1. Train – Saigon to Dong Hoi
2. Flight – Saigon to Dong Hoi
3. Bus – Saigon to Dong Hoi
🎫 Book a Tour in Dong Hoi
🎫 Book Ticket to Dong Hoi
From Saigon to Dong Hoi you can travel by train, bus, direct flight.
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- The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi in central Vietnam spans approximately 1250 km by train or tourist bus, and 750 km by plane. Opting to travel by plane stands out as the quickest mode of transportation. Direct flights are available, with a travel time of about 1.5 hours and ticket prices ranging from $50 to $110 per person. These flights operate between Tan Son Nhat Airport and Dong Hoi Airport. Alternatively, travelers can choose to journey from Saigon to Dong Hoi by train via Vietnam Railways or intercity sleeper bus. Train travel from Saigon to Dong Hoi takes roughly 23-27 hours, with train tickets priced between $29 and $45 for soft seats and sleeper berths.
- Although sleeper tourist buses are available via Da Nang, train travel, with the option to book a sleeper berth, is recommended due to greater comfort. Upon arrival in Dong Hoi, travelers can proceed to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park by local public bus or private taxi, a renowned tourist destination in the area. Booking flight, train, or bus tickets from Saigon to Dong Hoi can be conveniently done online. From Phong Nha, travelers can journey to Ninh Binh or Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.
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- Dong Hoi (Quang Binh province) may not be as renowned as other cities in central Vietnam, such as Da Nang or Hue, but it serves as a gateway to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Divided by the Nhat Le River before it merges with the sea, Dong Hoi boasts a picturesque riverside promenade. The majority of the city lies on the western bank, where remnants of the Dong Hoi citadel can be found. Located approximately 50 km west of Dong Hoi city, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is an ideal destination for exploring caves, natural beauty, and the renowned Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world.
- To reach Phong Nha, travelers can utilize local buses or private taxis, as there is no railway station in the area. There are three primary ways to travel from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Dong Hoi: by train, bus, or plane. As Dong Hoi has an airport, air travel is a convenient option, with direct flights available. Phong Nha-Ke Bang can be accessed from Dong Hoi via local public buses or private taxis. Before embarking on your journey to Dong Hoi, familiarize yourself with the weather conditions by reading this article: Weather in Dong Hoi.
| Transfer Mode – Saigon to Dong Hoi: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Plane (direct flight) | 1.5 hours | $50-110/pp |
| Train | 23-27 hours | $28-45/pp (seats, sleeper berth) |
| Sleeper Bus (via Da Nang) | 30 hours | $32-65/pp |
How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi?
1. TRAIN from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi
A popular low-cost transportation option from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi City in central Vietnam is by Vietnam Railways train. Expect a very long journey that takes practically the whole day, the train journey time from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi is approx. 23-27 hours, depending on the type of train. Each train may have a slightly different travel time.
Regular Vietnam Railways trains run on this route, offering you either seats or sleeping berths. You should definitely choose sleeping berths for this long route, either in the cabin for 4 or 6 passengers. Trains depart from Saigon Railway Station (Phương 9, District 3) and arrive at Đồng Hới Railway Station (tiểu khu 4, Nam Lý), see Vietnam railway map.
Dong Hoi Railway Station is well located in the city center, so everything is within easy reach. The Bến xe Nam Lý bus stop is also a short distance away, from where there is a local bus to Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park. Train tickets to Dong Hoi from Ho Chi Minh City cost between $28-45/pp, these prices may change during the year or seasons.
BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Dong Hoi ➜
The cheapest option is of course the seats, the sleeping berths in the cabins are always a more expensive option. Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi train tickets are easy to find and buy online in advance, and booking is quick and easy. On the Baolau online platform, you can also choose the exact position of the seat or bed, which can also be an advantage.
Regular trains also accept tickets on your smartphone, so you don’t need to print them out. However, always read the current ticket and transfer information to avoid any complications. Trains on this route also make other stops in larger cities, so the train transfer is ideal for those who will also want to visit other interesting places.
2. FLIGHTS from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi
If you are looking for the most convenient and fastest way to get to Dong Hoi from Ho Chi Minh City, you can use direct flights. However, expect slightly higher prices than a train transfer and also a limited flight schedule. For an air transfer to Dong Hoi, you can use VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Hanh Air Systems or Bamboo Airways.
The cheapest flights to Dong Hoi are usually offered by the low-cost airline VietJet Air, which has a very good rating from other travelers. Hanh Air Systems is a smaller company that will offer you smaller aircraft for smaller groups of travelers to Dong Hoi. These direct flights are operated from Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport to Đồng Hới Airport, check the airport map of Vietnam to know where the airport is located.
Both airports, in Saigon and Dong Hoi, are easily accessible by e.g. buses, shuttle buses or private taxis and are not far from city centers. The direct flight time from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi City is approximately 1.5 hours, so in this short time you will appear in central Vietnam.
BOOK DIRECT FLIGHT to Dong Hoi ➜
Air connections to Dong Hoi from Ho Chi Minh City are the most expensive transfer option between these cities, costing between $50-110/pp. However, if we include comfort and time saving, then a low-cost flight may not be a bad choice of transport. It’s also a good idea to research flights ahead of time, as prices can change throughout the year and seasons.
You can easily search and book flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi online in advance. Also check the flight conditions and additional instructions for the tickets beforehand. The disadvantage of direct flights is of course the fact that you will miss a number of other interesting places in southern or central Vietnam.
3. BUS from Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi (via Da Nang)
Another low-cost transportation option to Dong Hoi from Ho Chi Minh City, which also takes a lot of time, is to travel by intercity sleeper bus via Da Nang city. You can also use sleeper buses to get from southern Vietnam to northern Vietnam, e.g. with transfers in various larger cities.
It is advisable to implement this option in 2 steps, e.g. through the city of Da Nang. Between Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Dong Hoi there are mostly sleeper intercity buses of various companies. In this article we will look at the bus transfer via Da Nang, but you can also choose another transfer point, for example in Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and others.
So the first step is to travel by sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, which can take between 19-24 hours. So it’s a very long route, so expect to make other stops along the way. Companies that go to Da Nang from Saigon are Viet Nam Travel Bus, Techbus VN, Futabus – Phuong Trang, Hanh Café and others, they mainly offer sleeper buses.
A bus transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang costs between $20-45/pp, these prices may change slightly during the year. Buses depart from various locations or stations in Ho Chi Minh City and arrive at various locations in Da Nang, you will always see this information when searching for tickets on online platforms.
You search and buy these tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang online in advance. If you don’t want to go by bus, you can also use a train transfer to Da Nang and then continue by sleeper bus to Dong Hoi, it’s up to you which option you consider suitable and better.
The second step is again a transfer by sleeper bus from Da Nang to Dong Hoi, which takes approximately 4.5-5.5 hours. With a bus transfer, however, it is always better to take into account that the exact departure and arrival times may not be respected, buses are also late.
You can use buses by TP Booking, VietNam Travel Bus or Tu Tac on this route to Dong Hoi, and bus tickets for these companies are available for sale online. A bus transfer to Dong Hoi from Da Nang costs approximately $12-22/pp, again these prices can change throughout the year.
Again, buses can depart from different locations in Da Nang and arrive at different locations in Dong Hoi, you will always see this information when searching for tickets. The bus transfer to Dong Hoi in central Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam is very long, so it is first advisable to consider whether to use this option at all. It is rather better for those who would like to make more stops along the way.
BOOK BUS TICKETS to Dong Hoi ➜
✈️ Flight Schedule + Airlines – Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi:
Flight Schedule - Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi | Departs in Ho Chi Minh | Arrival in Dong Hoi |
|---|---|---|
VietJet Air | 07:25 | 09:00 |
VietJet Air | 14:40 | 16:15 |
Vietnam Airlines | 07:40 | 09:15 |
Hanh Air Systems | 07:25 | 09:00 |
Hanh Air Systems | 14:40 | 16:15 |
🚆 Train Schedule – Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi + Train Tickets:
Train Schedule - Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi | Departs in Ho Chi Minh | Arrival in Dong Hoi | Train Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
Train SE2 (seats, sleeper) | 20:35 | 19:18 | From $29.00 |
Train SE4 (seats, sleeper) | 19:00 | 18:37 | From $29.00 |
Train SE6 (seats, sleeper) | 15:00 | 16:53 | From $29.00 |
Train SE12 (seats, sleeper) | 19:25 | 21:40 | From $29.00 |
Train SE10 (seats, sleeper) | 12:20 | 15:47 | From $29.00 |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions – Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi:
1. How to book and buy tickets and flights from Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi?
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- You can book e-tickets and flights from Saigon to Dong Hoi on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜.
- You can also book another tickets and routes, e.g. Ho Chi Minh > Hue, Hue > Dong Hoi…
2. What is the travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi?
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- Travel by plane from Saigon to Dong Hoi takes about 1.5 hour (direct flight).
- Travel by train from Saigon to Dong Hoi takes about 23-27 hours.
- Travel by sleeper intercity bus from Saigon to Dong Hoi (via Da Nang) takes about 30 hours.
3. What is the travel distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi?
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- Travel distance from Saigon to Dong Hoi is about 1215 km by road and about 750 km by plane.
4. How much does it cost to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi?
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- Direct flight from Saigon (Tan Son Nhat Airport) to Dong Hoi costs about $50-110/pp.
- Travel by train from Saigon to Dong Hoi costs about $20-45/pp (set, sleeper berth).
- Travel by sleeper intercity bus from Saigon to Dong Hoi (via Da Nang or Hue) costs about $32-65/pp.
5. What is the best + fastest way of transport from Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi?
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- The best and fastest comfortable option how to get to Dong Hoi from Saigon is to travel by plane. There are some direct flights operated by Vietnam Airlines or VietJet Air. VietJet Air offers low-cost flights to Dong Hoi.
6. What is the cheapest way of transport from Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi?
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- The most cheapest option of transport to Dong Hoi from Saigon is to travel by tourist sleeper bus. But this way is not so comfortable. Another cheap way is to travel by regular sleeper train of Vietnam Railways. There are also low-cost flights.
7. Is there a flight to Phong Nha from Saigon?
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- No, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has no airport, the closest airport is in Dong Hoi city, about 45 km from Phong Nha-Ke Bang. Flight schedule from Saigon to Dong Hoi is a bit limited.
8. Does Phong Nha have a railway station?
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- No, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has no railway station, the closest main train station is in Dong Hoi city.
9. What to visit if you travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi?
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- If you will be traveling by train from Saigon to Dong Hoi, you can stop and visit Nha Trang. Nha Trang is one of the most visited places in southern Vietnam and important transport hub. From Nha Trang you can also travel by train, bus or plane to Da Nang – the 3rd biggest city of Vietnam.
10. Where to stay, in Dong Hoi or Phong Nha-Ke Bang?
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- There are various hotels or guesthouses and resorts in Dong Hoi, but a lot of visitors travel to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park offers various small hotels or bungalows for tourists and backpackers. Check this selection of accommodation facilities > Book your hotel/bungalow in Phong Nha ➜.
11. Where to go and travel from Dong Hoi?
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- From Dong Hoi you can travel to northern Vietnam. You can travel by train/plane or bus to Hanoi. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and also one of the most important transport hubs in the north. You can also travel from Dong Hoi to Hue or Da Nang – another popular tourist sites in central Vietnam.
12. Which beaches can you visit in central Vietnam?
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- Central Vietnam is known for its stunning coastline and beautiful beaches. The best places for visit these beaches are in Cam Ranh coast, Nha Trang area, Quy Nhon or Hue. Read this article: The Best Beaches in Central Vietnam.
13. How to travel solo in Vietnam?
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- Discover the wonders of solo travel in Vietnam as you explore ancient temples, cruise through scenic landscapes or karst sceneries, hike various national parks and ethnic villages and connect with the warm-hearted locals, creating a personalized journey of cultural immersion and breathtaking experiences.
14. What are the most interesting things or facts about Vietnam?
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- Vietnam, a country with a captivating allure, is celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes, including the mesmerizing limestone karsts of Halong Bay, the terraced rice fields of Sapa, and the bustling waterways of the Mekong Delta. Its rich history unfolds through ancient temples in Hanoi, the imperial city of Hue, and the Cu Chi Tunnels, providing a glimpse into Vietnam’s resilience during wartime. The country’s vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality further enhance the allure of this Southeast Asian gem. Read this: 15 Interesting Things of Vietnam.
BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Phong Nha ➜
