Hanoi Airport

Signage is very poor & vague in the check-in area. I had to ask 3 security people where to check in. Little in the way of places to eat landside airside there is a nice restaurant though somewhat on the expensive side. Lots of merchandise vendors airside. Immigration & security people some of the nicest & friendliest I've found anywhere! I got through very quickly. Chairs are mainly hard metal ones with armrests throughout the airport. Immigration on entering Vietnam smooth efficient friendly. Airport looks old but it is clean.

I found the departure process to be daunting. The floor space is too small for the volume and both signage and verbal information sources are poor. Getting to the counter involved a lengthy search and "wading" through a sea of folks who seemed equally challenged. The gate area was far more serene and the second floor where lounges are located was virtually empty. Time for a new building - especially considering the region's growth.

Small airport can't be compared with BKK OR KLIA. Upon arrival immigration clearance is quick and bags are received quickly too. On down side at check in very poor signage and information check in counters only open about 2 hours before so one can't check in early in order to drop off bag. Lounge at Hanoi average but does the job as very little else to do once you clear immigration

It's a pretty small airport which has its good points and its bad points. On the plus side international arrivals are incredibly quick - you walk down a short corridor from your plane have a short wait in the immigration queue walk a few metres over to baggage claim (which is reasonably fast since the bags don't have to travel far) then walk a few metres over to customs (I was waved through without them even looking at my bags) and you're in the arrivals hall. Similarly on departure you are through very quickly once you check in and don't have to walk through miles of corridors like in larger airports. The negative side of HAN's small size is the lack of facilities - not much in the way of duty free food etc and if you're travelling economy then the only entertainment in the departure lounge is a few TVs playing an endless loop of Vietnamese ads for cosmetics. Signage is also pretty poor. It's not an airport you'd want to spend much time in but as it's definitely a 'spoke' rather than a 'hub' you're never going to have a six-hour layover there. It's just a place you get into and get out of as quickly as possible and in those terms it's not too bad.

Very poor airport - virtually no shops airside no money changers and no information screens. It's clean but that's about all it's got going for it. The duty free is extremely expensive (more expensive than UK high street prices!) and the staff in the shops are surly and downright dishonest. If paying with dong be very careful. All prices are in US$ and while there may be posters saying 18000 dong to $1 the staff bump it up to to 20000 in the hope you won't notice. Question this and some shops relent and revert back to the official exchange rate others won't and it's time to walk away. Hanoi airport shop staff - out to rip off tourists even more than market stall holders. Get your dong changed before heading to the airport and buy any bottles of water or snacks on the plane. It might be expensive but chances are it will be no more expensive than the airport and on the plane you might be served honestly and with a smile.

Arrival process slowed down by additional health screening declaration form to be filled in at present due to the swine flu crisis. Once through this passports handled fairly quickly and luggage reclaim likewise. Currency exchange possible in the arrivals hall. Departure process saw long queues for check in for Vietnam Airlines flights but handled quickly and efficiently. Fairly modern terminal with a good range of shops and food outlets.

One tip I never saw any currency exchange airside so if you have dong spend it or change it before you check in. its a worthless currency once you leave Vietnam although i did manage to find an exchange in bitang in KL who took it off my hands at a rate beneficial to him. But the MYR got me dinner and a beer.

Average airport. Singapore Airlines check in only opened 2 hours before departure. Lots of people milling around but no communication until the appointed time. There is a large selection of duty free stores once through customers offering the usual things. Tip : head upstairs for more space and a quieter experience.

Airport has a modern design look. Faculty is average compared to the South Tan Son Nhat airport. Immigration is ok. Building roof seems to need a major fix because of leak during the rain season when I passed through (found small buckets everywhere on the floor).

Travelled through HAN for first time March 2008. Overall it's ok and I've been in much worse. Staff friendly and efficient for a communist country. Check-in a little slow but Immigration fine. Waiting area and shopping a little spartan by east Asian standards but fantastic by S Asian standards and clean!