Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN) is an international airport located in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. There are two passenger terminals at Hanoi Airport: Terminal 1 serves domestic flights and Terminal 2 serves international flights to and from Hanoi. Both terminals of Noi Bai Airport offer currency exchange services. What foreign exchange rates can be expected at Hanoi Airport?
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is the second busiest airport in Vietnam after Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Most of Vietnam’s international flights land at one of these airports and the domestic route between country’s two largest cities is the busiest as well.
Even if credit cards and even US Dollars can be used for payments in Vietnam quite often, using cash in local currency (Vietnamese Dong - VND) is normally the safest, cheapest and sometimes the only option for making a payment here. As Noi Bai Airport is located about 35 km northeast of downtown Hanoi, you might need to get some local money right at the airport for getting into the city or buying local SIM card.
You have two options for getting Vietnamese Dong at Hanoi Airport:
- Withdraw cash from ATM
- Exchange your foreign currency
Cash withdrawal in most cases is less cost effective option than exchanging currency at Hanoi Airport as you not only loose on exchange rate (your home bank usually offers worse foreign exchange rate than Vietnamese banks) but also have to pay your bank’s foreign withdrawal fees and usually an addition fee charged by the local bank managing ATM.
Currency exchange rates at Noi Bai Airport might be not the best you can get in Hanoi but money changers here still offer quite good rate, especially if you are bringing US Dollars.
Hanoi Airport Money Changers
Money changers can be found at both terminals of Hanoi Airport: domestic (Terminal 1) and international (Terminal 2).
Money Changers at Noi Bai Airport Terminal 1
During our last visit at Terminal 1 of Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), we’ve found only one currency exchange office operating at the domestic terminal. Foreign exchange at Hanoi Airport’s domestic terminal was offered by Vietinbank.
Vietinbank can be found in the Arrival Hall which is located on the first level of Terminal 1. The money changer is located on the left side from the main exit, on the opposite side from tourist information.
Money Changers at Noi Bai Airport Terminal 2
There are 4 money changers operating at the international passenger terminal (Terminal 2) of Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). All of them can be found in the public area on the first floor, right after passing immigration, baggage claim and customs area.
Banks operating at Terminal 2 of Hanoi Airport:
- BIDV
- Maritime Bank
- Vietinbank
- Techcombank
BIDV Noi Bai OFC
Opening hours:
- Currency exchange is open daily (including holidays), from 6:30 to midnight
- Other transactions are offered Monday to Friday (except holidays), from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00
Phone: 0984559158, 0948057777
Maritime Bank
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13 to 17:00
- Saturday: from 8:00 to 12:00
- Sunday: Closed
Phone: (024) 3587 6559
Techcombank
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: from 8:00 to 17:00
- Saturday: from 8:00 to 12:00
- Sunday: Closed
Tel: (024) 584 0538 Fax: (024) 584 0539
Currency Exchange Rates at Hanoi Airport
Currency exchange rates offered by money changers at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) are not bad, considering that the banks are the only foreign exchange service providers here.
At the domestic terminal (Terminal 1) you have little options for currency exchange, so exchange there only if it’s really needed. Vietinbank at Noi Bai Airport is offering lower exchange rates than published online so even at another branch of this bank in Hanoi you can expect to get a better deal than at the airport.
If you are arriving at international terminal (Terminal 2), shopping around and checking the rates offered by all 4 banks is recommended, especially when planning to exchange other currency than USD. Exchange rates of less popular currencies at Hanoi Airport can vary significantly.
What currency exchange rates can be expected at Hanoi Noi Bai Airport?
Let’s see!
USD exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market USD exchange rate at the time of our visit at Hanoi Airport was 23,219 VND for 1 US Dollar, so the rate offered at the airport (23,028 VND/USD) was by 191 VND or about 0.8% lower than the mid-market exchange rate. For every 100 US Dollars exchanged here you’re losing about 0.8 USD. It’s definitely a good deal that you could hardly get in your home country.
However, the best exchange rate is offered only for large US Dollar notes.
EUR exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market EUR exchange rate during our visit was 25,586 VND for 1 Euro, so the exchange rate offered at Hanoi Airport (25,023 VND/EUR) was by 563 VND or about 2.2% lower than the mid-market rate. For every 100 Euro exchanged here you’re losing 2.2 EUR.
Euro exchange rate at HAN Airport is significantly worse than USD exchange rate but better than the rates of all other currencies exchanged at Hanoi Airport.
GBP exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market GBP exchange rate at the time was 29,667 VND for 1 British Pound, so the exchange rate offered at HAN Airport (28,939 VND/GBP) was by 728 VND or about 2.5% lower than the mid-market exchange rate.
AUD exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market AUD exchange rate during our visit was 15,926 VND for 1 Australian Dollar, so the exchange rate offered at the airport (15,447 VND/AUD) was by 479 VND or about 3% lower than the mid-market rate.
CAD exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market CAD exchange rate at the time was 17,553 VND for 1 Canadian Dollar, so the exchange rate offered at Hanoi Airport (16,928 VND/CAD) was by 625 VND or about 3.6% lower than the mid-market rate.
SGD exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market SGD exchange rate at during our visit was 17,081 VND for 1 Singapore Dollar, so the exchange rate offered at Noi Bai Airport (16,631 VND/SGD) was by 450 VND or about 2.6% lower than the mid-market rate.
HKD exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market HKD exchange rate at the time was 2,967 VND for 1 Hong Kong Dollar, so the exchange rate offered at the airport (2,855 VND/HKD) was by 112 VND or about 3.8% lower than the mid-market rate.
JPY exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market JPY exchange rate at the time was 213 VND for 1 Japanese Yen, so the exchange rate offered by Vietinbank at Hanoi Airport (207 VND/JPY) was by 6 VND or about 2.8% lower than the mid-market rate.
THB exchange rate at Hanoi Airport
The mid-market THB exchange rate at the time was 765 VND for 1 Thai Baht, so the exchange rate offered at the airport (704 VND/THB) was by 61 VND or about 8% lower than the mid-market rate.
Much better exchange rate is offered by money changers in Bangkok so exchanging your Thai Baht to Vietnamese Dong while at the airport in Thailand is recommended. Check where to get the best exchange rate at BKK Airport.
Should you exchange money at Hanoi Airport?
You can get better exchange rates in the center of Hanoi so exchanging just small part of your money at Noi Bai Airport and leaving the rest to exchange in the city is the best option.
If you need to exchange larger amount, bring US Dollars in 50-100 USD banknotes as the exchange rate of US Dollar is significantly better than the exchange rates of other foreign currencies at Hanoi Airport.
Tips
If you don't want to loose money by making currency exchanging at the airport, you can just book online a private transfer from HAN Airport to Hanoi and you won't need Vietnamese Dongs for getting from the airport into the city.
Vietnamese SIM card can also be booked online and picked up at Hanoi Airport without cash payments. It will actually be even cheaper when booked in advance!