1. Travel information:
1.1. Getting in/ out Hanoi:
From Hanoi to Noi Bai International airport and vice versa, taxi or shuttle offers the great speed and convenience.
* By taxi :
Taxi from Noi Bai airport to the downtown costs approximately US$ 16 –18 (350,000 - 400,000 VND) (independently which hotel you will go to). Taxi from the city center to the airport costs approximately US$12 – 14 (250,000 – 300,000 VND). You can call one of these reputable taxis to get a taxi sent to your location.
- Airport Taxi: (844) 3886 6666
- Noi Bai Airport Taxi: (844) 38868888
- Mai Linh Taxi: (84 – 4) 38222666
* By express bus route 86:
It departs from Terminal T2 and Terminal T1, to the final bus stop at the Hanoi Railway Station, and vice versa. The bus route operates from 05:05 to 21:40 from the Hanoi Railway Station and from 06:18 to 22:58 from Noi Bai International Airport. A full journey lasts 50-55 minutes and 80 to 94 rides will be served every day, leaving every 25-30 minutes.
For more details, please see Bus 86 return route map at:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1nm6S6koxVToGTRuYF1Sdv9OdiXg&hl=en_US
1.2. Getting to VIASM:
VIASM is located at 7th floor, Ta Quang Buu Library building, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, 1 Dai Co Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam.
The best way to go to Ta Quang Buu Library is to go into the gate of University of Science and Technology at Tran Dai Nghia Street. After passing the entrance with the parking area on the left, keep walking about 100m and you can see the library building (10 floors). If you go by car, you can park your car in front of the library courtyard.
* By taxi (from Ba Trieu Street):
- Turn right onto the Dai Co Viet Street at the end of Ba Trieu Street.
- After passing through the Ministry of Education and Training, take the left turn to go into the lane of the opposite direction.
- Turn right onto Ta Quang Buu Street (besides the Ministry of Education and Training). Go about 70m then you turn right (still named Ta Quang Buu), you will reach Tran Dai Nghia Street and turn left.
- Cross the Dai Co Viet Street by the footbridge in front of a gate of Thống Nhất Park if you go on foot.
* By bus:
- Take the bus 32, 28, 41, 21, 03, 25 and get off at the bus-stop 64 Giai Phong.
- Cross the Giai Phong Street and get into Parabol Gate of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (opposite to the bus-stop).
- Walk straight to Ta Quang Buu Library building. The building is on the right.
2. Currency:
Vietnamese currency is Dong (VND), 1USD » 22,600 VND and 1EUR » 23,800 VND. You may pay USD or Euros at some shops. Accepted credit cards in Vietnam are Visa, Master and American Express.
You can change USD or EUR to VND at the airport or at any bank in the city. However, changing VND back to the foreign currency is complicated. Please change only VND enough for your purposes.
3. Travel inside the city:
3.1. Crossing the streets:
Rules: Never run, go backward, or make any sudden movement. Walk slowly and stop if you feel not safe.
3.2. Taxi:
Fees of meter taxi are 12 000 – 18 000 VND/km (depending on car quality). Most of taxies are safe. Very rarely, but sometimes you could get a faked taxi or a bad driver who will ask you to pay too much. In this case, do not pay that huge amount. We recommend the following taxi brands:
- Mai Linh Taxi: (84 - 4) 38.616.161 – (84 - 4) 38.333.333
- Taxi Group (84 - 4) 38535353 – (84 - 4) 38262626
- Ba Sao Taxi: (84 - 4) 32 32 32 32
3.3. Sights in Hanoi:
Hanoi is actually over 1000 years old so the wealth of history here is mind boggling: temples, ancient citadels, unique theatre and stunning wilderness just outside the city all offer fun-filled days in Vietnam’s capital.
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
- Water Puppet Theatre
- Hoan Kiem Lake (Turtle Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple
- Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
- National Museum of Vietnamese History
- Hoa Lo Prison Museum
- Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
- Temple of Literature
You might find some interesting suggestions of “what to do in Hanoi”, from Chloé Hébant and Charline Thébault, two French students who did their internships in Hanoi last summer.
For more famous place in Hanoi, please visit: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/hanoi/sights
3.4. Meal:
Meal-cost in Vietnam may vary from 30.000 VND.
We would suggest you some restaurants which serve delicious traditional Vietnamese dishes:
- Chim Sao Restaurant: 65 Ngõ Huế, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi (http://chimsao.com/)
- Quán Ăn Ngon Restaurant: 18 Phan Boi Chau, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi (http://ngonhanoi.com.vn)
- Truc Lam Trai Restaurant (serve vegetarian food): 39 Le Ngoc Han, Hai Ba Trung District (at Tran Xuan Soan and Hoa Ma), Hanoi, Vietnam (http://truclamtrai.com)
- Madame Hien: 15 Chan Cam, Hanoi (French-Vietnamese cuisine in a French antique building of old Spanish Embassy)
- Porte d’Annam Restaurant: 22 Nhà thờ, Hà Nội (Vietnamese with Spices)
- BB home cook and more: 38 Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi or 32 Trieu Viet Vuong, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi (https://www.facebook.com/BBfamilyrestaurant/)