How to get from Hue to Hanoi

Why visit Hanoi?

Hanoi is Vietnam’s bustling capital, where heritage and modernity collide. At its heart is the iconic Old Quarter bustling with cosy hotels, old residential buildings and neighbourhood cafes. Composed of 36 streets, just walking around this area will reward you with many amazing discoveries.

Must-visit sites include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the 19th-century gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We recommend munching on as much street food as you can, strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, and our favourite: watching the world go by from one of the many coffee shops in Hanoi.

There are 4 ways to travel the 675 kilometers (419 miles) from Hue to Hanoi. You can choose between the bus, private transport, train and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 45 minutes to 15 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 492,000 VND ($18.90).

If you’re on a budget, you can also take the bus from Hue to Hanoi. Buses are neither as safe nor as comfortable as a flight or a train ride, but they offer a very affordable alternative.

Bus fares from Hue to Hanoi start from 492,000 VND ($18.90), just about half the price of taking a flight.

Camel Travel, iVietnam, Green Trips, GoEz Travel, The Long Travel, Queen Cafe Bus, TBus, Cua Ong Limousine and Duy Khanh Limousine are among the companies offering buses for this route.

All buses for this route operate overnight. So even though the travel time takes 12 to 15 hours, you won’t lose a whole day on the journey.

As buses arrive very early in Hanoi, you can either check in early at your hotel or spend the morning at one of Hanoi’s neighbourhood coffee shops.

Departure and arrival station

Both Camel Travel and The Long Travel depart from 62 Chu Van An Street in Hue city centre. They park at the Camel Travel Office in Hanoi, about 2 km south of the Old Quarter.

Queen Cafe departs from Laurel Hotel in Hue centre and arrives at the Queen Cafe Office in Hanoi, just a few minutes’ walk from Hoan Kiem Lake.

We recommend taking a flight from Hue to Hanoi as the entire journey takes only about 3 hours. If you book a flight in advance, this option can even be cheaper than taking the train.

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

Hue Airport is located some 15 km southeast of Hue city centre. We recommend taking a shuttle bus or a taxi to get from the city centre to the airport. Travel time is around 30 minutes.

A shuttle bus ride costs only 70,000 VND ($2.70). Buses depart from the Vietnam Airlines/Vietjet Air office in Hue city centre.

If the bus departure point is too far from your hotel, you can also take a taxi to the airport. Taxi rates start from 270,000 VND ($10.40). You can hail a taxi from the street, but we recommend pre-booking your ride through BookAway for a guaranteed comfortable ride.

You can also check our page on Hue Airport for more details.

Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietnam Airlines offer several flights from Hue to Hanoi daily.

Airfares start from 620,000 VND ($24). It’s best to book your flight in advance for the best rates. Flight prices can go as high as 1,000,000 VND ($38) on really busy days or as the travel date nears.

The flight from Hue to Hanoi takes around 1h 15m.

From Hanoi Airport, you’ll need to travel 30 km south to reach the city centre.

The most cost-efficient way to get to your hotel is via Express Bus 86. A ticket costs 45,000 VND ($1.70). Bus 86 makes several stops near the Old Quarter before finally parking at Hanoi Railway Station.

If you prefer a private ride, you can also take a taxi or hail a car via Grab. Taxi rates from the airport to Hanoi city centre start from 220,000 VND ($8.50).

See the page about Hanoi Airport for more details.

It is quite a long journey from Hue to Hanoi by train. Travel time takes 13 hours 30 minutes to 14 hours 30 minutes, depending on which train you take.

The advantage of the train though is that you can travel overnight – you can just sleep for the most part of the journey and also save one night on accommodation.

Ticket prices start from 1,860,000 VND ($72) for a soft seat. But since this is a long journey, it’s best to book a sleeper berth for more convenience.

Departure and arrival station

Trains depart from Hue Railway Station, located 2 km south of the Imperial City.

You are to get off at Hanoi Railway Station, some 2 km southwest of the Old Quarter. You can walk to your hotel or take a short taxi ride.

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Hue to Hanoi.

Rates start from 11,319,000 VND ($435) for a 2-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 5,659,000 VND ($220) per person. Travel time is about 12 hours 30 minutes.

Private Transport options from Hue to Hanoi