The capital of southern Vietnam during the American War feared for the wellbeing of its furthest ally, Hue, but both eventually befell the same fate. In the prosperous, reunited Vietnam, about 1000km of road connects the two cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hue, creating a substantial overland trip with many of the best places to visit in Vietnam speckled along the way.
The question of how to get to Hue from Ho Chi Minh City has many answers, depending on time allowances and budget. Driving between the two cities will take a couple of weeks and might break the bank, whereas a flight will take just one hour and can be bought for the same price as 25 bowls of phở. Of course, both routes provide a completely different experience, so here’s a quick guide to outline the options available to you.
Substantial patience and nerve is required if making the overland trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue by motorbike. There are a few routes along which this can be done, but the most scenic one is its longest, taking about 26 hours along 1,050km.
If you decide to take the long way round, then you will be treated to most of the delights that feature on South Vietnam tours. A 5-hour drive to the relaxing beach town of Mui Ne will give you the opportunity to try windsurfing and escape the chaotic streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Next, you can head inland to Dalat, a cool hill region abounding with waterfalls and misty mountains, before driving along gorgeous mountain roads to Nha Trang, a beach resort town that lies about 3 hours away. After spending time in a mud bath here, push on another 4.5 hours to Qui Nhon, where some of Vietnam’s most idyllic coastal scenes can be found. Break up the driving with a stop inland at the Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve, about 5 hours from Qui Nhon and the same amount of time from Hoi An, one of the indisputable top places to visit in Vietnam. After spending a good amount of time in Hoi An to soak up the historical beauty, head through Da Nang and the Hai Van Pass to finish your South to Central Vietnam tour in perfect style in Hue.
Tourist bus companies ply the tourist route between Ho Chi Minh City and Hue daily on their way up to Hanoi. Again, the ones to go for are Camel Travel, Hung Thanh and Queen Café VIP and tickets can cost anywhere between 650,000 VND and 1,000,000 VND ($28 - $43 USD). It is certainly not the most convenient way to travel between both cities, as you will have to take many breaks at the attractions along the route to break up the journey, but it does give you a great chance to see some Vietnamese attractions popular on Vietnam package holidays.
The five daily services of the Reunification Express offer one straight journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue; an 18 - 24 hour undertaking that requires the sturdiest of wills. Add to this the fact that the train costs 1,600,000 – 1,750,000 VND ($70 – $75 USD) for a sleeper cabin, and it becomes incredibly hard to justify picking the train over the bus.
Being the international hub of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City boasts the largest and biggest airport throughout the country. This means more companies operate flights from here and prices are lower through constant competition. A cheap flight to Hue from Ho Chi Minh City can cost as little as 630,000 VND ($27 USD), while an average price would be about 700,000 VND to 800,000 VND ($30 - $35 USD). Flights take about 1.5 hours.
Another potential option is to take an equally cheap flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, where you can rent a motorbike and drive the magnificent Hai Van Pass, lending a beautiful final flourish to your travels.
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