How long does immigration take in Hanoi airport?

How long does Vietnam immigration take?

Vietnam visa: days morph into weeks. Apply early. Always.

• Visa on arrival: Hours, maybe.
• Business visa: Longer. Definitely.
• Nationality matters. Surprise?
• Time of year too. Holidays, sigh.

Delays happen. Expect it. Like death and taxes. Life’s funny, in a bleak way.

• I waited 3 weeks for a stupid tourist visa once. Bangkok, 2024. Never again.
• My friend, he got his in 3 days. Same visa. Go figure.

Plan ahead. Or don’t. Your funeral, not mine.

How do I get to Hanoi Center from the airport?

It’s late. Hanoi…from the airport…

Drive. CT Nhật Tân – Nội Bài/Đ. Võ Nguyên Giáp and Đ. Võ Chí Công. That’s the way. 31 minutes. 27 kilometers. Lotte Center…Ba Đình. I was there. A long time ago it feels. 2008.

Night driving. Hanoi. It all blurs somehow.

• Distance: About 27 kilometers (16.8 miles).
• Estimated Time: 31 minutes, traffic depending.
• Main Route: CT Nhật Tân – Nội Bài/Đ. Võ Nguyên Giáp and Đ. Võ Chí Công.

Taxi is always an option, probably the easiest option honestly. I paid maybe… eh, forgot how much I paid a cab when I arrive at 2008. It changed now, I guess. Lots of scams back then. Still happens.

Ride-hailing apps too, like Grab. Never used em in Hanoi though. Always taxis, for me. Old habits.

The bus… Nah. Skip the bus. Unless you got all the time in the world, then go for it. Bus 86. Costs only 30,000 VND. Cheap!

How much is a taxi from Hanoi to airport?

Hanoi taxi? Ten to twelve bucks. Highway robbery, I say! (Just kidding…mostly). Like haggling for a knock-off Gucci bag, your location matters. Think Old Quarter versus, say, Pluto. One’s slightly closer. My Nov/Dec intel might be ancient history by now, though. Inflation, you know. It’s faster than a speeding motorbike.

• Grab: Your Southeast Asian Uber/Lyft. Cheaper. Like choosing between a pho stall and a fancy French restaurant. Both get you fed, but one’s easier on the wallet. Mine’s usually screaming by payday.
• Airport Taxi: More regulated. Arguably less chance of getting “lost.” (cough, cough) My personal experience involves an unexpected tour of Hanoi’s scenic industrial outskirts. Adds character, right?
• Pro-tip: Book ahead. Unless you enjoy the thrill of the haggle. Like arm-wrestling a street vendor.

Think of it this way. Getting from Noi Bai to your hotel is like dating. Grab is the casual coffee date. Airport taxi is the slightly more formal dinner-and-a-movie situation. Choose your adventure. I once took a motorbike. Never again. Don’t ask.

Remember that time I landed in Hanoi at 2 AM? Yeah, fun times. Not. Pre-booking is your friend, kids. Trust me on this one. Learned that the hard way. Ended up sharing a questionable minivan with a family of chickens. True story. (Okay, maybe not the chickens.)

• 2024 Update: Check current prices. Things change faster than the weather in April.
• Bonus Tip: Learn some basic Vietnamese. “Xin chào” goes a long way. Even if your pronunciation sounds like a strangled cat. They’ll appreciate the effort. Unlike my landlord, who just glares.

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

Terminal transfer. Noi Bai. Simple.

Two terminals. T1. T2. Domestic. International. Got it?

Shuttle. Free. Every 10–15 minutes. Like clockwork.

6 AM to 1 AM. Don’t miss it.

T2 (1st floor, west). T1 (2nd floor). That’s where.

Walk? Forget it. 850m. Trust me. Not fun.

Additional information:

• Terminal 1 (T1): Handles all domestic flights. It’s the older terminal. Expect crowds. Been there, dreaded that.

• Terminal 2 (T2): International flights only. Newer. Larger. Less chaotic. My preferred hellhole.

• Shuttle Frequency: While “10-15 minutes” is the official line, delays happen. A. Lot. Maybe 20 minutes? Just breathe.

• Shuttle Location, T2:Specifically, the western side of the arrival hall on the first floor. Look for the signs. If you read Vietnamese, that is.

• Shuttle Location, T1: Second floor, departure level. Easy enough. Even I found it.

• Alternative: Taxis are available, but why bother? The shuttle is free. Unless you’re seriously late or have too much baggage. My family once did that. Never again.

• Walking: Technically feasible, yes. But… avoid.

• Currency Exchange: Do it after security. Don’t be that person holding up the line. I’ve seen it.

• Visa on Arrival (T2): Be prepared for a wait. And bring passport photos. Seriously.

• Food: Airport food is…airport food. Lower your expectations. Banh Mi is a safer bet. Though, I prefer Pho.

• SIM cards: Get one at the airport. Much cheaper than roaming.

• Baggage carts: A constant source of frustration.

• Wifi: Spotty. Don’t rely on it.