How to get from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi

Why visit Hanoi?

Hanoi is Vietnam’s bustling capital, where heritage and modernity collide. At its heart is the iconic Old Quarter bustling with cosy hotels, old residential buildings and neighbourhood cafes. Composed of 36 streets, just walking around this area will reward you with many amazing discoveries.

Must-visit sites include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the 19th-century gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We recommend munching on as much street food as you can, strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, and our favourite: watching the world go by from one of the many coffee shops in Hanoi.

There are 2 ways to travel the 600 kilometre (373 miles) distance from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. You can choose between the train and flight. The journey takes 3 hours 55 minutes to 2 days and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by flight with tickets starting at 991,000 VND ($38).

Taking a flight from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi is a no-brainer. Even including airport transfers, travelling by flight between these two busy cities only takes around 3 hours 55 minutes.

While it is also possible to take a direct train or bus, the travel time will take over 36 hours. Just thinking about it is already exhausting!

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

From Ho Chi Minh city centre, you’ll have to travel some 8 km going north to get to Ho Chi Minh Airport (Tan Son Nhat International Airport). The cheapest way to do this is by bus.

Public Bus #152 can take you from Saigon centre to the airport in just around 45 minutes. These buses depart from Ben Thanh Market, just 10 minutes away by foot from the backpacker hostels of Pham Ngu Lao Street. A bus ticket costs only 6,000 VND ($0.20).

If you don’t mind spending more for a private ride, we recommend booking a private transfer with BookAway. Rates start from 260,000 VND ($9.90) for a 3-seater taxi from Ho Chi Minh city centre to the airport.

Check out our guide on Ho Chi Minh International Airport for more transport options.

The flight from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi is one of the most popular routes, which means there are also many flight options. Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines all offer a good number of flights daily.

The plane journey from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi takes around 2 hours 10 minutes.

Flight rates start from 940,000 VND ($36). Do book your ticket in advance. Ticket prices can go over 2,000,000 VND ($76) during peak season or when you book very near your travel date.

Once you arrive in Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport), you’ll need to arrange transport to cross the 30 km to the city centre. You can choose from 4 options: express bus, public bus, shuttle bus, or taxi.

We recommend taking Express Bus 86 because it’s both convenient and affordable. Bus 86 picks you up from the airport and makes several stops near the Old Quarter. You should be able to easily find your hotel from the bus stop.

A ticket for Express Bus 86 costs 45,000 VND ($1.70). Travel time is around 1 hour.

If you need more details, just visit our article on Hanoi Airport.

You can travel from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi by direct train, but be prepared for a long journey—around 1 day 9 hours to 2 days!

Ticket prices start from 1,096,000 VND ($42) for a second-class seat. But for this lengthy journey, we recommend booking a 4-sleeper cabin for more comfort.

Train options from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi