Quick answer: Travelling from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha‑Ke Bang National Park offers several reliable options: sleeper bus, train + bus via Dong Hoi, flight + bus via Hanoi/Dong Hoi, or private car/taxi. Sleeper bus is usually the most budget‑friendly; train + bus gives a balance of cost and comfort; private car/taxi offers the fastest door‑to‑door experience. You can book tickets from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha easily online in advance.
At a glance:
- 📍 Distance: approx. 400 km by land via Dong Hoi.
- ⏱️ Travel time: Sleeper Bus ~7–9 hours | Train + Bus ~10–12 hours | Flight + Bus ~8–10 hours.
- 💰 Price range: Sleeper Bus US$ 13–40 pp | Train + Bus US$ 13–40 pp | Flight + Bus US$ 40–100 pp
- 🚍 Sleeper Bus: Direct bus from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha.
- 🚆 Train + Bus: Train to Dong Hoi then bus/local transfer to Phong Nha.
- 🚕 Private Car/Taxi: Door‑to‑door transfer by private vehicle.
Last updated in March 2026
From Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park by bus or train + bus.
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- The distance from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang is about 400 km via Dong Hoi. The most popular and cheapest option is a sleeper tourist bus with travel time of about 7–9 hours.
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- Another option is traveling by train to Dong Hoi and then by local bus to Phong Nha. Train + bus transfers take about 10–13 hours. There is no railway station or airport in Phong Nha.
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- If you want to travel by plane, you must first go to Hanoi and take a direct flight to Dong Hoi Airport.
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- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is one of the top natural attractions in central Vietnam, famous for caves, mountains and jungle scenery.
- From Phong Nha or Dong Hoi you can continue to Da Nang or Hoi An. Before visiting, check the weather in Phong Nha.
| Transfer modes – Ninh Binh to Phong Nha: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeper Bus | 7–9 hours | $13–40 per person |
| Train + Bus (via Dong Hoi) | 10–12 hours | $13–40 per person |
| Flight + Bus (via Hanoi, Dong Hoi) | 8–10 hours | $40–100 per person |
| Private taxi/car with a driver | 6.5-8 hours | $230-400 per person |
How do I get from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha?
1. BUS from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha
A popular and cheap option for transportation from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a bus transfer. On this route from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha, you can use modern sleeper buses from companies such as Techbus VN, Grouptour, Full Moon Party Tour, Ninh Binh Footprint, Duc Duong, Vietnam Luxury Travel, Ninh Binh Interbus, Sapa Discovery Travel, Duy Khanh Transport, To Veitnam Travel, HK Sapa Open Tour, QH Discovery Travel, Vietnam Easy Go Travel, Vietnam TravelBus, Queen Cafe, Green Trips, Camel Transport, Vin Bus, King Express Bus, Ha Long Bus Travel and others.
Buses can depart from various places such as Tam Coc, Ninh Binh SSB, Ninh Binh Town and also from various hotels or homestays. In Phong Nha, these buses arrive at various places or hotels and homestays, you can see all information about departures and arrivals when searching and booking tickets online.
The bus transfer from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang takes about 7-9 hours, but the stated travel time may vary and buses may be delayed. Bus tickets to Phong Nha from Ninh Binh cost between $13-40/pp, these prices vary by bus type and company and also by travel route.
You can easily search and buy bus tickets from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha online in advance. The bus schedule from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha is relatively long and you will definitely choose a suitable connection. It is advisable to arrive at the departure point in Ninh Binh at least 30 minutes before the bus departure.
| Bus Company | Departs in Ninh Binh | Arrival in Phong Nha | Bus Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duc Duong | 07:00 | 14:00 | From $25.00 |
| Duc Duong | 08:00 | 15:00 | From $25.00 |
| Duc Duong | 19:00 | 02:00 | From $25.00 |
| Duc Duong | 20:00 | 03:00 | From $27.00 |
| Grouptour | 07:00 | 14:30 | From $33.00 |
| Grouptour | 19:00 | 04:40 | From $43.00 |
| Techbus VN | 07:10 | 14:40 | From $26.00 |
| Techbus VN | 19:15 | 02:45 | From $25.00 |
| Techbus VN | 20:00 | 04:00 | From $19.00 |
| Vietnam Luxury Travel | 07:15 | 16:15 | From $27.00 |
| Vietnam Luxury Travel | 18:30 | 03:30 | From $22.00 |
| Vietnam Luxury Travel | 19:30 | 04:30 | From $22.00 |
| Vietnam Luxury Travel | 20:30 | 03:30 | From $17.00 |
| Vietnam Luxury Travel | 21:30 | 05:30 | From $24.00 |
| Ninh Binh Interbus | 07:30 | 14:30 | From $26.00 |
| Ninh Binh Interbus | 09:30 | 16:30 | From $26.00 |
| Ninh Binh Interbus | 19:30 | 02:30 | From $25.00 |
| Ninh Binh Interbus | 20:30 | 03:30 | From $25.00 |
| Sapa Discovery | 07:45 | 15:45 | From $26.00 |
| Sapa Discovery | 18:45 | 01:45 | From $24.00 |
| Sapa Discovery | 20:30 | 03:30 | From $14.00 |
| Sapa Discovery | 21:30 | 05:30 | From $14.00 |
| Full Moon Party | 08:00 | 15:40 | From $24.00 |
| Full Moon Party | 19:10 | 02:40 | From $17.00 |
| Full Moon Party | 20:30 | 04:00 | From $17.00 |
| Duy Khanh | 09:15 | 16:15 | From $24.00 |
| Duy Khanh | 19:30 | 02:30 | From $24.00 |
| To Vietnam Travel | 19:00 | 03:00 | From $17.00 |
| To Vietnam Travel | 20:00 | 04:00 | From $17.00 |
2. TRAIN + BUS from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha
Another option for traveling from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang is to take a train and local bus via Dong Hoi. This can be an ideal and cheap transfer option for those who want to visit this city before arriving in Phong Nha. It is not possible to travel by train to Phong Nha, but you can take a train to Dong Hoi, which is about 40 km away.
This transport option has 2 steps and the total travel time by train and bus to Phong Nha from Ninh Binh via Dong Hoi is about 10-12 hours (8-9.5 hours by train to Dong Hoi and about 1 hour by bus from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha).
Trains leave from Ninh Binh Railway Station near the city center and arrive at Dong Hoi Railway Station, see the Vietnam Railways Map. A transfer by regular or tourist sleeper train to Dong Hoi costs between $12-70/pp, depending on the type of train and whether you choose a seat or a sleeper.
In the second step, you will use a local bus that leaves from Bến xe Nam Lý, which is a short distance from the train station. The schedule of these local smaller buses is rather irregular, but it is the cheapest option for transport from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha and tickets cost approximately $2/pp, prices may vary throughout the year.
Transport from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha by this local bus can take up to 1.5 hours, this bus also makes other stops during the journey. An alternative is to use a private taxi from the city to Phong Nha, but this is a significantly more expensive option. You can search and buy train tickets from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi online, you can buy bus tickets from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha when you board the bus.
| Train | Departs in Ninh Binh | Arrival in Dong Hoi | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train SE1 (seat, sleeper) | 23:07 | 06:30 | From $17.00 |
| Train SE7 (seat, sleeper) | 08:17 | 16:19 | From $15.00 |
| Train SE5 (seat, sleeper) | 11:11 | 19:16 | From $15.00 |
| Train SE11 (seat, sleeper) | 23:43 | 08:13 | From $15.00 |
| Train SE9 (seat, sleeper) | 15:08 | 23:53 | From $13.40 |
| Train SE17 (seat, sleeper) | 22:35 | 07:33 | From $13.40 |
| Train SE23 (seat, sleeper) | 16:19 | 01:22 | From $17.00 |
| Train QB1 (seat, sleeper) | 22:16 | 06:10 | From $17.00 |
| Train SE3 (seat, sleeper) | 21:35 | 04:51 | From $17.00 |
| Violette Train SE1 (sleeper) | 23:07 | 06:30 | From $70.00 |
| Violette Train SE3 (sleeper) | 21:35 | 04:51 | From $70.00 |
| Violette Train SE19 (sleeper) | 21:55 | 05:40 | From $70.00 |
| Damitrans Train SE3 (sleeper) | 21:35 | 04:51 | From $65.00 |
| Livitrans Express SE1 (sleeper) | 23:07 | 06:30 | From $65.00 |
| Livitrans Express SE3 (sleeper) | 21:35 | 04:51 | From $65.00 |
| Livitrans Express SE19 (sleeper) | 21:55 | 05:40 | From $65.00 |
| Violette Train SE19 (sleeper) | 21:55 | 05:40 | From $70.00 |
| Violette Train SE3 (sleeper) | 21:35 | 04:51 | From $70.00 |
| Violette Train SE1 (sleeper) | 23:07 | 06:30 | From $70.00 |
| Charmy Express SE19 (sleeper) | 21:55 | 05:40 | From $65.00 |
| Charmy Express SE3 (sleeper) | 21:35 | 04:51 | From $65.00 |
| Charmy Express SE1 (sleeper) | 23:07 | 06:30 | From $65.00 |
| Laman Express SE19 (sleeper) | 21:55 | 05:40 | From $70.00 |
| Lotus Train SE19 (sleeper) | 21:55 | 05:40 | From $70.00 |
3. BUS / TAXI + FLIGHT from Hanoi to Phong Nha
An alternative option for transportation from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam is to travel via Hanoi using a flight to Dong Hoi. However, in the end, this transportation option can take longer than, for example, a bus transfer. It is therefore advisable to consider whether this option is worth it and is more suitable for those who also want to visit Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
From Ninh Binh to Hanoi and Noi Bai Airport you can use transfers by minivan, bus or private car, from Hanoi to Dong Hoi there is a direct flight from Vietnam Airlines or Bamboo Airways. From the city of Dong Hoi to Phong Nha you will then continue again by local public bus or private taxi.
Dong Hoi Airport is located about 45 km from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Direct flights from Hanoi to Dong Hoi cost between $45-80/pp, these are prices for Economy class flights. The total transfer time from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha via Hanoi can range from 8-10 hours and in total this option costs approximately $70-100/pp.
However, the stated transfer time may vary and depends on the connecting connections in Noi Bai Airport and Dong Hoi City. The air transfer is convenient and fast, but the disadvantage is the fact that you have to go to Noi Bai Airport first and this journey can take up to 3 hours.
So as a result, a bus transfer directly from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha may be a faster option. You can easily search for and book bus or car tickets from Ninh Binh to Noi Bai Airport and flights from Hanoi to Dong Hoi online in advance.
4. PRIVATE TAXI/ CAR from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha
You can also travel from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang by private modern taxi or car with a driver. This is one of the most expensive transport options and is suitable for travelers who are not concerned about their budget. The main advantage is the flexibility to choose your own departure point in Ninh Binh and arrival point in Phong Nha, which can help save time.
A private car or taxi transfer from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha takes approximately 6.5-8 hours, though the duration may vary slightly depending on your specific route. The companies Mango Travel or Vietnam Locals offer private car transfers to Phong Nha from Ninh Binh, with prices ranging from $200 to $500 per car. You can split the fare among the passengers, and vehicles are available for 3 to 8 people.
❓ FAQ + Tips – Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang:
How to book tickets from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha?
What is the travel time from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha?
Sleeper buses take about 7–9 hours and train + bus transfers via Dong Hoi about 10–12 hours.
How much does travel from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha cost?
Bus or train + bus transfers cost about $13–40/pp depending on the option.
How far is Phong Nha from Ninh Binh?
The travel distance is about 400 km via Dong Hoi.
What is the best way to travel to Phong Nha?
The best option is a train + bus transfer via Dong Hoi. It is comfortable and affordable.
What is the cheapest way to get to Phong Nha?
The cheapest option is a sleeper tourist bus or train + bus via Dong Hoi.
Is there a direct flight from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha?
No, there are no direct flights because Ninh Binh and Phong Nha have no airports.
Where can you travel from Phong Nha or Dong Hoi?
From Dong Hoi you can travel by train or bus to Da Nang or Hoi An.
How to travel from Phong Nha to Ninh Binh?
From Phong Nha to Ninh Binh you can use sleeper buses or trains from Dong Hoi.
Where to stay in Phong Nha-Ke Bang?
Phong Nha offers cheap homestays, guesthouses, bungalows and small hotels. Read about the best accommodation in Phong Nha.
