English
Imperial Hue City is the famous city in Vietnam, was recognized as Tangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1994 because of its special and sophisticated architectures. Moreover, Hue royal court music which was performed at annual ceremonies, also recognized as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. Therefore, many travelers pay attention in this place. They want to understand, explore the Vietnamese history with many monuments, including the tombs of several emperors of Vietnam. Besides, Hue City has also many beautiful places that travelers should visit such as Thien Mu Pagoda – the symbol of the city. The desire to come to Hue has raised concern in most of the travelers that how to get there. I hope this article will help you a lot in finding the suitable way to get to Hue from Hoi An.
If you have already explored the beauty of Hoi An or Da Nang, why not extend your adventure in Vietnam by traveling to Hue? Located only 130 kilometers away, Hue is an ancient capital of Vietnam and is home to a wide range of cultural and historical attractions.
The desire to come to Hue has raised concern in most of the travelers that how to get there. I hope this article will help you a lot in finding the suitable way to get to Hue from Hoi An.
=> How to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An?
Distance Hoi An to Hue and Vice Versa
As you know, the distance from Hoi An and Hue is about 140km and normally it takes about 3 hours non-stop to travel from Hoi An to Hue
The distance between Hoi An and Hue is around 140 kilometres, and the travel duration depends on which type of vehicles you choose to go with. Particularly, Traveling by car is considered to be the quickest option which takes only 2,5 hours. If you are not in a rush, you can go by train, bus, or even motorbike if you are into some adventures (4 hours) . Depending on your chosen mode of transportation, the average travel time between the two cities varies from 3 to 4 hours. It is even possible to make a day trip from Hoi An to Hue city tour and back
Best ways travel from Hoi An to Hue and Vice Versa
There are several ways to travel from Hoi An to Hue, including by bus, train, taxi / Grab, car or Motorbike . Each mode of transportation has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider your options and choose the one that best fits your needs. To help you make the right choice, we have outlined the details of each option below:
Hoi An to Hue by Taxi,Grab – The Fastest way
How to book the taxi/Grab from Hoi An to Hue?
- Travel time: approximately 3 hours
- Cost: VND 1,500,000 – VND 1,800,000 ($70 ~ $85)
Grab (Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber) is a popular transport app that can be used to book taxis, ride-share cars and motorbikes in Vietnam. Grab works in Hoi An, so it is possible to book a ride to Hue through the app. To use Grab, you’ll either need to pick up a Vietnamese sim card or preferably an eSIM and download the app before you leave home and register with your usual phone number. Expect to pay slightly less for a Grab taxi compared to a street taxi.
Finding a taxi in Hoi An is easy, as they are readily available. If you are arranging a transfer in advance the easiest way to get a taxi is by requesting it through your hotel reception. The hotel could also negotiate a set-rate fare on your behalf, especially for longer distances. If you are on the street, you can simply hail a cab directly by raising your hand in the direction of a taxi, or find one at a taxi stand. Local taxi ranks will be located outside main bus and train stations, as well as large shopping complexes. It is recommended to use reputable taxi companies exclusively, as scams can be quite common – with visitors often charged excessive prices or taken on longer journeys than necessary.
There are lots of different factors that determine the price of a taxi from Hoi An to Hue, including time of day, how much luggage you have, type car you want, and what kind of a mood the driver is in!
If you’re hailing a taxi off the street or at Danang Airport/station (which I don’t recommend!), it’s very easy to get talked into paying more than you should. Generally speaking, a taxi from Hoi An to Hue should cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1,500,000-1,700,000 VND ($65-$75). Some companies charge up to 1.800,000 VND.
Tips : Top 5 BEST Hoi An Taxis & Shuttles – You Need to Know !
The current Hoi An taxi rates
| Cab types | Opening (to less than 30km) | Next 30km | After 30km |
| 4-seat car | 11.000 VND | 14.000 VND/ km | 12.000 VND/ km |
| 7-seat car | 12.000 VND | 15.000 VND/ km | 13.000 VND/ km |
| Waiting time | 90.000 VND/ hour | ||
With Danang Transfer, we provide available options. Taxi prices will be calculated according to the travel route or hourly/day => Price list private cars in Da Nang by travel itinerary or by hourly/day
If you wish to phone up a local provider for pickup service, some of the most established and well-known Hoi An taxi companies you can call for on-demand assistance are:
| BRANDS | PHONE NUMBER | 4-SEAT | 7-SEAT | PRICE (VND) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faifoo Quang Nam | (+84) 2353 919 191 | Yes | Yes | 1,500,000-1,700,000 |
| Mai Linh Hoi An Quang Nam | (+84) 2353 929 292 | Yes | Yes | 1,600,000-1,800,000 |
| Sun Quang Nam | (+84) 2353 797 979 | Yes | Yes | 1,400,000-1,600,000 |
| Tien Sa Quang Nam | (+84) 2363 797 979 | Yes | Yes | 1,400,000-1,600,000 |
► Booking: If you don’t know how to use the app, you can call a traditional taxi instead. Taxis are available everywhere in Danang, and the most 2 popular companies that you should call are: Mai Linh Taxi or Vinasun Taxi, Tien Sa taxi
► Duration: around 2.5 hour – 3 hour
► Cost: around 1.500.000VND – 1.800.000VND (USD $65.00 to $75.00).
With people who do not have much time, they usually choose taxi to get to Hue from Hoi An because of its mobility.
What are the advantages of taxi when traveling from Hoi An to Hue?
The taxi driver system in Hoi An is very polite, civilized and never overcharge with foreign travelers. So you can convince in taxi system here and enjoy your trip. For some skeptical travels, you can take the city map to make sure that you will not be tricked. The maps always have hotline number of authorities, you can call conveniently if having some unexpected situation. The biggest advantage if you choose the taxi to go to Hue from Hoi An is saving time, it just takes about 2.5 hours for 126 km. Besides, comparing with other vehicles, the taxi is the best choice because of its mobility. You can catch the taxi and stop everywhere you want. Especially in some day with bad weather, the taxi can protect you and give you have a safe trip.
=>Read more: Hue private cars with driver – Nice Car & Professional Driver
What are the disadvantages of the taxi when traveling from Hoi An to Hue?
Among 5 ways to get to Hue from Hoi An, the taxi will be the most expensive way, it is about VND 1,500,000-1,700,000. For some travelers have not much money, the taxi will not be recommended. Besides, the language barriers will make you feel discouraged because some drivers, as well as saleman, cannot speak English or other languages. To make sure that you can have the perfect trip, you should learn just some Vietnamese sentences such as the name of the place you want to go, even bargain with the drivers. In some cases, the language barrier will create the difficulty when you communicate with the taxi driver.
Hoi An to Hue by private motorbike
How to rent a motorbike from Hoi An to Hue ?
- Travel time: approximately 3 hours
- Cost: VND 250,000- VND 350,000
The easiest way to rent a motorbike is asking your hotel’s reception because most of hotels in Hoi An have the motorbike rental service for travelers. If not, there are many popular motorbike rental stores you can choose as follows:
| BRANDS | ADDRESS | PHONE NUMBER | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nhat Hau | Hoi An | (+84) 905 430 297 (+84) 964 333 030 | Free shipping |
| Mr. Vu | Hoi An | (+84) 985 005 113 | Free shipping |
| Renting Motorbike Hoi An | Nguyen Hoang Bus Station | (+84) 969 205 219 | Free shipping Free helmet |
| Hidden Land Travel | 35 Chu Van An | (+84) 941 365 563 | Free consulting Having contract |
| Good Car Company | 229 Nguyen Van Thoai | (+84) 906 408 040 | Free shipping |
| Hoang Long | 85A Ly Thai To | (+84) 926 555 333 (+84) 968 441 414 | Bonus a little gasoline 2 standard helmet 2 raincoat 1 map |
Note: The price can be changed depending the day you book and the type of cars you choose.
Some tips if you choose the motorbike for traveling from Hoi An to Hue
- You should notice other costs such as gasoline, tax, deposit, even maintenance, etc. Please contact the car owner to negotiate about this issue.
- Check your motorbike carefully before taking. Make sure that it can run well for a long distance. Even, you should confer with the motorbike owner if some unexpected cases happen.
- You will be left one of three documents: passport, license’s drive or identity card. Please make sure that you always have other documents to prove your identity because you will use usually during your trip.
What are the advantages of the motorbike when traveling from Hoi An to Hue
Many travelers choose this type of transport because of their mobility. The travelers can stop immediately if they want to take a photo or even enjoy a new place atmosphere. For some people who interest in the difficult road, the motorbike is a good choice. You can have more opportunities to explore more new places as well as yourselves. By talking with local people, you will gain more interesting experiences and broaden your knowledge. Besides, some unexpected circumstances such as out of gasoline, breaking brakes, etc. make you mature in a natural way. You will learn how to tackle difficult problems in a flexible way.
What are the disadvantages of the motorbike when traveling from Hoi An to Hue?
The long-distance is a disadvantage for some visitors they don’t have enough the health to afford, especially for some team having kids or children. Besides, the driver must understand the Vietnamese road laws being different from other countries. Moreover, the procedure to rent a motorbike is sometimes sophisticated, you should notice if you don’t want to be tricked. To guarantee your right, please make a contract before taking a motorbike.
Hoi An to Hue by shuttle bus – The cheapest way
- Travel time: approximately 4 hours
- Cost: VND 80.000-250.000
If you do not have much money, traveling from Hoi An to Hue by shuttle is a good idea. The price is cheapest when comparing with other vehicles. I will give you more detail about some brands of the shuttle bus below:
How to book the shuttle bus from Hoi An to Hue?
| BRAND | TIME AND PLACE START | PRICE (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Hue Tourist | 7:00 Hoi An 11:00 Hue Office | 220,000 |
| KT Travel Hue | 13:30 Hoi An Office 17:30 Hue Office | 90,000 |
| Hanh Cafe | 7:30 Hoi An City 10:30 Hue City | 130,000 |
| 13:00 Hoi An City 16:00 Hue City | 130,000 | |
| The Sinh Tourist (Sinh Cafe) | 8:30 Hoi An 12:30 Hue | 99,000 |
| 13:45 Hoi An 17:45 Hue | 99,000 | |
| TM Camel | 13:00 Hoi An Office 16:00 Hue Office | 80,000 |
What are the advantages of shuttle bus when traveling from Hoi An to Hue?
When we mention about advantages of this vehicle, you have to mention about the tickets’ price. It is the cheapest way if you want to travel from Hoi An to Hue. Besides, the time start of this kind is very flexible with many turns every day from 7:00 to 16:00, so you yourselves can control the time of your trip. Moreover, you are easy to start the conversation with the local people in the car and gain a lot of knowledge such as the local characteristics, their life opinion and their thinking bringing for you unforgettable memories.
What are the disadvantages of shuttle bus when traveling from Hoi An to Hue?
Different from the taxi, the shuttle bus has some permanent stops, you have to go there in time to make sure that you will not miss your turn. In some cases, the travelers are overloaded, you cannot follow your schedule anymore and have to change depending on the next turn. Moreover, the language barriers will make your trip become more difficult because neither driver nor sale man can understand what you say and your purposes.
Time-consuming is another reason make many travelers do not choose the shuttle bus. It takes about 4 hours to transfer- the longest time among 5 vehicles.
Some tips you should consider if you want to travel by the shuttle bus.!
The first thing is the tickets booking. In normal circumstances, the shuttle bus can serve all the travelers, but in some cases, you miss your turns because of visitors overloaded. Therefore, you should book the tickets before at least 1 day by calling for the phone number of the shuttle bus management that I mentioned above.
Secondly, your luggage will be put into the specific place for the luggage, it can lead to a chaos and your luggage is easy to be lost. You should notice carefully and put the important documents such as passport, identity card, driving license, etc. into your handbag.
Thirdly, you should wear convenient and comfortable clothes because of the long distance from Hoi An to Hue, the time you transfer is relatively long, about 4 hours
Hoi An to Hue by train – The traditional way
- Travel time: approximately 3 hours
- Cost: VND 75,000-120,000 + 25,000-300,000 transfers
Actually, there is no train going directly from Hoi An to Hue, you must divide into 2 routes, Hoi An – Da Nang and Da Nang to Hue by train. The distance between Hoi An and Da Nang is about 35 km, it is relatively short so you can travel to Da Nang from Hoi An by several ways such as taxi, bus, private vehicle. We will give you more detail for each means of transports below:
Take a private car from Hoi An to Da Nang
A private car rental is cheaper than a taxi ride but still keeps the convenience and comfort, making it one of the best ways. Affordable prices for it are from 300,000 to 400,000 VND, mainly depending on the number of seats. This range of cost doesn’t change even if the departure and arrival places are not too far from the city center. The ride lasts around 45 minutes, but may be longer because of weather, traffic congestion and construction. Booking Here
How to travel from Da Nang to Hue by train?
The distance from Da Nang to Hue is about 103 km, and you will spend 2,5 hours to travel by train. There are many trains as well as the type of seats you can choose. The price is about VND 75,000- VND 120,000, which ischeaper than using the taxi. You can consider this means of transport to travel from Da Nang to Hue. You can get more details as follows below:
| NAME | DEPARTURE TIME | ARRIVAL TIME | SOFT CHAIR (INCLUDING CONDITIONER) (VND) | SOFT BED (INCLUDING CONDITIONER) (VND) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE6 | 3:04 | 5:33 | 75,000-80,000 | 80,000-120,000 |
| SE22 | 6:41 | 10:04 | 75,000-80,000 | 80,000-120,000 |
| SE10 | 9:25 | 12:33 | 75,000-80,000 | 80,000-120,000 |
| SE2 | 12:46 | 15:23 | 75,000-80,000 | 80,000-120,000 |
| SE4 | 14:13 | 16:39 | 75,000-80,000 | 80,000-120,000 |
| SE20 | 18:55 | 21:25 | 75,000-80,000 | 80,000-120,000 |
| SE8 | 22:59 | 1:28 | 75,000-80,000 | 80,000-120,000 |
Note: The price can be changed depending on the day you book
To purchase the train tickets online, you can access the website dsvn.vn or you can call directly: (+84) 1900 6469
If you want to book ticket offline, please go to the train station at 791 Hai Phong Street, Tam Thuan Ward, Thanh Khe, Da Nang.
Some tips if you choose the train to travel from Da Nang to Hue
- Booking the train tickets isthe most important.You should book before at least 1 day to make sure that you will have enough the seat on time and your trip will follow up your schedule.
- Normally, the meals are not included in your ticket. As such, if you want to eat something, you can go to the kitchen in the last carbine. There are many kinds of food and drink can serve your demands such as fries, instant noodles, etc. For some travelers, they always care about the food security, they should prepare their own food before getting on the train.
- Buying the souvenirs is easy to understand for visitors, but you should buy some prestigious brands in the big train station to guarantee the goods’ quality.
What are the advantages of the train when traveling from Hoi An to Hue
The time is very flexible, there are 6 turns every day, so you can choose the train suitable for your schedule. The average speed of the train is also an advantage, the longer the travel is, the more experience you get like several landscapes along the road. Besides, the train tickets are relatively cheap and stable. In some circumstances such as holiday, the prices may change but will return the old price when the holiday pass. Moreover, the trains are quite safe because they run on specific lines, the risk of the accident of this vehicle is almost non-existent. So you can enjoy your trip and no worries about the transfer.
What are the disadvantages of the train when traveling from Hoi An to Hue
Time-consuming becomes a disadvantage of this means of transport, it will take about 2,5 hours, more than other vehicles. If you don’t have much time, the train is not considered. Besides, the trains have no flexible stop like shuttle bus and taxi, you have to go directly the train station in time if you don’t want to miss your turn. Another cost that few travelers notice is the price when you move from train station to the place you want to visit and vice-versa.
Hoi An to Hue by Private car: Nice Car & Professional Driver
If the local coach, shuttle bus, taxi/ grab can’t satisfy you, private car can be your choice to travel from Hoi An to Hue. While private car/taxi is not really economical and also takes as much time as the local coach and shuttle bus, it will give you a carefree direct journey and more space of privacy in return. It suits with flexible travelers who don’t like to follow any rules or schedules. This is also a good choice for a small group of friends or family. In addition, everyone can sit nice and close to each other to have a chit chat or lean on each other sleeping. The private car is also ideal for a businessman who wants to work on the way without being disturbed.
Private car with driver
There are a lot of agencies or individuals providing this service promoting themselves on the internet. You can check out the Danang Transfer, Nhan Vy Travel or Hoian Private Car to book and get the updated price. The driver normally can speak English. You don’t have to worry about miscommunication too much. They may make your journey less boring if you travel alone or give you a lot of interesting facts along the way. The experienced drivers can be helpful in giving you recommendations of accommodations or services to take.
The price for the private car to travel from Hoi Anto Hue is in such a wide range. There are many factors affecting the price of this journey. A few to mention are the size, the brand and status of the car, if it’s one way or round trip, waiting surcharge, etc. The average price is about USD60 – USD75(VND1,380,000 – VND1,700,000 for one way including parking fee, tolls, petrol, driver.
If you get a private car you could probably negotiate a cheaper rate for roundtrip. Private cars have the option of taking a tunnel that saves a bit of time on the pass but you tell the driver not to, at least one way so you get to see the whole pass.
=> One way transfer from Hoi an to Hue by Private car
=> Day trip from Hoi An to Hue city tour with private car
A private car without driver
The private car without driver can be a choice for you but it’s not highly recommended. The process to hire a car is too complicated. You have to have the B1 driving license, original identity card, original household and a bike with registration certificate (or cash instead). The price varies from USD25-USD65(~VND500,000-VND1,500,000) per day and can be higher on the weekend and holidays. There are a lot of choices for you which are available at Thuexetulaidanang.com . Honestly, to be easy to rent a private car without driver in any country, you’d better have your friends or other travelers who will give the best guarantee for car owners
How to choose suitable transportation from Hoi An to Hue
What is your budget?
Finance is a key factor for every trip because all of your activities based on your money you have. In case you don’t have much money, you should consider traveling by shuttle bus instead of the taxi or the private vehicles, you should consider other activities which need more money than the transportation. If you have a lot of money, you can choose any vehicles being suitable for your demands. The Private car can be a good idea because of its mobility, you can confer with the drivers if you want to stop in many places, you can believe in the driver in Hoi An since the local people here are very friendly and truthful.
Who do you go with?
The partners are also a key factor if you want to have an interesting trip, if your team like adventurous, the private vehicles are the best choice, you will have more opportunities to experience, challenge and explore your ability. On the other hand, if your team has children, using private motorbike is not considered because it is too dangerous for you-foreign travelers and your children – vulnerable people. You should consider traveling by train if your finance is limited, or by Private car if you have enough money. The size of the group also affects your decision, if you have a large group, you should consider the train or shuttle bus, in this case, you are easy to go travel together. Besides, you should notice other members’ opinion, because they are different in characteristic, financial ability and demands as well. Apparently, the unification in the big group seems to be difficult, but the decision will depend on a mass, other members should respect and have cooperative attitudes to make sure that you will have a fun and comfortable trip.
How much luggage do you bring along?
The luggage seems to be not really related to your decision, but in our opinion, you should notice that before choosing any means of transport. If your luggage is big and large, the train allows you can bring 20 kg luggage should be considered. The private motorbike, in this case, is not recommended because it will be a balk for your trip. If you want to travel by private motorbike, please remember that bringing your belongings as few as possible.
The brief summary of all vehicles
There are several ways to travel from Hoi An to Hue as I mentioned above, depending on your interests and demands, you can choose the suitable one. Finally, I will give you an overview of all vehicles to get Hue from Hoi An:
| DURATION | PRICE (VND) | ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi/ Grab | 2,5 hours | 1,500,000-1,800,000 | Time saving Fastest Comfortable High cost Most expensive |
| Private car | 2,5 hours | 1,400,000-1,600,000 | Time saving Enjoy your trip Dangerous |
| Private motorbike | 3-4 hours | 250,000-350,000 | Time saving Enjoy your trip Dangerous |
| Shuttle bus | 4 hours | 80,000-200,000 | Convenient Cheapest Time-consuming |
| Train | 4 hours | 75,000-120,000 + -300,000 transfers | Convenient Safe Relatively cheap Time-consuming |
4 Beautiful Landscapes You Shouldn’t Miss when you travel from Hoi An to Hue
Central Vietnam is known for both delicious and authentic Vietnamese cuisine and awe-inspiring natural and man-made landscapes. There are three famous cities to visit within Central Vietnam : Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An and when traveling within these three historical and modern cities, there are landscape you just can’t afford to miss.
Lang Co is located in Phu Loc District about 65 kilometers away from the city center of Hue, beautiful bodies of water gives refreshment to the day. Lang Co has no specific tourist destination but it is known for Lap An Lagoon and Lang Co beach.
Lap An Lagoon is both scenic and useful for locals and tourists. The lagoon is for oyster farming, it is the main source of income of the residents. Make sure to look at this beautiful lagoon at the foot of Bach Ma mountain as it is picture perfect most especially during sunset. Another must see landscape on the way to Hoi An from Hue is the Lang Co Beach. A good beach to chill and swim as it is not crowded like the other beaches in Central Vietnam. This white sand beach looks amazing at the starting point of Hai Van Pass. It sets expectation to what other things to see upon reaching the Hai Van Pass viewpoint.
Hai Van Pass is located along the Annamite Range between Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang. It is approximately 20km long and highest pass in Vietnam. The winding road gives excitement to adventure seekers, expect to see number of motorbike riders on the way to the viewpoint of the pass. Upon reaching the viewpoint of Hai Van Pass, take a good look of the beautiful landscapes of Danang and Hue.
Then Marblem Mouintain – Danang is the biggest city in the central of Vietnam. In the middle of this modern city, the wonderful landscape of the Marble Mountain still stuns visitors. This is why it is the top visited site within the city. The mountain overlooks the city buildings and the famous My Khe Beach. The five mountains are considered as holy and locals set up grottoes and shrines to honor their gods that dates back thousand of years ago.
Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to travel from Hoi An to Hue, including by bus, train, taxi / Grab, car or Motorbike . Each mode of transportation has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider your options and choose the one that best fits your needs.
The quickest way to get from Da Nang to Hue is to private car which costs $50 – $75 and takes 2,5 hours. It is pretty hard to get to the buses from the train station, airport, so if you prefer not to catch a taxi (they are crazy drivers!) it would be best to pre-organize your transfer with private car or grab.
The cost-effective way to get from Hoi An to Hue is to bus , which costs $5 – $10 and takes 3h 30m.
The railway from Danang station to Hue station is about 103 Kilometers. There are 4 trains including SE2, SE4, SE6 and SE8 (which belong to Reunification Express train) on this route. They daily depart and take over 2 to 3 hours (From Danang to Hue or return).
Yes, you can do that in one day! Travel to Hue from Hoi An for a full-day tour of the ancient city’s UNESCO World Heritage sites and other monuments. Visit the royal mausoleum known as Tu Duc tomb, the Imperial City, the Perfume River, and the Thien Mu Pagoda.
Tipping is a big part of the culture in Vietnam. Although it’s not mandatory, it is increasingly expected – especially from foreign tourists.
If you’re travelling from Da Nang to Hue by private car, taxi, or as part of a guided tour, it would be customary to leave your driver and/or guide a small tip (50K–100K VND) – provided you are happy with the service.
It’s not necessary to tip on buses, the shuttle, or when using Grab (although Grab drivers do appreciate it if you round the fare up to the nearest 10K VND).
Local tips to get from Hoi An to Hue
- If you are planning to travel by train, select a seat on the right side of the train in order to catch an excellent view of the coastline along the Hai Van Pass.
- If you are renting motorbikes to travel from the local store, remember to check the bike carefully before hitting the road. Test the engine, the brake, the horn if it’s working well.
- When renting a motorbike, the owner will ask you to deposit your original passport however it’s highly recommended to make a deal with them to just keep a copy file.
- Follow the local traffic rules and do not drive over the speed limit.
- Check the weather before starting the journey as it is very dangerous to drive in the rain, following the chance of an accident, particularly for people who have less driving experience.
Above is the detailed transportation guide taking you from Hoi An to Hue. Visit Danang Transfer and let us help you plan the best Danang Tours with private car and have the most authentic experiences in Vietnam.
