Several Hanoi bus services let you explore the city, as they are an important part of Hanoi's public transport system and serve locals as well as visitors of the Vietnamese capital. In addition to the hundreds of public bus routes that let you travel around the city in the most affordable way, you can choose a tourist-friendly Hanoi hop-on hop-off bus or enjoy a sightseeing tour on the panoramic open-top bus. The most popular destinations in Vietnam can also be reached by bus from Hanoi, as there are several bus stations and countless intercity bus routes starting in the city.
Discover a detailed guide to Hanoi bus services with public and tourist bus routes, tickets, intercity bus stations, and the most popular destinations that can be reached by bus from Hanoi.
Hanoi Hop-on Hop-off Bus
If you prefer a more tourist-friendly way of exploring the city's main attractions by bus, choose a Hanoi Hop-On Hop-Off Bus that lets you see the most famous attractions in the city at your own pace.
To experience a more tourist-friendly way of exploring main Hanoi attractions by bus, get yourself a Hanoi Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket for 24 or 48 hours.
Hanoi Panoramic Open-Top Bus Tour
The Hanoi panoramic open-top bus tour lets you experience the essence of Hanoi in just one hour. You can soak in sweeping views of the city’s iconic landmarks, as the bus route passes by Hanoi’s most captivating attractions, including Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Flag Tower, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and many others. It's a perfect way to get familiar with the city before going to explore it independently.
Taking this Hanoi 1-hour tour by open-top bus is a more affordable option than getting a hop-on hop-off pass and is useful if you are not planning to get off the bus at different attractions.
To make sure that you are getting the best deal for this bus tour, also check here: Hanoi City Tour Tickets.
Hanoi Public Bus Services
Public bus services in Hanoi are managed by the governmental Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco). There are several routes offered by separate companies, such as Hanoi Airport express bus routes 86 and 68 and electric bus routes operated by VinBus.
Ordinary Buses
Most of the public buses in Hanoi are blue or green.
You might see red-yellow buses, as these are the older buses that are less common nowadays.
Noi Bai Airport Express Buses
The two Noi Bai Airport express bus routes are served by the orange-colored buses.
Electric Buses
Electric buses of the VinBus company can be recognized by the different type of modern light-green buses.
Hanoi Bus Tickets
Hanoi bus tickets can normally be bought on board the bus. Just get on the bus, find a place to sit, and the conductor will approach you. All bus service providers accept cash payments, while some of them now also accept contactless card payments.
Hanoi bus fare depends on the specific bus route. Currently, the bus ticket price can be from as low as 8,000 VND to 50,000 VND, which is charged on the airport express bus routes.
Hanoi hop-on hop-off bus tickets, as well as tickets to the Open-Top Bus Tour, can be conveniently booked online. Intercity bus tickets for a trip from/to Hanoi can also be booked with online travel agents.
For more details about the bus ticket options and prices, explore the Hanoi bus tickets.
Hanoi Bus Routes
There are several airport bus routes connecting Hanoi City with Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). The bus route 86 is the most popular among the tourists, as it connects the airport with the city center.
Another popular route is the one of the Hanoi hop-on hop-off bus, which passes by Hanoi Cathedral, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi Cathedral, Hanoi Opera House, and some other famous attractions in the city. The bus route is detailed below. To board this bus along the route, you need to get a Hanoi hop-on hop-off bus ticket.
The most important Hanoi bus routes with the ticket prices, map, and points of interest along the route can be found here: Hanoi bus routes.
Hanoi Bus Route Map
As Hanoi city is huge and there are many public bus routes connecting different corners of the metropolis, you will not find a unified Hanoi bus map with all the routes laid out on one sheet of paper. The closest to it is this map circulating online, but it mainly covers the central part of the city and some bus routes are not updated or missing.
To find your way to travel from your location to the desired destination by public bus, you can use one of the applications with a Hanoi bus map, such as the BusMap Ha Noi app, which is available in Vietnamese, English, and Japanese.
Intercity Buses from/to Hanoi
Intercity buses are the most affordable way to get from Hanoi to various destinations that are not on the railway lines. These buses are connecting Hanoi with all provinces in Northern Vietnam, most of the destinations in Central Vietnam, and even some cities in Southern Vietnam, such as Ho Chi Minch City.
The most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam can also be reached by a huge number of tourist buses run by private companies. While these buses are normally more expensive, they are much faster as tourist buses normally go directly to the final destination.
Hanoi Bus Stations
There are 5 main bus terminals in Hanoi, and you need to choose one depending on your desired destination, as each of them mainly serves specific regions.
Yen Nghia Bus Station is the largest and most modern station in Hanoi, connecting to all regions of Vietnam.
My Dinh Bus Station is one of the largest bus stations in the city. It is used by buses departing to the to provinces and cities in the Northern and Northwest regions of Vietnam, as well as some provinces in Northeast.
Gia Lam Bus Station is another important bus station in Hanoi, connecting the capital with the provinces of Northeast Vietnam.
Giap Bat Bus Station is as an important gateway, mainly connecting Hanoi with the provinces and cities in Central and Southern Vietnam.
Nuoc Ngam Bus Station is a conveniently located smaller bus station, mainly serving buses going south of Hanoi.
Some popular destinations, like Sapa, can also be reached by bus directly from Hanoi Noi Bai Airport.
Most tourist buses depart from the central part of the city and a pick-up from hotel service is usually included in the ticket price.
Discover Hanoi bus stations with destinations that can be reached by bus from each station, and choose the most suitable Hanoi bus terminal for your trip.
Popular Destinations
Discover the most popular Vietnam destinations that can be reached by bus from Hanoi and choose the most convenient bus station and route for your trip.
A wider range of bus routes for a trip from/to Hanoi can be found with the help of the form that also lets you compare buses with other means of transportation, such as trains, taxis, private cars, and even airplanes.