Our Review of Hanoi Airport (HAN)

Our Review of Hanoi Airport (HAN)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Hanoi Noi Bai Airport is generally perceived as a mid-level international airport with a solid but not outstanding reputation. Skytrax classifies it as a 3-star airport, highlighting acceptable standards in facilities, cleanliness and services, but without reaching top-tier quality levels. Passenger sentiment across platforms tends to be moderately positive, with travellers appreciating the airport’s modern international terminal and relatively organised processes, especially when compared to other airports in the region.

One of the most commonly praised aspects is the international Terminal 2, which is described as modern, spacious and well-lit, with a fairly efficient check-in process. Many travellers also highlight that security and immigration procedures are generally smooth, particularly outside peak hours. Cleanliness and basic organisation are seen as adequate, contributing to a functional and relatively stress-free experience for most passengers.

However, several recurring criticisms appear consistently across reviews. The most notable issue is the lack of variety in shopping and dining options, with many passengers describing them as limited and overpriced compared to the city. Transport connections to the airport are also mentioned as confusing or not well integrated, particularly for first-time visitors. In addition, while processes are usually efficient, queues at immigration and security can become long during busy periods, and seating availability in waiting areas is sometimes insufficient.

In summary, Hanoi Airport is seen as a modern and functional airport that performs well in essential areas such as organisation and basic comfort, but falls short in terms of variety, value for money and peak-time capacity.

Final rating: 7.4 / 10. This score reflects a reliable and improving airport with a strong international terminal and generally efficient operations, but with clear limitations in services, pricing and consistency that prevent it from reaching a higher standard.

Pros and Cons of Hanoi Airport (HAN)

Pros

• Modern international terminal (T2) with good facilities
• Easy navigation thanks to clear layout
• Affordable services compared to many global airports
• Good range of transport options (taxi, Grab, bus)
• Availability of sleep pods and lounges

Cons

• Terminals (T1 and T2) are far apart
• Long queues at security and immigration during peak hours
• Limited seating in busy periods
• Wi-Fi can be slow or unstable
• Driving access and traffic to the airport can be unpredictable

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is the main gateway to northern Vietnam and one of the busiest airports in the country. Located around 30 km from Hanoi city centre, it serves both domestic and international routes and is well connected to major cities across Asia.

The airport operates with two terminals: Terminal 1 (T1) for domestic flights and Terminal 2 (T2) for international travel. Terminal 2 is newer, more modern and better equipped, with a wider range of shops, restaurants and lounges. Both terminals are clearly signposted, but they are several kilometers apart, so it’s important to check your departure terminal in advance.

In terms of facilities, the airport offers everything most travellers need. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, along with ATMs, currency exchange, luggage services and dining options. Terminal 2 has the best selection of duty-free shops and international restaurants, while Terminal 1 is more basic but functional. For longer layovers, sleep pods and airport lounges provide added comfort.

Getting to and from the airport is relatively straightforward. Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Grab are the most convenient options, taking around 30–45 minutes to reach the city centre. Buses are a cheaper alternative, with routes such as Bus 86 connecting the airport to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, although travel times can be longer.

Security and immigration processes are generally efficient, but queues can become long during peak hours, especially in the early morning or evening. It is recommended to arrive at least 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international departures.

Overall, Hanoi Airport is a functional and increasingly modern airport that offers a smooth travel experience, particularly if you plan ahead and allow extra time for traffic and security procedures.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Hanoi Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Hanoi Airport (last month)