How to get to Hue from Da Nang

As the closest neighbour to the imperial city of Hue, Da Nang is one of its best access points for potential visitors. Hue lies just 95km away from Da Nang along the coastline, but an impassable mountain range between both cities historically segregated them from each other, leading to the development of two very different neighbours. This was aided in no small part by the fact that neither of these cities belonged to the same country up until 1471, with Hue acting as the capital of Dai Viet and Da Nang acting as the capital of Champa.

Nowadays, an internationally acclaimed road connects the two former enemies, effectively answering the question of how to get to Hue from Da Nang in the most beautiful of manners. Invariably, passengers on Vietnam tours that pass between the two great cities are treated to world-beating scenery as they do so, and undeniably, one of the top journeys possible to take in Vietnam.

Da Nang to Hue by Motorbike

Da Nang to Hue by Motorbike

By far the most exhilarating route to Hue is on two wheels, cruising along the world-renowned Hai Van Pass. This is Vietnam’s premier coastal road, regularly touted as one of the best in the world, with stunning views of forests, mountains, beaches and the ocean along its 21km length. ‘Hai Van’ translates to ‘ocean cloud’, because of the thin mist that sometimes rises from the sea, settling on the tops of mountains that the road winds beneath.

Hai Van Pass

The pass cuts through the Annamite Range, snaking up and then down on its way from Da Nang to Hue. The incredibly scenic surrounds contain many hidden and not-so-hidden treasures, such as waterfalls that cascade secretly beneath the jungle canopy, or viewpoints from peaks that offer incredible views over the scenic road and its adjacent nature.

To drive the Hai Van Pass takes about 3.5 hours with stops along the way, meaning that it is one of the top things to do in Da Nang on a daytrip. Many tours give tourists a taste of the beautiful road before heading back to Da Nang, though most tours are a means of scenic transition from Da Nang to Hue.

Da Nang to Hue by Bus

As Hue is on the usual tourist route that skips up the coastline of Vietnam, there are several bus companies that offer the service as part of their overall Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi bus ticket. Be aware that most companies opt to eschew the Hai Van Pass and drive straight through the Hai Van Tunnel, slicing their transportation time by at least an hour but missing out on some of Vietnam’s most stunning scenery as they do so. If gorgeous vistas are high up on your agenda, then consider the train or motorbike from Da Nang to Hue.

Tour companies like Queen Café Bus and Camel Travel span the entire east side of the country between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, dropping off and picking up tourists at some of the country’s biggest coastal attractions along the way. From Da Nang to Hue by bus, tickets should cost around 220,000 – 350,000 VND ($10 - $15 USD) and take about 2 hours through the Hai Van Tunnel. Minivans can also be booked from companies like HAV Travel and Hue Tourist for a slightly more comfortable, albeit slightly more expensive shuttle bus experience.

Public buses are also a viable, but much more labour-intensive affair. Tickets can be bought regularly from Da Nang’s Central Bus Station to Hue’s Phia Nam Bus Station for somewhere between 80,000 VND to 120,000 VND ($4 - $6 USD), depending on how generous the driver is feeling at that particular time.

Da Nang to Hue by bus

Da Nang to Hue by Train

There are four trains running daily between Da Nang and Hue, all part of the country’s Reunification Express service. It’s a rather irregular service, with trains running at 12.45pm, 13.53pm, 22.59pm and 02.23am, taking between 2 and 3 hours to make the journey. As with any Central Vietnam tour, the sights of forested mountains and ocean feature for much of the voyage, creating a fantastically attractive backdrop in the day, or a wonderful source of ambience during the night.

A soft seat costs around 400,000 VND ($17 USD) and because the train originates from much further south, there is the option of a sleeper cabin. If you really feel like you need this for the 2-3 hour journey at 22.59pm or 02.23am, then you can expect to pay 490,000 VND ($21 USD) for a 6-berth cabin or 560,000 VND ($24 USD) for a 4-berth cabin.

Da Nang to Hue by Train

Da Nang to Hue by Flight

Considering the two airports of Da Nang and Hue lie about 60km away from each other, there are no flight services between Da Nang and Hue, which interestingly means that you can potentially get from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue quicker than you can get from Da Nang to Hue.

Da Nang to Hue by Flight