Hanoi is where most northern trips begin, and the easy part is that nearly everything leaves from the Old Quarter. Limousine vans and tourist buses to Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Sapa start from company offices there or collect you near Hoan Kiem Lake. Trains leave from Hanoi Railway Station, a short taxi ride away. Only the long hauls, to Hue and Ho Chi Minh City, really raise the train or flight question.
How we built this guide: this page pulls together our five route guides from Hanoi, which checked Vietnam Railways' own timetables for 14 October 2026, listings on 12Go and Baolau, and operators' published fares on 2 October 2026. Follow the links for the full detail behind each number.
Where do you actually leave from?
For most trips, a company office in the Old Quarter. Tourist buses and limousine vans run from offices in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem district, and many offer pickup around Hoan Kiem Lake. 12Go's listings showed departure points such as 160 Tran Quang Khai and 70 Nguyen Huu Huan (12Go).
The other departure points:
- Trains: Hanoi Railway Station, 120 Le Duan, for Lao Cai, Ninh Binh, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City (Baolau).
- Public buses to Ha Long: My Dinh and Gia Lam bus stations, outside the center (Paradise Vietnam).
- Long-haul sleepers south: Nuoc Ngam bus station, per 12Go's Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City listings.
- Flights: Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). Getting there from the Old Quarter is covered in our Noi Bai airport guide.
Tip: Baolau advises reaching the station 30 minutes before a train and a bus office at least 60 minutes before a bus, because some companies shuttle passengers out to the main coach.
Which route out of Hanoi should you take?
Ride the short trips, sleep on the train to Hue, and fly to the south. Here is the summary from our route guides, with prices seen on 2 October 2026.
| Going to | Best for most | Time | From | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninh Binh | Limousine van from the Old Quarter | 2 to 3 hours | About US$7 on 12Go | Hanoi to Ninh Binh |
| Ninh Binh | Morning train | 2 hours 13 minutes | 106,000 VND (about US$4) | Hanoi to Ninh Binh |
| Ha Long Bay | Cruise shuttle or limousine van | 2 to 3 hours | About US$15 on 12Go | Hanoi to Ha Long Bay |
| Sapa | Sleeper or cabin bus | 5.5 to 7 hours | About US$10 on 12Go | Hanoi to Sapa |
| Sapa | Night train to Lao Cai, then road | About 8 hours, plus about 1 hour | 475,000 VND (about US$18) for a berth | Hanoi to Sapa |
| Hue | Overnight train | 12.5 to 13 hours | About 1.08 million VND for a 4-berth sleeper | Hanoi to Hue |
| Hue | Flight | About 1 hour 15 minutes | About US$37 on 12Go | Hanoi to Hue |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Flight | About 2 hours 10 minutes | About US$43 on 12Go | Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City |
The short trips: Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Sapa
These three are road trips for most people. Vans to Ninh Binh and Ha Long take 2 to 3 hours on the expressways, and the Sapa bus runs straight into town in 5.5 to 7 hours. The train is a real alternative only for Ninh Binh, where the 06:00 and 08:00 departures suit a day out, and for Sapa if you want a bed, accepting that it stops at Lao Cai below the mountains.
The long trips: Hue and Ho Chi Minh City
To Hue, the overnight train is the classic choice: SE3 leaves at 19:20 and reaches Hue at 07:50 on Vietnam Railways' timetable for 14 October 2026. To Ho Chi Minh City, fly: the fastest train, SE1, takes 32 hours 45 minutes. The railway is best used in pieces, stopping at Hue, Da Nang and Nha Trang on the way.
Tips for leaving Hanoi
- Tet: Vietnam Railways opened Tet 2027 ticket sales on 5 September 2026 for travel from 23 January to 25 February 2027, per Bao Lao Cai. Book those weeks early.
- Summer storms: Vietnam's tourism authority describes June to August as stormy in Sapa and Ha Long (VNAT), and storms can cancel cruises or close mountain roads.
- No more seaplane: the Ha Long seaplane ended on 1 April 2026 (Dan Tri International).
Key facts at a glance
- Hanoi Railway Station is at 120 Le Duan (Baolau).
- Hanoi to Ninh Binh by train: 2 hours 13 minutes, from 106,000 VND on 14 October 2026 (Vietnam Railways).
- Hanoi to Hue by SE3: 19:20 to 07:50, 12 hours 30 minutes (Vietnam Railways).
- Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by the fastest train, SE1: 32 hours 45 minutes (Vietnam Railways).
Limitations
The times and prices here are a snapshot of timetables and booking sites checked on 2 October 2026, mostly for trips on 7 and 14 October, not our own trips. Fares move with demand, bus offices relocate, and Vietnam Railways adjusts its timetable through the year, so check the current schedule before you book. Pickup times for cruise shuttles are set by your boat, so confirm them with the cruise line.
