1. Flight – Saigon to Hanoi
2. Train – Saigon to Hanoi
3. Bus – Saigon to Hanoi
4. Questions + Travel Tips
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From Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Hanoi by plane, train or sleeper bus.
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- Travel distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is about 1 700 km by train / bus and about 1 100 km by plane. There are 3 popular ways how you can get to Hanoi from Saigon: travel by train, travel by sleeper bus or you can take a direct flight to Noi Bai Airport. The most fastest and comfortable way of transfer to Hanoi from Saigon is to travel by plane – direct flight. Direct flight from Saigon (Tan Son Nhat Airport) to Hanoi costs about $40-250/pp (one-way) and travel time is about 2 hours. You can use these airlines from Vietnam: Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Hanh Air Systems, Vietravel Airlines. Another popular way how you can travel to Hanoi from Saigon is to take a train.
- Transfer by train from Saigon to Hanoi costs about $30-130/pp (regular or tourist luxury sleeper train) and travel time is about 32-37 hours. You should book a sleeper berth in regular train and tourist train is the sleeper train with berths. From Saigon to Hanoi you can also travel by sleeper tourist bus. Transfer by tourist sleeper bus from Saigon to Hanoi takes about 38-45 hours and bus tickets cost about $62/pp. But this way of transfer is not so comfortable, it is better to travel by sleeper train. You can also travel to Hanoi with stopover in Da Nang in central Vietnam.
Hanoi is the capital and most frequented city of northern Vietnam.
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- It is also possible travel to Hanoi via various cities of southern and central Vietnam. So if you want to visit central and southern Vietnam you can travel by train and visit e.g. Phan Thiet, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Da Nang + Hoi An, Hue or Dong Hoi. You can also travel on motorbike to Hanoi, but IDP is necessary and you should have some driving skills. Because the roads in Vietnam can be dangerous. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, the most visited city of northern Vietnam and also the most frequented transport site of Vietnam. This city offers a unique atmosphere, busy streets, historical sites, temples and other important historical monuments of Vietnam. From Hanoi you can also travel to various interesting places like Cat Ba Island or Ninh Binh. Read carefully the instructions how you can reach Hanoi from Saigon below in this article. You can also search and book tickets or flights to Hanoi easily online.
| Transfer Mode – Saigon to Hanoi: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Direct flight | 2 hours | $40-300/pp |
| Train by Vietnam Railways + Violette Train | 32-40 hours | $30-130/pp |
| Sleeper Bus via Da Nang | 38-45 hours | $60-65/pp |
How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
1. FLIGHT from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
By far, the most used, fastest and most convenient transport option from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in Vietnam is a direct air connection. It is the busiest air route in Vietnam and there are dozens of direct flights between these cities every day. For flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, you can use Vietnamese companies Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines or Hanh Air Systems.
The largest airline Vietnam Airlines offers the most flights, VietJet Air is a low-cost airline that usually has the lowest prices for these flights. The smaller private company Hanh Air Systems, on the other hand, offers smaller aircraft for a limited number of passengers. Air transfer is the fastest option and this option will save you many hours of your time.
BOOK FLIGHTS to Hanoi on Baolau ➜
The direct flight time from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is approximately 2 hours. These flights are operated from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Noi Bai Airport, which is approximately 30 km from the center of Hanoi (see the airport map of Vietnam). Prices for direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in northern Vietnam range from $40-250/pp, depending on the flight class you choose.
These prices may also change during different seasons. You can often search for flights even at the last minute or for the next day, usually the capacities are available, as there are enough air connections in operation. You can easily find and book flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi well in advance online.
Always read all instructions and conditions of the air transfer carefully to avoid possible misunderstandings. Thanks to low-cost flights, air transfer is a suitable transport option for all travelers. So if you want to avoid other areas of southern and central Vietnam and want to save time, choose a direct flight.
BOOK FLIGHTS to Hanoi on 12go.asia ➜
2. TRAIN from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
A popular way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in northern Vietnam is by train. This train journey is actually a way to get to know almost all of Vietnam, because the trains stop at many different places. So this option is also ideal for those who want to visit other interesting places in Vietnam.
However, expect a very long journey, but on the other hand, an interesting experience for some. The train travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is approximately 32-40 hours, the stated travel times may of course vary slightly. Trains depart from Saigon Railway Station and arrive at Hanoi Railway Station, which is a short distance from the central district of Hoan Kiem, look at the railway map of Vietnam.
On this route, you can use regular Vietnam Railways trains, but also the more comfortable tourist sleeping train Violette Train, which only has sleeping beds. The regular train will also offer you seats, which are always the cheapest option, but they are certainly not very suitable for this long route, it is better to reserve a sleeper bed.
Regular trains have sleeping beds in the cabins for 2.4-6 passengers, the tourist train Violette Train has beds in the cabins mostly for 4 passengers. A train transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi costs between $30-70/pp for regular train seats and beds and the tourist Violette Train costs around $100-130/pp.
These prices vary slightly throughout the year and may change. Foreign tourists often choose the tourist sleeper Violette Train option, but it is the most expensive option on this route. But this tourist sleeper train offers better comfort and other additional company services.
Train tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi are easy to find and buy online, which is recommended. Always read all transfer instructions and conditions and ticket information carefully and follow all instructions given.
3. BUS from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi (via Da Nang)
You can also travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi by intercity sleeper bus. This is rather an alternative option, because the bus journey also takes a very long time and may not be a convenient option for everyone. Although it is possible that you will see direct connections from Saigon to Hanoi with stops, it is better to choose a route with, for example, a transfer in the city of Da Nang.
So to implement this transfer in 2 steps, first take a sleeper bus to Da Nang and then continue with another sleeper bus to Hanoi. On the route between Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Hanoi, you can use various companies, some of them are, for example, Viet Nam Travel Bus, Techbus VN, Futabus – Phuong Trang, Hanh Café, Duc Duong, Queen Cafe, Grouptour, To Vietnam Travel , Green Trips, King Express Bus, Cocovip and more.
BOOK BUS TICKETS to Da Nang / Hanoi ➜
A sleeper bus transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi with a transfer in Da Nang will cost you between $35-70/pp, depending on the type of bus and company. Travel time by sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi with a transfer in Da Nang can take approximately 31-40 hours, depending on the company and route operated or other stops.
However, it is also necessary to take into account that buses in Vietnam may be late and exact departure and arrival times may not be observed. Buses depart from various locations in Ho Chi Minh City (District 1, District 5, Phạm Ngũ Lão…) and also arrive at various locations in Da Nang and Hanoi. You will see this information about arrivals, departures and bus tickets when searching for tickets on online platforms.
Bus tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang and Hanoi can be easily searched and purchased online well in advance. It is also recommended to arrive at the departure point at least 30 minutes before the departure of the bus. If you’re thinking about getting to Hanoi from Saigon by train or bus, it’s better to go by train and make more stops along the way.
❓ FAQ + TIPS — Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi:
1. How to book tickets / flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
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- You can book flight or train, bus tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜.
- It is possible to book another tickets, e.g. Ho Chi Minh to Hue, Hue to Hanoi…
2. What is the travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
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- Travel by plane (direct flight) from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi takes about 2 hours.
- Travel by train from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi takes about 32-40 hours.
- Travel by intercity sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi takes about 31-40 hours.
3. What is the travel distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
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- Travel distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is about 1750 km by train / bus and about 1300 km by plane.
4. How much does it cost to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
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- Transport by plane (direct flight) from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi costs about $40-300/pp.
- Transport by train from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi costs about $30-130/pp.
- Transport by intercity sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi costs about $60-65/pp.
5. What is the best way of transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
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- The best and most comfortable option of transport to Hanoi from Saigon is to travel by plane. There are a lot of direct flights between these cities and sometimes these flights are very cheap.
6. What is the most cheapest way of transport from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
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- The most cheapest option of transport from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is to travel by train. But there are also sometimes very cheap direct flights to Hanoi, so it is better to check current transport schedule before you book your tickets or flight.
7. Where do you keep your luggage in Hanoi?
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- If you want to keep your luggage in Hanoi you should try Radical Storage service. Radical Storage offers a few places in the city center of Hanoi, it is a cheap and your luggage will be safe.
8. Transfer by bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, it is a good idea?
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- Transport by sleeper bus from Saigon to Hanoi is not so good idea, because travel time is about 38-45 hours. It is also not so comfortable option of transfer, sleeper train is better.
9. Is an train e-ticket to Hanoi in your smartphone acceptable?
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- Yes, if you book train e-ticket to Hanoi online, keep this e-ticket in your smarphone and board the train. Read carefully the instructions before and after you book your ticket. It is recommended – print your tickets (mainly for tourist Violette Train).
10. Which airport is closest to Hanoi?
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- The closest international airport to Hanoi is Noi Bai International Airport. This main airport is about 25 km north of Hanoi, there are a lot of flights from Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi.
11. Is it possible to travel on motorbike from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi?
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- Yes you can also travel on motorbike, but it is a good option of transfer only for the most experienced motorbike drivers. IDP in Vietnam is necessary, drive carefully and slowly.
12. How to search and book your motorbike in Vietnam?
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- If you want to search and book your motorbike/scooter in Vietnam, try to search at Bikesbooking.
13. Where to go from Hanoi? What to visit?
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- You can travel to various interesting sites of northern Vietnam. The most popular tourist routes are from Hanoi to Sapa, Hanoi to Ha Giang or Hanoi to Halong Bay.
14. Where to accommodate in Hanoi?
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- Hanoi offers various modern, cheap or luxury accommodation facilities.
- You can check these articles: The best cheap hotels in Hanoi and best luxury hotels in Hanoi.
15. What is the weather in Vietnam and what to expect?
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- Weather in Vietnam varies with a tropical climate featuring distinct wet and dry seasons. In the north, the dry season (October to April) brings cooler temperatures, while the wet season (May to September) is marked by higher humidity and heavy rainfall. Central Vietnam experiences a dry period (January to August) with lower humidity and a wet season (September to December) characterized by increased rainfall. In southern Vietnam, the dry season (December to April) offers warm temperatures, while the wet season (May to November) brings higher humidity and occasional heavy rainfall. For accurate information, check local forecasts.
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🚆 Train from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi – Schedule + Train Tickets:
FULL UPDATED TRAIN SCHEDULE – CLICK HERE
Train Schedule - Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi | Departs in Ho Chi Minh | Arrival in Hanoi | Train Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
Train SE8 (seats, sleeper) | 06:00 | 19:12 (37h 12m) | From $38.00 |
Train SE6 (seats, sleeper) | 15:00 | 04:35 (37h 35m) | From $37.00 |
Train SE2 (seats, sleeper) | 20:35 | 06:00 (33h 25m) | From $37.00 |
Train SE12 (seats, sleeper) | 19:25 | 10:10 (38h 45m) | From $37.00 |
Train SE4 (seats, sleeper) | 19:00 | 05:40 (34h 40m) | From $40.00 |
Train SE10 (seats, sleeper) | 12:20 | 04:55 (40h 35m) | From $53.00 |
Violette Trains SE2 (sleeper) | 20:35 | 06:00 (33h 25m) | From $126.00 |
Violette Trains SE4 (sleeper) | 19:00 | 05:40 (34h 40m) | From $126.00 |
🎫 Book direct flight, train, bus tickets from Saigon to Hanoi:
(You can choose different travel route, eg. Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang, Da Nang to Hanoi…)