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How to get from Hanoi to Phong Nha
Phong Nha, located in central Vietnam, is a haven for outdoor lovers and adventure seekers. It is home to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, an unspoiled bit of paradise and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Phong Nha’s main tourist draw is Hang Son Doong, the largest cave in the world. But beyond this colossal wonder is an extensive cave system, lush hiking trails, karst mountains, amazing wildlife, and numerous historic sites waiting to be explored.
3 ways to get from Hanoi to Phong Nha
There are 3 ways to travel the 500 km distance from Hanoi to Phong Nha: a 9-hour bus, a 12-hour train, or a 3-hour flight. Fares range from 281,000 VND ($11.50) to 920,000 VND ($39).
The bus is the cheapest way to get from Hanoi to Phong Nha with fares from 281,000 VND ($11.50). It is also the only direct option that picks you up from Hanoi city centre and drops you off at the main street in Phong Nha. Travel time by bus is around 9 hours.
Phong Nha doesn’t have its own railway station. When travelling by train from Hanoi to Phong Nha, you’ll have to get off at Dong Hoi Station. From here, you’ll need to transfer to a bus or taxi to complete your journey. Combined train fares start from 920,000 VND ($39).
The same goes for flying. The closest airport to Phong Nha is Dong Hoi Airport, while Hanoi’s airport is also 1 hour away from the city centre. With all the transfers you’ll have to make, we don’t think that flying from Hanoi to Phong Nha offers any advantage. It might be more convenient to take a direct bus.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Itinerary from Hanoi to Phong Nha
Hanoi to Phong Nha by Bus
There are three companies operating sleeper buses from Hanoi to Phong Nha. These are Camel Travel, Full Moon Party, and Queen Cafe.
Bus fares from Hanoi to Phong Nha start from 281,000 VND ($11.50) and travel time is 9-11 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!
Bus schedules from Hanoi to Phong Nha
Hung Thanh is another direct 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.
TIP: Let your accommodation know when you expect to arrive and which bus company you booked with. Buses arrive very early in Phong Nha. But when luck is on your side, you can check in early and enjoy your room straight away!
Hanoi to Phong Nha by Train
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.
Step 1: Hanoi to Dong Hoi by Train
The train journey from Hanoi to Phong Nha via Dong Hoi takes around 10.5 hours.
Although there are 5 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.
Also, as this is a very long journey, it’s best to book a bunk in a 4-berth sleeper for the most comfort. Ticket prices start from 870,000 VND ($36.50).
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.
Train Schedule From Hanoi to Dong Hoi (Sleeper berth)
Book your tickets online via Baolau to avoid any hassle or delay at the train station!
Step 2: Dong Hoi to Phong Nha by Bus/Taxi
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 ($2.10). 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 ($16.50) 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.
Hanoi to Phong Nha by Flight
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.
Step 1: City Centre to Hanoi Airport by Shuttle Bus/Taxi
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 ($1.90). Travel time is less than an 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 ($9.50).
For more info on shuttle bus routes and other transport options, check out our page on Hanoi Airport.
Step 2: Hanoi Airport to Dong Hoi Airport by Flight
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 range from 680,000 VND ($28.50) to 790,000 VND ($33).
Note that it is always best to book flights early to get lower rates. Flight prices can go over 1,000,000 VND ($42) when you book close to the travel date or during the busy season.
Step 3: Dong Hoi Airport to Phong Nha by Taxi
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 ($2.10). Do note that buses have an hourly interval and don’t have a definite schedule.
Taxis are also available at the airport for 400,000 VND ($16.50) to 500,000 VND ($21). 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 ($24) for a 3-seater car.
Book a Private Transfer with BookAway
See our page for Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more info.
Our 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 $21,- 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 $24.
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About the author(s)
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.
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.