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How to get from Phong Nha to Hue
Hue in central Vietnam is a treat for history buffs. Explore the Imperial City, cruise down Perfume River, or sample an Imperial Banquet. 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.
The best way to travel the 215 km distance from Phong Nha to Hue is by bus. This bus journey takes about 4 hours and costs around 253,000 VND ($10). Alternatively, you can take a 4.5-hour indirect train for 174,000 VND ($7) or a 4-hour private transfer for 2,600,000 VND ($100).
2 ways to get from Phong Nha to Hue
There are 2 types of buses operating from Phong Nha to Hue: a direct bus with fares from 253,000 VND ($10) and a DMZ bus that makes a stop at the Vinh Moc Tunnels and Ben Hai River and costs 600,000 VND ($24).
Visiting the Vinh Moc Tunnels is a very interesting experience that we definitely recommend.
If you’re thinking of taking the train, note that Phong Nha doesn’t have its own railway station. The closest train station is in Dong Hoi, which is 1-1.5 hours away. Also, keep in mind that Hue railway station is not in the centre. For these reasons, we recommend travelling this distance by bus instead.
If you’re travelling in a group, you can also consider taking a private transfer from Phong Nha to Hue. Travel time is around 4 hours and you can get a 4-seater car starting at 2,600,000 VND ($100).
Itinerary from Phong Nha to Hue
Phong Nha to Hue by Bus
Queen Cafe and Grouptour are two of the trusted companies operating direct buses from Phong Nha to Hue. Ticket prices start from 253,000 VND ($10) for the 4-hour bus journey.
But if you have some time to spare, we recommend taking a 6-hour DMZ Bus, which stops at the Vinh Moc Tunnels and Ben Hai River. You can get an extra historical tour along the way.
A DMZ bus ticket costs 600,000 VND ($24). This price already includes the bus transfers, entrance fees and a local guide.
Bus schedules from Phong Nha to Hue
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.
DMZ Bus
With the DMZ Bus, you will be picked up from your hotel in Phong Nha about 30 minutes before departure time. This bus makes a 1-hour stop at Vinh Moc Tunnels and a 30-minute stop at Ben Hai River Museum. The bus parks at DMZ Bar in Hue city centre at around 13:00.
You can book a DMZ Bus with Sy’s Homestay. You can contact them through their Facebook page or you can send them an email at [email protected].
Direct Buses
Queen Cafe and Grouptour depart from the main street in Phong Nha. They park at Laurel Hotel in Hue city centre.
Phong Nha to Hue by Train
When you want to travel by train from Phong Nha to Hue, you’ll first have to go to Dong Hoi Railway Station (not Dong Ha!).
You can find Dong Hoi Train Station some 40 km southeast of Phong Nha. That’s 1.5 hours by bus or 1 hour by taxi.
In Hue, the city centre is a 10-minute taxi ride or 30-minute walk from the railway station.
Step 1: Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Railway Station by Bus
From Phong Nha, you can catch Local Bus #4 to get to Dong Hoi Railway Station. A bus ticket costs 50,000 VND ($2).
Bus #4 is available daily from 05:30 to 17:00. You can hail this bus along the main street in Phong Nha. However, it can only take you up to Dong Hoi Central Bus Station. From here, it’s a short taxi ride or a 15-minute walk to the train station.
You can also get a taxi to take you straight from your hotel in Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Railway Station. Rates range from 400,000 VND ($16) to 500,000 VND ($20) for the 1-hour taxi ride.
See our page on Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more details.
Step 2: Dong Hoi to Hue by Train
Vietnam Railways operates 4 daily train trips from Dong Hoi to Hue.
Ticket prices start from 124,000 VND ($4.95). The journey takes more or less 3 hours, depending on which train you take.
Train schedules from Dong Hoi to Hue
Pre-book your tickets online through Baolau so that you can skip the queues for tickets at Dong Hoi Railway Station.
You are to get off at Hue Railway Station. Depending on the location of your hotel, you can reach it on foot (about 30 minutes) or via a short taxi ride.
Phong Nha to Hue by Private Transfer
You can also take a private transfer from Phong Nha to Hue. Rates start from 2,600,000 VND ($100) for a 4-seater car.
We recommend booking your ride via BookAway because they offer spacious cars that come with trusted drivers.
Book a Private Transfer with BookAway
Our 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 $16 and double rooms from $24.
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 $24.
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 $42! 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.
Things to do in Hue
The online activity platform Klook offers many tours in Hue at great prices. I used it now for a couple of times and had great experiences. And the prices are often even lower than when you book with a local travel agent!
And most important, by booking the activity in advance, you avoid the problem of fully booked tours.
