How to get from Ninh Binh to Hue

Why visit Hue?

Hue in central Vietnam is a treat for history buffs. As the former national capital and seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue is the best place to get to know Vietnam’s last imperial family. Explore the Imperial Citadel, cruise down the Perfume River, or sample an Imperial Banquet.

But if you ask us, the best thing to do in Hue is to ride a motorbike to the nearby Hai Van Pass — one of the greatest ocean roads in the world. This will reward you with some of the most jaw-dropping views you’ll see in Vietnam!

There are 3 ways to travel the 575 kilometers (357 miles) from Ninh Binh to Hue. You can choose between the bus, train and flight. The journey takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 13 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 470,000 VND ($18.30).

There are a few bus companies operating on the Ninh Binh to Hue route, including Camel Travel, The Long Travel, Queen Cafe Bus, Green Trips, Duc Duong Bus, TBus and Cua Ong Limousine. These buses each offer one bus departure per day.

The bus ride takes 8 hours to 13 hours 30 minutes. Although this option is the cheapest at 470,000 VND ($18.30), we don’t recommend travelling this long distance by bus. The night train is much safer and offers more comfort since you will have a mattress instead of a reclined seat.

Departure and arrival station

If you’re staying in Tam Coc, you can take a Long Travel bus that departs outside their hotel. The two other buses depart from the street across the Ninh Binh train station in the city centre.

You will be dropped off at Chu Van An street in Hue city centre. From here, you can already find various accommodations and establishments in the area.

Taking the night train from Ninh Binh to Hue is convenient for the long journey to Hue. You can get a good night of sleep and won’t lose a day travelling. You can also think of it as saving a night on accommodation.

Travel time by train can take 11 to 13 hours with prices from 639,000 VND ($25) for the sleeper berths.

Departure and arrival station

Trains depart from Ninh Binh Railway Station in the city centre. This railway station is about a 5-minute ride from the city bus station.

From Hue Railway Station, you can take a 10-minute taxi to Hue city centre. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also take a 25-minute walk!

Below are our recommended night train schedules:

Ninh Binh does not have an airport so you will have to catch a flight from the closest airport, which is in Hanoi. Note that the two airports are also outside the city centres, so aside from the flight itself, you will still have to take additional rides.

We think the train is the better option for this route. It’s convenient and saves you a lot of daytime compared to taking a flight.

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

From Ninh Binh, you need to travel 95 km to Hanoi Airport. There are luxury minivans on this route with multiple departures throughout the day.

Khanh An Limousine offers free hotel pick-up in Tam Coc, while Duy Khang Limousine can pick you up from any hotel in Ninh Binh.

Travel time is 2-4 hours with rates from 455,000 VND ($17.70).

There are three airlines operating the Hanoi to Hue route: Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietnam Airlines. There are usually flights in the morning and in the evening, so you can just book the flight that is convenient for you.

If you book early, you can find tickets as cheap as 600,000 VND ($23), but they can get up to 1,000,000 VND ($39). The flight takes about 1h 15m.

Hue Airport is located outside the city centre, so you still need to travel the 15 km distance to the city. Taxis are available right outside the airport. A taxi ride for 30 minutes would cost around 250,000 VND ($9.70).

Private cars are available on BookAway with rates from 270,000 VND ($10.50). You can also book via Klook in advance for around 300,000 VND ($11.70).

You can read more in our Hanoi to Hue.