Hanoi Airport

Some updates since last visit. 7 years ago was our last trip and it was sparse crowded hot and a mess. Just left Hanoi for a visit and markedly different. Arrival went smooth. Had visa on arrival took all of 5 minutes. Immigration bags and custom just as fast. All in all off plane got visa on arrival through immigration bags and customs in less than 30 minutes. Return arrived about 3.5 hours before flight. Drop off lobby incredibly hot and crowded but just sat and chilled until ticketing opened. Queue was fine got tickets and through all security procedures in less than 10 minutes. Airside some improvements made. Much more offerings. Not pressure to buy anything at all. Prices while a tad higher than in the city were not ridiculous at all. They now have a burger king at the airport as well. other food options. boarding was fast and efficient. Really seems like a step forward. Just remember it is a developing country so go with the flow you will be fine.

To be fair this wasn't as bad an experience as I expected having read many of the previous reviews. Arrival was a little chaotic. VOA desk is not well sign-posted between the application and collection counters which caused much confusion for many people standing in the wrong place. Once handed in the VOA took only ten mins to process although that was because we were off the plane first and at the front of the queue. Immigration and baggage collection were smooth and we were through the airport in about 45 minutes at the most. Departure was very smooth. Hardly any queue and through immigration and security in minutes. Yes the airport is showing its age with not too much in the way of facilities after immigration. Although there are a few gift shops duty free and snack outlets. As many have said not enough seating so I guess a problem at peak times? We used the lounge which was comfortable and had a decent choice of food and drink. Overall an acceptable experience.

Was very hot and stuffy inside even though it was a cool day and the staff weren't particularly helpful. I had to put up with looks of disdain from some of the shop assistants when I went to interrupt their lazing to ask about products. There's nowhere to change money once you're through customs none of the VAT reimbursement points seemed to be manned and there was a smell of urine where my gate was. Most infuriatingly I was assured that I could take my duty free Chivas Regal through an international transfer and then had it confiscated by a man at Singapore airport who implied I should know better. Not a place I'd recommend at all.

Most basic facilities are available but without free Wi-Fi waiting area for international departure lacks chairs so when it comes to busy hours many people might have to stand or just sit on floors. Despite of these I found that this airport is a good airport in general with friendly and helpful staffs. Terminal 2 is in progress and hopefully this will bring improvements for their service soon. The security is very funny I checked in 2 water guns in plastic for our kids and they ask me to take it out even that they are clearly make of plastic and are checked in ridiculous.

Why passengers have to line up to pass their hand luggage through x-ray machines again after they've landed and passed through immigration prior to being able to pick up the rest of their baggage on the carousels escapes me and is something I'd never seen before. The terminal itself looks dated and on departure the staff aren't the most professional or polite in the world. Once you pass through security your options are very limited so bring a good book and don't expect wifi. My flight's gate number changed as well without announcement which caught a few people off guard.

This is the worst airport I have ever seen. Staff treat customers with no respect. Staff have no knowledge and no idea about professionalism. I don't understand why after several complaints the management have never done anything to improve. The Airport creates the first impression of the country.

This place is old dirty and horribly disorganized. Those are its best features. Employees are universally surly incompetent and disinterested. The queues turn into messy scrums with attendants opening random areas for entrance with utter disregard to who managed to get in line first. The first class line is not much better. Customer service is a foreign concept and the "help desk" when manned is no help at all with personnel keen on ignoring you. Immigration is unreasonably and unnecessarily slow. Bag claim has no signage to direct you to the proper belt to retrieve your luggage. Cabbies at the airport are like hyenas and charge 2x more than the going rate. Unfortunately I live here part of the year and have no choice but to use this airport. I fear the new facilities being built will be no better since they will be staffed with the same clueless employees as Noi Bai. Given the facilities in Singapore Bangkok KL etc. this place should be an embarrassment to those in charge. But it isn't. They've got you and they know it.

Horrible airport. I used the lounge during the layover. This airport is so small more like a bus terminal. Facilities are old and shabby and most staff don't really speak/understand English.

Arrived from KUL on May 30 and returned back on June 4. A quite old airport with only one terminal that serves both domestic and international flights. Most basic facilities are available but without free Wi-Fi waiting area for international departure lacks chairs so when it comes to busy hours many people might have to stand or just sit on floors. Despite of these I found that this airport is a good airport in general with friendly and helpful staffs. Terminal 2 is in progress and hopefully this will bring improvements for their service.

Arrived from HKG on Jan 30th and departed for Danang on Feb 1st. Noi Bai is an old airport with poor facilities. Immigration on arrival was extremely slow and despite relatively few arrivals at the time took us over an hour and a half. Domestic departures is poorly organised but generally quick the real problem is the departure lounge for domestic flights - extremely poor facilities and no wifi the 3 shops sell the same poor quality tourist tat and Vietnamese sweets. 2 coffee bars but very poor quality food. No lounge access unless you fly business (flying blue status only valid for int'l flights). They are constructing a new terminal this can't happen fast enough.