Hanoi Transport and how to get around the city

What transport is available in Hanoi and what can tourists use to get around

Transport in Hanoi is well developed and allows you to get around the capital for mere pennies. There is a developed network of city buses, and now there is also a metro. You can also get around by taxi, special tourist buses and electric cars, and even pedicabs.

You can also rent a bicycle, motorbike or car, but traffic in the city is very chaotic, practically no one follows the rules. Therefore, we would strongly advise against driving here independently.

In most cases, to get acquainted with the city and its main attractions, it is enough to walk on foot around all the most interesting places of the Old Quarter (tourist area near Hoan Kiem Lake) and its immediate surroundings, and to several distant attractions you can get by taxi or city buses.

We will tell you in detail about all the ways to get around Hanoi from our own real experience, and you can also watch this video on the topic:

On foot

The historical center of the city and the Hoan Kiem Lake area are not very large, and if you have enough time, you can explore it all on foot. But for this it is advisable to stay not far from the lake so that you don't have to get here.

However, walking along the narrow streets of the historical district is very uncomfortable and even dangerous. Motorbikes move here not only on the roads, but also on the sidewalks. Moreover, drivers feel like full owners and do not respect pedestrians at all, dispersing tourists walking on the sidewalks. Sidewalks are also used as parking spaces, so you constantly have to go out onto the roadway, where, by the way, motorcyclists use the far lane to drive in the opposite direction, so you need to keep your eyes open. In the evening, reflective stickers on clothes and shoes won't hurt.

Taxi

Taxis in Hanoi are very developed, and prices are low if you know how to use them and don't get scammed. In general, a metered ride within Hanoi's Old Quarter should cost no more than 30,000 dong (approximately 1.14 USD), and to the airport no more than 300,000 dong (approximately 11.4 USD).

The most reliable way is these apps:

• Grab - the most popular and reliable, and optimal in terms of price and quality.
• Maxim – the cheapest taxi, but requests may not be accepted for hours. We do not recommend using it for critical trips, such as to the railway station or airport.
• Xanh Sm (pronounced Hanh Sm) – modern environmentally friendly taxi on Vietnamese-produced VinFast electric cars, but most often costs more than Grab.
• InDrive – this is an app for ridesharing, where you can negotiate the price of the trip. You can get there cheaper than Grab, but for this you have to do a lot of extra actions and there is no guarantee of request acceptance.

Our choice is Grab. In it, besides cars, ordering motorbike taxis, food, goods, sending parcels and much more is available. But still, it's better to install a couple of these apps before your trip.

All apps can be registered with Russian SIM cards. If it doesn't work the first time, try later or enter the country code +7 Kazakhstan, and then the Russian number. That's why we recommend installing the app in advance at home so you don't waste time upon arrival.

Of course, mobile internet or WiFi is needed for the apps to work. For how and where to buy a local SIM card with internet, read the guide about internet in Vietnam here. For one-time orders, you can connect to free WiFi networks at Hanoi airport, hotels, cafes, and order from there, you just need to remember the amount to pay.

You can also use branded city taxis Mailinh (Mailinh), Hanoi Group Taxi, G7 taxi and others. Their cars can be caught right on the street, ordered by phone, through the reception. The price for the trip is metered and should be indicated on a sticker on the side or on the side window of the car. If there are no price tags - it means you have an illegal taxi. Usually it is more profitable to go by meter, but sometimes drivers offer tourists a fixed price, which is not profitable for short trips.

However, for long-distance trips, such as to Hanoi airport, it is better to order a taxi at a fixed price at the hotel reception or in street travel agencies, or negotiate with drivers on the street. For reference, the actual cost of a trip from Hanoi's tourist district to the airport is 250,000 dong (9.5 USD).

If you are traveling without a companion and large bags, you can use a very fast and slightly extreme way of getting around – Xe Om motorbike taxi. The price of the trip is almost two times lower compared to a car. For example, within one district you can ride for only 15,000 dong (0.57 USD).

You can find motorbike taxis literally on every corner. More precisely, you won't have to look, you will be constantly offered it. But it is safer and more convenient to order through the above-mentioned apps Grab, Hang Sm, Maxim. Also, in the app you immediately see the cost, but on the street you will have to bargain.

Read more about taxis in Hanoi and how to use them here.

City buses

A convenient and affordable type of transport for budget tourists is the city bus system. You can get anywhere within the city, and even beyond, for example to Hanoi airport very cheaply compared to a taxi. In our opinion, this is an optimal and very convenient way to get around the city if you need to travel economically.

The buses are clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. The cost varies on different routes – from 10,000 dong (approximately 0.38 USD) for a trip within the center, and up to 45,000 for express №86 to the airport. You can also get to the airport by bus №17 for only 15,000 dong. Payment is made to the conductor on the bus, a ticket is issued.

To search for bus numbers and build routes, we usually use the Google Maps app (public transport route planning), they in most cases give accurate information about the route. There is also a cool new VinBus app. Although it is officially intended for VinBus branded buses, other routes have now been added there. We checked it, everything matches, so you can safely use it.

More about Hanoi city buses, what routes are available and how to use them with a video guide.

Cyclo (pedicab)

In Hanoi, the exotic mode of transport cyclo (pedicab) still works. Mainly cyclo drivers work around Hoan Kiem Lake. But today it is no longer a means of transportation, but now a tourist attraction for rides, and a very expensive one at that.

For a ride of three meters and a couple of photos, they can demand 10 US dollars from tourists, and for a circle around the lake they even ask for 40 dollars!!! This is very expensive, so it's better to hire them by time, not from point to point, and be sure to bargain. It is quite possible to bargain down to 50,000 dong (1.9 USD) for a short ride.

Motorbike or bicycle rental or purchase

If you are sure that you are a "Schumacher on a motorcycle", then you can rent a motorcycle or a low-power scooter. Finding motorcycle rentals will not be difficult at all – just walk around the streets of the Old Quarter. There are especially many rentals on Pho Ma May Street. Rent will cost you from 200,000 per day (approximately 7.6 USD).

But do not overestimate your driving abilities: first walk around the streets, look at the traffic (it is very chaotic here and does not obey any rules), and then decide whether it is worth getting involved. At least if you are not confident in two-wheeled transport, don't even think about mastering it in Hanoi. If you do decide, then read our guide with video about renting a motorcycle in Vietnam.

You can also buy a motorbike in Hanoi. This option is often used by experienced travelers, of course not limited to trips around the capital, but going further around Vietnam. On the purchased motorbike you can then go to neighboring countries Laos or Cambodia, and this is a completely legal and proven way. Motorbikes are sold with full re-registration into ownership and documents. At the end of the trip, it can be sold, including in other countries, but most often tourists return to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to sell.

Many motorbikes for sale are offered on Pho Ma May Street, but you can also find them in other places in the tourist district. As a rule, these are vehicles with a fully manual gearbox and manual clutch, and these are best suited for long journeys. You can also find automatics and semi-automatics, but they should not be bought for long trips. The cost starts from 200 dollars for the oldest simple vehicle, but for a more or less good one you will have to pay from 500 dollars. Read more - how to travel around Vietnam on a purchased motorbike.

You can also rent a bicycle for 50,000 dong per day and explore the city on it. But you still won't be able to go beyond the Old Quarter district due to the "wild" traffic. And riding a bicycle around the Old Quarter is not a great idea. At most, you can ride freely around Hoan Kiem Lake, and in other places you will have to walk it more often than ride.

Car rental

In Vietnam, you can legally drive a rented vehicle with an international driving permit (IDP) that complies with the requirements of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. These are exactly the ones issued in the Russian Federation, and previously it was necessary to obtain temporary local licenses, and no others were recognized in the country. Now you can calmly drive with a driver's license issued in Russia. Just remember that the IDP is valid only in conjunction with the national license, so you need to take both types of licenses to Vietnam. You can obtain an IDP at the traffic police department, their cost/state fee is 3200 rubles. No exams are required to obtain an IDP.

The price for car rental remains quite high, from 40 dollars per day. Offices of international rental companies have opened in the country, and now you can book a car in Vietnam here.

Tourist electric cars

Many 8-seater electric buses from early morning until late evening circulate within Hanoi's tourist district, and make stops near attractions and on shopping streets. You can buy a ticket at the final stop of the electric cars at the northeastern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, for 200,000 (approximately 7.6 USD) or 300,000 (approximately 11.4 USD) depending on the electric car, children under 3 years old free. The buses run without a schedule, and start moving along the route from the final stop when full.

Hanoi City Tour tourist bus

A Hop-on-Hop-off tourist bus system called Hanoi City Tour runs through Hanoi. On it you can quickly see the main attractions of Hanoi, although it should be noted that the ticket price is inflated, and in fact, combining walking trips and ordering a taxi by meter, you can get acquainted with the same attractions even cheaper. However, Hanoi Hop-on-Hop-off has one advantage - an audio guide in several languages, including Russian. Also, there is a special route - night Hanoi.

The buses run 7 days a week 365 days a year from 9 am to 5 pm at 30-minute intervals, and additionally evening tours are organized at 7:00 pm and 8:15 pm. The last two trips take place already in the dark (in Hanoi it gets dark as early as 6 pm) and do not include stops.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://hopon-hopoff.vn/tours/hanoi-city-tour, in travel agencies and at the sales point on the street near Hanoi Opera House. Ticket prices:

• 4 hours + tickets to Hoa Lo Prison Museum – 360,000 dong (approximately 13.68 USD)
• 24 hours + tickets to Hoa Lo Prison Museum - 510,000 (approximately 19.37 USD)
• Evening tour 1 hour without stops – 150,000 dong (approximately 5.7 USD)

More details about the Hanoi tourist bus here.

Hanoi Metro

Since 2021, a modern metro (overground and underground) has been operating in Hanoi. So far only two lines are open, but they pass far from tourist places, so the metro is not very useful for travelers. However, if you are staying near a station, you can get to Cat Linh and walk to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (1.5 km).

Practical information:

• Cost: from 8,000 dong for 1–2 stations (approximately 0.3 USD), up to 15,000 dong for long trips. Children under 6 years old – free.
• Operating hours: 05:00–22:00, interval – 6–10 minutes.
• Tickets: Single-use cards are purchased at ticket offices or terminals (cash up to 50,000 dong is accepted, Russian cards do not work).

How to use:

• At the entrance through the turnstile at the station, tap the card on the reader.
• At the end of the trip, when exiting the station through the turnstile, insert the card into the slot.

Network expansion is planned, but for now the metro does not cover the center and the airport. We told everything about the metro in Hanoi with photos and a video guide here.