Hanoi to Hue: 5 ways to travel - The Best Travel Guide

Hue is an ancient capital, a World Heritage site and a wonderful destination of Vietnam. Hue City is about 539.8 km (on air) and 669 km (on land) away from Hanoi. This is a must-see destination for any tourist who visits Vietnam. It is very easy to travel to Hue from anywhere in Vietnam, especially Hanoi - the capital. However, there are too many ways to go sometimes brings to travelers the confusion of choosing the suitable one. This article gives you the most detailed way of all types of vehicles that used for traveling from Hanoi to Hue. From all of that information, we hope that you could concern about the pros & cons of each type and make your own best decisions.

I. Getting from Hanoi to Hue by airplane - the fastest way to destination

1. How to catch Taxi to Hanoi International Airport

There should be no difficulty getting a taxi to travel from Hanoi’s center to Noi Bai International Airport. You can call to any taxi brands for you to book one. Normally, the price will be about VND 200,000-250,000 depending on the taxi and vehicle type. However, you can deal with the driver to have a better price. Most taxi drivers can speak English and they are also very friendly so you can communicate with them easily. The standard of most of the cab is good because they are usually taken care of by their owners.

Read more: 3 ways to get to Hue, Vietnam

Some Taxi Brands you should notice:

 

2. How to book a flight ticket to Hue, Vietnam

There are approximately 10 direct flights every day from Hanoi to Phu Bai International Airport. The airlines that service Hanoi to Hue Airport (Phu Bai International Airport are:

 

Buying a ticket from Hanoi to Hue is not too complicated.You can find information about airline tickets directly on their website. Otherwise, there are a lot of popular websites can offer you the cheaper prices such as/including Traveloka, Booking, etc…You will have to pay about VND 600,000- 3,000,000 for a one-way ticket/person and it takes about 60 minutes to fly and 60 minutes to transfer.

Read more: Hoi An to Hue: 5 ways to travel - 2020 Travel Guide

Purchasing airline tickets has been greatly simplified by the widespread use of online reservation services. Travelers can compare prices and routes on various airlines using online booking sites and make reservations with just a few mouse clicks. The most important skills that you will need are a small dose of Internet savvy and the organizational awareness to plan ahead for the best fares. To purchase online tickets, please click here

3. How to go to Hue center from airport

Phu Bai Airport is 15 kilometers far away from Hue city center. It takes about 25 minutes to travel to the city center by car. You can call a  taxi to go from Phu Bai international airport to Hue center or book a 4 seats car to go to your hotel with the price of VND 250,000. There are also some bus routes to bring customer from the airport to the center with just only VND 50,000

Some taxi brands in Hue:

 

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of getting from Hanoi to Hue by airplane

At this moment, the airplane is one of the most popular and convenient ways to move from place to place. Another reason that airlane is becoming everyone’s favorite transportation is its speed. An airplane can shorten your trip and allow you to have the best physical fitness.On the other hand, there are many cases that flights will be delayed for a period of time, or worse, they are delayed without advance notification. Your schedule will be affected slightly so please arrange everything carefully and prepare mentality for this situation.

 

II. Getting to Hue from Hanoi by sleeper bus - convenient to go, easy to book

 

1. How to catch a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Hue

The sleeping bus will mostly pick up the passengers from the local stations. However, some sleeping buses can also be caught around the Old Quarter area. Some other buses also offer hotel picking up service. One thing to notice that the picking up time is usually a half to one hour before the departure time. The earliest bus from Hanoi to Hue starts at 07:00 AM, the latest departure is at 21:30 PM. The time journey from Hanoi to Hue by sleeping bus takes around 13-15 hours depending on each provider. A ticket price of Hanoi – Hue sleeping bus is average of VND 350.000. To purchase online tickets, please click here

2. What are the advantages of sleeper bus to Hue

The sleeping bus is also known as the tourist bus. It is usually a small high-quality bus including which have from 40 to 45 seats. There is a break which is about 1 hour for the passengers to have dinner. Furthermore, it also includes some advanced services such as wifi, water, air conditional, DVD, blankets, and pillows on the bus. The drivers normally have a long time driving experience so you just stay in your seat, sleep well overnight and Hue will appear before you on the next day.

3. Some Information about Sleeper buses from Hanoi to Hue

4. What are the disadvantages of sleeper bus

Traveling from Hanoi to Hue by sleeping bus has some issues. First, it takes a lot of time to move and it is not a good choice for whom want to have a short trip. When you feel hungry, it extremely hard to find some food or drink on this bus so remember to prepare some fruits or snacks for your travel. Second, the area in the bus is very narrow, you must stay in your bed almost all the traveling time. Last but not the least, you can not take a leak easily. There is one toilet in the sleeping bus, however, it serves 45 people at the same time so you will feel very terrible if you have some problem with your stomach. In conclusion, you need to concern about choosing this kind of vehicle to travel.

 

III. Getting to Hue from Hanoi by train - traditional but very exciting

1. What are the advantages of getting from Hanoi to Hue by train

The Hanoi-Hue railway belongs to North-South Railway (or Unity Railway)-the longest railway in Vietnam. Not everyone likes to take a train. Most people may hate the noise of vehicles that hit their ears every day. On the contrary, the train whistle brings a different feeling. It reminds us of our childhood that we used to be. A lots passengers like it. Moreover, this railway line was built near the beach, so you will definitely watch countless poetic sceneries in your journal. It also offers you a lovely view and the chance to blend in with local people. Sometimes, many people identified that their experiments in the train were much more interesting than the destination. Especially, traveling by train may be the safest way you can find.

There are a lot of express trains in Hanoi- Hue railway. Daily departures are in the afternoon from Hanoi – Saigon, and opposite. If you buy a Hanoi-Hue ticket, you will leave the train at Hue station. The journey is about 13-14 hours long. The average price is approximately VND 1,500,000 depending on whether you choose a hard seat or soft seat. The departure time is about from 6:00 a.m to 22:00 PM due to which train.

2. How to book a train ticket from Hanoi to Hue, Vietnam

Booking a train ticket is very easy now. You can purchase the train ticket at: 12go.asia, duongsatvietnam.com or dailyvetauhoa.com. You can also go straight to Hanoi Station in no.120 Le Duan Street, Dong Da District to buy one Buy tickets is extremely simple, you just need to present your ID or passport to sales staff. Directly payment by cash or through credit card is both acceptable. There will be a lot of the signs for you to buy tickets quickly. Debit/Credit cards accepted: VISA, MasterCard, JCB only or you can pay through PayPal in12go.asia 

There are 4 kinds of seats for you to buy a ticket including Normal hard seat, Hard seat with Air conditioner, Soft seat with air conditioner and bedroom. You can also buy some fast food, meal, drink, fruits, specialties, etc anytime in your journal because staff will sell them on the train. Some information about the ticket price:

 

3. What are disadvantages of transferring from Hanoi to Hue by train

The train is the least popular among all land transports. It can be explained by long travel time and expensive price compared to other vehicles. As it’s not really preferable, the schedule consequently is inconsistent. You may not find a train available on the day you want to go. If you do, there could be a last-minute cancellation. The train is inconvenient that it stops at the Hue Station. This means it doesn’t take you to either the city center or the harbor. Therefore, you will have to get a taxi which will add a little more to the time and expenses. In addition, on holiday vacation, the traveling need of people is very high, so the volume of booking train ticket is huge. You should make your decision as soon as possible and book one ticket for your own. book in advance

4. Compare sleeping bus and train

 

 

IV. Getting to Hue from Hanoi by motorbike - the adventurous journey

1. What are the advantages of motorbike

The first good reason is that some of the scenery here is amazing. The view through the window of a bus or train just does not compare. Having a tour with a motorbike is much more flexible than doing tours with cars, buses, airplanes or trains…. You can go fast or slow as long as you want, you can stop anywhere, take some pictures, do memorable things with friends. You need to know that doing motorcycle tours in Vietnam offers something totally different from a regular bus and car tours can offer. Our destination may be the same but the quality of the trip for us is not always the destination, it’s about what we see on the road and how we get there. Moreover, you may have to sort out a lot more problems on your own, but then you’ll have many more colorful tales to tell when you’re done.

2. How to rent the motorbike in Hanoi

It’s not difficult for you to rent a motorbike. There are a lot of motorbike rental shops in all over Hanoi. Many of them are available in the Old Quarter and West Lake area. The owners are very enthusiastic and affable. Most of them do not know English, however, they can fully understand what you want. They will also give you some suggestions of which one is suitable for your driving experience and aim or just due to your body size.

There are many kinds of a motorbike. After having chosen the one will accompany you, the owner will ask you for the photocopy of your passport, the deposit, and the renting fee. Some owners may require you for the original passport. However, it’s recommended to try to make a deal with them. Some motorbike rental shops:

 

3. What are the disadvantages of getting a motorbike to Hue, Vietnam

There are actually many disadvantages of driving a motorbike. Due to the distance of 700 km, it requires you good health and great driving skill. Otherwise, you will easily get tired and have no energy left for other activities. A bigger obstacle for you is when your bike breaks. If you’re in the middle of the highway, the chance that you can find a store to fix it is almost zero. Another disadvantage could be the weather, especially when it rains heavily. It’s challenging to drive in the rain, followed by the chance of an accident. In addition, You may easily get lost, and the problem with the language may prevent you to communicate with local people. The messy, chaotic traffic can confuse you and lead you in the wrong direction.

Therefore, using a motorbike to travel from Hanoi to Hue could be really dangerous for people having no experience. To us, the reward/risk ratio seems to balance out. You’ll have to make that calculation for yourself. No one else can do it for you.

4. Must-know tips  when driving a motorbike from Hanoi to Hue

There are two things you must insist on when renting a motorbike including though–rear view mirrors and a helmet. These are the only two things the cops will stop you for not having. Moreover, they are necessary when you are on the way. The mirrors can provide you with a broader view to know the position of others transports. The helmet, of course, is the best way to keep your head safe when the unlucky accident happens.

Another important thing to remember is that larger vehicles have right of way. Whether they are approaching from behind, or they are in your lane passing another truck, a larger vehicle will take it for granted that you know how to fend for yourself. This means reading the road ahead, and before someone ‘runs you off the road,’ knowing how to slow down and, if necessary, safely pull off the road. In any case, it makes sense to work your way into traffic gradually. Remember that observing is the most important thing. Make the most of a motorbike ride to get the feel of how things work. Try to familiar with driving in Hanoi before taking on a motorbike to Hue.

 

V. Getting a tour to Hue from Hanoi

1. Which tours from Hanoi to Hue are available

There are a lot of Hue tours which are available for you to choose from. The vehicle of each tour is different depending on the criteria of each customer. The number of days of resting and sightseeing in each tour is different from numerous providers. The average day for sightseeing in Hue is about 3 days and 2 nights.

Some available tours:

 

2. Where can you get more information about Hanoi-Hue tour

You should notice some popular online travel agency to book a tour from Hanoi to Hue ofVietrantour, Tripadvisor, Viet Fun Travel, etc …

 

VI. From Hanoi to Hue: How to choose the suitable transportation option to travel

Many of these transportations are having their own strengths and weaknesses, however, to choose the most suitable one for each person is actually very difficult. Choosing the best means not only to take you from Hanoi to Hue but also affect a lot to the overall quality of this journal. How to choose a proper one while every transport has its own pros and cons maybe not as easy as you thought. There are some questions that you need to notice to find the solution. Remember our suggestion cause it will be helpful for you.

1. In which season do you have your trip from Hanoi to Hue

Weather in Hue has its own characteristic, so not all the seasons are the ideal time to explore the land of this ancient capital. Summer lasts from March to August, characterized by heat, temperatures as high as up to 40oC. The rainy season begins in October and ends in January. The rain often has the hurricane. The winter is cold, the lowest temperature is 9 degrees. Spring lasts from January to the end of March, the climate is relatively cool. The period of the autumn is from September to the end of November, is recognized to be the ideal time to travel from Hanoi to Hue. During this time, the weather is not too hot or too cold, cool climate. It is convenient for sightseeing and traveling to Hue from Hanoi.

2. What is your budget

All journey must require money and we can’t deny that money is the main and decisive factor. Nevertheless, the greater or less amount depends on how and what your spending is. In addition, you should pay a lot of attention to your budget to balance the expenses for the whole journey. If you have the little budget, the suitable transports for you are the sleeping bus, motorbike or train. An airplane is suitable for those who have more money. However, there are a lots cheap price airplane tickets or Jetstar or Vietjet air to encourage people to use their service. This kind of ticket is sometimes cheaper than the sleeping bus ticket and you need to follow their news to have an opportunity to own one.

3. Who do you go with

The number of people in your team sometimes affect a lot with choosing transportation decision. The smaller the group is, the easier it is to find out a suitable transportation to travel from Hanoi to Hue or to anywhere you want. If you travel alone or go with 1-3 friends, it is very easy to find one because they are all flexible with you. A bigger group brings more issues. You may see it is very difficult to book about 9- 10 sleeping bus, airplane or even train tickets at the same time in the traveling season. Moreover, each people has their own problems. What happens if many of them can`t travel by train while others like this experiment a lot? or some people like going by airplane for its fast but another like the feeling of driving a motorbike from Hanoi to Hue? Therefore, when you decide to travel with a group, you need to build one group that have same favor and take care of each financial and physical status of everyone.  

4. How much luggage do you bring along

It is the less important thing that you need to notice. A small bag will let you fit in any vehicles. If you decide to travel by airplane, you can bring as much as you want. Traveling by train or sleeping bus may be more comfortable if you only have 2 3 big bags. About driving motorbike, one small bag with 3-4 clothes and personal equipment are enough.

 

VII. Brief summary of all vehicles to travel from Hanoi to Hue

 

VIII. Make the most of your trip

 

Everywhere can be visited by airplane, bus, train or motorbike on your own. However, choosing the best transportation that suitable is never an easy thing. To have a perfect journal like your dream, please have a clear plan and make a good decision. From Hanoi to Hue is not so far, but with various means of transport, it has never been easier to travel to Hue from Hanoi. No matter what you choose, remember that enjoy your time, enjoy your life.