How to get from Hanoi to Hue

Why visit Hue?

Hue in central Vietnam is a treat for history buffs. As the former national capital and seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue is the best place to get to know Vietnam’s last imperial family. Explore the Imperial Citadel, cruise down the Perfume River, or sample an Imperial Banquet.

But if you ask us, the best thing to do in Hue is to ride a motorbike to the nearby Hai Van Pass — one of the greatest ocean roads in the world. This will reward you with some of the most jaw-dropping views you’ll see in Vietnam!

There are 3 ways to travel the 675 kilometers (419 miles) from Hanoi to Hue. You can choose between the bus, train and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 45 minutes to 15 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 580,000 VND ($22).

The bus is the most affordable way to get from Hanoi to Hue, with ticket prices from 580,000 VND ($22).

Green Trips, GoEz Travel, The Long Travel, Queen Cafe Bus, TBus and Cua Ong Limousine all offer overnight bus trips for this route.

Travel time by bus from Hanoi to Hue takes around 12 to 15 hours, but you’ll hopefully spend most of the journey sleeping. Note that most buses arrive really early in Hue, so you may want to contact your hotel beforehand for early check-in.

Departure and arrival station

Camel Travel and The Long Travel depart from the Camel Travel Office in Hanoi, about 2 km south of the Old Quarter. They park at 62 Chu Van An Street in Hue city centre.

Queen Cafe departs from the Queen Cafe Office in Hanoi, just a few minutes walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. It arrives at Laurel Hotel in Hue centre.

The flight is the most convenient way to get from Hanoi to Hue. This flight journey only takes 2 hours 45 minutes, already including the transfers to and from the airports.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Hanoi Airport (Noi Bai) is located 30 km north of Hanoi city centre.

If you’re staying in or around the Old Quarter, the best way to get to the airport is via Express Bus 86. These buses have several pick-up points within the city centre, and you just have to find the nearest bus stop to your hotel. A bus ticket costs 45,000 VND ($1.70).

Alternatively, you can take a taxi or hail a car via Grab with rates from 230,000 VND ($8.80).

For more details and transport options, check out our page on Hanoi Airport.

Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietnam Airlines are the three carriers operating flights from Hanoi to Hue. Flight time takes 1 hour 15 minutes.

Ticket prices start from 620,000 VND ($24) when you book your tickets in advance.

Note that airfares are more expensive in the high season or close to the travel date. When booking only a few days before your trip, expect to pay around 1,000,000 VND ($38).

From Hue Airport (Phu Bai), you will then have to travel 15 km northwest to get to Hue city centre. That’s around 30 minutes by shuttle bus or taxi.

When travelling solo, the more cost-efficient way would be to take a shuttle bus. The bus will take you up to the Vietnam Airlines/Vietjet Air office in the city centre, from where you can walk or take a short taxi ride to your hotel. A bus ticket costs 70,000 VND ($2.70).

If you want to be brought straight to your hotel, you can also take a taxi for around 270,000 VND ($10.40).

Visit our guide on Hue Airport for more info.

Travelling by train from Hanoi to Hue takes around 13 hours 30 minutes. It’s not exactly something you would consider when you can just take a 3-hour flight. But the train is actually a good alternative when you want to save a night on accommodation.

If you take an overnight train, you can just sleep for the most part of the journey and wake up fully recharged in Hue.

Train ticket prices start from 1,861,000 VND ($72) for a soft seat. But for the most comfort for this long journey, we recommend getting a bunk in a 4-berth cabin.

Departure and arrival station

Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station, which you can find 2 km southwest of the Old Quarter. Depending on your hotel’s location, you can get to the train station via a few minutes walk or a short taxi ride.

You are to get off at Hue Railway Station, about 2 km south of the Imperial City.