What to expect when visiting Phong Nha
Phong Nha is a haven for adventure seekers. Its location in central Vietnam requires more time and effort to reach, probably why fewer travellers make their way to this town. That means you can enjoy a mostly unspoiled bit of paradise when you visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its enormous cave system — which includes the world’s largest cave (Hang Son Doong) and the longest dry cave in Asia (Paradise Cave). Outdoor lovers will also enjoy the lush hiking trails, karst mountains, and amazing wildlife in Phong Nha.
3 ways to get from Hue to Phong Nha
There are three ways to travel the distance of 210 km (130 miles) from Hue to Phong Nha: by bus (3h45m-4h), private transfer (4 hours) and train (3h53m-8h36m). The journey takes between 3h45m - 8h36m and the quickest way is by bus. The lowest priced tickets start from 183,000 VND ($7.50) for the train.Where to stay in Phong Nha?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Phong Nha at the bottom of this page.
Hue to Phong Nha by Train
Travelling by train involves an extra bus or taxi transfer because there is no train station in Phong Nha. You can only take the train up to Dong Hoi Railway Station, from where you can take a bus or taxi to Phong Nha.
Step 1: Hue to Dong Hoi by Train
You can choose from four trains when travelling from Hue to Dong Hoi.
Ticket prices start from 13,300 VND ($0.50) for a soft seat, which should be comfortable enough for the 3-hour journey. More expensive sleeper bunks are also available if you’re looking to catch up on some snooze.
Trains depart from Hue Train Station, just across Perfume River and 2 km away from the Imperial City. You are to get off at Dong Hoi Railway Station, 40 km southeast of Phong Nha.
Train options from Hue to Phong Nha
Step 2: Dong Hoi to Phong Nha by Bus or Taxi
From Dong Hoi Railway Station, you can take a 1.5-hour bus or a 1-hour taxi to Phong Nha. Rates start from 50,000 VND ($2.00) and 400,000 VND ($16.00), respectively.
Buses from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha are available only from 05:30 to 17:00. This means that you can only catch the bus if you take the early morning train (SE8). All other trains will arrive in Dong Hoi outside the operating hours of the bus.
You can find the nearest bus stop some 1.5 km away across Dong Hoi’s Central Bus Station. That’s about 15 minutes away on foot or 5 minutes away by taxi, which costs around 40,000 VND ($1.60).
If you’re taking any of the trains leaving in the afternoon, then you have no choice but to get a taxi from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha. You can find them just outside the train station. Prepare to haggle because some drivers will try to charge you at least 500,000 VND ($20.00) or more!
See our guide for Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more details.
Hue to Phong Nha by Bus
Queen Cafe and Grouptour offer direct buses from Hue to Phong Nha. Ticket prices start from 255,000 VND ($10.50) for the 4-hour journey.
Pre-pandemic, there also used to be a DMZ Bus Tour that makes a stop at the Vinh Moc Tunnels and Ben Hai River. This tour has been temporarily suspended for this route, but you can still join it when travelling on the opposite direction from Phong Nha to Hue.
Bus schedules from Hue to Phong Nha
Hung Thanh is another direct bus operator for this route. However, we don’t recommend travelling with them because they get bad reviews. These include overloading, rude staff, and dirty buses. If you still want to travel with Hung Thanh, you can book a ticket through Phong Nha Locals.
Departure and arrival stations
Different buses have varying departure and arrival points.
Direct Buses
Queen Cafe and Grouptour depart along Doi Cung Street in Hue city centre. They both park at Central Backpackers Hostel along the main street in Phong Nha.
*DMZ Bus
*UPDATE: The last time we checked (October 2022), DMZ Bus has yet to resume tour operations to the Vinh Moc Tunnels.
Sy’s Homestay operates the DMZ Bus. With the tours to the Vinh Moc Tunnels and Ben Hai River still suspended, they only offer direct trips from Hue to Phong Nha. The bus departs from the DMZ Bar in Hue and drops you off at your hotel in Phong Nha.
For the latest updates, you can contact Sy’s Homestay through their Facebook page or you can send them an email at [email protected].
Hue to Phong Nha by Private Transfer
Looking for a private ride? You can get also get a taxi from Hue to Phong Nha. Rates start from 2,700,000 VND ($110.00) for a 4-seater car.
Book your private transfer through BookAway so you can expect a spacious car with a professional driver.
Our favourite places to stay in Phong Nha
Thao Nguyen Homestay - Budget Friendly
Thanks to the great hospitality of the family, Thao Nguyen Homestay will feel like your home. After a day of trekking, you can take a dive in the pool or sit back and relax with a Netflix movie.
The homestay is located right in front of the bus stop in the centre of Phong Nha. The rooms are bright and spacious, with some of them offering spectacular views of the mountains.
- Mountain views
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Bright and spacious rooms
- Delicious free breakfast
Private rooms start from $16 per night.
Phong Nha Dawn House - Budget Friendly
You’ll probably find it slightly hard to believe that rooms also start at $16 at Phong Nha Dawn House. This place has an almost perfect rating for a reason.
Tu Tu and her family make you feel right at home in their beautiful homestay where you can enjoy a refreshing swimming pool, delicious restaurant and comfortable rooms.
- Great value for money
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Delicious restaurant
- Free breakfast
Private rooms start from $16 per night.
Karst Villas Phong Nha - Mid Range
Floating in an infinity pool overlooking endless rice fields, can you think of anything better? How about if on top of that, there are mountains in the background and you’re staying with a beautiful Vietnamese family?
Karst Villas offer all of that plus modern room and unique bathrooms. A very memorable stay!
- Infinity pool
- Incredible views
- Amazing family
- Delicious free breakfast
Private rooms start from $38 per night.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hue to Phong Nha
What is the distance from Hue to Phong Nha?
The distance from Hue to Phong Nha is 210 km (130 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Hue to Phong Nha?
The fastest way to get from Hue to Phong Nha is by bus and takes 3h45m-4h.
What is the cheapest way to get from Hue to Phong Nha?
The cheapest way to get from Hue to Phong Nha is by train with ticket costs starting from 183,000 VND ($7.50).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Hue to Phong Nha. 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!
Routes from Phong Nha
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 Maarten, where could I find more info about the DMZ bus with stop at DMZ? Thanks!
Hi Anne! You can book a bus ticket without a stop at the DMZ bar in Hue for 150.000 VND, however they have not (yet) confirmed to me if they also sell the tickets including a stop. Alternatively, you could contact [email protected] to reserve your ticket via email. When I have more information I will update this post! Good luck!