How to get from Phong Nha 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 215 kilometers (134 miles) from Phong Nha to Hue. You can choose between the bus, private transfer and train. The journey takes 3 to 6 hours and the quickest way is by bus. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 205,000 VND ($7.90).

There are two types of buses you can take when travelling from Phong Nha to Hue. The first one is a DMZ Bus Tour that stops at the Vinh Moc Tunnels and Ben Hai River. During this 6-hour tour, you get an extra historical tour of Vietnam.

Tickets for the DMZ bus cost 600,000 VND ($23), which already includes the bus transfers, entrance fees and a local guide.

If you don’t have time to spare for the historical tour or want a budget-friendly ride, you can take a direct bus from Phong Nha to Hue. There are several bus companies offering bus trips in the morning and the afternoon.

With a direct bus, you can get to Hue in 3.5-4.5 hours. Ticket prices start from 205,000 VND ($7.90).

Departure and arrival station

The buses from Phong Nha to Hue 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 13:30.

DMZ Bus tickets can be booked with Phong Nha and Sy’s Homestay. You can visit Phong Nha’s website or contact Sy’s Homestay through their Facebook page.

Direct Buses

Queen Cafe Bus, Grouptour, and TBus all depart from the Central Backpackers Hostel along the main street in Phong Nha.

Meanwhile, you can board the Full Moon Party Tour bus at Phong Nha Hung Thanh Bus Office, just a 5-minute walk from the backpackers hostel. Note that Hung Thanh, a bus company that used to operate this route, gets bad reviews about overloading, rude staff, and dirty buses.

All direct buses park at the Doi Cung area in Hue city centre.

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 an hour by taxi.

In Hue, the city centre is a 10-minute taxi ride or a 30-minute walk from the railway station.

From Phong Nha, you can catch Local Bus #4 to get to Dong Hoi Railway Station. A bus ticket costs 50,000 VND ($1.90).

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 start from 400,000 VND ($15.40) for the 1-hour taxi ride.

See our page on Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more details.

Vietnam Railways operates several daily train trips from Dong Hoi to Hue.

Ticket prices start from 177,000 VND ($6.80). The journey takes about 2h 55m - 3h, depending on which train you take.

You can take a private transfer from Phong Nha to Hue. Rates start from 2,622,000 VND ($100) for a 2-seater car.

If you’re travelling in a larger group, you can also rent a bigger minivan.

We recommend booking your ride via BookAway because they offer spacious cars that come with trusted drivers.

Check Private Transfers with BookAway

Private Transfer options from Phong Nha to Hue