Route overview
To start with, we recommend to book a tour or rent a motorbike from Hoi An to Hue. This is the best way to explore the High Van Pass which is an unforgettable experience!
Option 1
Bus + Train
4 hours, 83.000 VND (€3)
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.
Option 2
Bus
4 hours, 130.000 VND (€5)
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 tthrough a tunnel, so you will miss this highlight.
High Van Pass
The high 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 pick-up in Hoi An and drop-off in Hue. They also transport your luggage with their own van to Hue.
Option 1: Bus + Train
Route: Hoi An Da Nang Hue
Duration: 4 hours
Costs: 83.000 VND (€3)
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.
Bus: Hoi An Da Nang Railway Station
Duration: 45min
Costs: 20.000 VND (€0,80)
From the bus station in Hanoi, you can take a public bus to Da Nang railway station for 20.000 VND (€0,80). Alternatively you can take a shuttle bus or a taxi.
See the page about DaNang railway station for more details.
Train: Da Nang Hue
Duration: 3 hours
Costs: 63.000 VND (€2,50)
We recommend to take the SE10 train, leaving at 10:03 in Dong Ha and arriving 12:58 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 | Departure/Arrival | Duration | Soft seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE10 | 10:03-12:58 | 2h 55m | 63.000 VND (€2,50) |
| SE4 | 12:49-15:26 | 2h 37m | 91.000 VND (€3,50) |
| SE2 | 13:55-16:19 | 2h 24m | 67.000 VND (€2,50) |
| SE20 | 18:45-21:24 | 2h 39m | 65.000 VND (€2,50) |
Unique Tip for European travellers: Get a free credit card from N26 Bank to avoid extra charges on your bookings. This revolutionary start-up bank is especially popular among Backpackers, because they don’t charge annual fees and also don't charge extra fees on international bookings. Plus: No salary check, which means even students can get one. Note that this card is only available for people with a European address.
Option 2: Bus
Route: Hoi An Hue
Duration: 4 hours
Costs: 130.000 VND (€5)
There are several buses from Hoi An to Hue. Hanh Cafe and Sinh Tourist Bus are the ones we recommend since they have the best reputation. See the schedule of 2 bus companies below:
| Bus | Departure/Arrival | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanh Cafe/Hung Thanh | 08:00-12:00 08:10-12:00 13:40-17:30 14:00-18:00 | 4h | 130.000 VND (€5)/ 110.000 VND (€4) |
| Sinh Tourist bus | 8:30-12:30 13:45-17:45 | 4h | 130.000 VND (€5) |
Tip: Before you hop on the bus, get some delicious Phi Banh Mi. This is a 2-minute walk from 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 €13 and double rooms from €21.
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 €21.
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 €32! 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.
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4 comments
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.
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!