Airport bus from Hanoi to Cao Bang

Hi there, we’re landing at Hanoi Airport and would like to head straight to Cao Bang without going into Hanoi. Does anyone know if there are buses that go directly from the airport to Cao Bang (especially in the early afternoon)? Thanks in advance!

Hi, I don’t really have an answer to your question, sorry.

I traveled to Cao Bang from Hanoi (actually from Cat Ba, with a transfer in Hanoi) with Good Morning Cat Ba. You could try contacting them to see if they pass by the airport (it’s kind of in that direction).

https://goodmorningcatba.com/cat-ba-to-cao-bang/

Hi

Hello, we’re landing at Hanoi Airport and would like to go straight to Cao Bang without heading into Hanoi. Does anyone know if there are buses that go directly from the airport to Cao Bang (especially in the early afternoon)? Thanks in advance.

Looks like it’s possible: https://vexere.com/en-US/bus-ticket-booking-from-san-bay-noi-bai-to-cao-bang-2102188t1141.html

Thanks for your feedback. That’s really kind! 😊

Good evening and thanks for your reply.

I did see the bookings via Vexere. Do you think it's reliable to book through them? (Not just the Vexere site itself, but more about whether we actually get the seats if we book?) And do you think it's necessary to reserve in advance, or can we sort it out on the spot? Thanks

Hello,

Good evening and thank you for your reply. I did see the bookings via Vexere. Do you think it's reliable for booking? (Not just the Vexere site, but whether you actually get the seats if you book?) And do you think it's necessary to book in advance, or can you arrange it on the spot? Thanks

My little nephew, who came from France on vacation, used the Vexere site to go from Hanoi to Cat Ba in January 2026 without any issues (he doesn’t speak Vietnamese). That said, it’s not an absolute guarantee of reliability! Personally, since I’m Vietnamese, I use Vexere to check the offers, then I prefer to contact the carrier directly to make the booking.

A few tips (from memory, since it’s been a while since I’ve booked directly through Vexere):

To book via Vexere, it’s best to have a Vietnamese phone number (which was the case for my nephew—I got him a local SIM since he was staying in Vietnam for about 6 weeks). The reason is that the carrier needs it to contact you (to confirm the time and location) and to pick you up if you’re not going to the departure terminal.

If you arrive in Vietnam and plan to leave immediately for Cao Bang, you can’t just show up and book—unless you use a taxi service at Noi Bai (much more expensive).

To leave right away for Cao Bang, you’ll need to book in advance, for example via Vexere.

If you want to book remotely from abroad without a Vietnamese phone number, I recommend downloading the Zalo app (very common in Vietnam) if possible. You can use it to contact the carrier’s phone number. Alternatively, you can reach out to them via their Facebook page.

For example, the carrier Duy Quang Limousine, listed on Vexere, has a website (https://nhaxeduyquang.com/) and a Facebook page. With their displayed phone number, you can look them up on Zalo to get in touch. For messages, you can use English (or even French) and translation tools (AI) to send bilingual messages.

If you’re not leaving straight from the airport for Cao Bang, you’ll have more flexibility to book or find transport in Hanoi itself. Good luck and enjoy your stay! Quynh

Good evening Quynh,

Thank you so much for your extreme kindness! You didn’t just answer a stranger’s question—you took the time to respond thoroughly and in detail, even imagining all the possibilities and challenges we might face. Your reply is more than comprehensive, and I can only be deeply respectful of your kindness. I’ll follow your recommendations!!!!! Thank you so much, and I wish you all the best. Best regards, Greg

Hi Greg,

I just checked the requirements for creating a Zalo account, and it turns out Zalo only allows accounts for Vietnamese phone numbers. So, you won’t be able to create a Zalo account with a foreign phone number.

Try making your reservation through Vexere instead—I think since the site has been around for a while, it should be open to foreign tourists by now.

Otherwise, you could try OldPlatypus’s suggestion.

As a last resort, you could also try contacting the carrier via Facebook (for example, Duy Quang’s carrier: https://www.facebook.com/nhaxeDuyQuang/).

Best regards, Quynh

Hi Vdquynh,

Thanks again for your message. I actually tried via Zalo, but I couldn’t register. I did book the bus through Vexere, and then I was able to provide my WhatsApp number once registered. So everything worked out great. Thanks again for everything, and it just makes us even more excited to discover your country. Thanks a million!

Hey! So you're heading straight to Cao Bang without stopping in Hanoi—I get the idea, haha. Truth is, I don’t have direct experience with this route since I’m based in Thailand, but I can share what I’ve heard from other backpackers.

From what I remember, there’s no direct bus from Noi Bai Airport to Cao Bang. That’s the thing that trips up a lot of people. Long-distance buses usually leave from Hanoi’s city center, from bus stations like Gia Lâm or Giáp Bát, so you’d kind of have to pass through the capital one way or another.

Personally, what I’d suggest is taking a taxi or a Grab from the airport to one of those stations (expect around 20 to 30 €), and then you catch a bus to Cao Bang. The bus ride takes about 4 to 5 hours if I recall correctly. Double-check the schedules directly with the stations, though, because I’m not sure if there are still early afternoon departures like you’re hoping for—it really depends on the season and the day.

Honestly, avoid hanging around Hanoi if you don’t want to, but budget at least 2 to 3 hours between your arrival and the bus departure, just to give yourself time to get your bearings and grab a bite. Cao Bang is totally worth it, so you’re smart to go straight there! !

Hello and thanks for your feedback.

Now it’s my turn to answer my own question for future travelers. Yes, it’s possible to go directly from Hanoi Airport to Cao Bang. Just book through Vexere or 12Go. Either the bus will pass by the airport after leaving Hanoi (likely depending on how many people need to be picked up), or they’ll send a driver to pick you up at the airport and drop you off where the bus to Cao Bang stops (in our case, the bus was already there, parked and waiting for us with its passengers on the side of the road. As usual in Asia, no problem, just solutions... One note: be careful when booking regarding the pickup location between the international and domestic terminals. Also, pay attention to the floor—make sure you’re on the right one because, for example, there’s a pole 8 at the domestic terminal on the 1st floor, but also a pole 8 on the 2nd floor, and another pole 8 on both the 1st and 2nd floors of the international terminal... If you book the wrong one, you can move between the domestic and international terminals using shuttles, and contrary to what some taxi drivers claim, no, they’re not 8 km or 3 km apart, and you don’t need to take a taxi between them... The shuttle is quick.

Hello, Yes, it’s possible—you don’t have to go into central Hanoi first. There are indeed limousine buses that pick up passengers directly at Noi Bai Airport for Cao Bang, including in the early afternoon. So if your flight arrives in the early afternoon, you can definitely do it the same day. The only important thing is to book in advance and confirm the exact pickup point, as it varies by company: it could be at the domestic terminal, the international terminal, or somewhere else in the Noi Bai area. If I were you, I’d also allow some extra time after landing, especially if you have checked luggage or a long immigration line. If you’re traveling with family and several suitcases, it might be more comfortable to arrange a private airport–Cao Bang transfer. It’s often simpler after a long flight, especially if you want to avoid schedule stress. But to answer your question: yes, there are direct options from the airport to Cao Bang. If you’d like, I can also suggest the most convenient option based on your actual arrival time and the number of travelers.

How was your stay in Cao Bang?

How was your stay in Cao Bang?

Was it as good as this article suggests?

https://thefabworld.com/cao-bang-frole-la-psychiatrie/

Hi,

I can’t say it lived up to that post because many places in northern Vietnam are beautiful, but the Cao Bang region is definitely worth the detour. It has stunning karst landscapes, even if you can find similar scenery elsewhere. The area offers some great visits, like the Ban Gioc waterfall—even if it’s not nearby—and the Heaven’s Eye Mountain, which is really pretty. Other perks: better roads than in the Dong Van mountainous region and fewer motorbikes. The town of Cao Bang is also less touristy than others. If I had to do it again, I’d definitely stop by before heading to Bao Lac, Dong Van, or Ha Giang.

Hey Quynhon, Just a quick question—are you planning to advertise your site in all your posts? A little reminder of VoyageForum’s rules to avoid this: "It is forbidden to post messages on the Site with the direct purpose of promoting or advertising a service, product, package or website"