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Route overview from Hanoi to Phong Nha
Option 1
Bus from Hanoi to Phong Nha (recommended)
10 hours, 350.000 VND (€13,50)
We recommend taking the night bus from Hanoi to Phong Nha. The advantage of the bus is that they drop you directly at the main street of Phong Nha.
Option 2
Train + Taxi + Bus from Hanoi to Phong Nha
11,5 hours, 580.000 VND (€22)
Since Phong Nha doesn’t have a railway station, you have to take the train from Hanoi to Dong Hoi. From Dong Hoi railway station you can take a bus or taxi which takes you in 1-1,5 hour to Phong Nha.
Option 3
Bus + Flight + Taxi from Hanoi to Phong Nha
4 hours, 4.742.668 VND (€180)
Same goes for flying. The closest airport to Phong Nha is Dong Hoi. From Dong Hoi Airport it is best to take a taxi to Phong Nha.
Option 1: Bus
Route: Hanoi Phong Nha
Duration: 10 hours
Costs: 350.000 VND (€13,50)
There are two companies operating sleeper buses on the route from Hanoi to Phong Nha.
Duration might slightly vary because of extra stops. But in general, it takes about 10 hours by bus to Phong Nha. The bus stops at the center/main street of Phong Nha, which is in front of or close to the Easy Tiger hostel.
See the table below for the schedule:
| Bus | Departure/Arrival | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Café | 19:00-04:00 | 9h | 350.000 VND (€13,50) + free pick-up |
| Hung Thanh | 18:30-03:30 19:00-04:00 | 9h 00m | 300.000 VND (€11,50) |
Queen Cafe offers a pick-up service which makes up for the slightly higher price. If you prefer to book with Hung Thanh, you can book your tickets online via Baolau or at ‘Hung Tanh office’ at ‘162B Tran Quang Khai St’ or at ‘Hanoi Backpackers Hostel’ in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Option 2: Train + Taxi + Bus
Route: Hanoi Dong Hoi Phong Nha
Duration: 11,5 hours
Costs: 580.000 VND (€22)
When you travel by train to Phong Nha you have to book a train to Dong Hoi station (not Dong Ha!). Dong Hoi railway station is 40km south of Phong Nha. The bus drive takes about 1,5 hour by bus or taxi to Phong Nha.
We recommend traveling by night so you don’t waste a day on travel. Taking the night train leaves you with one of the three options below.
Train: Hanoi Dong Hoi
Duration: 10,5 hours
Costs: 520.000 VND (€19,50)
| Train | Departure/Arrival | Duration | Sleeper berth |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE3 | 19:30-05:21 | 9h 51m | 590.000 VND (€22,50) |
| SE19 | 20:10-06:42 | 10h 32m | 520.000 VND (€19,50) |
| SE17 (not available) | 20:45-06:43 | 10h | 795.000 VND (€30) |
| SE1 | 22:20-07:52 | 9h 32m | 590.000 VND (€22,50) |
We prefer the SE17 which leaves at 20:45 in Hanoi and arrives at 06:43 in Dong Hoi. The SE17 has the most convenient departure and arrival times. If this is not available, you can also take the train S19.
Sleeper berths in 6-person cabins start from 520.000 VND (€19,50). Choosing a seat doesn’t make much sense. In case you want to save money, you are better off taking a bus.
Taxi & Bus: Dong Hoi Phong Nha
Duration: 1-1,5 hours
Costs: 60.000 VND (€2)
You can take a taxi from the railway station in Dong Hoi to the bus station for 25.000 VND (€0,90). After this 5min drive, catch the local bus to Phong Nha. This bus ticket costs 35.000 VND (€1,30) and the bus ride takes about 1,5 hour.
Another, but more expansive option, is to take a taxi straight to Phong Nha.
Visit the page From Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more information.
PRO-TIP: Use this referral link to receive €15 discount on Booking.com.
Option 3: Bus + Flight + Taxi
Route: Hanoi Dong Hoi Phong Nha
Duration: 4 hours
Costs: 4.742.668 VND (€180)
Want to fly from Hanoi to Phong Nha? Book a flight from Hanoi airport to Dong Hoi airport and take a taxi from there to Phong Nha.
The flight takes less than one hour. But keep in mind that you have to travel 1 hour from Hanoi center to the airport and another hour from Dong Hoi airport to Phong Nha. Including 2 hours extra time at the airport, 30 minutes to collect your luggage and some time to find a taxi, it will cost you about 5-6 hours to traveling by plane. For this reason, we recommend traveling on the night train or sleeper bus instead.
Shuttle Bus/Taxi: Hanoi City Center Hanoi Airport
Duration: 1h 15min
Costs: 40.000 VND (€1,50)
From Hanoi center to the airport takes about 1h and 15 min by shuttle bus or 1 hour by taxi. A shuttle bus costs around 40.000 VND (€1,50), but you can also order a taxi (Grab) for 200.000-300.000 VND (€7-€11).
Want to know from where the shuttle bus departs or explore other options? See the page about Hanoi Airport. Here you also find information about the public bus and taxi.
Plane: Hanoi Airport Dong Hoi Airport
Duration: 1h 30min
Costs: 4.202.668 VND (€159,50)
The cheapest direct flight starts at 4.202.668 VND (€159,50). This is with Vietnam Airlines and the flight leaves Hanoi at 17:40.
Vietjet Air and Hanh Air are the two other Airlines operating on this route. Their combined tickets start from 3.332.331 VND (€126,50) but they make one stopover.
Click the button to check available flights for this route.
Taxi: Dong Hoi Airport Phong Nha
Duration: 1 hour
Costs: 500.000 VND (€18)
The best way to go from Dong Hoi Airport to Phong Nha is by taxi. Expect to pay around 500.000 VND (€18).
The public bus is not an option if you take the Vietjet Air flight since the latest bus to Phong Nha leaves at 17:00.
See the page from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more info.
Example itinerary
| Method of transport | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shuttle bus from Hanoi center to Hanoi Airport | 1h 15min | 40.000 VND (€1,50) |
| Flight from Hanoi Airport - Dong Hoi Airport | 1h | 4.202.668 VND (€159,50) |
| By taxi from Dong Hoi Airport - Phong Nha | 1h | 400.000-500.000 VND (€15-€19) |
Please note that taxis may try to charge you more.
My favourite places to stay in Phong Nha
Thao Nguyen Homestay
Thanks to the great hospitality of the family, this homestay will feel like your home. After a day of trekking you can take a dive in the pool or sit back and relax with a Netflix movie. The homestay is located right in front of the bus stop in the center of Phong Nha. Rooms with mountain views already start from €19,- including an outstanding breakfast!
Bonus: Free cancellation policy till the last day!
Phong Nha Rustic Home
Want a more unique experience? The interior of Phong Nha Rustic Home creates a real rustic feel which makes you feel one with nature. It's located outside the city center, but you can use their free-bicycle rental to explore the National Parks or get to the center. Rooms start from €22.
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2 comments
Hi Maarten,
Thanks for all your articles, they are extremely useful.
I am travelling to Vietnam in September and I would like to take a sleeper bus with Hung Long company to go from Hanoi to Phong Nha, on Vexere. They only provide a phone number (not email or website) which would be very expensive to call for me. Is it necessary to book a few weeks in advance or can I book it 3 days in advance when I arrive in Hanoi? I am not sure of how available are sleeper buses.
Thanks,
Louise
Hi Louise, thanks for your kind comment!
Well noted. This specific company doesn’t have a website, so you need to book a ticket via an agency or hotel in Hanoi. Don’t worry too much about buses selling out. If you are not travelling during a festival day like Tet, you can normally still book the bus one day in advance. I think this transportation guide could be useful when planning your trip!
If you don’t want to take any risk that bus tickets sell out, you could also email or send a message on FB to your accommodation in Hanoi. Maybe they can reserve a ticket for you.