Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport is the chief gateway to the city and the north of Vietnam, and is a modern aviation facility situated 22 miles from the centre of Hanoi. As the newest of the country’s international airports, Noi Bai is relatively well equipped with facilities for passengers, offering ATMs, currency exchange services and dining and shopping outlets.

The airport receives flights mainly from destinations in Asia with regular connections maintained with major cities such as Bangkok, Vientiane, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Osaka and Siem Reap. There are also flights to Moscow and Vladivostok by Aeroflot and Vladivostok Air respectively. National carrier Vietnam Airlines operates flights to and from international destinations such as Frankfurt, Paris, Melbourne and Sydney.

Passengers requiring ground transportation to the city can make use of bus services with numbers 07 and 17 running from outside the Arrivals area direct to the centre of Hanoi. The journey takes about an hour and is the cheapest transfer option.

Taxis are also available and provided you take an official airport service, the charge is fixed. An airport minibus also operates from directly in front of the terminal but leaves only when full, so passengers on tight schedules might want to avoid this option. Passengers arriving with Vietnam Airlines can take advantage of a free minibus to the city.

If you are already in Vietnam and wish to reach Hanoi by ground transportation, there are a number of options available. Buses starting at Ho Chi Minh City travel north to Hanoi making various stops en route. The journey is lengthy and overnight stops are necessary. Travelling by train from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi can take up to three days.

Once in the city, visitors can choose between a number of different transportation options. Motorcycle taxis are everywhere and prices are generally cheap, but safety can be a concern. A slower but more interesting alternative is to travel by cyclo, a pedal-powered vehicle in which the driver sits behind the passenger(s).

Public buses run to various parts of the city but few staff speak any English and bus stop signs are invariably in Vietnamese only, making it difficult for visitors to negotiate services. Tourist buses organised through travel agents are a more suitable option for tourists.

Regular taxis are also common but are generally only economical if shared with other passengers. Make sure that your driver uses the cab’s meter and decline their services if they object to switch the meter on.