Noi Bai International Airport

Nội Bài International Airport (IATA: HAN, ICAO: VVNB) is an international airport serving Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It is the second busiest airport in Vietnam by passenger traffic, after Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. It is currently the main airport serving Hanoi, replacing the role of Gia Lam Airport. The airport consists of two passenger terminals and a cargo terminal. Terminal 1 serves domestic flights, and Terminal 2 (inaugurated on 4 January 2015) serves all international flights to and from Hanoi. The airport is currently the main hub of the flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, travel carrier Vietravel Airlines, and an operating base of budget carriers Bamboo Airways and VietJet Air. The airport is located in Phú Minh commune in Sóc Sơn district (now Nội Bài commune), about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of downtown Hanoi, via the new Nhật Tân Bridge (also inaugurated on 4 January 2015). It can also be reached by National Road 3, which connects it with the eastern suburbs of Hanoi. The airport is also close to some satellite cities of Hanoi such as Vĩnh Yên, Bắc Ninh and Thái Nguyên. The airport served a total of 13 million passengers in 2013, despite having a capacity of only 9 million at the time. The new international terminal, which had its first commercial flight on 25 December 2014 and went into full operation on 31 December 2014, has boosted the airport's total capacity to 20 million passengers per year. In 2018, the airport served 28 million passengers. Of the routes the airport offers, the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route is the busiest flight in Southeast Asia and the fourth busiest in the world, serving 10,883,555 customers in 2023, an increase of 3% in comparison to 2022. History The airport was developed immediately south of the Phúc Yên Air Base and opened on 2 January 1978. Civil operation was only between communist countries, with international flights from China, East Germany, Soviet Union, and after the unification, adding other countries in the Southeast Asia region. Handling these flights were a set of three small buildings: Terminal G2 (Vietnamese: Ga 2 - Ga Quốc tế đi) for international departures, Terminal G3 (Vietnamese: Ga 3 - Ga hàng không đường bay trong nước) for domestic departures and arrivals, and Terminal G4 (Vietnamese: Ga 4 - Ga Quốc tế đến) for international arrivals. These terminals were continuously renovated to handle the increasing number of flights. However, in the end they were too small for the actual need, and the new terminal was built and was completed to operate in 2001. The old terminals were then demolished to make place for the current cargo terminal. The airport has been a SkyTeam hub since mid-2010, after Vietnam Airlines joined the network that year. Terminals and facilities At 650 hectares, Noi Bai is the second-largest airport in Vietnam, behind the 800 hectare Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Terminal 1, completed in 2001, used to be the sole terminal handling both domestic and international flights. However, with the opening of the second terminal, it is now reassigned to handle domestic flights only. The terminal saw its first extension in 2013 with the inauguration of the new lobby E, and was capable of handling 9 million passengers per annum. The terminal has been being upgraded to handle 15 million passengers annually by March 2018. The construction of the new terminal (Terminal 2) next to the existing one with a designed capacity of 10 million passengers per annum started in March 2012. The 996 m long new terminal building, funded by a Japan International Cooperation Agency ODA loan was designed by Japan Airport Consultants and was built by Taisei Corporation. The total investment for the project was ¥75.5 billion (US$645.35 million). Japan's official development assistance accounted for ¥59 billion ($504.27 million) of the investment, while the remaining amount was covered by local funds. The new international terminal was inaugurated on 4 January 2015 together with a new freeway connecting the airport to downtown Hanoi via the Nhật Tân Bridge. In May 2025, ground broke on expansion projects aimed to increase the International Terminal T2's capacity to 15 million passengers annually, from the previous 10 million passengers annually by expanding the structure of the terminal on both ends, and adding jetways. The expansion will add 61,100m² of floor and renovate 18.730m² of floor. It will add 4 check-in islands, 6 baggage conveyor belts, 96 traditional check-in counters, add 10 check-in kiosks, and 14 jet bridges of both Code C and E. The project has been completed in 2026. Funding for the expansion costs 4.6 trillion VND (US$174.64 million), paid by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam. The airport has a 3,800-meter paved runway (equipped with ILS CAT II – 11R/29L) which opened in August 2006 and an older 3,200-meter paved runway (also equipped with ILS CAT II – 11L/29R). The older runway was closed for upgrades for 4 months from August to December 2014. The distance between the two runways is only 250 metres, so the airport currently restricts the maximum passenger capacity in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization safety regulations. The AMAN/DMAN system was implemented at the airport in October 2021 to manage and arrange the shortest flight trajectory of each flight, allowing to increased passenger capacity and airspace operations. Trails for an Airport Collaborative Decision Making system has begun in 2026 Awards Following the inauguration of the new international terminal, the Noi Bai International Airport received the World's Most Improved Airport Award from Skytrax. The construction project of the new Noi Bai international terminal also received the JICA President Award for 2015. Transit One can generally do an international transit through the airport without a visa as long as one does not need to leave the security area. There is the ability to pick up boarding passes within the security area including for some low cost airlines like VietJet. Airlines and destinations Passenger Cargo Ground transportation The future lines 2 and 6 of Hanoi Metro are planned to be extended to the airport. Hanoi's public bus service bus number 86 with its distinct orange color, travels directly from Noi Bai Airport (both T1 and T2 Terminals) to the Old Quarter and Hanoi Railway Station for 45,000 VND (~$2). Taxis are available around the arrival section outside both of the terminals. To move from the T1 terminal to the T2 terminal, electric buses operated by VinBus are also available from 5am to 1h15am the next day, free of charge. Statistics Future Expansions There are also plans to expand the airport to 63 million passengers per year by 2030, and to 100 million passengers per year by 2050. In addition, a proposed Terminal 3 is expected to be designed and built to the south of the airport, as well as a third and fourth runway. See also List of airports in Vietnam References External links Official website