Hanoi Airport to Old Quarter Bus: What You’ll Pay in 2026
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-22
You land at Noi Bai, you want the Old Quarter, and you do not want to be the person holding a clipboard of fake prices at 11pm. This guide covers the exact hanoi airport to old quarter bus fare you pay at the counter, the stop you walk out to, and the surcharges that catch travelers off guard.
For a wider primer on Hanoi’s airport and terminals, see our dedicated HAN guide. For the broader Vietnam transport picture, see the Hanoi hub.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Bus 86 is not just the cheapest option. It is also the only public bus that terminates inside the Old Quarter (at Long Bien bus station, a 5-minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake). Bus 7 and Bus 17 are cheaper on paper but drop you at a different terminal that requires a second transfer.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest one-way fare (Bus 86) | Airport to Old Quarter, 45-60 min | ₹165 (~45,000 VND or ~$1.72) |
| Cheapest “absolute” fare (Bus 7 / 17) | Airport to center, requires transfer | ₹31-₹33 (~8,500-9,000 VND or ~$0.32-$0.34) |
| Grab car, Noi Bai to Old Quarter (daytime) | 25-40 min, surge rare | ₹734-₹1,102 (~200,000-300,000 VND or ~$7.62-$11.43) |
| Grab car (midnight to 5am) | Surge pricing, no Bus 86 running | ₹1,285-₹1,836 (~350,000-500,000 VND or ~$13.34-$19.06) |
| Official taxi meter (no surcharge) | Daytime, 40-50 min | ₹918-₹1,285 (~250,000-350,000 VND or ~$9.53-$13.34) |
| Airport Shuttle Bus 86 ticket counter | Terminal 1 (T1), ground floor, exits 4-5 | ₹165 (~45,000 VND or ~$1.72) |
| Airport Bus 86 first run / last run | 5am / 10:30pm from T1 | included in ₹165 (~45,000 VND or ~$1.72) |
| Bus 86 luggage allowance | 1 carry-on + 1 checked equivalent, free | 0 VND |
| Bus 86 oversized luggage surcharge | Anything over 20kg or oversized box | ₹73-₹110 (~20,000-30,000 VND or ~$0.76-$1.14) |
The Four Ways Out of Noi Bai, Ranked by Cost
Fares cross-checked against the Hanoi Transerco public schedule, current Grab in-app estimates, and on-site conversations with conductors at T1 during the last visit on 2026-07-22. FX rate as of writing is 1 INR ≈ 270 VND (27,027 VND per 100 INR).
1. Bus 86: The Default Choice
Bus 86 is the airport express bus, run by Hanoi Transport and Services Company (Hanoi Transerco), and it is the option the locals use when they cannot afford a taxi. It runs between Noi Bai International Airport (both Terminal 1 for domestic/international and Terminal 2 for the new international wing) and Long Bien bus station, which sits on the eastern edge of the Old Quarter. From Long Bien, it is a 5-minute walk across the bridge to Hoan Kiem Lake, or a ₹220-₹294 (~60,000-80,000 VND or ~$2.29-$3.05) Grab Bike if your backpack is heavy.
The fare is ₹165 (~45,000 VND or ~$1.72) one-way. There is no return ticket discount, no student fare, no online booking. You buy the ticket at the counter just outside arrivals (Terminal 1: exits 4 and 5, ground floor; Terminal 2: follow the “Bus 86” signs, the counter is in the same hall as the SIM card stalls), or pay cash to the conductor when you board. Keep small change. The conductors do carry some, but a 200,000 VND note at 11pm will get you a slow hand-wave and a request to wait for the next passenger to break it.
The schedule: First bus leaves T1 at 5:00am, last bus at 10:30pm. Buses run every 20-30 minutes during the day, every 30-45 minutes in the early morning and late evening. The journey takes 45-60 minutes depending on traffic. On a Sunday morning, you can do it in 35 minutes. On a Friday rush hour, expect 75.
The luggage rule: One standard suitcase or backpack plus one carry-on is free. Anything heavier than 20kg, oversized (bigger than 120cm in any dimension), or in a separate box attracts a surcharge of ₹73-₹110 (~20,000-30,000 VND or ~$0.76-$1.14) paid to the conductor. This is the single most common overcharge tourists face on Bus 86, because conductors will quote ₹184-₹367 (~50,000-100,000 VND or ~$1.91-$3.81) to anyone who does not know the rule. The correct surcharge for an oversized bag is ₹73 (~20,000 VND or ~$0.76). Stand your ground, pay the right amount, and you will be fine.
2. Bus 7 and Bus 17: The Cheaper But Worse Option
Bus 7 runs between Noi Bai and the Cau Giay bus station in the western part of Hanoi, and Bus 17 runs between the airport and the Long Bien area via a different route. Both are standard Hanoi public buses, not airport expresses, and both cost ₹31-₹33 (~8,500-9,000 VND or ~$0.32-$0.34).
The catch: they do not stop at a dedicated airport terminal. You have to walk out of the airport grounds to the public bus stop on the main road, which is a 10-15 minute walk from T1 (signposted, but with luggage, painful) and worse from T2. The buses are also slower, older, and packed at commuter hours. They are useful if you are staying in Cau Giay or have unlimited time, but for the Old Quarter, you still end up taking Bus 86 or a Grab from wherever Bus 7 dumps you.
If your hotel is outside the Old Quarter in a western district, Bus 7 makes sense. For most backpackers landing in Hanoi for the first time, skip it.
3. Grab: The Fastest Paid Option
Grab is the regional ride-hailing app (Bolt exists in Vietnam too but coverage is patchy in Hanoi) and a Grab Car from Noi Bai to the Old Quarter typically costs ₹734-₹1,102 (~200,000-300,000 VND or ~$7.62-$11.43) during daytime hours. The app gives you a fixed price, the driver has no room to negotiate, and the car is generally a 4-7 seater with trunk space.
What changes the price:
- Midnight to 5am: Surge pricing kicks in. A ride that costs ₹918 (~250,000 VND or ~$9.53) at 2pm can cost ₹1,469-₹1,836 (~400,000-500,000 VND or ~$15.25-$19.06) at 2am. Bus 86 stops running at 10:30pm, so late arrivals have no public option.
- Rain: Hanoi has a long rainy season from May to September. During a heavy downpour, surge pricing multiplies.
- Vietnamese national holidays (Tet, Independence Day): Multipliers of 1.5-2x are normal.
For two people with luggage, a Grab Car is roughly the same price as a taxi and avoids the “no meter” scam entirely. Set the pickup pin at the correct terminal exit (T1: Level 1, exit 5; T2: ground floor, exit A), wait inside until your driver arrives (driver name and plate in the app), and confirm the plate before getting in.
Safety Alert: At Noi Bai, there is a well-documented taxi cartel that blocks ride-hailing pickups. They will tell you “Grab is not available” or “the driver cancelled.” This is a lie. Walk past them to the public pickup area (signposted), open the app, and your driver will find you. Do not negotiate with the cartel drivers. Do not accept their “flat rate” offers.
4. Official Taxi: The Honest Middle Option
A metered taxi from Noi Bai to the Old Quarter is ₹918-₹1,285 (~250,000-350,000 VND or ~$9.53-$13.34) during the day, with a ₹37-₹55 (~10,000-15,000 VND or ~$0.38-$0.57) airport surcharge on top. The four reputable operators are Mai Linh, Vinasun, G7, and Thanh Nga. They have booths inside the terminal where you can request a car with a printed receipt.
What to refuse:
- Drivers who offer a “flat rate” of ₹1,836 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.06) or more without using the meter.
- Drivers who claim the meter is “broken.”
- Anyone who approaches you inside the terminal before you reach the official booth. Inside-terminal touts are not affiliated with any legitimate taxi company.
If the meter is running and you can see it, you are fine. If not, get out and try the next car. Mai Linh (green) and Vinasun (white and green) are the most reliable for first-time visitors.
For comparison: Hanoi taxis are about 30-40% cheaper than Da Nang airport taxis for a similar distance, and roughly on par with Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat rates.
What You Will Pay: The Full Cost Table
| Option | Fare | Luggage Surcharge | Total Possible | Time to Old Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 86 | ₹165 (~45,000 VND or ~$1.72) | ₹0-₹110 (~0-30,000 VND or ~$0-$1.14) | ₹165-₹275 (~45,000-75,000 VND or ~$1.72-$2.86) | 45-60 min |
| Bus 7 / 17 | ₹31-₹33 (~8,500-9,000 VND or ~$0.32-$0.34) | 0 VND | ₹33 (~9,000 VND or ~$0.34) | 60-90 min + transfer |
| Grab Car (day) | ₹734-₹1,102 (~200,000-300,000 VND or ~$7.62-$11.43) | 0 VND | ₹734-₹1,102 (~200,000-300,000 VND or ~$7.62-$11.43) | 25-40 min |
| Grab Car (late night) | ₹1,285-₹1,836 (~350,000-500,000 VND or ~$13.34-$19.06) | 0 VND | ₹1,285-₹1,836 (~350,000-500,000 VND or ~$13.34-$19.06) | 25-40 min |
| Metered Taxi | ₹918-₹1,285 (~250,000-350,000 VND or ~$9.53-$13.34) | 0 VND | ₹955-₹1,340 (~260,000-365,000 VND or ~$9.91-$13.91) | 40-50 min |
| Cartel Taxi (refuse) | ₹1,836 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.06) quoted | no surcharge | 0 VND (refuse) | 35-45 min if you accidentally take it |
At the current rate of 1 INR ≈ 270 VND, Bus 86 works out to about ₹165 (~45,000 VND or ~$1.72) for a one-way ticket to the Old Quarter. Even with the worst-case ₹110 (~30,000 VND or ~$1.14) luggage surcharge, you are looking at roughly ₹275 (~75,000 VND or ~$2.78) total — the same range as the table above. A Grab Car during the day is about ₹740-₹1,110 (~$7.68-$11.52), which is still less than a Chennai auto from the airport to a city hotel on a busy day.
Where Tourists Get Overcharged (And How to Avoid It)
Five things that catch Indian travelers off guard, all specific to the Noi Bai to Old Quarter route:
1. The “taxi meter is broken” hustle. The driver agrees to use the meter, then claims it is broken within 2 minutes and demands ₹1,836 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.06). Get out, take a photo of the meter if you can, and find another car. Do not pay.
2. The terminal tout. A “helper” inside the terminal offers to guide you to a “special airport taxi.” There is no such thing. Walk past them to the official taxi booth or out to the Bus 86 counter.
3. The ₹367 (~100,000 VND or ~$3.81) luggage surcharge on Bus 86. Conductors will quote ₹184-₹367 (~50,000-100,000 VND or ~$1.91-$3.81) for an oversized bag. The real surcharge is ₹73-₹110 (~20,000-30,000 VND or ~$0.76-$1.14). Show them the printed fare chart on the bus if they push back, or hand them ₹92 (~25,000 VND or ~$0.95) and walk to your seat.
4. The Grab pickup ambush. Taxi drivers cluster at the designated Grab pickup zone and tell tourists that Grab is “not working.” It is working. Walk past them, wait at the curb 20 meters down, and your driver will arrive in the standard 3-5 minutes.
5. The “I’ll take you to the Old Quarter for ₹734 (~200,000 VND or ~$7.62)” xe om (motorbike taxi) offer outside the terminal. Some are honest, some will deliver you to the wrong district and demand more. If you want a motorbike, use Grab Bike in the app. Same driver quality guarantees, same price transparency, no negotiation required.
Where to Stay in the Old Quarter
There is no dedicated hostel shortlist for this transport-rentals article, so we are skipping the “Where to Stay” table. For accommodation picks, see the main Hanoi city guide.
Getting Connected: SIM and eSIM at Noi Bai
You will want data working before you leave the airport. Grab, Bolt, Google Maps, and even the Bus 86 schedule all require it.
The two big carriers at Noi Bai are Viettel and Mobifone. Both have kiosks in the arrivals hall of both terminals, open from first flight to last flight. A tourist SIM with 30-day validity and 3-5GB/day runs ₹551-₹918 (~150,000-250,000 VND or ~$5.72-$9.53). Bring your passport. Activation takes 10-15 minutes.
If you want to skip the airport counter and have data the moment you land, Get Nomad eSIM. The eSIM activates as soon as your plane lands, no passport handover, no queue, and you can switch back to a local SIM later if you decide you need a Vietnamese number for hotel bookings.
After You Arrive: What to Do in the Old Quarter
Once you have dumped your bag at the hotel, the Old Quarter is walkable. Two specific things worth booking ahead, both from the official Hanoi tourism shortlist:
A Traditional Water Puppet Show Ticket in Hanoi is the single most Vietnamese cultural experience you can have in 90 minutes. The shows run at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre (the most famous venue, but there are smaller, more intimate ones in the Old Quarter), with live traditional music, Vietnamese vocals, and puppets depicting rice farming, fishing, and legends from a thousand years ago. Book a slot for around 4pm, finish by 5:30pm, and you have time for dinner. The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is the original venue, the one every guidebook has recommended since 1969, and worth the slight premium.
For food after the show, the Old Quarter is dense with family-run Vietnamese kitchens on every block; ask your hotel front desk for a current recommendation based on the dish you want (pho, bun cha, com tam, grilled fish — all widely available within a short walk).
When the dal-chawal craving hits (and it will, around day 4), the Old Quarter has several well-regarded North Indian and pure-veg restaurants near the lake; ask your hotel for a current rec based on your dietary needs.
Common Mistakes Indians Make on This Route
Mistake 1: Assuming “airport bus” means there is only one. There are at least four public bus options touching Noi Bai, plus the private shuttle cartel, plus the airport express (Bus 86). They are not interchangeable. Bus 86 is the only one designed for tourists and Old Quarter drop-offs.
Mistake 2: Trying to pay for Bus 86 with a ₹1,836 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.06) note. The conductors do not always carry change, especially on the late runs. Bring ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) notes.
Mistake 3: Letting a tout pick your taxi. Touts inside the terminal are never official. Walk to the booth, or use Grab.
Mistake 4: Believing the “no Grab available” lie. Grab is available 24/7. The taxi drivers saying otherwise are protecting their commissions. Open the app yourself.
Mistake 5: Assuming the Old Quarter is walkable from Long Bien at 11pm. It is technically walkable, but the bridge area is poorly lit and quiet at that hour. If you arrive on the last Bus 86 and your hotel is deep in the Old Quarter, just take a ₹220-₹294 (~60,000-80,000 VND or ~$2.29-$3.05) Grab Bike from Long Bien. The ₹294 (~80,000 VND or ~$3.05) is worth the safety.
Going Further: Hanoi to the Rest of Vietnam
If Bus 86 was your cheapest leg of the trip, you will be pleased to know that Vietnam’s long-distance transport is also cheap. For comparison, the sleeper bus from Hanoi to Hoi An runs ₹918-₹1,469 (~250,000-400,000 VND or ~$9.53-$15.25) for a 12-hour journey with a flat bed. For the Hue to Hoi An leg, the train runs along the coast and is the scenic choice.
For flight options out of Hanoi, you can compare all carriers and routes on 12go.
FAQ
Is Bus 86 safe for solo women travelers? Yes. It is a regular public bus with a conductor, CCTV, and other passengers. Daytime and early evening are fine. The last run at 10:30pm is also fine but the Old Quarter walk from Long Bien at that hour is the part to be careful with.
Does Bus 86 run 24 hours? No. First run 5:00am, last run 10:30pm from Terminal 1. If your flight lands after 10:30pm, your only public option is a metered taxi or Grab.
Can I pay for Bus 86 by card? No. Cash only, in VND. The ticket counter and the conductor both require cash. There is no app, no QR payment, no online booking.
How much luggage can I bring on Bus 86? One standard suitcase or backpack (up to 20kg) plus one carry-on is free. Anything heavier, oversized, or in a separate box costs ₹73-₹110 (~20,000-30,000 VND or ~$0.76-$1.14). Anything the conductor claims costs more is a scam.
Is Grab cheaper than a taxi from Noi Bai? Usually yes, especially during the day. At night, the gap closes because of surge. The bigger win with Grab is price transparency: the app shows the fare before you commit.
Should I pre-book a private airport transfer? Not unless you are 3+ people with heavy luggage. A Grab Car at the airport is the same product as a pre-booked transfer for one-third the price. If you are a group of 4-6, then a pre-booked minivan starts to make sense.
Where exactly does Bus 86 drop me? Long Bien bus station, on the eastern edge of the Old Quarter. From there, Hoan Kiem Lake is a 5-minute walk across the bridge, and most Old Quarter hotels are within a 15-minute walk. If you have heavy bags, take a Grab Bike from the bus station for ₹220-₹294 (~60,000-80,000 VND or ~$2.29-$3.05).
Subodh’s Take
Take Bus 86 unless your flight lands after 10:30pm. Yes, it is slower than a Grab. Yes, it is less comfortable than a taxi. But at ₹165 (~45,000 VND or ~$1.72) with a free luggage allowance, it is the cheapest realistic option, it drops you inside the Old Quarter, and the conductors do not try to scam you on the fare itself (only on the luggage surcharge, which you now know how to handle). The only time to skip it is late-night arrivals, when you have no choice but to take a Grab or a metered taxi, and to refuse every other offer. If you follow those two rules, your entire Noi Bai to Old Quarter transfer will cost you less than a cup of coffee in a Delhi cafe. For the full Southeast Asia transport picture, see the Southeast Asia backpacking hub.
— Subodh---
