The airport offers a free city tour, I am told, I was wondering if anyone took it and how was it?
The Hanoi airport is tiny and extremely boring. There is a small lounge there, but it is more like an extra room off to the side, not typical of a proper airport lounge, I spent two hours in there once and that was boring. 8 hours would be a challenge.
The city tour sounds nice, but you’d likely spend the vast majority of time in hellish traffic (smokey and noisy) in a bus built for midgets. I’d look into getting a transit visa for Vietnam (very easy to do in Taipei) and just go by yourself into the city for the day (approximately half hour cheap cab ride from the airport), walk around the old quarters (or whatever they are called) and hang out at the coffee shops around the city’s lake (by far the nicest part of the city). If you don’t mind spending $20 you could even have a meal at Bobby Chin’s restaurant, I ate there and thought the food was quite inspired.
and don’t forget a Vietnamese haircut while you’re there. bites away another 1.5 - 2 hours give and take.
I once spent 8 hours in HCMC airport in transit and that was torture. Hanoi Airport has even less facilities so if you can get out, do so.
Thanks guys for all the replies.