Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and a common starting point for trips to Ha Long Bay and the north. The airport is a long ride from the centre, so having data before you leave arrivals makes booking a ride and finding your hotel simpler. Figures below are as of September 2026.
Quick facts
| Hanoi | |
|---|---|
| Airport | Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) |
| Distance to centre | About 27 km, about 45 minutes to an hour |
| Ride-hailing apps | Grab, Be, Xanh SM |
| Networks | Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone, 4G, and 5G in parts of the city |
Staying connected: SIM or eSIM
Noi Bai has kiosks selling SIM cards, and carriers have retail stores in the city. You need your passport, because each SIM is registered to its user.
An eSIM lets you skip that step. VietSIM sells prepaid eSIMs on Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone, with the QR code on screen after payment. Install it at home using the eSIM setup guide, and turn it on when you land, as described in activating on arrival. All plans are in the Vietnam eSIM store, and the SIM card page covers the physical option.
All three carriers cover Hanoi with 4G and run 5G in the larger cities. As of July 2025 the ministry in charge of telecoms reported 4G for 99.8 percent of Vietnam’s population and 5G for about 26 percent. Viettel is headquartered in Hanoi and also serves many mountain and rural areas, which is worth weighing if your route heads north; see Viettel vs VinaPhone vs MobiFone.
Day trips and onward routes
- Ha Long Bay: the population figure above does not describe signal on the water. Save cruise tickets, the pickup time and an offline map before you leave Hanoi.
- Sapa and the north: Vietnam Tourism notes trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai for Sapa. Download offline maps for mountain roads before you go.
Arriving at Noi Bai airport
Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Tourism both put Noi Bai about 27 km from central Hanoi, with a ride of about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Express bus 86: runs into central Hanoi. Vietnam Airlines lists it at 45,000 VND, every 25 minutes from 06:25 to 23:05, as of September 2026.
- Other public buses: the airport lists routes 07 to Cau Giay, 17 to Long Bien, 90 to Kim Ma and 109 to My Dinh, at about 12,000 to 15,000 VND.
- Taxi: about 300,000 to 400,000 VND, according to Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Tourism.
- Ride-hailing: Vietnam Tourism names Grab and Be for the airport run. Vietnam Airlines puts a ride-hailing car at about 250,000 to 350,000 VND. The app needs data at pickup, so switch the eSIM on before you walk out.
For arrival tips elsewhere, see the Vietnam guide.
Getting around Hanoi
Vietnam Tourism lists taxis, buses and motorbikes, with Grab and other ride-hailing apps for on-demand trips. Hanoi’s bus network is extensive and low-cost, and a cyclo can be hired for a sightseeing loop of the Old Quarter.
Grab and Be both list Hanoi among their locations. Be offers beCar and beBike. Xanh SM began its electric taxi service in Hanoi on 14 April 2023, and you can book in the Xanh SM app or on its hotline, 1900 2088.
Before you fly, set up the apps on our apps to install page.
Practical phone tips
- Offline maps: Download central Hanoi in Google Maps over Wi-Fi. Offline, Google Maps gives driving directions only, not walking or transit, and downloaded areas expire, so refresh them before a long trip north.
- Hotspot: Personal Hotspot needs a carrier and plan that support it. Check before you plan to share data with a laptop; see the FAQ.
- Card payments: Hotels, tour operators, boutiques, restaurants and grocery stores generally accept international cards. Street vendors and small purchases are cash, and ATMs are common in the city.
- One connection for a group: compare pocket Wi-Fi or eSIM.
If the eSIM shows signal but no data, see not connecting or the help centre.
Other cities
Travelling south? See Da Nang and Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City. One eSIM covers the whole trip.