1. Bus – Ha Long to Phong Nha
2. Train + Bus to Phong Nha
3. Flight + Bus to Phong Nha
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From Ha Long to Phong Nha you can get by bus, train+bus or plane+bus.
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- The travel distance from Ha Long to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park spans approximately 630 km by land route through Ninh Binh and Dong Hoi. The most efficient way to reach Phong Nha from Ha Long is to take a combination of bus and plane via Hanoi and Dong Hoi. Commence your journey by boarding a bus to Hanoi, then catch a direct flight from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, followed by a local bus or taxi to Phong Nha.
- Opting for a tourist bus via Ninh Binh or Hanoi offers a more economical option. Bus services are available from Ha Long to Ninh Binh or Hanoi, from where sleeper buses operate to Phong Nha. Traveling by bus from Ha Long to Phong Nha costs approximately $25-36 per person, with a travel time of about 15-21 hours. Alternatively, train travel is possible but only via Hanoi and Dong Hoi. Commence your train journey from Hai Phong to Hanoi, then proceed with a sleeper train to Dong Hoi. You can easily book your tickets to Phong Nha online.
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- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a must-visit destination in Dong Hoi, attracting travelers with its stunning natural beauty and diverse range of activities. Situated approximately 45 km from Dong Hoi City, the park offers opportunities for cave exploration, kayaking, boat trips, and trekking. Of notable mention is the Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world, located within the park. Additionally, Phong Nha-Ke Bang gained popularity as a filming location for the 2017 movie Kong: Skull Island.
- Traveling from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Dong Hoi presents several options including bus, train + bus, or plane + local bus. With no airport in Phong Nha, Dong Hoi serves as the nearest major transportation hub. Prior to your visit, familiarize yourself with the weather conditions in Phong Nha by reading our article on Weather in Phong Nha and plan your trip accordingly.
| Transfer Mode – Halong Bay to Phong Nha: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeper Bus / Minivan | 11-16 hours | $25-36/pp |
| Train + Local Bus (via Dong Hoi) | 15-18 hours | $20-140/pp |
| Plane + Bus (via Hanoi, Dong Hoi) | 9-11 hours | $80-150/pp |
How do I get from Halong Bay to Phong Nha?
1. BUS / VAN from Ha Long to Phong Nha
Traveling by sleeper bus (+or minivan) from Ha Long to Phong Nha-Ke Bang in central Vietnam is one of the low-cost options for possible transportation between these destinations. However, you have to expect a long journey and also the fact that some buses travel this route with a transfer. E.g. so you will travel part of the route by sleeper intercity bus and then another part of the route by modern comfortable minivan.
Each company may have this set up differently and it is necessary to take this into account so that you are not surprised. The companies Duy Khanh Transport, Full Moon Party Tour, Phuc Xuyen, The Long Travel, Queen Café, Ha Long Bus Travel, Vietnam Luxury Travel, Sapa Discovery Travel operate on this route and they will offer you mainly classic sleeper buses.
BOOK BUS TICKETS to Phong Nha ➜
However, some of these sleeper buses are already very new and modern and will offer you great comfort at a decent price. The travel time by bus/minivan from Ha Long to Phong Nha-Ke Bang is approximately 11-16 hours and the transfer price ranges from $25-36/pp. However, these ticket prices may change and vary slightly during seasons and periods.
Buses also depart from various locations in Ha Long and may also arrive at various locations in Phong Nha. You can easily search and buy bus tickets from Ha Long to Phong Nha-Ke Bang online in advance. Always read all ticket and transfer instructions, also follow the instructions of the transport companies.
2. TRAIN + BUS from Ha Long to Phong Nha (via Hanoi)
Another low-cost transportation option from Ha Long to Phong Nha-Ke Bang is to travel by train and bus via Hanoi and Dong Hoi city. This option has a total of 3 steps, first a train journey from Hai Phong to Hanoi, then a train journey from Hanoi to Dong Hoi and from there a local bus journey to Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park. There is no direct train / railway route from Ha Long to Dong Hoi City.
The first step is to travel by train from Hai Phong city to Hanoi. The city of Hai Phong is about 40 km from the city of Ha Long and the fastest train to Hanoi goes from there. So you have to take a local bus to this city first or you can use a transfer from Cat Ba Island.
Regular Vietnam Railways trains run from Hai Phong to Hanoi and the journey time is approx. 2.5 hours. Train tickets to Hanoi from Hai Phong are cheap, ranging from $3-6/pp for a comfortable seat. Trains depart from Hai Phong Railway Station and arrive at Hanoi Railway Station, but also stop at Gia Lam and Long Bien stations, see Vietnam Railway Map.
There is no train from Hai Phong to Dong Hoi, so you have to go to Hanoi first and then continue by another train. You can easily buy train tickets from Hai Phong to Hanoi online.
The second step is a train transfer from Hanoi to Dong Hoi city. It is a long railway route to central Vietnam, the train journey to Dong Hoi takes about 10-11 hours and train tickets range from $17-50/per person (seats or sleepers). It is therefore better if you choose a sleeping bed for this longer route.
On this route, you can use regular Vietnam Railways trains, which also include more comfortable tourist sleeper trains such as Violette Train, Lotus Train, Laman Express, Livitrans Express and Damitrans. These tourist trains are sought after by foreign tourists, but are a more expensive option.
However, tourist trains offer very comfortable sleeper beds in cabins for 2.4-6 passengers and better service and prices for beds are in the range of $50-75/per person. Trains arrive at Dong Hoi Railway Station in the town center and a short distance away is the Bến xe Nam Lý bus stop, from which a local bus leaves for Phong Nha Park. It is approximately 45 km by road from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha.
BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Dong Hoi ➜
So the third step is the bus transfer from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha-Ke Bang. The local public bus leaves from Bến xe Nam Lý station and goes all the way to Phong Nha Park. You can buy tickets on the spot when boarding the bus, no reservation is necessary. This is a local bus, not a tourist bus, so the comfort is a little worse. The bus ride from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha can take about 1.5 hours, this bus also makes other stops before arriving in Phong Nha.
3. FLIGHT + BUS from Ha Long to Phong Nha (via Hanoi)
Another transportation option from Ha Long to Phong Nha-Ke Bang, which may be the fastest, is to travel by bus and air via Hanoi and Dong Hoi. Direct flights to Dong Hoi City are operated from Noi Bai Airport, which is near Hanoi. So this option has 3 steps, the first is a transfer by bus or minivan to Noi Bai airport, then a direct flight from Hanoi to Dong Hoi and the last step is a trip by local bus from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha.
The first step is the journey from Ha Long to Noi Bai Airport, which is approximately 170 km away. On this busy route, you can use some private minivans or buses that will take you to the airport. A bus or minivan is the cheapest option, private taxis are also an alternative, but they are more expensive transport options.
Transportation by minivan / bus from Ha Long to Noi Bai Airport takes about 3-4.5 hours, depending on where you depart from. Minivans or buses can depart from various locations in Ha Long, e.g. Ha Long International Cruise Port, Tuan Chau, Bai Chay or Hon Gai and others.
A transfer by minivan or bus from Ha Long to Noi Bai Airport costs between $15-25/pp, transfers to Hanoi can be even cheaper. Bus tickets to Noi Bai Airport from Ha Long are easy to find and buy online in advance.
BOOK TICKETS to Noi Bai Airport ➜
The next step is a direct flight from Hanoi – Noi Bai airport to Dong Hoi, which takes only about 1 hour. Flights are operated to Dong Hoi Airport, which is a short distance from the city center, see the airport map of Vietnam. These flights are operated by Vietnam Airlines, which is the largest Vietnamese airline with good references from other travelers.
The price of direct flights from Hanoi to Dong Hoi is in the range of $55-100/per person, these prices can change a little over time and seasons. A direct flight is the fastest transfer option from northern Vietnam, from Hanoi.
It is advisable and recommended to arrive at Noi Bai Airport at least 2.5 hours before departure. So plan your bus transfer from Ha Long well in advance. You can easily search and book your direct flight from Hanoi to Dong Hoi online in advance.
BOOK DIRECT FLIGHT to Dong Hoi ➜
The third step is again a bus transfer from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha-Ke Bang. As already written above, the local bus departs from Bến xe Nam Lý station and goes all the way to Phong Nha. The bus journey takes about 1.5 hours and the tickets are cheap, you can buy them right when you get on the bus.
❓ FAQ + Tips – Travel from Ha Long to Phong Nha:
1. How to book + buy tickets / flights from Halong Bay to Phong Nha?
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- You can book tickets from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜.
- It is possible to search + book another travel route, e.g. Ha Long > Hanoi, Hanoi > Phong Nha…
2. What is the travel time from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?
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- Travel by sleeper bus / minivan from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang takes about 11-16 hours.
- Travel by train + local bus from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang (via Hanoi, Dong Hoi) takes about 15-18 hours.
- Travel by plane + bus from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang (via Hanoi, Dong Hoi) takes about 9-11 hours.
3. How much does it cost to travel from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?
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- Travel by sleeper bus / minivan from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang costs about $25-36/pp.
- Travel by train + bus from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang (via Hanoi, Dong Hoi) costs about $20-140/pp.
- Travel by plane + bus from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang (via Hanoi, Dong Hoi) costs about $80-150/pp.
4. Do you want to book a tour / trip in Phong Nha-Ke Bang?
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- It is not a big problem, you can search and book a tour in Phong Nha-Ke Bang with KLOOK ➜.
5. What is the travel distance from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?
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- Travel distance from Halong Bay to Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park via Dong Hoi is about 630 km by land.
6. Is there some direct train from Halong Bay to Phong Nha / Dong Hoi?
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- There is no direct train from Ha Long or Hai Phong to Phong Nha /Dong Hoi. If you want to travel by train you have to travel by train from Hai Phong / Ha Long to Hanoi and from Hanoi to Dong Hoi. There are sleeper trains of Vietnam Railways + private companies to Dong Hoi from Hanoi.
7. Is there some flight from Halong Bay to Phong Nha?
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- There are no direct flights to Phong Nha-Ke Bang from Ha Long because Phong Nha has no airport. The closest airport to Phong Nha is in Dong Hoi City. You can travel by plane – direct flight from Hanoi to Dong Hoi (only about 1.5 hour).
8. What is the fastest way of getting from Halong Bay to Phong Nha?
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- The most fastest way how to reach Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park from Ha Long is to travel by bus to Hanoi, from Hanoi take a direct flight to Dong Hoi and from Dong Hoi by local bus or taxi. This option can take up to 8-10 hours.
9. What is the cheapest way of transfer from Halong Bay to Phong Nha?
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- The cheapest way how to get to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park from Ha Long is to travel by tourist bus. You can travel via Ninh Binh or Hanoi. Travel by bus should cost about $18-33/pp.
10. Where you can travel from Dong Hoi?
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- From Dong Hoi you can travel to southern Vietnam. E.g. you can take train or bus to Hue, beautiful historical place, only about 170 km south of Dong Hoi. If you want to skip Hue you can travel to Da Nang – the biggest city of central Vietnam.
BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Phong Nha ➜
🎫 Book your tickets from Ha Long to Phong Nha-Ke Bang + Schedule:
(You can also book another tickets, e.g. Ha Long > Hanoi, Hanoi > Dong Hoi…)