Hanoi
city · Vietnam
🧭 Explore Hanoi: what to do & where to go next →Overview
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, a city of more than eight million people that sits at the heart of the country's political and cultural life. Given the scale of the population and its role as capital, it functions as one of the two great urban poles of Vietnam, a counterweight in the north to the commercial energy of the south.
As a starting point or base for exploring the wider region, Hanoi's position is a practical asset: it sits within reach of a cluster of other northern Vietnamese cities, from Haiphong on the coast to smaller provincial centres like Bắc Ninh and Hưng Yên, making it a natural hub for those wanting to see more of the north than the capital alone.
This guide focuses on the practicalities that matter most when planning a visit: how to get in and out, how the surrounding cities connect for day trips, and what to expect logistically from a city of this size and importance.
Key facts
| Country | Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Population | 8.05 million |
| Timezone | Asia/Bangkok |
| Nearest airport | Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), 22 km |
| Currency | VND |
Getting there
Hanoi's main airport is Noi Bai International Airport, which lies around 22.2 km from the city and handles international arrivals as the primary entry point for most visitors. Its relative proximity to the centre makes it the obvious choice for anyone flying in, and it functions as the city's principal air link to the rest of the world.
Two further airports sit further afield and are more relevant to those combining a Hanoi visit with travel elsewhere in the north. Cat Bi International Airport, near Haiphong, is about 94.6 km from Hanoi, while Tho Xuan Airport is the most distant of the three at 130.8 km. Neither is a practical primary arrival point for the city itself, but travellers arranging multi-stop itineraries around northern Vietnam may find one of them useful depending on their route.
Given Hanoi's role as capital and its large population, it is well connected by road and rail to the smaller cities that ring it, which is worth bearing in mind when planning onward travel or day trips.
Find flights to Hanoi →arrives HAN (22.2 km away)
Getting around
With a population in excess of eight million, Hanoi is a large and busy capital, and getting around requires the same practical mindset as in any major Asian metropolis of comparable size: allow time for traffic, and plan journeys between different parts of the city with some flexibility built in.
Vietnamese is the language you'll encounter throughout the city, from signage to everyday transactions, and the local currency is the Vietnamese đồng (VND), which is used for all transactions within Hanoi and the surrounding region.
The city operates on Indochina time (Asia/Bangkok timezone), which is worth noting when coordinating flights, calls home, or connections with other destinations.
Day trips from Hanoi
Hanoi's location puts a whole ring of northern Vietnamese cities within day-trip range, and the distances involved are modest enough to make several of them realistic outings from the capital.
Bắc Ninh is the closest of the group at just 30.3 km, making it the most straightforward option for a shorter excursion. Hưng Yên, at 47.4 km, and Hải Dương, at 51.9 km, sit at similar mid-range distances, while Phủ Lý (53.8 km) and Việt Trì (56.3 km) push a little further out.
For those willing to travel a bit longer, Thái Nguyên lies 63.4 km from Hanoi, Nam Định is 74.4 km away, and the coastal city of Haiphong is the furthest of the listed day-trip destinations at 89.3 km. Haiphong's distance also aligns it with the Cat Bi International Airport, so travellers heading that way sometimes combine sightseeing with onward or return flights from that airport instead of Noi Bai.
Each of these is a city in its own right rather than a single attraction, so a day trip to any of them is really an opportunity to experience a different urban centre in the Red River Delta region, distinct in character and scale from Hanoi itself.
When to visit
Specific climate data for Hanoi is not detailed here, but as with any travel planning, it's worth checking seasonal weather patterns for northern Vietnam before booking, since conditions can vary significantly across the year in this part of the country.
Because Hanoi is a major capital city rather than a seasonal resort destination, it remains a viable destination across the year for business, culture, and onward travel around the north of Vietnam, with the practicalities of transport and day-tripping unaffected by season in the way a beach destination might be.
Good to know
Hanoi's currency is the Vietnamese đồng (VND); it's worth having a basic grasp of exchange rates before arriving, as with any destination using a currency unfamiliar to most international visitors.
Vietnamese is the official and everyday language of the city, so a few basic phrases go a long way, particularly outside of the most internationally oriented pockets of the capital.
As the capital of Vietnam and a city of over eight million people, Hanoi carries the scale and infrastructure you'd expect of a major national capital, which also means it serves as a natural hub for onward travel to the smaller cities of the surrounding delta region.
Journeys through here
Where to stay in Hanoi
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Getting around Hanoi
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Common questions
- What is the main airport for Hanoi?
- Noi Bai International Airport is the main gateway, located around 22.2 km from the city centre.
- Are there other airports near Hanoi?
- Yes. Cat Bi International Airport near Haiphong is about 94.6 km away, and Tho Xuan Airport is roughly 130.8 km away, though both are more relevant to wider regional travel than to a direct visit to Hanoi.
- What currency is used in Hanoi?
- The Vietnamese đồng (VND) is the currency used throughout the city.
- What language is spoken in Hanoi?
- Vietnamese is the language spoken throughout the city.
- What are good day trips from Hanoi?
- Nearby cities make for practical day trips, including Bắc Ninh (30.3 km), Hưng Yên (47.4 km), Hải Dương (51.9 km), Phủ Lý (53.8 km), Việt Trì (56.3 km), Thái Nguyên (63.4 km), Nam Định (74.4 km) and Haiphong (89.3 km).
- What time zone is Hanoi in?
- Hanoi operates on the Asia/Bangkok time zone.
On the map
Keep exploring
Nearby places
More places in Vietnam
Similar destinations
Plan the wider trip
Sources & method
- GeoNames — population · retrieved 2026-08-14
- OurAirports (derived) — nearestAirports · retrieved 2026-08-14
Data compiled 2026-08-14 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.