The small town of Ninh Binh lies less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, but its atmosphere is nothing like a bustling capital. Situated along the Red River Delta, Ninh Binh is famous for its beautiful river and karst landscape where you can explore caves and caverns on a small boat, visit the local pagodas or enjoy the views. From there, you can continue your visit to Vietnam by heading south to Hue City. Here you will find the imposing Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City, protected by a mighty 19th-century citadel. Don’t forget to visit the markets in Hue and try the fantastic food that can be found there, or take a trip to the nearby beaches or the Demilitarized Zone.
Travel options from Ninh Binh to Hue
The journey from Ninh Binh to Hue is not exactly short. These cities are separated by a distance of 575 kilometers (359 miles) by road, but don’t be put off, these are the places to visit on a trip to Vietnam. If you want to save money, you can take the bus, although it is not recommended for everyone. Another option is to travel by train. Although it doesn’t take as long to get to your destination as by bus, the journey is also long, but you can travel in compartments with beds for better rest on the way. Finally, you can also fly by plane. However, since Ninh Binh doesn’t have an airport, you’d have to go to Hanoi first to catch a flight in the capital.
Flights from Ninh Binh to Hue
Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport is the second busiest airport in Vietnam © charnsitr / Shutterstock.com
We’ll start with the plane option, because it’s worth explaining, although we don’t necessarily recommend traveling this way. As already mentioned, you would first have to return to Hanoi to fly from the capital airport. This route is served by regular buses, so the journey will not be difficult. Buses run to Hanoi city, and from there you need to take another bus or taxi to Noi Bai International Airport, which is 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the center.
Three airlines fly from Hanoi to Hue: Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air. Prices vary, but generally Vietnam Airlines tends to be the most expensive. The flight lasts only one hour. However, adding the time it takes to get to the airport, flying from Ninh Binh to Hue takes almost a full day and is also the most expensive option.
Bus from Ninh Binh to Hue
While flights are the most expensive option, buses from Ninh Binh to Hue are the cheapest on this route. Unfortunately, just because it’s so cheap doesn’t mean it’s suitable for every traveller. The bus journey is very long, and although the buses that serve this route have reclining seats, there isn’t much room and no way to get up to walk around when you want to stretch. This means that if you are traveling by bus, you will be seated and will only be able to get up to use the toilet as well as during scheduled rest stops.
The Hoang Long bus company offers several daily services from Ninh Binh to Hue. Their buses are not sleeper type, but they do have seats so even if you are seated you can fully stretch your legs. The buses have three rows of seats and two decks. These are quite modern and well-equipped vehicles. They have a private bathroom, air conditioning, TVs and snacks, and tickets can be booked in advance via the travel website 12Go.asia. Although the buses are quite comfortable, the journey is very long and it can be difficult to spend so many hours without traffic. The scheduled travel time from Hoang Long is 15 hours and 45 minutes, with several departures each day. For example, you can leave Ninh Binh at 21:00 and arrive in Hue at 12:45. If you prefer to travel during the day, there are also several departures in the morning.
Train from Ninh Binh to Hue
Vietnamese Railways in Hue © beibaoke / Shutterstock.com
Many tourists who travel from Ninh Binh to Hue believe that flights are too expensive and cause too much inconvenience. But also almost everyone thinks that although the bus is cheap, it is not very comfortable. This leaves us with the option of traveling by train.
Trains have several advantages over buses. Most importantly, in our opinion, you can get up and walk around at any time to stretch your legs and meet other passengers. Depending on the type of ticket you choose, you will have more space than on the bus, as well as a bed where you can rest more comfortably. We also like to point out that the trains have very large windows to be able to contemplate the landscape more calmly than from the bus. Besides, the places that the train passes through are much nicer than those that the bus goes through.
Trains are operated by Vietnam Railways and have several departures throughout the day. The entire journey from Ninh Binh to Hue takes about 11 hours. Trains depart from Ninh Binh Railway Station in the city center and arrive at Hue Railway Station, which is also located in the center. This makes traveling by train extremely comfortable and practical.
Normally, Vietnam Railways trains have carriages operated by private companies. You can buy a ticket from Vietnam Railways if you want to travel in a second class seat, a second class sleeper seat or a first class sleeper seat. For a little more money, you can opt for a more comfortable and luxurious bed travel in the VIP compartment. The most expensive option is the first class sleeper with Laman Express, but these seats are reserved for two people, while the VIP compartments have room for four passengers. They are not cheap tickets, but the comfort and privacy it offers may convince you that it is worth spending a little more.
We recommend taking the train from Ninh Binh to Hue as the service is safe and reliable. In addition, it is a much more convenient means of transport than the bus. If you want to save money, buses from Ninh Binh to Hue can be a good alternative. Flights are the most expensive solution. Due to the inconvenience of getting to the airport, we believe that it is not worth flying.