Hue to Ninh Binh

How to Get From Hue to Ninh Binh

590 km5h – 12hFrom $13Research Verified

Bus · Train · Flight

In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 590 kilometre (367 miles) distance from Hue to Ninh Binh. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Ninh Binh as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.

Ela
Written by Ela
Senior Travel Writer
Maarten
Reviewed by Maarten
Founder & Trip Planning Expert
Updated
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What are the 3 ways to travel from Hue to Ninh Binh?

There are three ways to travel the 590 km distance from Hue to Ninh Binh. You can choose between the bus, train, and flight.

The journey takes between 5h–12h and the quickest way is by flight (5h). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 350,000 VND ($13).

BusCheapest
Duration

9h 45m - 12h

Price

350,000 VND ($13)

Train
Duration

12h - 12h 09m

Price

561,000 VND ($22)

FlightFastest
Duration

5 hours 40 minutes

Price

1,360,000 VND ($52)

Where to stay in Ninh Binh?

Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Ninh Binh at the bottom of this page.

Already in Ninh Binh?

Onward from Ninh Binh

Once you're in Ninh Binh, here's where to next — 7 researched onward routes to pick from.

From

Hue to Ninh Binh by Bus

9h 45m - 12hFrom 350,000 VND ($13)

There are a few bus companies operating from Hue to Ninh Binh. The Long Travel and Queen Cafe are two of the most popular bus operators.

Note that all buses arrive in Ninh Binh early morning. If you don’t want to spend your early morning hours on the streets, best to book accommodation for the night.

Bus fares from Hue to Ninh Binh start from 350,000 VND ($13). Travel time is 9h 45m - 12h, depending on which bus you take.

Departure and arrival station

If you’re taking the Long Travel or Camel Travel bus to Tam Coc, the drop-off point is at the Long Hotel in the town centre. As for the buses heading to Ninh Binh, they will drop you off at Ninh Binh city centre.

Bus schedule from Hue to Ninh Binh

Green Trips
350,000 VND ($13)
Sleeping
Techbus VN JSC
16:45
12h
04:45
17:00
12h
05:00
384,000 VND ($15)
Sleeping
Queen Cafe Bus
389,000 VND ($15)
Sleeping

View bus stations on map

Map of stations
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From
To

Ready to book your bus?

From 350,000 VND ($13) · 9h 45m - 12h

Booking Tip

If your hotel is located in Tam Coc, we recommend taking a bus that goes straight to the village. This way, you won’t have to spend extra on the taxi ride from Ninh Binh City.

Hue to Ninh Binh by Train

12h - 12h 09mFrom 561,000 VND ($22)

Both Hue and Ninh Binh have their own railway stations. This makes it convenient to travel this Long distance by train.

Vietnam Railways operates several trips daily. If you prefer to travel during the day, we recommend taking SE8 because of its convenient arrival time. The rest of the trains are night trains that arrive in Ninh Binh in the middle of the night.

Travel time by train from Hue to Ninh Binh can take 12h - 12h 09m. Ticket prices start from 561,000 VND ($22) for a soft seat.

Departure and arrival station

Hue Railway Station is about a 25-minute walk from the city centre. You can also take a 10-minute taxi ride if you have luggage.

You will arrive at Ninh Binh Railway Station, which is within walking distance of many hotels in the city centre. If you’re headed to Tam Coc, then you can get there via a 15-minute taxi.

Train schedule from Hue to Ninh Binh

Vietnam Railway
561,000 VND ($22)
Second Class AC Seat
Vietnam Railways
03:34
12h 35m
16:09
576,000 VND ($22)
Second Class Seat
Lotus Train
1,855,000 VND ($71)
Shared Deluxe Cabin for 4

View train stations on map

Map of stations
Click to explore
From
To

Ready to book your train?

From 561,000 VND ($22) · 12h - 12h 09m

Booking Tip

We recommend booking your tickets online through BookAway. Their site is intuitive, provides a clear picture of what you can expect, and offers great customer service. If you're eyeing the best deals, you might occasionally find slightly cheaper tickets on Baolau.

Hue to Ninh Binh by Flight

5 hours 40 minutesFrom 1,360,000 VND ($52)

If travel time with both the train and the bus is too Long for you, you also have the option to take a flight to get from Hue to Ninh Binh.

This option isn’t as quick as you’d hope, though. Ninh Binh doesn’t have its own airport, so you can only fly from Hue to Hanoi. From Hanoi, you can then take a minivan or private transfer to Ninh Binh.

We don’t think this option offers much advantage over the train, which is cheaper and more direct.

Step 1: Hue city centre to Hue Airport by Taxi

30 minutes270,000 VND ($10)
Hue Airport is 30 minutes away from the city centre. The best way to get there is by taxi with rates from 270,000 VND ($10).

Step 2: Hue to Hanoi by Flight

1h 10m630,000 VND ($24)

VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Bamboo Airways operate daily flights from Hue to Hanoi.

Airfares start from 630,000 VND ($24) if you book your tickets early. Do note that ticket prices can go as high as 1,100,000 VND ($42) during peak season or if you book near the travel date.

The flight takes 1h 10m.

Step 3: Hanoi to Ninh Binh by Minivan

4 hours460,000 VND ($18)

Minivans are common for this route, and there are several companies offering trips from morning to night daily.

We recommend booking your ride with Duy Khang Limousine, which picks you up at Hanoi Airport and takes you straight to your hotel in Ninh Binh. Duy Khang departs every hour from 05:30 to 19:30.

Khanh Anh Limousine also offers airport pick-up and the minivan will bring you to your hotel in Tam Coc.

A minivan from Hanoi Airport to Ninh Binh costs 460,000 VND ($18) per person.

Ready to book your flight?

Alternative: Hanoi Airport to Ninh Binh by Taxi

2 hours1,150,000 VND ($44)

If you’re travelling in a group or if you’re arriving at Hanoi Airport beyond the operating hours of the minivans, then you can also take a private transfer to Ninh Binh.

We recommend booking your private ride online beforehand via BookAway so that your driver will already be waiting for you at the airport. BookAway also offers comfortable cars with trusted drivers.

Rates for a 5-seater SUV from Hanoi Airport to any hotel in Ninh Binh start from 1,150,000 VND ($44).

Check out our page on how to get from Hanoi to Ninh Binh for more details.

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

STAY

Our favourite places to stay in Ninh Binh

Here are our favourite places to stay in Ninh Binh for every budget.

Tam Coc Family Hotel
Budget

Tam Coc Family Hotel

Want to know what it feels like to stay with a Vietnamese family? Tam Coc Family Hotel really does make you feel at home with the family.

The friendly owners will tell you all of the best spots to visit in Ninh Binh, and start your day right with a delicious home-cooked breakfast. It's a great example of why you don't have to spend a lot for a great guesthouse.

Another plus: It's a 1-minute walk from the Tam Coc river and drop-off point of the bus.

View on Booking.com
Tam Coc Bungalow
Mid-Range

Tam Coc Bungalow

Do you prefer to stay at the riverside of Tam Coc? Tam Coc Bungalow has spacious bamboo bungalows right next to the Tam Coc river. Bungalows start from $32 and dorm rooms from $6.

What we really liked about this place is their open-air restuarant. From the terrace you can watch the locals paddling back to Tam Coc town during sunset and in the evening you can play a game of pool at the open restaurant area.

View on Booking.com

Rounding it up

We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Hue to Ninh Binh. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.

PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!

Frequently Asked Questions

The distance from Hue to Ninh Binh is 590 km.

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About the Authors

Ela
Ela

Senior Travel Writer

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.

Maarten
MaartenReviewer

Founder & Trip Planning Expert

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.

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