How to Get From Hanoi to Phong Nha
Bus · Train · Flight
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 500 kilometre (311 miles) distance from Hanoi to Phong Nha. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Phong Nha 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.
What are the 3 ways to travel from Hanoi to Phong Nha?
There are three ways to travel the 500 km distance from Hanoi to Phong Nha. You can choose between the bus, train, and flight.
The journey takes between 3h–11h and the quickest way is by flight (3h). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 350,000 VND ($13).
7h 55m - 12h
350,000 VND ($13)
11h - 13h 30m
521,000 VND ($20)
3h
775,000 VND ($30)
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.
Hanoi to Phong Nha by Bus
There are nine companies operating sleeper buses from Hanoi to Phong Nha. This means that you’re spoilt for choice in terms of prices and schedules.
Bus fares from Hanoi to Phong Nha start from 350,000 VND ($13) and travel time is around 7h 55m - 12h.
Departure and arrival station
Most buses depart from their own company headquarters located in Hanoi city centre, just a few minutes walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. Only Camel Travel departs a bit outside of the centre, some 3 km south of the Old Quarter.
They park at various hotels along the main street in Phong Nha.
Do check the bus departure and arrival points before booking your ride. Make sure that the pick-up and drop-off points are not too far from your hotels!
Bus schedules from Hanoi to Phong Nha
Booking Tip
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.
TIP: Let your accommodation know when you expect to arrive and which bus company you booked with. Buses arrive very early in Phong Nha. But when luck is on your side, you can check in early and enjoy your room straight away!
Hanoi to Phong Nha by Train
When you travel by train from Hanoi to Phong Nha, you have to book a train to Dong Hoi Station (not Dong Ha!).
From Dong Hoi, you can transfer to a bus or taxi to get to Phong Nha.
Step 1: Hanoi to Dong Hoi by Train
The train journey from Hanoi to Phong Nha via Dong Hoi takes around 10h - 12h.
Although there are several trains operating this route daily, we recommend taking one of the overnight trains so that you won’t lose a lot of daytime travelling. You can see our recommended train schedules in the table below.
Train ticket prices start from 468,000 VND ($18) for a soft seat. But for the most comfort for this long journey, we recommend getting a bunk in a 4-berth cabin.
You can also get a bunk in a 6-berth cabin, which is cheaper, but it might be too cramped. Choosing a train seat doesn’t make much sense either. If you want to save money, you are better off taking a sleeper bus.
Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station, which you can find some 2 km southwest of the Old Quarter. You are to get off the train at Dong Hoi Railway Station, located 40 km south southeast of Phong Nha.
Ready to book your train?
Step 2: Dong Hoi to Phong Nha by Bus/Taxi
From Dong Hoi Railway Station, you can then take either a 1.5-hour bus or a 1-hour taxi to Phong Nha.
A bus ride only costs 50,000 VND ($1.90). However, the nearest bus stop to the train station is located about 1 km away.
You can find this bus stop across the Central Bus Station. Just look for the blue signboard that says Bus 4. You can get here via a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride from the train station.
The more convenient option, albeit a bit expensive, would be to take a taxi. Fares start from 400,000 VND ($15) when taking a taxi from Dong Hoi Railway Station to Phong Nha.
Visit our page on how to get from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more information.
Booking Tip
Hanoi to Phong Nha by Flight
Want to fly from Hanoi to Phong Nha? You have to book a flight from Hanoi Airport to Dong Hoi Airport and then take a bus or taxi from there to Phong Nha.
The flight itself only takes 1 hour. But keep in mind that you have to travel 1 hour from Hanoi centre to the airport and another hour from Dong Hoi Airport to Phong Nha.
Including 2 hours of waiting time at the airport, 30 minutes to collect your luggage and some time to find a bus, it will cost you about 5-6 hours to travel by plane from Hanoi to Phong Nha. For this reason, we recommend travelling on the night train or sleeper bus instead.
Step 1: City Centre to Hanoi Airport by Shuttle Bus/Taxi
From Hanoi city centre, you’ll have to travel some 30 km north to get to Hanoi Airport. You have several transport options, but we recommend taking Express Bus 86 if you’re on a budget.
Bus 86 departs from Hanoi Railway Station and picks up passengers from several bus stops near the Old Quarter. You can get a ticket for 45,000 VND ($1.70). Travel time is less than 1 hour.
For more convenience, you can also take a taxi. It’s best to book a ride via Grab for cheaper rates and better cars. Grab/taxi fares from Hanoi city centre to Hanoi Airport start from 230,000 VND ($8.70).
For more info on shuttle bus routes and other transport options, check out our page on Hanoi Airport.
Step 2: Hanoi Airport to Dong Hoi Airport by Flight
Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways operate 3 to 4 direct flights daily from Hanoi to Phong Nha via Dong Hoi. The flight time is around 1 hour.
Airfares start from 680,000 VND ($26).
Note that it is always best to book flights early to get lower rates. Flight prices can go over 1,000,000 VND ($38) when you book close to the travel date or during the busy season.
Step 3: Dong Hoi Airport to Phong Nha by Taxi
From Dong Hoi Airport, Phong Nha is still 40 km away. You can get to your hotel by taking either a bus or a taxi.
Bus 4 operates daily from 06:00 to 17:00. You can hail a bus from the main road just outside Dong Hoi Airport. A bus ticket costs 50,000 VND ($1.90). Do note that buses have an hourly interval and don’t have a definite schedule.
Taxis are also available at the airport for around 400,000 VND ($15). However, drivers often try to charge more, sometimes even higher than your airfare from Hanoi!
If you’re planning to take a private transfer from Dong Hoi Airport to Phong Nha, we recommend booking your ride online via BookAway. Their prices are fixed at 576,000 VND ($22) for a 3-seater car.
See our page for Dong Hoi to Phong Nha for more info.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Our favourite places to stay in Phong Nha
Here are our favourite places to stay in Phong Nha for every budget.
Thao Nguyen Homestay
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
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
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.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Hanoi 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!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Hanoi to Phong Nha is 500 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit 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.
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About the Authors
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.
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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