My family usually call Thanh Nga Taxi :04-8215215 (esp. my aunt, she never calls any other taxis out there. For her, call this number or go nowhere?! She gets taxis to the airport quite often and the price is about VND 130,000, as I remember - you can call and check it.) I think the price is good, and drivers (those I met) are honest. Our family usually hire a taxi for the whole day to go to our hometown as well.

Mai Linh seems to be quite popular here but I have no idea about their service quality.

Most taxi companies have a flat rate airport return price which is rather cheaper than two single trips, and the driver will wait for you at the airport (in the parking lot for fear of reprisals from the Noi Bai taxi gangsters who have a monopoly at the airport).

I always use Van Xuan, which I've entered on this site (280,000 return, 3 hours and 70km limit); friends have recommended Airport taxi (number?) - 150,000 one way, not sure about the return.

Even Hanoi taxi is not that bad for an airport trip, I think.

Getting there from Big C, either we pay straight off the meter (plus the 10k VND toll to the airport) or negotiate a flat rate.

The meter of course depends on the car (Matiz sized - 160k, or the Toyota Vios, slightly under 200k). Locals tell me that you can negotiate the flat rate at around 150k, but most of the time it's too much of a bother so I just pay the meter.

Returning, just hop onto the flat rate taxis coming back. I forget the names, but besides the blue Noi Bai taxis, the new Yellow ones (using nice, new and comfortable GM/Daewoo Gentra sedans) are 150k into town.

Noi Bai Taxi has flat rates 130k VND from Hn to airport and 150k from airport to HN. I never done a return but you could try to negotiate one with them at the very most you'll pay 280k.

On the cheaper side there's a minibus that departs from VN airlines office just south of Hoan Kiem (#1 Quang Trung) at all times of day and night and costs 30,000 VND per person per way. Its usually not too bad but you gotta wait for the bus to fill up (usually not long)

10 uS$ (150-160K) is still the announced rate at the taxi centre in front of VB Airlines. If you are satisfied with a driver ask him his calling card and he will serve you well during the rest of your stay.
Baochi

For those of you who travel abroad to/from a variety of different countries, suggest purchasing a copy of the most recent edition of 'Salks's Airport Transit Guide'. At about $ 10.00 USD a copy, it's one of the most useful ways to know in advance of arrival information on distance from named airport to the city center, airport name/flight code and key phone numbers. But perhaps the most useful part of the guide is a listing of different types of ground transport with fare and time estimates to the city center.

Generally more complete for NA, and EU destinations but the Asia section is very helpful on estimating transport expenses and time.

As this thread has been refreshed, the current Noi Bai Taxi rates are:

Hanoi - Noi Bai 180k
Noi Bai - Hanoi 230k

loom is right - as of early Sept 2009 (we should date these type of replies since it changes so fast).

Btw, most hotels are charging 15-17usd for airport pickup, but you can still negotiate free pickup if friends/family plan to stay 2 or more days at the hotel.

I know this is an old thread, but I've arranged a taxi through the travel desk at My Burger My on Pho Hang Bac a couple of times, arrived on time, cost $10. I'm sure a return could also be arranged.

The cost to go to the airport can be as low as $8. However if you are arriving at the airport without a pre-arranged taxi deal the standard rate is $15 to anywhere in Hanoi. Most hotels will give a free pick-up (if you ask repeatedly) but only if you are staying for more than a week. Of course if you are staying at a big (more $$$) hotel you will probably get the taxi for free. Personally at my place we do not offer a free taxi because we charge very little for the rooms in comparison to other hotels. Just remember that taxis are not allowed to charge more than $15 from the airport to Hanoi. It is the law.......and please don't tear my head off about laws in Vietnam being non-existant :)

The rank is now charging 250K from the airport to Hanoi. 270K for the bigger taxis.
Valid at 16th Sept. They seem to change quick.

Still cost me 180K heading out though.

I seem to have written an answer for this in a less relevant thread, it goes something like this:

There are two public bus options from the airport if you have no luggage (a small backpack is fine), the bus number 7 takes you to the airport from kim ma bus station and the 17 takes you to Long Bien via the Chuong Duong Bridge. These take a bit over an hour-1.5 hrs, depending on traffic and cost around 5000 dong and are fine if you are not in a rush. When exiting the airport turn right and head over to bunch of people waiting under the airport departures car ramp.

The mini buses will drop you off on Quang Trung just south of the Church, i think they are around $2usd. They are pretty quick, around an hour or so i'd say and are a little tight on the leg room, but not too bad.

I've taken to riding on specific airport buses, there is one that basically goes past west lake along the dyke road and goes all the way down to Luong Yen Bus station. You can get off along the way. It has really roomy seats, enough for you to carry your luggage on (if needed) and still stretch your legs. It's 30k dong, as you exit the airport they are just over on the right hand side. Further past these buses are the Jetstar ones which are also ok and stop along the dyke road about as far south as the Opera house.

If time is priority and cost not, take a taxi from the taxi stand and agree on the price beforehand. Even though they already display what the price should be it may vary for different districts, multiple stops etc.

If you reside in Haon Keim district, close to Quang Trung St in particular, you should consider the minibus option (which Longan described above). Here is what to do: get yourself to 2 Quang Trung St, Trang Tein end of Quang Trung, opposite Vietnam Airlines office. You will see there are plenty of airport taxis alongside with the minibus here. The taxi drivers will approach you left-right-and- centre. The minibus’ one way fare for one person is 30K dong however if you have heavy/plenty of luggage, the minibus driver may ask you to pay a little more. You should start at 10K extra. When I tried this option a week ago, I actually missed the minibus but couldn’t wait for the next one so I negotiated with a taxi to pay him 60K dong. He took me but had to share the trip with another lady which was no problem at all. From airport back to Hanoi, same deal. The same type of minibus will take you back to 2 Quang Trung, 30K dong. In Longan’s above post, she/he showed where to board this minibus at the airport.

Note: when you get off the minibus at 2 Quang Trung, again you will be approached by lots of taxis and motorbike taxis (yes motorbike taxis, even they can cleary see that you have a big suitcase -- how do they think they can carry you as a pillion passenger plus your suitcase). Beware of the "little" taxis (yes, little size-wise). In my experience, thier fare meters jump much faster than it should be.

I'll be leaving Hanoi for Saigon next week. My friend suggested that I take the Kumho bus that passes along Daewoo Hotel. Does anyone know this or when and where exactly it picks up passengers?

If I have 15kg luggage, can I still take the Kim Ma bus to the airport instead? Or what are the schedules or frequency of the minibuses from Quang Trung or Luong Yen?

Anything is better than shelling out 250k dong on taxis..

"Beer"

http://kumhovietthanh.com/

Give yourself at least a half hour extra to catch a bus. It goes over the new Vinh Tuy bridge at the moment rather than Thanh Long (under repair) and takes a little long to get to the airport.

"Beer"

We flew last week. We called the Noi Bai airport taxi, which picked us up at the house. The normal saloon currently costs 180,000 & the bigger people carrier 200,000.
We took the minibus back, which stops outside arrivals. They have now increased the price to 50,000/per. But it stopped at the end of our alley in Doa Tan, just before the Daewoo. I haven't been able to work out how to get it to the airport!
The current taxi rate from the airport is 250,000 (really overpriced)
If you live near the Daewoo, pop into the Asiana airline office and check the timetable for the Asiana shuttle bus, which was 30,000. They make a stop in town as well. The other option is the Jetstar bus, which runs to their timetable and has three pick up points. Check a Jetstar office for details.
Remember there are big delays at ceratin times now on the bridge, plus anything bigger than a minibus may not be allowed to cross.
Hope that helps.

Last night my wife flew in from Cambodia. Seems that Sunday night is pretty darned hectic with flights so it was pandemonium at the airport.

She ended up getting a Noi Bai taxi but having to share with someone. She negotiated VND200k before getting in. But, upon arriving at our home when she got out the driver tried to charge her VND300k, when he also would be charging the other passengers to get them to their place. When my wife refused and only paid the 200, the driver became quite aggressive and abusive. Fortunately building security was on hand to make sure nothing happened.

So, beware of really busy times at the airport. best to fly in during the middle of the day (as I did last time) when there is no crush for taxis. Make sure you clearly negotiate the fare before geting in and learn the Vietnamese numbers, makes it easier.

Needless to say we called Noi Bai taxis and complained - we may even get the fare back!

Again a bad taxi experience. I feel sorry for your wife that she had to go through this. Even Noi Bai taxi... wow. Good thing they are professional to possibly refund you. Please keep us updated on this process?

It could be an idea to make a show of you memorizing the taxi's license plate before getting in. This seems to work for me. Or even use your telephone to make a picture. I have heard a lot of stories concerning taxis. Be it good or bad. One should prepare.
This makes me remember that thread of the woman that was assaulted in her taxi a few months ago after she visited a nightclub.

I once took a taxi, agreed on price, got home and then the driver decided he wanted more. Big discussion in front of my house. My neighbor came out and took sides with the driver. Because i am tay.

Some other time some driver of an unknown company (small car) gave me the tourist route. From Hoan Kiem lake to down south in Dong Da at 2300 hrs via Kim Ma. It was only 40.000 dong and the guy was waved a few times by bystanders he couldnt take the road he wanted to, so he needed to turn some times and try again. That guy got to know the meaning of tipping that night. Damn shame he didnt understand my broken vietnamese for pls give me your tel nr. (for future rides.)

Anyway; lots of people, lots of intentions. Just be aware.

I took the airport minibus recently, so here's an update.

I reached the office at 7:35 am, the first passenger there. The bus was scheduled to leave at 8 but left only at 8:30 when all the seats were filled. I got to the airport at 9:20, for a flight leaving at 10:40. I was travelling on a Sunday though, so there were no jams.

On my return (the stand is outside the domestic arrivals hall, next to the one for the fixed price cabs), I got on a bus at 8 pm. It filled up pretty quickly and we left Noi Bai at 8:20. Arrived at Quang Trung St at 9:30 pm, after dropping several people en route. I got off there and cabbed it home but several others seemed to be heading to various hotels in the Old Quarter (for an extra payment perhaps?).

Noi Bai Airport Van Schedule (current as of 24 December 2009)

Daily, from #1 Quang Trung St, nr Xn with Trang Thi St

Duration: 1-hour approx.

1) 4h30
2) 6h30
3) 8h00
4) 9h00
5) 11h00
6) 11h30
7) 12h30
8) 13h00
9) 14h00
10) 15h00
11) 16h30
12) 18h00
13) 18h30
14) 19h00

Phone: 04 for Hanoi, 3825-0872

One-way: $2 or Ð 35,000 (current as on 3 Jan 2010)

Buses on the return only leave when full; service available between 5:30 am and 8 pm approximately but no printed schedule.

Also there is a secret if you don't mind a little hike after picking someone up from the airport.

Walk to the down ramp heading back to Hanoi. There will always be Taxi's going back to Hanoi and just tell the the street you want and say 150,000 and they will take you there. They already bought the tickets to go back to Hanoi so they are happy to take the 100% profit from your trip back to Hanoi which they were already going to have to make.

To be more clear. Walk out of the airport to the right of the parking area there will usually be a couple police officers standing there and then walk past them to the ramp that is letting the cars down back to the main road from the airport. Cross that road and there is a small divider of raise grass. Wait there about 2 minutes and then a taxi will stop and pick you up.

I decided to take the Vietnam Airlines shuttle bus home from the airport on Monday. I told the driver I wanted to get off at the Daewoo (near my house) and all was fine. The van filled up and then everyone had to pay - all of the other passengers (Vietnamese) paid 30,000 while the driver demanded 40,000 from me saying that because I am a foreigner he has to pay more insurance for me. I was too tired to argue...

Has anyone else had this happen?

noibai taxi accepts reservations for pickups from the airport (the driver will usually meet you with handwritten sign). The cost is the same as the regular price. The caveat is that you can only book one day in advance. This is great -- saves time looking around for a taxi, especially during busy times.

I've done this a lot, but it didn't work when we came in last Sunday. Leaving Hanoi on the 13th, We'd booked a 16 seater (we had 6 people and 6 large bags) for 350,000 vnd through Noibai, but for the return trip, they asked 450,000 vnd. When we arrived, the taxi was nowhere to be found. We eventually found another one, which wanted 500,000!

@ Vanilla: The foreign passengers = higher insurance costs for carriers hasn't happened to me. But an expat friend who has been a long term Ha Noi resident warned me about the possibility of cabbies trying it out. His advice is skip the economics lesson and bargain hard, circumstances permitting.

There may indeed be some merit to the notion that higher insurance costs are associated with different passengers. I've heard that auto collisions involving foreigners can be a bigger headache for local drivers than an accident with someone from the neighborhood.

RE: the public bus.
I went to the bus stop on Kim Ma in between Nui Truc and Dan's Shop. The bus stop signs don't actually have the number 7 listed, but there were a few buses that went through that stop that weren't listed.

Anyway, I waited for over an hour, and no number 7 bus!!
Very frustrating, so I ended up grabbing a taxi. On the way to the airport I saw many number 7 buses on the way to the airport and into Hanoi, but only in between Hoang Quoc Viet and the airport,so it looked like they weren't going as far as Kim Ma???!!!!!

Not sure exactly what happened.

The public bus to the airport now goes from Cau Giay bus station, you can get a bus there from the bus stop you were at.

"Beer"

@Vanilla. Give the guy 30,000vnd and then scrowl at him and say nothing. Insurance excuse = ripoff tip and laugh my arse off at you later. Not nice.

They won't throw you off the bus. Well not while it's moving anyway...

Others, try the Kumho Viet Thanh bus service to the airport. Lush and cheap. However, being a multi-millionare and having missed flights before, I take a taxi. 90% reliable, buses 60-30%.

"Beer"

@ Grant: Unfortunately I didn't have any change, only 100,000 VND bills. So I was stuck. The worst part was that I was actually looking forward to being back in Hanoi and the first person I interact with scammed me! Lesson learnt: always make sure I have exact change!

Thanks for the tip on Kumho Viet Thanh - will try it out next time!