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How to get from Hoi An to Hue
The best way to travel the 120 km from Hoi An to Hue An is by riding a motorbike over the Hai Van Pass — often dubbed as the Great Ocean Road of Vietnam. Not a bike rider? You have 4 other options to get from Hoi An to Hue: a 4-hour train, a 3-hour bus, a 3.5-hour minivan, and a 3-hour private transfer. Fares range from $5.50 (132,000 VND) to $73 (1,725,000 VND).
The train is a great alternative to riding a motorbike from Hoi An to Hue. The train goes along the same coast and offers almost the same views. Rates start from $10 (246,000 VND).
The bus and the minivan are direct transfers — from Hoi An city centre to Hue city centre. They may be more convenient, but we still prefer the train. Both the bus and the minivan take a different route through a tunnel, so you will miss the route’s scenic highlight.
When travelling in a group, you can consider taking a private transfer from Hoi An to Hue. This takes you door-to-door with rates starting from $73 (1,725,000 VND) for a 4-seater car.
Travelling the Hai Van Pass by motorbike
We highly recommend booking a motorbike tour or renting a motorbike from Hoi An to Hue. The motorbike is the best way to explore the Hai Van Pass and is an unforgettable experience!
With its 21 km winding road overlooking the sea, the Hai Van Pass 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.
Hoi An to Hue by Train
If you’re not a fan of riding motorbikes, the train is a good alternative.
There is no direct train from Hoi An to Hue, but you can take one from Da Nang to Hue. This route offers almost the same views as a motorcycle ride.
To get to Da Nang, you can take a bus or a taxi from Hoi An.
Step 1: Hoi An to Da Nang Railway Station by Minivan
There are 2 ways to travel the 1-hour journey from Hoi An to Da Nang Railway Station: by minivan for $6.50 (155,000 VND) or by taxi with rates from $18.50 (440,000 VND).
We recommend booking your minivan or private transfer through BookAway, which offers spacious cars with professional drivers.
See our page about Da Nang Railway Station for more details.
IMPORTANT: There used to be cheap local buses operating from Hoi An to Da Nang. But the last time we checked (February 2023), these buses were not available anymore. Some touts try to take advantage of this situation by offering overpriced taxis, which is why it’s best to book your minivan or private ride with a trusted company beforehand.
Step 2: Da Nang to Hue by Train
There are 4 trains operating from Da Nang to Hue, but only three of these travel during the day. Book a daytime train to enjoy the views of Hai Van Pass!
Ticket prices start from $3.80 (91,000 VND) for the 2.5-hour train journey.
Train schedules from Da Nang to Hue
You are to get off the train at Hue Railway Station, some 2 km away from the city centre. You can get to your hotel on foot or via a short taxi ride.
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
Travelling by bus is convenient because it takes you from the centre of Hoi An to the centre of Hue.
But there’s a catch, buses take a different route through a tunnel. This means that you will completely miss the amazing views from the Hai Van Pass.
Still want to take the bus from Hoi An to Hue? Camel Travel and Techbus VN JSC are among the main operators for this route.
Bus fares start from $5.50 (132,000 VND) and travel time is around 3 hours.
Departure and arrival station
Camel Travel departs from its headquarters in Hoi An, some 2 km east of the Old Town. It arrives at the Camel Travel Office in the centre of Hue, 2 km east of the Imperial City.
Techbus VN JSC leaves from its bus station in Hoi An, 1.5 km north of the Old Town. It parks along Doi Cung Street in Hue city centre.
Bus schedules from Hoi An to Hue
PRO TIP: Before you hop on the bus, get some delicious Phi Banh Mi! This is a few minutes walk from the Old Town.
Hoi An to Hue by Minivan
Another way to travel directly from Hoi An to Hue is by minivan. But like the bus, minivans take the Hai Van Tunnel instead of the Hai Van Pass.
Since you will miss the scenic views either way, we recommend taking the bus instead of the minivan. Buses are cheaper and more spacious.
Minivan fares start from $12.50 (300,000 VND) for the 3.5-hour journey.
Departure and arrival station
Dong Hanh Limousine, Barri Ann Travel, and April Adventure depart from their own offices in Hoi An, about 1 km north of the Old Town.
All minivans arrive at Qua Luu Niem in the centre of Hue, 2 km east of the Imperial City.
Van schedules of Hoi An to Hue
Hoi An to Hue by Private Transfer
With a private transfer, you can travel door-to-door from Hoi An to Hue.
Rates start from $73 (1,725,000 VND) for a car that can fit 4 people. We recommend booking your ride online through BookAway. They offer excellent customer service as well as spacious cars with polite drivers.
Our favourite places to stay in Hue
Hong Thien Ruby Hotel - Budget Friendly
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 - Budget Friendly
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 - Mid Range
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.
Routes from Hue
Most popular routes in Vietnam
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 Marteen,
Do you think I can buy the train tickets directly when I arrive at Danang station or is it better to book in advance ?
Hi Alex, I think you can still buy them at the railway station. At least when it’s not around national holidays. But what’s the reason you want to wait? If you buy the ticket in advance, you don’t have to worry about missing the train anymore and can make a plan around that. The more you book in advance, the less stress on the day itself.
Hi, thanks for your tips! Is there a way to rent a motorbike in hue and leave it in Hoi An without doing the way back? Thanks!
Hi Nicole, yes it’s very easy to organize such a trip They will even bring your luggage to Hoi An. See this page for some idea’s for your itinerary:
Hi Maarten
How do I book an easy rider tour with a driver so we don’t have to ride the bikes ourselves!!
Thanks
Hi Charly, there are several tours that include a local driver. HAMA receives good reviews, but I am going to do some research to give you more options!
I would also highly recommend https://onyabikeadventures.com is you are looking for a licensed tour operation and modern motorbikes.
Thanks for the suggestion! Looks like they offer great experiences!
I never drove a motorbike before, is this a problem or can I still rent one?
Hi Andrew, in that case I strongly recommend to take the train or jump of the back of an easy driver.
Driving a motorbike will put yourself and others at risk. Also will your insurance probably not cover any accidents as most international driver licenses are not accepted in Vietnam.
The train journey offers great view as well and if you want a more adventurous experience you can also join an easy rider tour.