Hanoi eSIM 2026: Noi Bai bus fares, where the metro actually runs, and what to sort out first
A lot has changed in Hanoi over the past couple of years: the urban rail network went from one line to two, fares were revised in August 2025, and the airport bus list keeps growing. Here are the published fares for each Noi Bai route, where the metro actually runs today, and what to sort out before you fly, so you know which exit to head for the moment you land.
Getting online in Hanoi: eSIM, airport SIM or roaming
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Short leisure and business trips | Install over Wi-Fi before you fly, then turn on data roaming |
| Local SIM at the airport | Travellers who need a Vietnamese number | Decree 163/2024/ND-CP requires foreigners to register with a valid passport |
| International roaming | Transits and very short stays | Higher rates; check the daily cap |
| Hotel Wi-Fi | In the room only | No help hailing a ride, finding an address in the Old Quarter or buying a metro ticket |
Like Bangkok, Hanoi runs heavily on ride-hailing. The Old Quarter is a web of narrow one-way lanes, and the pin, the route and the conversation with the driver all live inside the app. Lose signal and you are standing on the kerb. This is the most consistently underestimated data need on a Vietnam trip.
- ・Works nationwide, from Hanoi and Ha Long Bay to Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City
- ・5GB a day, resetting at midnight Vietnam time, with reduced speed rather than a cut-off once used
- ・No physical SIM, no passport registration; refundable if the signal is unstable or the plan goes unused
Hanoi eSIM: the Viettel network and when to install
Peanutmo’s Vietnam eSIM runs on Viettel with nationwide coverage. The install:
Arriving at Noi Bai: the published fares, route by route
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is operated by Airports Corporation of Vietnam, with T1 handling domestic flights and T2 international. These are the public transport fares the airport publishes:
| Route | Terminus | Published fare | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 | Cau Giay | 12,000 dong | 05:00–10:30 |
| 109 | My Dinh | 12,000 dong | 05:00–22:00 |
| 90 | Kim Ma | 15,000 dong | 05:00–22:30 |
| 17 | Long Bien | 15,000 dong | 05:10–22:00 |
| E10 | Ocean Park | 20,000 dong | 06:20–22:00 |
| 86 | Hanoi Railway Station | 50,000 dong | 07:00–22:15 |
| 68 | Ha Dong | 55,000 dong | 07:00–22:05 |
Hai Van also runs routes NB01 and NB02 at 90,000 dong a ticket, roughly every 45 minutes, alongside taxis and minibuses. The airport publishes no journey times, so leave slack when planning a connection. That alone is a reason to land already online: schedules and traffic can only be checked live.
Where the Hanoi metro actually runs, and what it costs
Hanoi Metro lists two lines in service, both operating 05:30 to 22:00 daily.
| Line | Section | Status and fares, effective 1 Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Line 2A | Cat Linh – Ha Dong | 13.1 km, 12 stations, entirely elevated. Singles from 9,000 dong between adjacent stations to 19,000 end to end |
| Line 3 (section 3.1) | Nhon – Cau Giay | The fare table covers eight elevated stations, with singles from 9,000 to 15,000 dong |
Both lines share the same passes: a day ticket at 40,000 dong and a weekly at 160,000, with monthly passes at 140,000 for priority holders and 280,000 otherwise. The four planned underground stations on Line 3 (Kim Ma, Cat Linh, Van Mieu and Ga Ha Noi) do not yet appear in the official fare table, so do not build an itinerary around them.
What a day of data in Hanoi looks like
| What you are doing | Rough daily use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maps and finding Old Quarter addresses | 300–500 MB | Dense lanes mean a lot of lookups |
| Grab bookings and messaging drivers | 50–100 MB | Light in itself, but needs a live connection |
| Social feeds and stories | 300–600 MB | Driven by how much video you watch |
| Photo and short video uploads | 400 MB and up | Hoan Kiem and the Old Quarter at night push this up |
| Translation and menu scanning | 50–150 MB | Camera translation needs a connection |
Most itineraries land between 1 and 1.5GB a day, so the 5GB daily allowance is comfortable rather than something to ration.
Picking days and data for a Hanoi eSIM
- Days: land day to departure day, plus one if a red-eye crosses midnight.
- Daily allowance: 5GB a day resetting at midnight Vietnam time, so a heavy first few days do not leave you short later.
- After the allowance: speed drops rather than cutting off, so you can still pull up a map.
- Hanoi plus Ha Long Bay or Da Nang: one Vietnam plan covers the lot. Our Da Nang guide covers central Vietnam.
- ・No physical SIM to swap, installed before you leave home
- ・Delivered in about 10 minutes, with no airport queue
- ・Refundable if the signal is unstable or the plan goes unused
Support 10:00–17:00 (UTC+8), LINE @peanutmo
Hanoi data FAQ
Which buses run from Noi Bai into Hanoi?
Noi Bai airport publishes these public bus fares: route 07 to Cau Giay 12,000 dong, 109 to My Dinh 12,000, 90 to Kim Ma 15,000, 17 to Long Bien 15,000, E10 to Ocean Park 20,000, 86 to Hanoi Railway Station 50,000 and 68 to Ha Dong 55,000. Hai Van also runs NB01 and NB02 at 90,000 dong a ticket, roughly every 45 minutes. The airport does not publish journey times for any of them.
How many metro lines are running in Hanoi?
Two. Hanoi Metro lists Line 2A (Cat Linh – Ha Dong) and Line 3 (Nhon – Ga Ha Noi) in service, both operating 05:30 to 22:00. Note that the Line 3 fare table currently covers only the eight elevated stations from Nhon to Cau Giay; the four underground stations are not yet in the fare structure.
What does the Hanoi metro cost?
Per the fares Hanoi Metro published as effective 1 August 2025: on Line 2A a single between adjacent stations is 9,000 dong and the full run from Cat Linh to Yen Nghia is 19,000; on Line 3.1 singles run 9,000 to 15,000. A day ticket valid on both lines is 40,000 dong and a weekly ticket 160,000.
Do I need a passport to buy a local SIM in Vietnam?
Yes. Under Decree 163/2024/ND-CP, a foreign national registering a mobile number must use a passport that remains valid in Vietnam for the duration of the entry visa or permitted stay. An eSIM removes that step entirely.
How much data does a day in Hanoi use?
Mostly maps, Grab and photo uploads. Peanutmo’s Vietnam eSIM gives 5GB a day, resetting at midnight Vietnam time, which is generous for a normal itinerary. See our data sizing guide.
What has to be declared on arrival in Vietnam?
The Vietnam Immigration Department’s e-visa system states that an e-visa cannot exceed 90 days and must expire at least 30 days before the passport does, that entry and exit are limited to approved ports including Noi Bai, and that after arrival your accommodation provider files a temporary residence declaration each time you change address. Our Vietnam e-visa and arrival guide covers the steps.
Related reading
How the Vietnamese plans compare and which network you end up on.
Validity, port restrictions and the declaration filed after you arrive.
Worth reading if central Vietnam is on the itinerary.
Match your habits to the table and the tier becomes obvious.
