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Hue was Vietnam's imperial capital, 186 kilometres (116 miles) southeast of Phong Nha. The old Citadel sits by the Perfume River, and royal tombs dot the hills around it. The private transfer gets you from Phong Nha to Hue in 4h. The bus is the cheapest at $7.90 (208,000 VND), and the train costs a little more.
Distance from Phong Nha to Hue
Phong Nha and Hue are about 186 km (116 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 210 km by road. Depending on the option, the trip takes between 3h and 6h.
3 ways to travel from Phong Nha to Hue
There are three ways to travel from Phong Nha to Hue. You can choose between the bus, train, and private transport. The journey takes 3h–4h and the quickest way is by bus. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $7.90 (208,000 VND).
2 legs — see itinerary
- Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Railway Station by Bus1h 30m
- Dong Hoi→Hue2h 55m
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4Phong Nha to Hue by Bus
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 $23 (600,000 VND), 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 $7.90 (208,000 VND).
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.
Bus schedule from Phong Nha to Hue
Bus tickets are available on Bookaway, 12Go Asia and Phong-nha-cave.
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 an hour by taxi.
In Hue, the city centre is a 10-minute taxi ride or a 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 $1.90 (50,000 VND).
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 $15 (400,000 VND) 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 several daily train trips from Dong Hoi to Hue.
Ticket prices start from $6.80 (179,000 VND). The journey takes about 2h 55m - 3h, depending on which train you take.
Train tickets are available on Bookaway.
Booking Tip
We recommend booking your tickets online through BookAway. Their site is intuitive, provides a clear picture of what you can expect, and offers great customer service. If you're eyeing the best deals, you might occasionally find slightly cheaper tickets on Baolau.
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 take a private transfer from Phong Nha to Hue. Rates start from $100 (2,658,000 VND) 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.
Private Transfer tickets are available on Bookaway.
Our favourite places to stay in Hue
Here are our favourite places to stay in Hue for every budget.
Hong Thien Ruby Hotel
Hotel La Pere
Cherish Hue Hotel
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
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!
Rounding it up
That's the full picture for getting from Phong Nha to Hue, roughly 186 kilometres (116 miles) apart. In all, there are 3 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $7.90 (208,000 VND). The quickest trip takes 3h.
Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the distance from Phong Nha to Hue?
The distance from Phong Nha to Hue is 186 kilometres (116 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Phong Nha to Hue?
Journey times from Phong Nha to Hue overlap: bus 3-6h, train 3h 55m - 4h 30m, private transfer 4h. Depending on the departure, no single option is always the fastest.
What is the cheapest way to get from Phong Nha to Hue?
The cheapest way to get from Phong Nha to Hue is by bus with ticket costs starting from 208,000 VND.
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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