Access Route

Noi Bai International Airport is roughly twenty six kilometres north, around thirty five to forty minutes by car depending on traffic. The hotel offers transfers for an extra charge, which is the simplest option after a night flight. Grab cars cost less and work reliably, and the Airport Express bus 86 stops near the Old Quarter for a fraction of the price.

For trains, Long Bien station lies under a kilometre away and serves some regional routes, while Hanoi main station on Le Duan, about one and a half kilometres, handles long distance trains south toward Hue, Da Nang and Saigon and night trains to Lao Cai for Sapa. The famous Train Street on Phung Hung is also nearby, although police sometimes restrict access to the cafés along the rails.

Tour companies pick up guests directly from Old Quarter hotels for Ha Long Bay, a drive of roughly two and a half hours on the expressway, and for Ninh Binh, around two hours south. Limousine buses to Sapa depart from a terminal about ten minutes on foot from the hotel, which saves an early taxi.

Inside the city, walking is the natural way to explore the Old Quarter. For longer distances, such as the Temple of Literature or the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, a Grab car or Grab bike is cheap and fast. The newer metro lines do not yet serve the Old Quarter directly, the closest station being Cat Linh about three kilometres away.

Cyclo rides around the lake are enjoyable but should be negotiated clearly beforehand, including whether the price is per person or per vehicle. Many tourists have unpleasant surprises at the end of a ride that began with a vague price.