What to expect when visiting Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam’s bustling capital, where heritage and modernity collide. At its heart is the iconic Old Quarter bustling with cosy hotels, old residential buildings and neighbourhood cafes. Composed of 36 streets, just walking around this area will reward you with many amazing discoveries.
Must-visit sites include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the 19th-century gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We recommend munching on as much street food as you can, strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, and our favourite: watching the world go by from one of the many coffee shops in Hanoi.
3 ways to get from Phong Nha to Hanoi
There are three ways to travel the distance of 500 km (311 miles) from Phong Nha to Hanoi: by bus (8h 40m - 10h), train (11h 19m - 13h 53m) and flight (2 hours). The journey takes between 2h - 13h 53m and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 95,000 VND ($3.70) for the flight.Where to stay in Hanoi?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Hanoi at the bottom of this page.
Phong Nha to Hanoi by Bus
At least 3 companies offer overnight sleeper buses from Phong Nha to Hanoi. These are Camel Travel, Full Moon Party and Queen Cafe.
With a sleeper bus, you’ll get a standard sleeping bunk, usually with a blanket as well as drinks and snacks. Bus fares from Phong Nha to Hanoi start from 332,000 VND ($13.10). You can pre-book a sleeper bus ticket through BookAway.
If you’re looking for more comfort for the 8h 40m - 10h journey, you can also get a limousine cabin sleeper with Hung Long. Tickets are more expensive at 680,000 VND ($27), but you’ll also get a nicer bed as well as curtains for privacy.
You can book a VIP ride from Phong Nha to Hanoi via Baolau.
Departure and arrival station
Buses depart from various hotels along the main street in Phong Nha.
In Hanoi, they arrive at their own headquarters, mostly located just a few minutes walk to Hoan Kiem Lake. Only Camel Travel and Hung Long park a bit outside of the city centre, about 3 km south of the Old Quarter.
Bus schedules from Phong Nha to Hanoi
Hung Thanh is another bus operator for this route. However, we don’t recommend travelling with them because they get bad reviews. These include overloading, rude staff, and dirty buses. If you still want to travel with Hung Thanh, you can book a ticket through Phong Nha Locals.
Phong Nha to Hanoi by Flight
The third option is to fly from Phong Nha to Hanoi via Dong Hoi. The disadvantage of this option is that you first have to take a bus or taxi from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport and then another bus from Hanoi Airport to the city centre.
When you include the waiting time for your flight as well as the time it takes to check-in and get your luggage, you’re already looking at a 6-hour journey. We think taking a flight is too much hassle considering you can just take a direct bus.
Do you still want to take a flight from Phong Nha to Hanoi? See the step-by-step guide below.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport by Bus/Taxi
When travelling from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport, you can take either a bus or a taxi for 1 hour.
The bus is quite convenient and affordable. Just catch Bus 4, which departs from the main road in Phong Nha and drops you off just outside the airport. A ticket costs only 50,000 VND ($2).
Bus 4 operates daily from 06:00 to 17:00 with an hourly interval. Note that it has no definite schedule and if you miss the bus for the hour, you’ll have to wait a while for the next bus.
If you’re short on time, you can also take a taxi from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport. Rates start from 400,000 VND ($15.80) when you hail a taxi from the street. You can also pre-book your ride via BookAway for 576,000 VND ($23).
See our page on Dong Hoi for more info.
Dong Hoi to Hanoi by Flight
Direct flights are available daily from Dong Hoi to Hanoi. These are operated by Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways.
Airfares start from 770,000 VND ($30) when you book your tickets well in advance. We also recommend regularly checking Skyscanner for the cheapest rates, as you can sometimes book this route for as low as 660,000 VND ($26).
The flight time takes around 1 hour.
Step 2: Hanoi Airport to City Centre by Bus
From Hanoi Airport, you can conveniently get to the city centre by taking Express Bus 86. A ticket costs only 45,000 VND ($1.80) and travel time is about 1 hour. Inform the driver beforehand where your hotel is located so he can drop you off at the nearest bus stop.
Express Bus 86 makes several drops near the Old Quarter before making its final stop at Hanoi Railway Station.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Hanoi Airport to the city centre with rates from 230,000 VND ($9.10).
Visit our page on Hanoi Airport for more transport options.
Where to travel next?
Hanoi to Sapa: 6-9 hours
Explore the rice fields in Sapa
Hanoi to CatBa: 3.5-4 hours
Enjoy the stunning views of the karst mountains
Hanoi to Ninh Binh: 2-3 hours
Paddle through the Tam Coc or Trang An river while passing karst mountains and rice fields
Hanoi to Hoi An: 3-17 hours
Enjoy the great atmosphere of Hoi An with a mixture of Japanese, Vietnamese and French influences
Phong Nha to Hanoi by Train
When taking the train from Phong Nha to Hanoi, you first have to get to Dong Hoi Railway Station. This station is located about 40 km south of Phong Nha.
If you decide to take the train, we recommend picking one that travels overnight from Phong Nha to Hanoi. This way, you don’t lose a full day on the journey. You also get to have a good night’s sleep and even save one night on accommodation.
Step 1: Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Railway Station by Bus
From Phong Nha, you can take the local bus to Dong Hoi for just 50,000 VND ($2). Bus 4 departs from Phong Nha city centre every hour from 06:00 to 17:00. There’s a catch though, this bus stops at the Central Bus Station, located about 1 km from Dong Hoi Railway Station.
This means that from the bus drop-off point in Dong Hoi, you’ll still need to walk for about 15 minutes or take a short taxi ride to the train station.
If that is too much hassle for you, you can also just take a direct taxi from your hotel in Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Railway Station. Rates start from 400,000 VND ($15.80) for the 1-hour taxi journey.
For a more detailed guide, do check out our page on Dong Hoi.
Step 2: Dong Hoi to Hanoi by Train
There are 4 to 5 trains operating daily from Phong Nha to Hanoi via Dong Hoi. Most of these trains travel from early evening to morning the next day. Travel time is around 10h 19m - 12h 23m.
This gives you plenty of time to go through your photos and maybe update your Instagram before enjoying a nice sleep at your train cabin. The sunrise in Hanoi will welcome you the next morning!
Rates for a 4-berth sleeper from Dong Hoi to Hanoi start from 449,000 VND ($17.70).
It’s best to confirm the train schedules and even book your tickets beforehand to make sure you don’t miss your desired train. You can do this via BookAway and Baolau.
Trains depart from Dong Hoi Railway Station and arrive at Hanoi Train Station, located 2 km southwest of the Old Quarter.
The prices indicated above are for 4-person cabins from Phong Nha to Hanoi. There are also 6-bunk cabins available, but they may be too cramped. Choosing a seat, although much cheaper, doesn’t make much sense, you are better off taking a bus.
Our favourite places to stay in Hanoi
Siva Luxury Hotel - Budget Friendly
Just landed in Hanoi? In this hotel, you will get the best night of sleep you had since ages. The friendly staff will give you a warm welcome and serve a wonderful breakfast buffet the next morning! Located in the middle of the centre, but completely isolated from all the noise.
Double rooms with city view from: $42
Frequently Asked Questions about Phong Nha to Hanoi
What is the distance from Phong Nha to Hanoi?
The distance from Phong Nha to Hanoi is 500 km (311 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Phong Nha to Hanoi?
The fastest way to get from Phong Nha to Hanoi is by flight and takes 2 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Phong Nha to Hanoi?
The cheapest way to get from Phong Nha to Hanoi is by flight with ticket costs starting from 95,000 VND ($3.70).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Phong Nha to Hanoi. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
