or up to VND 100,000 (USD$4.40) for an hour`s ride, negotiate your price beforehand.

Buses in Hanoi are cheap, fast and consistent with regular routes running throughout the city on over 60 bus lines with tickets costing between VND 3,000 - 7,000 (USD$0.13 - 0.31) which is paid to the conductor on board. Pick up a bus map at Trang Tien Street bookshop which will provide bus stops, routes, and timetables to navigate the extensive bus system.

Hanoi offers an electric bus sightseeing tour around the city offering 14 stops at popular attractions including the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. The bus departs from the northern end of Hoan Kiem lake and outside Dong Xuan Market with the full journey taking around an hour.

The main train station in Hanoi is the Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Ha Noi) located at 120 Lê Duẩn Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hoan Kiem District of Hanoi. You can travel by train from the capital city to almost anywhere in Vietnam including Sapa, Hue, and Danang. Transportation such as taxis, Xe oms and Cyclos can be found outside the station.

Walking around downtown Hanoi is easily done on foot. Exploring areas such as the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the markets and the temples is a great way to see different parts of the city. Be sure to check out Hanoi`s famous street food and many more areas of interest.

Bicycle rentals are available from guesthouses, hotels, and cafes in the city, riding a bike is a great way to explore the city center with its beautiful winding alleyways, local markets and trails of Hanoi. The daily cost for a rental is around VND 68,000 (USD$3).

Motorcycles are a popular form of transportation in the city and a fun way to travel around and see the sights. You can rent a moped to ride around for about VND113,000 (US$5.00) a day.

Renting a car in Hanoi is not recommended, the traffic is disorderly and vehicles are not allowed to drive faster than motorbikes and international drivers licenses are not accepted in Vietnam. However, a safer, cheaper and more convenient option to renting your own car is hiring a private vehicle with a driver. This can cost around US$40 a day and vehicles/drivers can be rented from car rental companies and tourist cafes.

Hanoi is a safe city to explore, but like any other major city be cautious of your surroundings and be vigilant in crowded areas especially major tourist attractions and walking around late at night. Exercise common sense and keep your belongings secure at all times.

Be aware of certain scams in the area, such as being taken to the wrong hotel by a minibus or shuttle driver, cyclo drivers adding an extra 0 to the agreed price of their service and being approached by con artists around the Hoan Kiem Lake area and the Old Quarter late at night who try to scam you into going places and taking your money.

Motorbike traffic is chaotic in Hanoi and the streets are filled with bikes zooming around you in every direction, the key is to walk slowly, don`t rush, the bikers will make their way around you and can see you better if you walk slowly. Also be cautious of motorbikes with thieves that might snatch bags, cameras or phones from the hands of pedestrians.

Markets are some of a unique shopping destination in Hanoi, Don Xuan is a famous market and definitely worth a visit just for the unique experience. Hang Da is a 6 story building that houses a large market selling everything from food to pets. Cho Hom is a market famous for fabric and night markets are popular in the city, normally running from 7 pm onwards in the Old Quarter where the streets are closed to traffic and filled with stalls and street food.

Things to shop for in Hanoi include silver, antiques, silk, lacquer ware, crafts, suits, and shoes.

The units of currency in Vietnam are the Vietnamese Dong (VND). US dollars are accepted but it is always better to pay in VND. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Vietnam by clicking Vietnam When is a popular time to visit?

The city of Hanoi experiences four distinct seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The rainy season runs from May through September when it is very hot with monsoon rain and dry season runs from October to April when the climate is cold with little rain. Average temperatures during the summer are around 73F and the average winter temperatures are around 62F.

The food in Hanoi is a blend of Vietnamese and classic French cuisine along with Indian, Italian and Western dishes. The city offers some of the best cuisines in the entire country served at high-end restaurants, small one dish restaurants, cafes and street side food kitchens where authentic local dishes include pho (noodle soup) served with meat, cha ca (spicy fish fry), banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) served on French baguettes with coffee which are popular items on the menu.

Cooking classes are a popular activity in Hanoi with several different places offering tours of local markets followed by a culinary class teaching Vietnamese cooking techniques.

The Nightlife in Hanoi features many forms of entertainment such as traditional theater, water puppet shows, and opera along with plenty of places to grab a drink. Bia Hoi is the local beer and happy hour in Hanoi is considered one of the top things to do! The streets in the Old Quarter become one big open-air bar, where table and chairs cover the streets where locals and tourists gather to enjoy some drinks. The Old Quarter also features bars, clubs, discos and live music with lots of food and restaurant options available.

The official language spoken in Vietnam is Vietnamese. Most Vietnamese speak enough English for tourists` needs, and it is common for hotels, restaurants, and shops that are aimed at tourists to use the English Language. We suggest you get a good English-Vietnamese guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you and numbers 1-10.

In the case of an emergency dial 113 for police, 114 for fire, 115 for an ambulance and 112 for search and rescue.

Hospitals:

French Hospital of Hanoi tel. 84 24 3577 1100

Vinmec International Hospital tel. 84 24 3974 3556

Family Medical Practice Hanoi tel. 84 24 3843 0748