How do I get out of Hanoi Airport?

How do I get to Hanoi train station from the airport?

Hanoi train station… from the airport. Sigh.

44 minutes, they say. Thirty kilometers, more or less. I always feel farther than that.

The drive. It’s always the same, isn’t it?

• Take CT Nhật Tân. Or try to. Depends on the traffic. Remember that time, August 2023? Stuck for hours. Missed the train.

• And then there’s the Đ. Võ Nguyên Giáp. It just blurs together. The city swallowing you whole.

• Finally, Lê Duẩn street. Always chaotic. The station looming.

I guess Grab’s usually the easiest. Cost me, like, 350k VND last time.

Or the airport bus, route 86. Way cheaper. Stops near the station. But slower. Way, way slower.

Remember that cafe near the station? The strong coffee. I hate it. Bitter, like everything else.

How long does immigration take in Hanoi airport?

Immigration at Hanoi Airport? Hmm, it varies!

• Visa stamping: Standard wait times hover around 15-45 minutes. Fast track drops this to a swift 5-10 minutes. Efficiency!

• Passport control: Allocate 20-40 minutes usually. Opting for fast track? Expect a mere 5-10 minute jaunt. My old passport photo caused delays before. Just saying!

Fast Track Benefits, eh?

• Time-saving: Obvious, right? Less waiting. More pho!
• Convenience: Especially after a long flight. Pure bliss, honestly.
• Reduced stress: No frantic queue anxiety. Priceless.
• Assistance: Someone guides you. No getting lost in translation!
• Priority: You’re important, even if just for a few minutes.

Life is too short to spend it in lines, right?

How do I get from terminal 1 to terminal 2 at Hanoi airport?

T1 to T2? Think “domestic to exotic.” Hop the free shuttle. Like a magical airport chariot. Runs every 10-15 minutes. From 6 am to 1 am. They seriously couldn’t spring for that extra five hours? My hamster gets more sleep.

• T1 (Domestic): Second floor (departures). Like you’re escaping the mundane.
• T2 (International): First floor (western side). Embrace the unknown (and slightly better duty-free).
• Distance: 850 meters. A brisk walk for an Olympian. Not so much for the rest of us. Hence the chariot.
• Free: Yes, actually free. A rare airport miracle. Like finding a twenty in your old jeans.

They say it’s 850m. I once walked that distance for a mediocre banh mi. This shuttle? Worth it. Especially with luggage. Unless you’re training for a marathon. In which case, power to you. I’ll be on the bus, enjoying the AC. Remember, first floor T2, west side. Like a cowboy heading into the sunset. Except it’s an airport. And probably not a sunset.

My friend once missed this bus. Spent $20 on a taxi. For 850 meters. I still tease him about it. Don’t be him. Check the schedule, be there. It’s free. Like compliments. Always take advantage. This bus, essential Hanoi travel tip. Don’t say I never gave you anything.

How much should a taxi from Hanoi Airport to the Old Quarter cost?

Night. Quiet. Thinking about Hanoi again. That taxi ride. Sticky heat. Fifteen dollars… maybe twenty. Felt like more. So tired. Just wanted to get to the hotel.

Dust. Remember the dust. And the noise. Horns. Constant. Thirty minutes they said. Took longer. Closer to an hour I think. Long drive. Just stared out the window.

Wish I’d taken the bus. Cheaper. But… Exhausted. Didn’t have it in me. Needed a bed.

• Airport taxi to Old Quarter: 350,000 – 480,000 VND ($15-$20 USD)
• Trip time: 30-45 minutes (can be longer).
• Traffic is… Hanoi traffic. Chaotic.
• Consider the bus. Much cheaper. Requires more effort.
• My hotel was on Hang Bac. Small street. So many scooters.

Remember the smell of the pho. Everywhere. Even at the airport. Made me hungry. But so tired. Ugh. Should’ve bargained harder with the driver. Think I got ripped off. Live and learn. Live and learn. Next time… Next time…

How long does it take to get through immigration at Hanoi airport?

Hanoi air. Sun bleeds through the glass. Lost in the amber light. Forty-five minutes. Feels like hours. Maybe days. Time stretches thin. Visas stamped. Passports flicked open. A sea of faces. Waiting. Always waiting. The hum of the air conditioning. A lullaby of sorts. Fifteen minutes. A blink. Lost in thought. Drifting. The shuffle of feet. So many lives converging. Noi Bai. A gateway. In and out. Breathe the air. New place. New time. Fifteen to forty-five. The space between. A lifetime. Or nothing at all. My worn passport. A record of journeys. Vietnam. 2024. Another stamp. Another memory. Echoes in the terminal. Ghostly whispers.

• Peak times: Expect longer waits.
• Non-peak: Fifteen minutes. A breath.
• Have documents ready: Passports. Visas. The keys to the kingdom.
• Noi Bai International Airport (HAN): The official name. A formality.
• 2024: This year. Now.
• 15-45 minutes: The official estimate. A suggestion. Time is fluid here.