How to go → HOI AN to PHONG NHA? ☀️

how-to-go-hoi-an-phong-nha
How to get from Hoi An (Da Nang) to Phong Nha-Ke Bang? You can travel by bus, train + bus or private car.

1. Bus – Hoi An to Phong Nha
2. Train + Bus to Phong Nha
3. Private Car to Phong Nha
FAQ + Travel Tips + Info
🎫 Book a Tour in Phong Nha
🎫 Book Ticket to Phong Nha

From Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang you can get by bus or train+bus.

    • The travel distance from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park spans approximately 340 km by land. The nearest major city to Hoi An is Da Nang, serving as the primary transport hub in central Vietnam. Traveling from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang, the most efficient option is via tourist bus, taking approximately 6.5-9 hours. Bus tickets to Phong Nha from Hoi An typically cost between $11-23 per person for sleeper buses.
    • While there are trains operated by Vietnam Railways from Da Nang to Dong Hoi, reaching Phong Nha-Ke Bang from Dong Hoi requires an additional local public bus or private taxi, significantly extending travel time. The train journey from Da Nang to Dong Hoi takes about 5-6 hours, followed by a 1.5-hour bus ride from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha. From Phong Nha, travelers can further explore destinations such as Ninh Binh or Hanoi in northern Vietnam. Ensure to book bus or train tickets to Phong Nha or Dong Hoi from Hoi An online for convenience.

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Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park – A Must-Visit Destination Near Dong Hoi.

    • Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, located in central Vietnam, stands as a highly sought-after tourist destination. Situated just 45 km from Dong Hoi, which boasts a railway station, the park offers a plethora of attractions, including fascinating caves and stunning natural landscapes. Notably, visitors can explore the world’s largest cave, Son Doong Cave, although access requires advance booking. Besides Son Doong, there are numerous other caves open to visitors.
    • Travelers from Hoi An or Da Nang can reach Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park via tourist bus or train and bus combination through Dong Hoi. While direct flights from Hoi An to Phong Nha are unavailable, Dong Hoi features an airport. Refer to the instructions below on how to reach Phong Nha from Hoi An. Before embarking on your journey to Phong Nha-Ke Bang, familiarize yourself with the local weather conditions by reading this article on Weather in Phong Nha to ensure a well-prepared trip.
Transfer Mode – Hoi An to Phong Nha: Travel Time Cost Range
Tourist Sleeper Bus 6.5-9 hours $11 – $23/pp
Train + Local Bus via Dong Hoi City 8-10 hours $11 – $17/pp

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How do I get from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?


1. BUS from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang

The cheapest way to get from Hoi An (or Da Nang) to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Dong Hoi is by sleeper tourist bus. These buses are mostly used by solo low-cost travelers who are looking for a little rest at an adequate price. On the route there are relatively very modern or new sleeper buses of many private companies such as Techbus VN, Grouptour, Duc Duong, Queen Café, Full Moon Party Tour, An Phu Hoi An Travel, Viet Nam Travel Bus, To Vietnam Travel, Duy Khanh Transport, Green Trips or Cocovip Limousine.

These buses often stop in the city of Da Nang, so you can also use a bus transfer to Phong Nha from this nearby city. Buses depart from various locations or their own stops in Hoi An and also arrive at various locations or hostels and homestays in Phong Nha. They come, for example, to places like Central Backpackers Hostel, Thien Phu Hostel or Phong Nha Backpacker Hostel and others, so if you have such accommodation, you can definitely use it.

BOOK BUS TICKETS to Phong Nha

You will see all of this information when you order your tickets online, so check everything carefully. The sleeper bus transfer from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang takes approximately 6.5-9 hours, but you have to take into account that sometimes these times are not respected, the buses also make other stops before arriving at the destination.

Bus tickets from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park cost between $11-23/pp and can be easily searched and booked online even in advance. The company often accepts these bus tickets to Phong Nha on mobile as well, but it’s always a good idea to read the up-to-date transfer and ticket instructions. It is also recommended to arrive at the departure point in Hoi An at least 30 minutes before the bus departs.

sleeper-bus-hoi-an-to-phong-nha
Bus of Techbus VN JSC company from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (photo: 12go.asia).


2. TRAIN + BUS from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang

There is no direct railway to Phong Nha, but you can take a train to Dong Hoi city and from there take a local bus to Phong Nha. So you can travel by bus + train via Da Nang city and Dong Hoi, this option has 3 steps in total, the 1st step is a bus trip to Da Nang, the 2nd step is a train trip from Da Nang to Dong Hoi and the 3rd step is a local bus trip from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha-Ke Bang.

From Hoi An to Da Nang, it is about 25 km to the city center, and there are many private companies that offer minivans, minibuses or classic buses between these cities, the offer is very wide. Bus travel from Hoi An to Da Nang takes approximately 1 hour and tickets range from $5-17/pp, depending on the type of bus or minibus you use.

Some buses or private minivans also go directly to the train station in Da Nang, which is an advantage, then you can just travel by train to Dong Hoi. You can also use private transfers such as taxi or Grab. You can book bus tickets or private cars from Hoi An to Da Nang easily online.

BOOK TICKETS / CAR to Da Nang

The second step is to travel by regular Vietnam Railways train, or by tourist sleeper train Violette Train or Livitrans Express, these tourist trains are part of regular trains. Regular trains to Dong Hoi will offer you comfortable seats or sleeping beds, seats are the cheapest option, sleeping tourist trains are the most expensive.

If you want to see the beautiful coastline in this area, it is advisable to have a seat or berths on the right side of the train, you will also go through the beautiful and popular Hai Van Pass. Train travel time from Da Nang to Dong Hoi is approximately 5-6.5 hours and train tickets range from $7-15/pp (soft seat or berth), tourist sleeper trains cost approximately $40-50/pp.

These tourist trains offer better comfort and modern renovated trains with above-standard service and dining. Da Nang train station is a short distance from the city center and Dong Hoi train station is in the city center and local buses to Phong Nha also depart from there. You can find and buy train tickets from Da Nang to Dong Hoi online, regular trains also accept mobile phone tickets as e-tickets.

BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Dong Hoi

The third step is to travel by local bus from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha. This smaller public bus departs from Bến xe Nam Lý bus stop, which is a short distance from Dong Hoi train station. The journey by bus from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha takes approximately 1.5 hours, the bus also makes other stops before arriving in Phong Nha, tickets can be purchased directly on the spot when boarding the bus.

train-hoi-an-to-phong-nha
From Hoi An to Phong Nha you can also travel by train + bus via Dong Hoi (photo: Baolau).


3. TAXI / MINIVAN from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang

You can also travel from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park by private car / minivan, i.e. taxi with driver. The private company Cocovip Limousine will offer you a modern minivan for up to 8 people from Hoi An to Phong Nha, which has perfect comfort with reclining seats. This option is suitable for those who want to travel to Phong Nha National Park in a group of travelers, so they can book the entire vehicle and then calculate the fare for single passengers.

BOOK PRIVATE CAR to Phong Nha

It is the most expensive transport option, traveling by this private minivan from Hoi An to Phong Nha costs around $450/pp (van for 8 passengers) and the travel time is approximately 6.5 hours. The advantage is that you can choose your departure point in Hoi An and your arrival point in Phong Nha-Ke Bang. You can book this private car to Phong Nha from Hoi An easily online, always read carefully the current instructions and conditions for this type of transfer.

private-taxi-van-hoi-an-to-phong-nha
Private minivan by Cocovip Limousine from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (photo: 12go.asia).


FAQ + Tips – Travel route from Hoi An to Phong Nha:

1. How to book and buy tickets from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?

    • Book tickets from Hoi An / Da Nang to Phong Nha / Dong Hoi on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜
    • You can also book another route, e.g. Hoi An > Da Nang, Da Nang > Dong Hoi…

2. How to book a tour to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?

    • There are some tours to Vietnam and you can book them online, search and book a tour to Phong Nha-Ke Bang with KLOOK ➜. With Klook you can buy various private tours, boat trips or tickets for tourist attractions.

3. How long does it take to get from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?

    • Travel by tourist bus from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang takes about 6.5-9 hours.
    • Travel by train + bus from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang (via Da Nang) takes about 8-10 hours.
    • Travel by private car / van from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang takes about 6.5 hours.

4. What is the price of transfer from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?

    • Travel by tourist bus from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang costs about $11-24/pp.
    • Travel by train + bus from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang (via Da Nang) costs about $11-17/pp.
    • Travel by private minivan from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang costs about $450/car.

5. What is the travel distance from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang?

    • Travel distance from Hoi An to Phong Nha-Ke Bang is about 340 km by land.

6. Is there some tourist luxury train from Da Nang to Dong Hoi?

    • Yes, there is Livitrans Express tourist sleeper train from Da Nang to Dong Hoi and ticket costs about $70-80/pp.

7. Is there also another way how to get from Hoi An to Phong Nha?

    • Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is accessible only by bus or motorbike, because there is no railway station in Phong Nha. The nearest biggest railway station is in Dong Hoi, about 45 km from the park.

8. Is it possible to travel by plane from Hoi An to Phong Nha?

    • No, it is not possible to travel by plane from Hoi An to Phong Nha, because there are no airports in these towns. The nearest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang International Airport and Dong Hoi has also an airport, but there are no flights between these cities.

9. What is the fastest way of transfer from Hoi An to Phong Nha?

    • The fastest option how to reach Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park from Hoi An or Da Nang is to travel by bus.

10. Where you can travel from Phong Nha-Ke Bang?

    • From Phong Nha-Ke Bang you can travel to northern Vietnam, you can take a bus to Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam, or you can travel to Cat Ba Island in Ha Long Bay.

11. Which beaches can you visit in central Vietnam?

    • 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.

12. How to travel solo in Vietnam?

    • 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.

13. What are the most interesting things or facts about Vietnam?

    • 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.

14. What to expect from Vietnam Culture?

    • Expect a vibrant cultural tapestry in Vietnam, characterized by traditional values, a strong sense of community, and a deep-rooted respect for family. You’ll encounter a fusion of French, Chinese, and indigenous influences in art, architecture, and cuisine. Traditional water puppetry, folk music, and dance performances showcase the country’s artistic flair. The importance of rituals and festivals in daily life adds a colorful dimension, while the warmth and friendliness of the Vietnamese people make for a welcoming and enriching cultural experience.

15. What is the weather in Vietnam and what to expect?

    • Weather in Vietnam varies with a tropical climate featuring distinct wet and dry seasons. In the north, the dry season (October to April) brings cooler temperatures, while the wet season (May to September) is marked by higher humidity and heavy rainfall. Central Vietnam experiences a dry period (January to August) with lower humidity and a wet season (September to December) characterized by increased rainfall. In southern Vietnam, the dry season (December to April) offers warm temperatures, while the wet season (May to November) brings higher humidity and occasional heavy rainfall. For accurate information, check local forecasts.

BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Phong Nha

private-taxi-van-hoi-an-to-phong-nha


🚍 Bus Schedule / Timetable – Hoi An to Phong Nha + Bus Tickets:

Bus Schedule - Hoi An to Phong Nha

Departs in Hoi An

Arrival in Phong Nha

Bus Ticket

Duc Duong

07:00

13:30

From $17.00

Duc Duong

12:30

20:30

From $21.00

Duc Duong

14:15

20:45

From $17.00

Techbus VN

07:10

13:55

From $19.00

Techbus VN

13:40

20:25

From $19.00

Grouptour

12:30

22:10

From $18.00

Grouptour

13:20

21:20

From $23.00

VietNam Travel Bus

12:45

20:45

From $16.00

An Phu Hoi An Travel

12:45

21:45

From $18.00

Full Moon Party Tour

12:50

20:50

From $16.00

To Vietnam Travel

13:00

21:00

From $12.00

Queen Cafe

13:00

21:00

From $11.00

Duy Khanh

13:00

21:00

From $17.00

Cocovip

13:30

21:30

From $22.00

BOOK Your Stay in Phong Nha


🚆 Train Schedule / Timetable – Da Nang to Dong Hoi + Train Tickets:

Train Schedule - Da Nang to Dong Hoi

Departs in Da Nang

Arrival in Dong Hoi

Train Ticket

Train SE4 (seat, sleeper)

12:57

18:37

From $10.00

Train SE2 (seat, sleeper)

13:55

19:18

From $10.00

Train SE6 (seat, sleeper)

10:30

16:53

From $10.00

Train SE8 (seat, sleeper)

00:56

06:50

From $15.00

Train SE20 (seat, sleeper)

18:05

23:43

From $15.00

Train SE10 (seat, sleeper)

09:04

15:47

From $10.00

Train SE12 (seat, sleeper)

15:43

21:40

From $10.00

Violette Train SE2 (sleeper)

13:55

19:18

From $45.00

Violette Train SE4 (sleeper)

12:57

18:37

From $45.00

Livitrans Express SE4 (sleeper)

12:57

18:37

From $45-78

best-homestays-phong-nha-ke-bang
The best homestays/guesthouses in Phong Nha-Ke Bang. BeHome HomeStay in Phong Nha-Ke Bang (photo: Agoda).


🎫 Book and buy your tickets from Hoi An to Phong Nha + Schedule:

Hue to Hanoi – Schedule ➔

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