Hanoi has been the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years. Having been influenced by the French and Chinese throughout its history, its architecture and culture are so rich that they make it a fantastic city to visit. If you enjoyed Hanoi’s ancient architecture, your next stop in Vietnam should be the city of Hue. Its magnificent 19th-century citadel is undoubtedly the biggest attraction of this place. This space protects the Purple Forbidden City, the Imperial City, and the palaces and holy places from all attacks. Although there is currently no threat of attack and the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ways to travel from Hanoi to Hue
Travel by train through Hanoi © Jimmy Tran / Shutterstock.com
On a map, it may not seem like the distance between Hanoi and Hue is very long, but the truth is that there are 670 kilometers (420 miles) between the two cities, which is quite a long journey. The good thing is that there are several ways to travel from Hanoi to Hue, including buses, trains and planes, with flights with an hour’s journey time being the quickest option. But flying also has its disadvantages, which are discussed below. Although buses and trains take a long time to travel, they are much cheaper. Read on for details on each option.
Hanoi to Hue flights
Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport © charnsitr / Shutterstock.com
As you can imagine, the fastest way to travel from Hanoi to Hue is by plane, although that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to travel. Flying is great if you’re short on time and want to get from Hanoi to Hue as quickly as possible, but you have to consider that both cities’ airports aren’t particularly close to the center so you’ll have to add extra time to get to the airport and then into the city .
In Hanoi, Noibai International Airport is 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the city center, and Hue’s Phu Bai International Airport is 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the center. Still, the flight time added to the trip to the airport and into the city is less than the time taken to travel by bus or train from Hanoi to Hue. As for the price, airline tickets can be quite cheap depending on the airline you choose. Vietnam Airlines is the most expensive, and their only competitor on this route, VietJet, is quite affordable and even offers cheaper tickets than some trains. Therefore, if you want to save some time, do not exclude the possibility of making this trip by plane.
By bus from Hanoi to Hue
If you’re a seasoned traveler in Southeast Asia, you know that buses usually arrive at their destinations in less time than trains, but that’s not the case in Vietnam. Road conditions in the country are not the best, which makes buses slower, and the journey from Hanoi to Hue takes about the same time by bus as by train. So if you don’t save time traveling by bus, why choose this mode of transport?
Savings are the main reason. Traveling by bus from Hanoi to Hue is the cheapest way to do this trip. Therefore, if you are traveling on a budget, the bus may be the best option for you. The good thing is that although the journey takes around 12.5 hours, the buses have seats that fold out into beds, allowing you to stretch your legs and relax. These VIP buses are well equipped as they have restrooms and TVs onboard as well as a hostess and snack service. The bus allows you to enjoy the fantastic scenery along the way and you can choose between several departure times in the morning and afternoon.
But the 12.5-hour bus ride is not the best option for those who want some space and want to stretch and walk around during the journey. The bus requires many hours confined to a small space, which should be taken into account when choosing how to travel from Hanoi to Hue.
Train from Hanoi to Hue
Vietnamese Railways in Hue © beibaoke / Shutterstock.com
The train from Hanoi to Hue is a good alternative: you can buy tickets for less than the cost of the flight (although some carriages and some ticket options are more expensive), and while the train journey is long, the level of comfort is better than on the bus, because at least you can stretch and walk whenever you want.
There are different train ticket options that differ in price and services. You can find cheap tickets that cost about twice as much as a bus ticket and more expensive options that cost more than flying with VietJet Air. Note that if you are traveling on a sleeper train, an overnight stay will be included, saving you money on a hotel in Hue or Hanoi. From this point of view, even the most expensive train tickets are quite affordable.
All trains are operated by Vietnam Railways, although some private companies operate the cars on some of these trains. Before making a decision, check what services are included in the ticket. Livitrans Express and Violetta Express are two private companies that operate some carriages and both offer VIP sleeping compartments that can accommodate four people and are more comfortable than standard compartments. Also, the service you get is better. You’ll pay more for this option, but if you want to travel comfortably from Hanoi to Hue by train, it’s worth it.
Standard sleeping compartments, both first and second class, can be booked with Vietnam Railways. If you want to travel all day to enjoy the views, you can buy a seat ticket instead of a compartment bed ticket. The train journey takes 12.5 to 14.5 hours.
As you can see, there are many different options to travel from Hanoi to Hue, from the cheapest buses to the most expensive trains and planes. Which one do you prefer?