A guide to Noi Bai International Airport (VVNB)

[ov107]

ICAO : VVNB | IATA : HAN

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Welcome to Noi Bai International Airport !

The principal gateway to Vietnam’s capital metro of Hanoi, and the 2^nd busiest airport in the country.

In preparation for the penultimate leg of this year’s World Tour, and the potential flood of Zanclean proportions into the airport, Vietnam Airlines Virtual presents this guide to help IF pilots and controllers to familiarise themselves with our homeport.

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Descriptions

Domestic Terminal (Terminal 1)

Terminal 1 is the main facility serving all domestic flights. Opened in October 2001 to replace the ailing Civil Terminal, T1 was the first airport terminal to be designed indigenously, by Chief Architect Lương Anh Dũng, whose design won First Prize at the National Architecture Awards (2002).

T1 is built in a three-pointed star formation, varying from the linear terminal design to maximise apron utilisation. In 2013, an annex, Lobby E, was built west of T1 to increase capacity, primarily serving LCCs.

T1 features 15 access piers, only 7 of which have jetbridges; as such, it makes great use of remote parking stands all over the field (you might even find yourself boarding by stairs while the plane is parked at T2 !)

International Terminal (Terminal 2)

Terminal 2 is the main facility serving international passenger flights by all airlines, inaugurated in 2015 to relieve the overcrowded Terminal 1 (which was running at 200% its designed capacity).

T2 is a great linear terminal designed and constructed by the Vinaconex - Taisei Joint Venture, its formation resembling bird’s wingspan. The terminal opened alongside the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Bridge and the Nhật Tân - Nội Bài Expressway, connecting the airport directly to the city’s Ringway 2.

T2 features 14 piers with jetbridge access, all of which can service widebody aircraft. It is currently^[1] undergoing an expansion on the east and west ends to add additional parking stands and piers.

Cargo Terminal

Located just east of T1, on the footprint of the old Civil Terminal and Control Tower, this is the primary cargo handling facility of the airport.

VIP Terminal

Nestled between T1 and T2, this facility handles the arrival and departure of high-level state delegations and foreign dignitaries. Designed to resemble a lotus-shaped garden house. It is not an FBO.

Maintenance Area

Home to Vietnam Airlines’ own FAA- and EASA-certified maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, VAECO. One of two active hangar complexes in Vietnam as of time of publishing, the other being VAECO Tan Son Nhat. Currently semi-temporary lodging for half a dozen HVN A321neos stranded due to operational reasons.

VPAF Noi Bai

Located north of everything else at the field, the military aprons are remnants of the original airfield prior to its conversion to a mixed-use facility. Historical home to the VPAF’s first jet fighter regiment, the 921^st Fighter Group “Red Star”.
Nowadays, the military aprons are underutilised for actual military purposes, serving mainly as remote overnight parking stands for commercial aircraft.

Apron 2

Remote apron on the east end of the airport, built in 2019 and placed “out of the way” of the rest of the airport, for better or worse. Usable 16 spots for narrow-body aircraft, or 4 spots for wide-body aircraft, pick one of the other.

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Diagrams

Masterview

Ground movement and Parking

List of parking stands

Apron 1

Stand	Use	Access	Size	Additional notes
8 9	Parking	Remote	C	Self-maneuvering (South) for code B aircraft. Taxi-out requires 9, 10 not occupied.
10	Commercial	Remote	B	Self-maneuvering (South).
11 11A—	Commercial Parking	Remote	C	11A blocks access to 11 if occupied.
12 12A— 12B— 12C— 12D—	Commercial Commercial Commercial Parking Parking	Remote	E C C C C	12A~12D available if 12 not occupied. 12C~12D block access to 12A~12B if occupied.
14	Commercial	Terminal 2	F
15 ︱ 27 ex. A~B	Commercial	Terminal 2	E
17A— 17B— 18A— 18B— 23A— 23B— 24A— 24B—	Commercial[2]	Terminal 2	C	A~B available if main stand not occupied.
28 28A— 28B—	Commercial	Remote	F C C	28A~28B available if 28 not occupied.
29	Commercial	Remote	C
30A ︱ 34A 34B	Parking	Remote	C	34A~34B are pushback-in. 34B blocks access to 31A~34A if occupied.
35 35A— 35B— 36 36A— 36B—	Commercial	Remote	F B C F C C	Self-maneuvering (West). 35A~35B available if 35 not occupied. 36A~36B available if 36 not occupied.
37 ︱ 42	Commercial	Remote	C	37, 39, 41 are self-maneuvering (South).
43 ︱ 49 ex. 46	Commercial	Terminal 1	E ︱ E C	Length restriction < 70.8m (B778, A359). 47~49 pushback out to taxiway V, or into 50~52 if not occupied.
50 51 52	Commercial	Remote	E E D	Self-maneuvering (West).
53	Commercial	Remote	C	Self-maneuvering (East).
54 54A— 54B— 55 55A— 55B—	Commercial	Remote	F C C F C C	A~B are self-maneuvering (East). 54A~54B available if 54 not occupied. 55A~55B available if 55 not occupied. 54, 55 pushback out to taxiway V only.
56 57 58 58A— ︱ 58D—	Commercial	Remote	B B B A ︱ A	58A~58D available if 58 not occupied.
VAECO	Parking	Remote	N/A	Layout not published.

Apron 2

Stand	Use	Access	Size	Additional notes
71 ︱ 86	Commercial	Remote	C	Self-maneuvering when stand in-front is not occupied. 73, 74, 77, 78, 81, 82, 85, 86 pushback out to taxiway V only.
75A 77A 79A 81A	Commercial	Remote	F	Accessible via taxiway W13, requires majority of Apron 2 not occupied, not recommended apart from long-term parking. Pushback out to taxiway V only.

Military Apron

Stand	Use	Access	Size	Additional notes
QS1 ︱ QS4	Parking	Remote	E
QS1A— ︱ QS4A—	Parking	Remote	C
QS5 ︱ QS11	Parking	Remote	C

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Descriptions

See above section for diagrams.

RWY	Direction	Length	Material	Guidance	Configuration
1A	11L— —29R	3200m 10500ft	Concrete	ILS CAT II ILS CAT I	Primary landing
1B	11R— —29L	3800m 12470ft	Concrete	ILS CAT II ILS CAT I	Primary takeoff

NB has two parallel runways: The north runway (11L/29R) is primarily used for landing, and the south runway (11R/29L) for takeoff. This arrangement may be reversed during periods of low visibility, prioritising the south runway for landing.
All runways are ILS-equipped.^[3]

RWYs 11L and 11R are the primary direction in use, with prevailing southeasterly winds year-round, and in westerly winds up to 10kts tailwind component.
RWYs 29L and 29R are only used in the rare cases of strong westerly winds, and are usually a sign of ill omen.

Due to the close proximity of the runways (lateral distance is 250m), and lack of a median taxiway between them, arrivals in quick succession can spill onto the RWY while waiting to cross.

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Descriptions

Airspace partitions

Advisory only.

Hanoi Flight Information Region

FIR and Hanoi ACC covers the north of Vietnam down to the VN-L-C border tripoint (delegated by Ho Chi Minh FIR). Area surrounding VVNB administered by Ha Noi ACC sectors 1 and 2.

Noi Bai Terminal Maneuvering Area

Delineated laterally by the NOB 40.5nmi ring (75km), vertically between 750m (2500ft) and FL155. Under the jurisdiction of Noi Bai Terminal (APP/DEP).

Noi Bai Control Zone

Delineated laterally by the NOB 16.2DME ring (30km), vertically between SFC and 2150m (7000ft). Noi Bai TWR under control of the inner NOB 5.4nmi ring (10km), between SFC and 600m (2000ft); else delegated to Noi Bai Terminal.

Prohibited Area 1 (P-1)

Delineated laterally surrounding Hanoi City Centre just south of the airport, vertically between SFC and infinity.

Terrain

Flatlands and Mountains

The airport is located near the northwestern tip of the Red River Delta. Most of the terrain southeast of the airport are flat low-lying plains.

Immediately northwest of of the airport situates Tam Dao Ridge, extending 80km (42nmi) further and rising up to 1600m (5300ft).
Ba Vi Range is further southwest of the airport, underneath the south Point merge arc, rising up to 1300m (4300ft).
Both are termini of larger mountainous areas that flank the entire north of the country, including the Hoang Lien Son range further northwest.

Diagrams

Minimum vector altitudes

Advisory only.

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Descriptions

RNAV SID Assignment

RWY	Southeast Q1, N639	Southwest B465, R474	West W4, B214	North R471	Northeast R474, R4711
11L	TINLY 1A	MUCHI 1A	HUVAN 1D	JULUN 1A	BUNBO 1A
11R	TINLY 1B	MUCHI 1B	HUVAN 1E	JULUN 1B	BUNBO 1B
29L	FINAM 1A	XUNBI 1A	LENNU 1A	JULUN 1C	DIHAI 1A
29R	FINAM 1B	XUNBI 1B	LENNU 1B	JULUN 1D	DIHAI 1B
Exit point	NAH	MC	BQ	DILEN	NAKHA DENMO1

¹ Alternatives for JULUN SIDs when airway W22 is inactive.

Updated RNAV SIDs for filing in SimBrief

RWY	Southeast Q1, N639	Southwest B465, R474	West W4, B214	North R471	Northeast R474, R471
11L 11R	NAH 3A	MC 3A, 3B1	HUVAN 3A, 3B1	DILEN 3A	NAKHA 3A3
29L 29R	NAH 3C, 3D1	MC 3C, 3D2	BQ 3C	DILEN 3C	NAKHA 3C DENMO 3C3

¹ Initial climb flies north of the airport via SUBUP (SUDON). MC 3B alternative routing via HUVAN.
² Alternative routing via LELET (LENNU).
³ Alternatives for DILEN SIDs when airway W22 is inactive.

Conventional SIDs

RWY	East W3	Southeast W1, W2, N639	Southwest B465, R474	West W4, B214	Northwest W6, R471	Northeast R474, R471
11L 11R	PHUTA 2A	VITRA 2A	VINHA 2A, 2C TRANA 2A1	HUVAN 2A, 2C	TONGA 2A TAMDA 3A2	HAKAO 2A, 2C
29L 29R	PHUTA 2B	VITRA 2B	VINHA 2B	HUVAN 2B	TONGA 2B TAMDA 3B2	HAKAO 2B

¹ Noi Bai LOM (320 KW) required.
² Vinh Phuc VOR/DME (113.9 VPH) required.

Diagrams

→ Full list of unofficial procedure charts (Google Drive). ←

RNAV SIDs overview

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Descriptions

Entry points

	South Q2, N639	Southwest B465, R474	West W4, B214	North R471	Northeast R474, R4711
Entry point	BISON	MC	HUVAN	(via DILEN) TAMDA	(via NAKHA) HAKAO
Rcmd. altitude	FL150 (11) FL170 (29)	FL160	FL110 (11) FL150 (29)	FL140	FL160

Recommended altitude for following STAR restrictions only, actual altitude at ATC’s discretion.

¹ Alternatives for TAMDA STARs when airway W22 is inactive.

RNAV STAR Assignment

RWY	Direct	Trombone	Point merge	Approach
11L	BISON 1L MUCHI 1L HUVAN 1N TAMDA 1N HAKAO 1N	BISON 1F MUCHI 1H HUVAN 1L TAMDA 1J, 1L2 HAKAO 1K, 1M2	BISON 1G MUCHI 1J HUVAN 1M TAMDA 1K HAKAO 1L	ILS Z RWY11L I11LZ
11R	BISON 1R MUCHI 1R HUVAN 1R TAMDA 1R HAKAO 1R	BISON 1A MUCHI 1C HUVAN 1F TAMDA 1C, 1H2 HAKAO 1D, 1J2	BISON 1D MUCHI 1D HUVAN 1G TAMDA 1F HAKAO 1G	ILS Z RWY11R I11RZ
29L	BISON 1P MUCHI 1P HUVAN 1P TAMDA 1P HAKAO 1P	BISON 1B MUCHI 1E HUVAN 1H TAMDA 1D HAKAO 1E	BISON 1E MUCHI 1G HUVAN 1K TAMDA 1G HAKAO 1H	ILS Z RWY29L I29LZ
29R	Not available in the current cycle[4]	BISON 1C MUCHI 1F HUVAN 1J TAMDA 1E HAKAO 1F	Not available in the current cycle[5]	VOR Z RWY29R† D29RZ

² Using South trombone pattern.
All MUCHI STARs connected by MC 1C TR.
There is no naming pattern outside of Direct, don't bother trying to remember these.

• Runways 11L and 11R, Point merge STARs are primarily used.
• Runways 29L and 29R, Trombone STARs are primarily used. STARs were designed without a south pattern due to its proximity to Prohibited Area 1 and Gia Lâm Airbase (this is not a concern in IF, of course).
• Direct STARs are used for VIP flights or when traffic conditions permits.
  

• NOTE : RWY29R has ILS implemented, but the current cycle in IF does not include ILS procedures nor accompanying STARs. The STARs listed connect to the VOR Z RWY29R APCH (D29RZ) at NB450. Assume straight-in ILS intercept after NB450.

Updated RNAV STARs for filing in SimBrief

Out of range

RWY	Direct	Trombone	Point merge	Hybrid
11L 11R	BISON 3E MC 3E HUVAN 3E DILEN 3E NAKHA 3E	BISON 3F MC 3F HUVAN 3F DILEN 3F, 3G1 NAKHA 3F, 3G1	BISON 3H MC 3H HUVAN 3H DILEN 3H NAKHA 3H	BISON 3J MC 3J HUVAN 3J DILEN 3J, 3K1 NAKHA 3J, 3K1
29L 29R	BISON 3L MC 3L HUVAN 3L DILEN 3L NAKHA 3L	BISON 3M MC 3M HUVAN 3M DILEN 3M NAKHA 3M	BISON 3N MC 3N HUVAN 3N DILEN 3N NAKHA 3N	BISON 3P MC 3P HUVAN 3P DILEN 3P NAKHA 3P

Local flight (from VVCI, VVVD)

RWY	Direct	Trombone	Point merge	Hybrid
11L 11R	PHUTA 3E VDO 3E	PHUTA 3F, 3G1 VDO 3F, 3G1	GASSO 3H (07) DOKLA 3H (25) VDO 3H	GASSO 3J, 3K1 (07) DOKLA 3J, 3K1 (25) VDO 3J, 3K1
29L 29R	Not available	Not available	GASSO 3N (07) DOKLA 3N (25) VDO 3N	GASSO 3P (07) DOKLA 3P (25) VDO 3P

¹ Using South trombone pattern.

Conventional STARs

RWY	East W3	Southeast W1, W2, N639	Southwest B465, R474	West W4, B214	Northwest W6, R471	Northeast R474, R471
11L 11R	PHUTA 2A, 2C1	NAH 1A, 1C1 XIVIN 1A3, 1C1,3	MC 1A, 1C1	BQ 3A, 3C1	LAOCAI 2A, 2C1 TAMDA 3A2	HAKAO 2A, 2C1
29L 29R	PHUTA 2B	NAH 1B XIVIN 1B3	MC 2B	BQ 3B	LAOCAI 2B	HAKAO 2B

¹ Noi Bai LOM (320 KW) required.
² Vinh Phuc VOR/DME (113.9 VPH) required. Connecting to VOR Y RWY11L and RWY11R APCHs (D11LY / D11RY).
³ RNAV capability required.

Diagrams

→ Full list of unofficial procedure charts (Google Drive). ←

RNAV STARs overview

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Composed by @OV107
Presented by @VietnamAirlinesVA

I hope this guide has been helpful to you all !
If you notice any incorrect details or have suggestions to improve the guide,
post a reply below in the topic or send me a message.

Special thanks to VNVA’s @IFVN-TaiXipo, @ak_747, @falcon.ccp for proofreading !

Safe flights and smooth sessions !

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Topographic map generated with Contours by Axis Maps, elevation data provided by Mapzen.
Airport and navigation data provided by the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, Ministry of Construction.
Charts licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Do good with them.

Vietnam Airlines Virtual is an independent entity and is neither associated with
nor endorsed or sponsored by Vietnam Airlines or Infinite Flight.

No generative AI, graphical or textual, was used to create or assist in creating any part of this guide.
The author advises against the use of generative AI on principle.

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Changelog

23/08/2026 - Runway assignment during low visibility operations.
30/08/2026 - Tailwind on runway in use.

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1. Already finished since Dec 2025, but you’re not gonna see its full glory until a few months after Google updates their imagery ↩︎

2. Technically overnight parking per AIP, but can be used as MARS stands. ↩︎

3. RWY29R has ILS implemented, but the current cycle in IF does not include published ILS approaches. See the arrivals section. ↩︎

4. Provisional:
   BISON 0Q
   MUCHI 0Q
   HUVAN 0Q
   TAMDA 0Q
   HAKAO 0Q ↩︎

5. Provisional:
   BISON 0S
   MUCHI 0K
   HUVAN 0S
   TAMDA 0M
   HAKAO 0S ↩︎

[ak_747]

One of the best airport guide out there !! Love the detail and custom made charts

[VietnamAirlinesVA]

Enjoy one of our newest tutorials at our home airport!