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Overview | Train | Bus | Secret Escapes
How To Get From Hoi An to Hue?
When travelling the 120km distance from Hoi An to Hue, you have 3 options: you can take either the train or the bus for 4 hours or you can ride a motorbike across the Hai Van Pass for an entire day. Rates start at $4.
To start with, we recommend to book a tour or rent a motorbike from Hoi An to Hue. The motorbike is the best way to explore the Hai Van Pass and is an unforgettable experience!
If you don’t want to ride a bike, we recommend taking the train. The train goes along the same coast and offers almost the same views.
Although the direct bus is an easier way of travelling from Hoi An to Hue, we still prefer the train. The bus takes a different route through a tunnel, so you will miss this highlight.
| Transport mode | Duration | Costs | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 4 hours | 90,000 VND ($4) | Check train tickets |
| Bus | 4 hours | 130,000 VND ($6) | Check bus tickets |
Traveling the Hai Van Pass by motorbike
The Hai Van Pass is often compared to the ‘Great Ocean Road’ in Australia and is one of the highlights of central Vietnam. There are several companies offering motorbike rental with a pick-up in Hoi An and drop-off in Hue. They also transport your luggage with their own van to Hue.
View itinerary from Hoi An to Hue
Hoi An to Hue by Train
Duration: 4 hours
Costs: 90,000 VND ($4)
When you want to travel by train from Hoi An to Hue, you first have to go to DaNang railway station. From Hoi An to DaNang railway station takes a bit less than one hour.
The Railway station in Hue is a 10-minute taxi ride or 30min walk to Hue city center.
Step 1: Hoi An to Da Nang Railway Station by Bus
Duration: 45min
Costs: 20,000 VND ($1)
From the bus station in Hanoi, you can take a public bus to Da Nang railway station for 20,000 VND ($1). Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus or a taxi.
See the page about DaNang railway station for more details.
Step 2: Da Nang to Hue by Train
Duration: 3 hours
Costs: 70,000 VND ($3)
We recommend taking the SE10 train, which leaves at 9:57 in Da Nang and arrives at 12:53 in Hue. With this option, you still have an afternoon to walk through Hue and visit the Citadel if you are interested in history.
| Train | Schedule | Duration | Soft seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE10 | 09:57-12:53 | 2h 56m | 70,000 VND ($3) |
| SE4 | 12:41-15:20 | 2h 39m | 75,000 VND ($3.20) |
| SE2 | 14:01-16:28 | 2h 27m | 75,000 VND ($3.20) |
| SE20 | 18:45-21:27 | 2h 39m | 70,000 VND ($3) |
PRO-TIP: Use the free N26 debit card to avoid the extra fees charged by your bank. This N26 debit card is becoming very popular among travellers, because they don't charge any fees on payments in foreign currencies (most banks charge 3%-5%). New members can order one for free on the N26 website
Hoi An to Hue by Bus
Duration: 4 hours
Costs: 130,000 VND ($6)
There are several buses from Hoi An to Hue. Hanh Cafe and The Sinh Tourist are the ones we recommend since they have the best reputation. See the schedule of 4 bus companies below:
| Bus | Schedule | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sinh Tourist | 8:00-12:00 13:45-17:45 | 4h | 160,000 VND ($7) |
| Hanh Cafe | 08:00-12:00 14:00-18:00 | 4h | 175,000 VND ($7.50) |
| Hue Tourist | 14:00-17:00 | 3h | 210,000 VND ($9) |
| Queen Cafe (currently not available) | 13:00-17:00 | 4h | 220,000 VND ($9.50) |
If you wish to book with The Sinh Tourist, you can also book this bus with Baolau for approximately $1 less thank BookAway. However, we think the support of BookAway (the link above) is worth the extra dollar.
Tip: Before you hop on the bus, get some delicious Phi Banh Mi. This is a 2-minute walk from the Hanh Cafe and Sinh Tourist pick-up point.
My favourite places to stay in Hue
Hong Thien Ruby Hotel
Hong Thien Ruby Hotel offers great value if you don't want to spent too much on an accommodation. Excellent breakfast, good location and friendly staff. What do you need more? Single beds incl. breakfast from $16 and double rooms from $24.
Hotel La Pere
Another hotel that offers great value for money is Hotel La Perle. This eco-friendly hotel is located in the same area and also offers an outstanding breakfast plus fresh fruit all day long! Double rooms start from $24.
Cherish Hue Hotel
Want to treat yourself? The experience you get a Cherish Hue Hotel would cost you over $100 in a Western country, but here it won't cost you more than $42! The staff is super professional and a breakfast buffet like this is hard to find anywhere else! The hotel also has a spa where you get a 30% discount as a guest and you can get a massage or other treatment for very reasonable prices.
Things to do in Hue
The online activity platform Klook offers many tours in Hue at great prices. I used it now for a couple of times and had great experiences. And the prices are often even lower than when you book with a local travel agent!
And most important, by booking the activity in advance, you avoid the problem of fully booked tours.