Visitors will find a number of options for getting around Hanoi and what they opt for depends on their pockets and their desire for comfort. Getting Around in Hanoi. Public transport is limited to buses, which are extremely cheap, but slow, crowded and a challenge for non-Vietnamese speakers.
Public buses: run in Hanoi itself and from Hanoi to a variety of destinations beyond the city. The regular buses that serve the city itself can be quite difficult for the average tourist to negotiate as timetables aren’t in English and the buses themselves are not manned by English speaking staff. Hanoi’s buses are really only for the hardcore traveller.
Motorbike taxis: anyone who owns a motorbike in Hanoi thinks that he/she is a motorbike taxi operator irrespective of whether they are officially permitted to do so and visitors will find it easy to commandeer a vehicle to take them to their desired destination.
Fares are normally cheap within the city itself and often drivers are happy to be hired by the hour to show their passengers the sights of the city for just a few dollars. Lone female passengers should be wary of taking motorbike taxis at night or in remote parts of the city. If you are super-brave then for between $5 and $10 dollars a day you can rent your own motorbike. Be warned however, the roads are extremely hazardous!
Cyclos: are basically three wheel bicycles with two wheels at the front between which is located a seat big enough for two people (at a squeeze). Cyclos are a cheap way of getting around provided you are a hard bargainer and have a good idea of how much the journey you intend to make should cost.
Bicycles: you can hire a bicycle for as little as a dollar a day and you’ll find getting around is easy if not a little perilous on the busier roads. Spend some time observing how the locals navigate the roads before you head out and you should manage to get by without incident.
Taxis: white cabs are fairly common around the city and if you are travelling in groups of two or more persons, they can be an economical way of getting around. Be sure that the driver sets the meter before the journey starts and keep an eye on where you are going, if you pass the same landmark more than once then you’re being taken for a ride in both senses of the word!
- Hanoi travel guide
- Vietnam tour package
- Transportation in Hanoi
