How to get from
Hue to Hanoi

About the ride from Hue to Hanoi 

The riverside town of Hue is charming, quaint and beautiful but, for a real taste of Vietnamese city life, Hanoi is an essential stop. One of the busiest cities on the planet, many tourists travel from Hue to Hanoi every single day.

For the 670km (416 mile) journey to Hanoi from Hue, you have two options: 

• Bus from Hue to Hanoi - typically around 13 hours
• Train from Hue to Hanoi - typically around 13.5 hours

All buses to Hanoi from Hue are overnight journeys. 

Most trains to Hanoi from Hue are overnight journeys, but a few leave in the early hours of the morning, allowing you to reach Hanoi in the afternoon rather than arriving early in the morning.

Though both options are great for the right traveller, it’s usually best to take the bus to Hanoi from Hue. Buses are cheaper than trains, making them a better choice for budget travel. 

That said, many travelers enjoy the novelty of taking the train in a part of the world where most journeys are on a bus. And, for those who like a little more luxury, train journeys are typically a little more comfortable.

 

What to see when traveling from Hue to Hanoi

That depends upon the time that you travel. If your journey is largely done at night, you won’t see very much!

If you happen to catch sunrise, it can be a beautiful sight. Watching the sun rise majestically over the high-rise buildings of Hanoi while you approach Vietnam’s capital can be an excellent introduction to the city.

If you travel by road, you may well get a first-hand introduction to life on Hanoi’s non-stop streets. Busy and bustling, Hanoi’s roads are a noisy cacophony of endless traffic. Motorbikes, pedestrians, buses and bicycles form a slowly-moving tapestry of chaos and craziness. 

 

How to get from Hue to Hanoi

Taking a bus

Buses are an excellent and easy way to get from Hue to Hanoi. They’re very affordable and surprisingly comfortable. All buses are overnight journeys, which will get you into Hanoi in the early hours of the morning. Taking an overnight journey allows you to save on accommodation costs for the night.

All buses have air conditioning and semi-reclinable seats. Though these seats don’t go fully flat, they’re absolutely horizontal enough for a good night’s sleep. 

Some buses offer TVs, WiFi, blankets, power sockets, onboard toilets and English-speaking staff, but you should check with each individual provider for the perks provided for each specific journey.

The buses without onboard toilets will make toilet stops along the way.

Taking a train

Taking a train from Hue to Hanoi can be a really fun experience. Most tourists in Southeast Asia get around exclusively by bus. And, for most journeys, that’s your best option. 

But when a train is on offer it can make for an unusual and exciting alternative.

If you take a train to Hanoi from Hue, you have many different options. Your most basic option is a Second Class Train, a basic affair with soft, upright seats. 

The most luxurious option is a Tourist Train. On the tourist train, you get a real taste of traveling in style, with beautiful bathrooms, tasty snacks, alcoholic drinks, bedside flowers and very comfortable beds.

Other options include varying levels of luxury and comfort.

If comfort is your priority, the train has the edge over bus journeys. The beds are flatter and more comfortable, the vehicle is much more spacious, the ride is smoother and there’s space to walk around and stretch your legs.

Some trains offer food, drinks, WiFi, TVs, power sockets and English-speaking staff. You should check with individual providers to see the specific perks for each journey. 

All trains have onboard toilets.

While most trains from Hue to Hanoi depart in the afternoon and arrive in the early hours of the morning, a few depart in the early hours of the morning and therefore arrive in Hanoi in the afternoon. 

Most tourists prefer to go for the first of those two options.