Getting around Hanoi in 2026
Six million motorbikes, two metro lines and VinFast electric buses — transport in Hanoi has changed fast in the last two years. A GrabBike crosses the centre for about 25,000 VND (~$1), the airport bus from Noi Bai is 45,000 VND (~$1.80). Here is every option: metro, buses, taxi, Grab, renting a bike, and how to reach Ha Long, Sapa and Ninh Binh. Prices in VND with ~$ conversions, current as of July 2026.
Five years ago the only public transport here was buses and motorbike taxis. Now there are two metro lines that carried 20.68 million riders in 2025, and from April 2026 the city is rolling out 288 new electric buses. For the bigger picture of the city, see our full Hanoi guide (Hanoi guide).
- Cat Linh Station (Ga Cát Linh): Line 2A, terminus — Dong Da district
- Yen Nghia Station (Ga Yên Nghĩa): Line 2A, terminus — Ha Dong district
- Nhon Station (Ga Nhổn): Line 3, terminus — Elevated section
- Cau Giay Station (Ga Cầu Giấy): Line 3, current end — Of the elevated section
- Noi Bai Airport (Sân bay Nội Bài): 35 km from the centre — Bus 86 for 45,000 VND (~$1.80)
- My Dinh Bus Station (Bến xe Mỹ Đình): Buses to Sapa — Ha Long, Ninh Binh
- Gia Lam Bus Station (Bến xe Gia Lâm): Buses to Ha Long — Hai Phong
- Giap Bat Bus Station (Bến xe Giáp Bát): Buses south — Ninh Binh, Hue
- Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Hà Nội): Trains in every — direction
- Old Quarter (Phố Cổ Hà Nội): Bus 86 stop — Tourist centre
- Hoan Kiem Lake (Hồ Hoàn Kiếm): City centre — Main landmark
The Hanoi metro — two lines and how to use them
Hanoi was the first Vietnamese city to open a metro. As of July 2026 two lines are running, both elevated. The underground stretch of the third line is under construction and expected in 2027.
Line 2A: Cat Linh — Ha Dong
Vietnam's first metro line, opened on 6 November 2021. It runs on an elevated viaduct from Cát Linh (Dong Da district) through Thượng Đình (Thanh Xuan) to Yên Nghĩa (Ha Dong). Twelve stations, 13.1 km, about 23 minutes end to end.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours | 05:30–22:00 |
| Interval (peak) | 6 minutes |
| Interval (off-peak) | 10 minutes |
| Single ticket | 8,000–15,000 VND (~$0.30–0.60) |
| Day pass | 30,000 VND (~$1.20) |
| Monthly | 200,000 VND (~$8) |
Since December 2025 all 12 stations run a biometric payment system. They accept the CCCD national-ID chip, NFC cards, QR codes and EMV bank cards (Visa, Mastercard). For a visitor the simplest options are to tap a bank card at the gate or buy a QR ticket at the counter. Cash still works too.
In 2025 the line carried 13.68 million passengers, up 15.3% on 2024.
Who Line 2A helps: residents and expats out in Ha Dong and Thanh Xuan who commute into the centre every day. For a tourist it is less useful — the main sights sit further east, near Hoan Kiem. But if your hotel is in Ha Dong (cheaper out there), the metro saves 40–60 minutes over a taxi at rush hour.
Line 3: Nhon — Cau Giay (elevated section)
Hanoi's second line. The elevated section opened on 9 November 2024, running from Nhổn to Cầu Giấy, 8 stations, about 8.5 km. Single ticket 8,000–12,000 VND (~$0.30–0.50). Since 17 January 2026 the plastic tokens are gone — QR tickets only.
Since 1 February 2026 the two lines are integrated: one ticket covers both the metro and city buses. An annual intermodal pass is 5,600,000 VND (~$224).
The underground stretch from Cau Giay to Hanoi Railway Station is being built. Four subway stations are due around 2027. After that Line 3 will run through the centre, so you will be able to ride from the western districts straight to the station.
What's next: 5 lines by 2030
The plan is 5 lines (100 km) by 2030 and 8 lines (301 km) by 2035. Line 2A will be extended another 20 km from Ha Dong to Xuân Mai. There is still no metro to Noi Bai airport — a line is planned, but without a firm date.
Buses — city, electric and tourist
Hanoi's city buses are cheaper than the metro and cover far more ground. There are around 150 routes, run mostly by the state operator Transerco. A ride is 7,000–9,000 VND (~$0.30). Buses run from 04:30 to 22:30 depending on the route.
Pay the driver in cash or with a transit card. For navigation, use the HanoiBus app (English, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese) or Google Maps. The catch: announcements and signs are almost always in Vietnamese only, so without an app a foreigner will struggle.
VinBus electric buses
VinBus are electric buses built by VinFast — air-conditioned, with Wi-Fi, quiet and clean. Routes E01–E12 cover 160 km of city roads. Same fare: 7,000–9,000 VND.
From 1 April 2026 Hanoi added 10 new electric routes (288 buses). The July 2026 target: every bus inside Ring Road 1 switches to clean energy. By 2030 the whole fleet goes electric.
Hop-on hop-off
An open-top double-decker for tourists. It passes Hoan Kiem, the Old Quarter, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature and West Lake. Fare: 300,000 VND (~$12) for 4 hours, 450,000 VND (~$18) for a full day. Every 30 minutes, with a multilingual audio guide.
From Noi Bai airport to the centre — every option
Nội Bài airport (HAN) sits 35 km north of the centre. Off-peak the drive takes 40 minutes; at rush hour up to an hour and a half. There is no metro to the airport yet.
| Option | Price | Time | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 86 | 45,000 VND (~$1.80) | 45–60 min | Electric, English announcements |
| Bus 7 | 8,000 VND (~$0.30) | 60–90 min | Cheap, every 15–20 min |
| GrabCar | 200,000–300,000 VND (~$8–12) | 40–60 min | Fixed price in-app |
| Xanh SM | 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–14) | 40–60 min | Electric taxi, new cars |
| Taxi (Mai Linh) | 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) | 40–60 min | Counter in arrivals |
Bus 86 is the sweet spot. It is electric, low-floor (easy with a suitcase) and announces stops in English. Route: airport → Old Quarter → Hoan Kiem Lake → Hanoi Railway Station.
After 22:15 you have two choices: Grab or taxi. GrabCar at night is usually surge-free, so cheaper than by day. The Mai Linh and Thanh Nga counters in arrivals run around the clock.
💬 "Bus 86 is genuinely easy. Electric, clean, stops announced in English. For 45,000 dong it got me from the airport to Hoan Kiem in 50 minutes." — Tripadvisor, 2025
Skip the airport queue in 5–10 min
In winter, immigration lines run 60–90 min. With Fast Track you’re met at the aircraft and taken through the priority lane. Arrange it before you fly.
Telegram managerTaxi, Grab and electric taxis
Three ways to get a car in Hanoi: a street taxi, Grab or Be through an app, or the Xanh SM electric taxi. A short ride across the centre is 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4). Right across the city, 150,000–250,000 VND (~$6–10).
Street taxis
Reliable firms: Mai Linh (green cars), Thanh Nga, Hanoi Taxi Group (white). Rates: flag-fall ~9,000–12,000 VND, then 9,000–12,000 VND per km. Only flag down branded cars. Unlicensed taxis at the airport and station are still a problem: a rigged meter, a "broken" meter, or a detour halfway across town are the classics.
Grab and Be
| Service | Base | Per km | Short hop (3 km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrabBike | 8,000 VND | 12,000–14,000 VND | 25,000–45,000 VND (~$1–1.80) |
| GrabCar | 15,000 VND | 15,000–18,000 VND | 50,000–70,000 VND (~$2–2.80) |
Surge pricing kicks in during rain and rush hours (07:00–09:00, 17:00–19:00). Pay by cash or card. Be is the local rival — sometimes cheaper than Grab, but the interface is less friendly for foreigners.
💬 "In Hanoi Grab is reliably 20–30% cheaper than a street taxi. It shows most on long trips like the airport. The only snag is surge up to 2x when it rains." — Reddit r/VietnamTravel, 2025
Xanh SM — electric taxis
Xanh SM(Green SM) is VinGroup's electric taxi service on VinFast cars — quiet, clean, new vehicles, and the app is in English. Roughly the same price as Grab, sometimes 10–15% cheaper. Install both apps and compare before each ride.
Which service should you pick?
| Situation | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short hop in the centre | GrabBike | 25,000–45,000 VND, faster in traffic |
| Airport with luggage | Bus 86 or GrabCar | Bus is cheaper, Grab is comfier |
| Late-night ride | Grab or Mai Linh | No buses, minimal surge |
| With kids | Xanh SM or taxi | You need a car, not a bike |
| Absolute cheapest | Metro + bus | 8,000–9,000 VND a ride |
Renting a motorbike — bikes, licences and fines
Renting a motorbike in Hanoi costs 120,000–300,000 VND a day (~$5–12), or $100–150 by the month. Popular shops: Tuan Motorbike, Tigit Motorbikes, Style Motorbikes. The deposit is 4–5 million VND ($150–250) or your passport (not recommended — never hand over your passport).
Since 1 January 2025 fines in Vietnam have gone up sharply:
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Running an amber (= red) light | 4,000,000–6,000,000 VND (~$160–240) |
| No licence | up to 8,000,000 VND (~$320) |
| No helmet | 400,000–600,000 VND (~$16–24) |
Learning to ride in Hanoi is a bad idea. Six million motorbikes, junctions with no lights, buses and trucks on narrow streets. The gap between "I scootered around Bali" and "I rode in Hanoi" is the gap between a swimming pool and the open ocean.
If you already have the experience, a rental buys you freedom — a run out to West Lake, up to Trấn Quốc pagoda, a day looping the outskirts. Without the experience, take a Grab.
Getting set up in Vietnam?
SIM, visas, transfers, tours — our manager sorts it out for you, in English.
Message the managerCyclo, bicycle and on foot
Cyclo (Xích lô)
A three-wheeled pedal cab with the passenger seat up front. In Hanoi the xích lô is a tourist attraction, not transport. They mostly work around the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. Price: 100,000–200,000 VND (~$4–8) for 30–60 minutes.
The route usually winds through Hàng Bạc (silver street), Hàng Mã (paper street) and past Đồng Xuân market. Go in the evening, once the heat drops.
Bicycle
Rental is 50,000–100,000 VND a day (~$2–4). The TNGo bike-share is catching on. It is pleasant for the West Lake waterfront and the Old Quarter; in the thick of centre traffic, ride at your own risk.
On foot
Central Hanoi is compact. Hoan Kiem to the Old Quarter is a 5-minute walk. To the Temple of Literature, 25 minutes. To the Mausoleum, 30 minutes. For a wander round the sights, your feet are the best transport (see Hanoi attractions).
How to get from Hanoi to Ha Long, Sapa and Ninh Binh
Hanoi → Ha Long
| Option | Price | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public bus | 70,000–100,000 VND (~$2.80–4) | 4–5 h | From Mỹ Đình or Gia Lâm |
| Tourist limousine van | 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–14) | 2.5–3 h | Hotel pickup |
| Private transfer | ~$30–45 | 2–2.5 h | Handy for families |
| Day tour | from ~$25 | Full day | Includes a bay cruise |
The easiest is a day tour with a cruise: they pick you up at the hotel in the morning, drive you to Ha Long, put you on a boat, and bring you back in the evening. From ~$25 per person in a group. Book on 12go.asia, Vexere or Baolau, or at the station counter. For the full picture, see how to reach Ha Long Bay (Ha Long guide).
Hanoi → Sapa
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bus / sleeper bus | 250,000–400,000 VND (~$10–16) | 5–6 h |
| Train to Lao Cai + bus | from 300,000 VND (~$12) | 8–9 h |
The sleeper bus from Mỹ Đình leaves in the evening and you wake up in Sapa. Lie down on your bunk, close your eyes, open them in the mountains. The train runs to Lào Cai, then an hour by bus — slower, but the views earn it. More on the region in our Sapa guide (Sapa guide).
Hanoi → Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is the nearest big destination — 90 km, two hours. A bus from Gia Lâm or Giáp Bát is 80,000–120,000 VND (~$3.20–4.80). The train from Hanoi station is from 70,000 VND (~$2.80), 2.5 hours. The train wins: the station is central, the ticket is cheaper and the schedule is steadier. More on the area in our Ninh Binh guide (Ninh Binh guide).
Long-distance
| Destination | Bus | Train | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hue | 350,000–500,000 VND, 12–14 h | from 400,000 VND, 13–15 h | from 1,000,000 VND, 1.5 h |
| Da Nang | 400,000–600,000 VND, 14–16 h | from 500,000 VND, 15–17 h | from 800,000 VND, 1.5 h |
| Ho Chi Minh City | — | from 700,000 VND, 30–33 h | from 1,000,000 VND, 2 h |
To Ho Chi Minh City it is planes only. Thirty-three hours on the Reunification Express is a treat for railway fans, not a way to get there. Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways sell tickets from about 800,000 VND (~$32) if you book ahead.
Common mistakes and quick tips
Here is what wrecks a first day in Hanoi most often:
- The unlicensed airport taxi.Men in arrivals offer a "cheap taxi." The price ends up 2–3x a Grab. Fix: the Mai Linh / Thanh Nga counter, or a Grab from the pickup zone outside.
- A cyclo with no agreed price.The driver says "100,000" up front, then demands "100,000 per person" at the end. Fix: agree clearly, film it.
- Renting a bike without an IDP.The shop will hand you the keys with no licence — they don't care. The police do. The fine reaches 8,000,000 VND (~$320), and insurance won't cover a crash.
- Not downloading the apps first. Grab, HanoiBus, the Hanoi Metro app — install them before you land. Airport Wi-Fi is slow.
- Panicking at the crossing. Six million motorbikes only stop for red (and not all of them). The trick: walk slow and steady.
- Not knowing the dong. 100,000 VND is about $4. Quick math: drop three zeros and divide by 25 to get roughly the dollar figure.
- Expecting cars to stop at a crosswalk.They won't. In Hanoi the zebra crossing is decorative.
Useful phrases for getting around
| Phrase | Vietnamese | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| How much? | Bao nhiêu tiền? | bao nyew tien? |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá! | dat kwa! |
| Take me here | Cho tôi đi đến đây | cho toy di den day |
| Stop here | Dừng ở đây | zung uh day |
| Bus station | Bến xe | ben se |
FAQ — common questions about getting around Hanoi
Does Hanoi have a metro?
Yes, two lines. Line 2A (Cat Linh — Ha Dong, 12 stations) has run since 2021. The elevated section of Line 3 (Nhon — Cau Giay, 8 stations) opened in November 2024. Since February 2026 both lines share one ticket. A single ride is 8,000–15,000 VND (~$0.30–0.60). There is no metro to the airport yet.
How do I get from Noi Bai airport to the centre?
The cheapest option is bus 86 for 45,000 VND (~$1.80), which runs through the Old Quarter to the railway station. Faster is a GrabCar for 200,000–300,000 VND (~$8–12). At night it is taxi or Grab only. Bus 86 runs 06:40–22:15.
How much is a taxi in Hanoi?
Flag-fall 9,000–12,000 VND, then 9,000–12,000 VND per km. A ride across the centre is 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4). Grab is usually 20–30% cheaper.
Do I need a licence for a motorbike?
Yes. Vietnam recognises a 1968 Vienna Convention IDP, so you need a valid home motorcycle licence and a matching IDP. Riding without one can mean a fine up to 8,000,000 VND (~$320), and insurance won't cover a crash.
How do I get from Hanoi to Ha Long?
A public bus (70,000–100,000 VND, 4–5 hours), a tourist limousine van (250,000–350,000 VND, 2.5–3 hours), a private transfer (~$30–45), or a day tour with a cruise (from ~$25). Buses leave from Mỹ Đình and Gia Lâm stations.
Does Grab work in Hanoi?
Yes. GrabBike from about 25,000 VND, GrabCar from about 50,000 VND. The app is in English and takes cash or card. Alternatives: Be and Xanh SM.
Is it safe to rent a motorbike in Hanoi?
For experienced riders with a valid licence and IDP, yes — with a helmet and caution. For beginners Hanoi is the wrong place: six million motorbikes, chaotic traffic, and fines that jumped sharply in 2025.
Prices and schedules are current as of July 2026. Double-check on official sites before you travel.