How to get from Hanoi to Phong Nha

Why visit Phong Nha?

Phong Nha is a haven for adventure seekers. Its location in central Vietnam requires more time and effort to reach, probably why fewer travellers make their way to this town. That means you can enjoy a mostly unspoiled bit of paradise when you visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its enormous cave system — which includes the world’s largest cave (Hang Son Doong) and the longest dry cave in Asia (Paradise Cave). Outdoor lovers will also enjoy the lush hiking trails, karst mountains, and amazing wildlife in Phong Nha.

There are 3 ways to travel the 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Hanoi to Phong Nha. You can choose between the bus, train and flight. The journey takes 3 hours to 13 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 345,000 VND ($13.30).

There are nine companies operating sleeper buses from Hanoi to Phong Nha. This means that you’re spoilt for choice in terms of prices and schedules.

Bus fares from Hanoi to Phong Nha start from 345,000 VND ($13.30) and travel time is around 7 hours 55 minutes to 12 hours.

Departure and arrival station

Most buses depart from their own company headquarters located in Hanoi city centre, just a few minutes walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. Only Camel Travel departs a bit outside of the centre, some 3 km south of the Old Quarter.

They park at various hotels along the main street in Phong Nha.

Do check the bus departure and arrival points before booking your ride. Make sure that the pick-up and drop-off points are not too far from your hotels!

When you travel by train from Hanoi to Phong Nha, you have to book a train to Dong Hoi Station (not Dong Ha!).

From Dong Hoi, you can transfer to a bus or taxi to get to Phong Nha.

The train journey from Hanoi to Phong Nha via Dong Hoi takes around 10h - 12h.

Although there are several trains operating this route daily, we recommend taking one of the overnight trains so that you won’t lose a lot of daytime travelling. You can see our recommended train schedules in the table below.

Train ticket prices start from 462,000 VND ($17.80) for a soft seat. But for the most comfort for this long journey, we recommend getting a bunk in a 4-berth cabin.

You can also get a bunk in a 6-berth cabin, which is cheaper, but it might be too cramped. Choosing a train seat doesn’t make much sense either. If you want to save money, you are better off taking a sleeper bus.

Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station, which you can find some 2 km southwest of the Old Quarter. You are to get off the train at Dong Hoi Railway Station, located 40 km south southeast of Phong Nha.

From Dong Hoi Railway Station, you can then take either a 1.5-hour bus or a 1-hour taxi to Phong Nha.

A bus ride only costs 50,000 VND ($1.90). However, the nearest bus stop to the train station is located about 1 km away.

You can find this bus stop across the Central Bus Station. Just look for the blue signboard that says Bus 4. You can get here via a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride from the train station.

The more convenient option, albeit a bit expensive, would be to take a taxi. Fares start from 400,000 VND ($15.40) when taking a taxi from Dong Hoi Railway Station to Phong Nha.

Visit our page on how to get from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more information.

Want to fly from Hanoi to Phong Nha? You have to book a flight from Hanoi Airport to Dong Hoi Airport and then take a bus or taxi from there to Phong Nha.

The flight itself only takes 1 hour. But keep in mind that you have to travel 1 hour from Hanoi centre to the airport and another hour from Dong Hoi Airport to Phong Nha.

Including 2 hours of waiting time at the airport, 30 minutes to collect your luggage and some time to find a bus, it will cost you about 5-6 hours to travel by plane from Hanoi to Phong Nha. For this reason, we recommend travelling on the night train or sleeper bus instead.

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

From Hanoi city centre, you’ll have to travel some 30 km north to get to Hanoi Airport. You have several transport options, but we recommend taking Express Bus 86 if you’re on a budget.

Bus 86 departs from Hanoi Railway Station and picks up passengers from several bus stops near the Old Quarter. You can get a ticket for 45,000 VND ($1.70). Travel time is less than 1 hour.

For more convenience, you can also take a taxi. It’s best to book a ride via Grab for cheaper rates and better cars. Grab/taxi fares from Hanoi city centre to Hanoi Airport start from 230,000 VND ($8.90).

For more info on shuttle bus routes and other transport options, check out our page on Hanoi Airport.

Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways operate 3 to 4 direct flights daily from Hanoi to Phong Nha via Dong Hoi. The flight time is around 1 hour.

Airfares start from 680,000 VND ($26).

Note that it is always best to book flights early to get lower rates. Flight prices can go over 1,000,000 VND ($38.50) when you book close to the travel date or during the busy season.

From Dong Hoi Airport, Phong Nha is still 40 km away. You can get to your hotel by taking either a bus or a taxi.

Bus 4 operates daily from 06:00 to 17:00. You can hail a bus from the main road just outside Dong Hoi Airport. A bus ticket costs 50,000 VND ($1.90). Do note that buses have an hourly interval and don’t have a definite schedule.

Taxis are also available at the airport for around 400,000 VND ($15.40). However, drivers often try to charge more, sometimes even higher than your airfare from Hanoi!

If you’re planning to take a private transfer from Dong Hoi Airport to Phong Nha, we recommend booking your ride online via BookAway. Their prices are fixed at 576,000 VND ($22) for a 3-seater car.

See our page for Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more info.