Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Hanoi
The Old Quarter and central sights are genuinely walkable — for everything else, Grab is the tool most visitors end up relying on.
Walking
The Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake are compact and best explored on foot — most of Day 1 of a typical itinerary doesn't need any transport at all. The main adjustment is crossing streets full of motorbikes (see our safety guide for the technique).
Grab
Grab (car and motorbike) is the easiest way to get around Hanoi beyond walking distance — download the app before you arrive, add a payment method or plan to pay cash, and prices are shown upfront before you book. It's widely used by both locals and visitors and generally more reliable than flagging a taxi on the street.
Traditional taxis
Reputable metered taxi companies operate throughout the city. As with the airport, stick to recognised companies and confirm the meter is running, rather than agreeing a flat fare informally.
Public buses & the metro
Hanoi has an extensive, very cheap public bus network, though route-planning can be a challenge without a good map app. A growing metro system also connects parts of the city — useful and improving, though it doesn't yet cover every area a visitor might want to reach.
Renting a motorbike
Motorbikes are the default way most locals get around, and rental is widely available — but Hanoi's traffic is genuinely intense and takes real experience to navigate safely. This isn't the city to learn to ride a motorbike for the first time; if you're not already a confident, licensed rider, Grab is the better choice.