Hue is one of the most popular tourist destinations in central Vietnam that is well-known for its historic buildings and monuments listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. You can travel to Hue easily by bus, train and flight from different cities in Vietnam.
Hue city is located 654km from the south of Ha Noi and 1,100km from the north of Ho Chi Minh. Traveling to Hue from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh by flight is the fastest way. The flight is not always as expensive as you think if you book a few days or weeks in advance.
To travel from other places such as Cat Ba, Ninh Binh, Phong Nha, Hoi An, Da Nang and Nha Trang to Hue, taking a direct train or bus is more convenient.
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Hanoi to Hue
As both Ha Noi and Hue have the airports, to make this long-distance trip, catching a flight from Hanoi to Hue is the best option.
Ha Noi to Hue by plane
The flight from Ha Noi to Hue takes only 1 hour 15 minutes. Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Vietjet Air operate several flights from Ha Noi to Hue every day. It costs from 550,000 VND (20 USD) if you book with cheap airlines like Vietjetair or Bamboo airway.
- Travel time: 1h 15m
- Cost: from 550,000 VND (20 USD)
- Point of Departure: Noi Bai Airport, Soc Son, Hanoi.
- Point of Arrival: Phu Bai Airport, Huong Thuy, Hue City.
How to get to Noi Bai Airport (Ha Noi)
Noi Bai airport is 35km away from the city center. To get to the airport you need to take a taxi that costs 300,000-350,000 VND (13 USD). It’s easier to book a taxi through your hotel when you check out.
How to get from Phu Bai Airport to Hue city
For the distance of 15km from Phu Bai airport to the city center, you can find a taxi or a local bus from the airport very easily. The shuttle bus right outside the airport costs only 50,000 VND (2 USD) and it stops in 20 Ha Noi, Hue city. If it is not close to your accommodation, you will have to walk or transfer to another vehicle. Meanwhile, the taxi costs 200,000-250,000 VND (10 USD) and it will directly deliver you to your hotel.
Ha Noi to Hue by train
The second option is traveling from Ha Noi to Hue by train. The train journey will take you through the cities and countrysides of Vietnam. It’s quite a good experience that you should try.
Vietnam Railways operates eight daily trains from Ha Noi to Hue. We recommend you to take the SE3 or SE19 train which departs from Ha Noi in the evening and arriving at Hue in the morning.
Alternatively, you can choose the private railway company like Laman Express SE19 and Livitrans Express SE3 that operate their own luxury sleeper cars attached to the SE3 & SE19 train. These provide a slightly higher level of comfort than the upgraded coaches operated by Vietnam Railways and have on-board staff dedicated to assist international passengers. However, considering the price it is more expensive.
- Travel time: 13h
- Cost: from 436,000 VND (19 USD)
- Point of Departure: Hanoi Railway Station, 120 Le Duan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- Point of Arrival: Hue Railway Station, 01 Bui Thi Xuan, Hue City.
Ha Noi to Hue by bus
The last option is getting from Ha Noi to Hue by bus. This way can save you some cost if you are traveling in a budget. Besides, if you choose a night bus. It won’t take too long as you sleep all night during the trip.
Several well-trusted bus companies operate the route from Ha Noi to Hue. Depending on where you stay you can choose the nearest point of departure. All of these buses provide a double deck with a fixed berth that will give you quite a comfortable journey. They leave Ha Noi in the evening and arrive at Hue in the early morning.
The Sinh Tourist Bus
- Travel time: 13h
- Cost: from 300,000 VND (16 USD)
- Point of Departure: 64 Tran Nhat Duat, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Point of Arrival: 38 Chu Van An, Phu Hoi, Hue
Hey Travel Bus
- Travel time: 12h 20m
- Cost: from 400,000 VND (18 USD)
- Point of Departure: 282 Tran Khat Chan, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.
- Point of Arrival: 15 Duong Van An, Xuan Phu, Hue
Hung Thanh Bus
- Travel time: 13h
- Cost: from 300,000 VND (16 USD)
- Point of Departure: 162B Tran Quang Khai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Point of Arrival: 12 Duong Van An, Xuan Phu, Hue
Queen Cafe Bus
- Travel time: 13h 30m
- Cost: from 300,000 VND (16 USD)
- Point of Departure: 208 Tran Quang Khai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Point of Arrival: 11 Đoi Cung, Phu Hoi, Hue
Cat Ba to Hue
The distance between Cat Ba and Hue is about 790km. For this route, we recommend you to take a direct bus because there is no direct flight or train from Cat Ba island to Hue.
Cat Ba to Hue by bus
There is only one company running the direct route from Cat Ba to Hue by bus every day, namely Doan Ket. It departs in the afternoon and arrives at Hue in the early morning.
Ket Doan Bus
This sleeper bus provides a double deck with a fixed berth that makes your journey is more comfortable. You can lay down and stretch your legs to sleep during the night.
- Travel time: 16h
- Cost: from 600,000 VND (28 USD)
- Point of Departure: 46 Nui Ngọc, Cat Ba Island, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
- Point of Arrival: 132 Ly Thai To, An Hoa, Hue
From Cat Ba island, the bus will bring you to Cai Vieng Pier. Here you will be transferred to a ferry to Ben Binh Pier in Hai Phong. Once in Hai Phong, it will take 14 hours to get to Ninh Binh by bus.
Ninh Binh to Hue
Hue is located 573km from the north of Ninh Binh. As Ninh Binh doesn’t have an airport, the best option is traveling from Ninh Binh to Hue by train or bus.
Ninh Binh to Hue by train
Vietnam Railways operates 7 daily trains from Ninh Binh to Hue. The most recommended options are the SE3 or SE19 train, departing from Ninh Binh in the evening and arriving at Hue in the morning of the following day.
Alternatively, the private railway company Laman Express SE19 and Livitrans Express SE3 operate their own luxury sleeper cars attached to the SE3 & SE19 train. These private cars provide a slightly higher level of comfort than the upgraded coaches operated by Vietnam Railways and have on-board staff dedicated to assist international passengers. That’s why the price is more expensive.
- Travel time: 10h 40m-11h 40m
- Cost: from 820,000 VND (35 USD)
- Point of Departure: 1/ 41 Hoang Hoa Tham, Nam Binh, Ninh Binh
- Point of Arrival: 01 Bui Thi Xuan, Hue
Ninh Binh to Hue by bus
Two well-trusted buses going from Ninh Binh to Hue in the night. They depart and stop in different places, you can choose the pick-up and drop-off point during your reservation.
Queen Cafe Bus
- Travel time: 10h 30m
- Cost: from 300,000 VND (16 USD)
- Point of Departure: Đuc Tuan Hotel, Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
- Point of Arrival: 11 Đoi Cung, Phu Hoi, Hue
Hey Travel Bus
- Travel time: 10h 30m
- Cost: from 300,000 VND (16 USD)
- Point of Departure: Tam Coc Pier, Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh
- Point of Arrival: 15 Duong Van An, Xuan Phu, Hue
Phong Nha to Hue
The distance from Phong Nha to Hue is about 200km. You can take the direct bus from Phong Nha to Hue just for 3 hours.
Phong Nha to Hue by bus
Three well-trusted bus companies departing at 4:00 a.m from Phong Nha to Hue every day. The journey is quite quick because the road is clear in the early morning. You can continue to sleep on the bus until it arrives at Hue.
Queen Cafe Bus
- Travel time: 3h
- Cost: from 150,000 VND (7 USD)
- Point of Departure: Central Backpackers Hostel, Xuan Tien, Phong Nha
- Point of Arrival: 11 Đoi Cung, Phu Hoi, Hue
Hey Travel Bus
- Travel time: 3h
- Cost: from 170,000 VND (7 USD)
- Point of Departure: Nam Anh Hotel, Xuan Tien, Phong Nha
- Point of Arrival: 15 Duong Van An, Xuan Phu, Hue
Hung Thanh Bus
- Travel time: 3h
- Cost: from 170,000 VND (7 USD)
- Point of Departure: Nam Anh Hotel, Xuan Tien, Phong Nha
- Point of Arrival: 15 Duong Van An, Xuan Phu, Hue
Da Nang to Hue
Da Nang is located 92km away from Hue. You can travel from Danang to Hue by train or bus. The train journey will take you through Hai Van Pass cover by mountains and seasides which is one of the best train routes in Vietnam.
Da Nang to Hue by train
It’s a two-hour and a half train journey from Da Nang to Hue. There are plenty of trains departing at different times. We recommend you to take the SE10 train, departing and arriving on the same morning. With this schedule, you can enjoy the landscapes during the train journey and continue sightseeing in Hue in the afternoon.
- Travel time: 2h 30m – 3h
- Cost: from 70,000 VND (3 USD)
- Point of Departure: Da Nang Railway Station, 202 Hai Phong, Thanh Khe, Đa Nang
- Point of Arrival: Hue Railway Station, 01 Bui Thi Xuan, Hue.
Da Nang to Hue by bus
Two well-trusted bus companies go to Hue from Da Nang every day. Each of them has one bus leaving in the morning and one leaving in the afternoon.
Hoi An Express
This bus company operates a minivan going from Da Nang to Hue. The minivan usually will run faster than a sleeper bus.
- Travel time: 2h 15m
- Cost: from 250,000 VND (11 USD)
- Point of Departure: Bao Tang Cham, 2 Thang 9, Hai Chau, Đa Nang
- Point of Arrival: 11 Nguyen Cong Tru, Phu Hoi, Hue,
The Sinh Tourist Bus
The Sinh Tourist operates a double-deck sleeper bus with fixed berths.
- Travel time: 3h
- Cost: from 180,000 VND (8 USD)
- Point of Departure: 16/ 3 Thang 2, Thuan Phuoc, Hai Chau, Đa Nang
- Point of Arrival: 38 Chu Van An, Phu Hoi, Hue
Hoi An to Hue
The direct way to travel 122km from Hoi An to Hue is by bus. However, traveling from Hoi An to Hue by train through Da Nang is also an option. The train will run through Hai Van Pass, one of the most breathtaking seaside views in Viet Nam. It worth it for a try even though it takes more steps than the bus.
Hoi An to Hue by bus
Traveling from Hoi An to Hue by bus is more convenient if you don’t want to take many steps. Three well-trusted bus companies running this route with different schedules. Usually, the minibus will run faster than the sleeper bus 15-30 minutes but the sleeper is more comfortable if you travel at night.
Queen Cafe Sleeper Bus
- Travel time: 3h 30m
- Cost: from 120,000 VND (6 USD)
- Point of Departure: 117 Ton Đuc Thang, Tan An, Hoi An
- Point of Arrival: 11 Đoi Cung, Phu Hoi, Hue
Hoi An Express Minibus
- Travel time: 3h 15m
- Cost: from 250,000 VND (11 USD)
- Point of Departure: 30 Tran Hung Đao, Son Phong, Hoi An
- Point of Arrival: 11 Nguyen Cong Tru, Phu Hoi, Hue
The Sinh Tourist Sleeper Bus
- Travel time: 4h
- Cost: from 180,000 VND (11 USD)
- Point of Departure: 646 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
- Point of Arrival: 38 Chu Van An, Phu Hoi, Hue
Hoi An to Hue by train
As Hoi An doesn’t have a railway station, you have to go to Da Nang to catch the train. Taking a local bus or taxi to get to Da Nang is very easy. Hoi An bus station is located in Nguyen Tat Thanh street. It leaves every 20 minutes from 5:30 a.m till 5:50 p.m. The bus drops you in Da Nang train station after 45-60 minutes and it costs only 20,000 VND (1 USD). If you like to go by taxi, you can ask the hotel to call one after checking out. It takes 45 minutes and costs about 15 USD.
- Travel time: around 4-5 h
- Cost: around 100,000 VND (5 USD) in total
- Point of Departure: Hoi An Bus Station, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Cam Pho, Hoi An.
- Point of Transit: Da Nang Railway Station, 202 Hai Phong, Thanh Khe, Da Nang
- Point of Arrival: Hue Railway Station, 01 Bui Thi Xuan, Hue.
There are four trains depart daily from Da Nang to Hue. Make sure you book the tickets in advance because this route is very popular and busy.
Nha Trang to Hue
The distance from Nha Trang to Hue is 617km. As there is no direct flight, the best option is getting from Nha Trang to Hue by train. Traveling by train is always safer and more comfortable for a long distance in Vietnam where you can move around, eat your meals and enjoy the landscapes during the trip.
Nha Trang to Hue by train
Vietnam Railways operates 5 trains from Nha Trang to Hue every day. The travel time is from 11-14 hours. The most recommended option is the SE6 train, departing from Nha Trang in the afternoon and arriving at Hue in the morning of the following day. It’s better to book a sleeper car so that you can sleep during the night.
- Travel time: 11h-14h
- Cost: from 500,000 VND (19 USD)
- Point of Departure: Nha Trang Railway Station, 17 Thai Nguyen, Nha Trang.
- Point of Arrival: Hue Railway Station, 01 Bui Thi Xuan, Hue.
Ho Chi Minh to Hue
Hue city is located 1,100km from the north of Ho Chi Minh. As both Hue and Ho Chi Minh have airports, flying from Ho Chi Minh to Hue is undoubtedly the best option.
However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower option to explore the country during the journey, you can choose to travel from Ho Chi Minh to Hue by train. As the train will run through from cities to the countrysides around Vietnam.
If you want to save some cost on transportation, traveling from Ho Chi Minh to Hue by bus is also an option as it costs only 532,000 VND (20 USD).
Ho Chi Minh to Hue by plane
It takes only 1 hour 25 minutes from Ho Chi Minh to Hue by flight. The price starts at 500,000 VND (21 USD) if you book a few weeks or months in advance. Jetstar and Vietjet are two cheap airlines that operate regular flights for this route every day.
- Travel time: 1h 25 m
- Cost: from 500,000 VND (21 USD)
- Point of Departure: Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh.
- Point of Arrival: Phu Bai Airport, Hue.
How to get to Tan Son Nhat airport
Tan Son Nhat airport is not far away from Ho Chi Minh downtown. It costs only 100,000 VND (5 USD) and takes 15-20 minutes by taxi from District 1 to the airport. The price will vary depending on where you stay.
How to get from Phu Bai airport to Hue City
Phu Bai airport is located 15km from the south of Hue city. When arriving at Phu Bai airport you will find the local bus and taxi outside the airport. The shuttle bus costs only 50,000 VND (2 USD) and stops at 20 Hai Phong street, Hue city. Meanwhile, the Taxi costs 200,000-250,000 VND (10 USD) and deliver you to your accommodation.
Ho Chi Minh to Hue by train
There are plenty of trains going to Hue from Ho Chi Minh every day. The travel time is from 19-23 hours. We recommend you to take the SE2 or SE4 train that departs from Ho Chi Minh in the evening and arrives at Hue in the afternoon of the following day. Because these trains only stop at major stations, they will reach to Hue faster. You should book a sleeper car for this long journey.
- Travel time: 20h-23h
- Cost: from 300,000 VND (14 USD)
- Point of Departure: Saigon Railway Station, 01 Nguyen Thong, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Point of Arrival: Hue Railway Station, 01 Bui Thị Xuan Street, Hue City.
Ho Chi Minh to Hue by bus
Traveling by bus from Ho Chi Minh to Hue takes 25 hours includes few stops for bathroom and meals. Even though the ride is long, you can sleep most of the time on the fixed berth.
Futa Sleeper Bus
This is one of the biggest bus companies in the south of Vietnam. It has two buses leaving for this route at 8:30 a.m and 2:00 p.m every day. The bus usually departs on time, make sure you arrive 30 minutes before its departure time.
- Travel time: 25 h
- Cost: 532,000 VND (14 USD)
- Point of Departure: 292 Đinh Bo Linh, Ward 26, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Point of Arrival: 97 An Duong Vuong street, Hue City
How to travel by train in Vietnam
For more information about train routes in Vietnam, check our Transportation Guide for Trains in Vietnam.
How to travel by bus in Vietnam
For more information about bus routes in Vietnam, check our Transportation Guide for Buses in Vietnam.
Updated on Jan 23, 2020.
