Hanoi Noi Bai Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Hanoi Noi Bai Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

February 16, 2026 - last modified on March 2, 2026

Nội Bài International Airport (IATA: HAN, ICAO: VVNB) is an international airport serving Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. With over 30 Mio. passengers in 2024 it is the country’s second largest airport. The traffic is dominated by the local carriers Vietjet and Vietnam Airlines with several national and international flights. But HAN is also served by almost all major carriers from Asia. Furthermore there is a lot of cargo traffic by carriers from all over the world.

Written by Jan Seba and Tom Niemeyer (Spot 3). Last Update: November 2025

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
11L/29R	3.200 m (10.497 ft) Concrete
11R/29L	3.800 m (12.466 ft) Concrete
Terminals
Terminal 1	Domestic Terminal
Terminal 2	International Terminal
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed and not recommended
Car/Public Transport	Best to use Grab, the local “taxi”-app in South East Asia. Alternatively local taxis are also possible and affordable, but beware of getting overcharged. It is best to insist on using the Taximeter.
Drinks/Food	Lots of small stored around the airport and inside the Terminal
Hotels	There are tons of good and affordable hotels right near the Terminals
Season	The dry season starts around October-February, so it is best to visit in winter around this time. In summer it is just too humid and overcast for adequate photography.
Security	There is no problem to be expected using the spots in this guide.
Runway Usage
General Info	Preferred RWY direction in HAN is 29, even with small tailwinds they still prefer to operate this way.
11L/29R	This is the preferred landing runway
11R/29L	This is the preferred departure runway

	Spot #1 – Jademay Airport Hotel Rooftop Viewing Terrace – Arrivals RWY 11L
WHERE	This spot is located on the 7th floor, so on-top of the Jademay Airport Hotel, located right next to the international terminal. It is highly recommended to stay overnight at the hotel if you want to use this spot.

WHAT	You will have a perfect view of the arrivals landing on RWY 11L from the roof top. Unfortunately the distance is quite high, so small bizjets and narrowbodies can even be a bit hazy, even during winter time. To a very limited degree, line-up photos are also possible, unfortunately though only slightly from the front, as other buildings are obstructing the side-on photo. Heat haze is a major issue for the line-ups, especially around noon time.

TIME	Best sunlight starts around 11am until sunset in winter. For line-up the lights only get good in the afternoon.

MISC.	If you are staying in the hotel you have everything nearby! Otherwise there are also small cafes near the hotel.

FOCAL LENGTH	220mm crop for A350-900 on approach, 240mm for A321neo on line-up

	Spot #2 – Intl. Terminal Viewing Area – All Movements on RWY11L/11R and both taxiways
WHERE	To reach this spot just take a ride to the International Terminal and get dropped off at the departure area. Head inside, pass the Check-In area and in the middle of the terminal, there is an escalator one fleet up going even closer to the apron. There are a few restaurants and shop up here. For spotting you have two choices now: One restaurant has several tables along the window front, you can sit here and take photos out of the windows while your eat/drink Or there is a rather small “public” area next to the restaurant where you can go if you do not wish to consume anything and just take photos. This area may become somewhat crowded though, especially during the weekend when Vietnamese families come here just to watch airplanes. Further to the Landside location, there are supposedly also several area behind security, so Airside, where you can take similar photos through the windows.

WHAT	From this location you have a great view and will not miss a single movement. You can take Arrivals on RWY11L, even though they are somewhat far away and may be somewhat hazy depending on the time of day and wind. Departures on RWY11R are also perfectly possible and reasonable close, so that haze should not be an issue. You are also very close to both taxiways between the runway and terminal. Most aircraft going to RWY 11R for departure will taxi on the second taxiway giving you a good shot with small distance. Unfortunately there are also aircraft stands right in-front of this location, so, especially if widebody aircraft are parking here, your view may be slightly obstructed. Also beware of heat haze coming from the APU or engines or aircraft parked at the terminal.

TIME	Best sunlight after 11am until sunset winter.

MISC.	Shops, restaurants and toilets are right next to you.

FOCAL LENGTH	A350-900 on the front taxiway is just 50mm and the A330-300 on the second taxiway only 80mm. A321neo departing on RWY11R is 150mm and the A321 landing on 11L is 270mm

	Spot #3 – Domestic Terminal – Apron, Taxiway, Runway
WHERE	Within the domestic terminal after security so a valid boarding pass is needed. Gates 9 to 11 have with various options.

WHAT	Best for taxiways and apron next to Terminal 1. Both runways can be seen in the distance.

TIME	Best sunlight from sunrise to noon in winter.

MISC.	Shops, restaurants and toilets are right next to you. Heathaze might be a problem, also from running APU’s.

FOCAL LENGTH	From 30-400mm