After exploring the ancient town of Hoi An, where next? Most travelers heading north are aiming for either Hue or Phong Nha. If Hue is your next stop, check out our guide on how to travel from Hoi An to Hue.
If Phong Nha is on your list, here are the 3 ways transfer from Hoi An to Phong Nha.
Please note that the bus and train companies mentioned below operate independently of Hura Cars. This information is provided in good faith, and Hura Cars accepts no responsibility for the service quality of any third-party operator. Details were last updated in March 2025 — schedules and prices change often, so please confirm directly with the bus or train company before you travel.
How to get to Phong Nha from Hoi An
Hoi An to Phong Nha by Bus
The simplest local option is the Nam Ha bus, which departs at 9:00 AM from the parking area opposite Hoi An Theatre (548 Hai Ba Trung Street). It first takes you to Da Nang Bus Station, a 2–3 hour leg, where you’ll then transfer onto a bus continuing to Phong Nha, departing around 1:00 PM.
An easier route is to first hop on the yellow local bus from Hoi An to Da Nang (about 30,000 VND per person) and connect with the Hanh Luyen bus, which leaves Da Nang Bus Station at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
Keep a close eye on your luggage and make sure you board the correct bus — some drivers will tell you their bus continues north and that you can simply “get off” in Quang Binh province. In reality, they drop you along Highway AH1, and you’ll need to flag down a taxi or motorbike taxi the rest of the way into Phong Nha.
If you’d rather book an open-tour bus, Sinh Cafe / Camel Bus Travel departs for Phong Nha between 8:00–8:30 AM or 1:00–1:30 PM from their office. This route stops first in Hue, where you’ll change onto a different bus before continuing on.
Open-tour and tourist buses are generally the better choice: staff usually speak some English and can help with luggage, meals, water, or any other issues along the way.
Other operators such as Hung Thanh, Trekking, and Minh Map only run buses between Hue and Phong Nha — they do not offer a direct Hoi An–Phong Nha service.
Hoi An to Phong Nha by Train
There’s no train station in Hoi An itself, so you’ll first need to get to Da Nang. For tips on that leg, see our guide: 4 ways to travel between Hoi An and Da Nang.
If you’ve booked a Phong Nha cave tour starting around 7:00–8:00 AM from Dong Hoi, don’t try to time an overnight train to arrive right before it. Vietnamese trains commonly run 45–60 minutes late, and cutting it close means risking a missed tour and a rushed, poor night’s sleep. We recommend arriving the evening before instead — the time you might save by cutting it close isn’t worth the risk.
Once you reach Dong Hoi, you’ll still need a separate transfer to Phong Nha town — a local taxi transfer costs around 650,000 VND per sedan, one way.
| Train No. | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| SE3 | 07:40 | 13:00 |
| SE2 | 12:46 | 18:30 |
| SE4 | 14:13 | 19:30 |
You can check current schedules on the Vietnam Railway website (dsvn.vn) or book in advance through an online travel agent.
Hoi An to Phong Nha by Private Car Transfer
For a door-to-door option, Hura Cars offers a private car transfer between Hoi An and Phong Nha (and back), with vehicles ranging from a compact sedan for small groups up to a 12-seat van for larger groups — just let us know your group size when booking.
The road distance between Hoi An and Phong Nha is about 340 km along Highway AH1. Depending on how you’d like to spend the day, there are two ways to make the trip:
Option A: Direct transfer (about 6.5–7 hours)
This is the fastest way between the two towns, with only brief photo stops along the route:
- Hai Van Pass — the road climbs in a series of wide, sweeping switchbacks between Da Nang and Hue, with old French and Vietnam War–era bunkers at the summit and sweeping coastal views on both sides.
- Lap An Lagoon and Lang Co Beach — just after descending Hai Van Pass, a short detour takes you along the quiet lagoon, with rustic fishing villages on one side and open water and mountains on the other.
- From there, the drive continues straight through to Phong Nha town, where you’re dropped off directly at your hotel.
This option suits travelers who want to reach Phong Nha as efficiently as possible while still catching the two most scenic stretches of the route.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Price (per car) |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | Max 3 people + luggage | 3,200,000 VND |
| SUV / MPV | Max 4 people + luggage | 3,700,000 VND |
| Van | Max 12 people + luggage | 4,700,000 VND |
Prices are quoted per car, not per person.
Option B: Hoi An – Hue city – Phong Nha (10 hours)
Route: Hoi An → Hai Van Pass → Lap An Lagoon → Khai Dinh Tomb → lunch → Hue Imperial Citadel → Phong Nha.
This is a good fit if you don’t want to skip Hue entirely — beyond the Imperial Citadel and Khai Dinh Tomb, you’ll also get a taste of Hue’s cuisine and the atmosphere along the Perfume River before continuing north to Phong Nha.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Price (per car) |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | Max 3 people + luggage | 3,700,000 VND |
| SUV | Max 4 people + luggage | 4,200,000 VND |
| Van | Max 12 people + luggage | 5,200,000 VND |
Prices are quoted per car, not per person. Entrance tickets are not included: Khai Dinh Tomb (150,000 VND), Hue Imperial Citadel (200,000 VND).
Option 3: Hoi An – DMZ – Phong Nha (10 – 12 hours)
Route: Hoi An → Hai Van Pass → Lap An Lagoon → lunch in Dong Ha → Hien Luong Bridge & Ben Hai River → Vinh Moc Tunnels → Phong Nha.
A good choice for anyone interested in Vietnam’s wartime history: Hien Luong Bridge once marked the border between North and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel, while the Vinh Moc Tunnels — a nearly 2 km underground network where entire families once lived to shelter from bombing — are still open to visit in their original form. Along the way you’ll also pass rural villages, rice paddies, and water buffalo, and your driver is happy to stop for photos on request.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Price (per car) |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | Max 3 people + luggage | 3,800,000 VND |
| SUV / MPV | Max 4 people + luggage | 4,300,000 VND |
| Van | Max 12 people + luggage | 5,300,000 VND |
Prices are quoted per car, not per person. Entrance tickets are not included: Hien Luong Bridge (50,000 VND), Vinh Moc Tunnels (50,000 VND).
Whichever route you choose, the car comes with a free Wi-Fi hotspot and an English-speaking driver — his English may not be perfect, but he’ll make the long ride feel a lot shorter. Pick-up is available at your hotel in Hoi An (including Cua Dai and An Bang Beach), and drop-off is at your hotel in Son Trach village or Phong Nha town.
Have questions about which route suits your trip best? Reach out to our team on WhatsApp at +84 934 899 900 and we’ll help you decide.
Comparing all three options
| Option | Advantages | Disadvantages | Time | Price (2 people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Cheap; can be booked online in advance | No direct train; requires 3 transfers (Hoi An→Da Nang by bus/car, train to Dong Hoi, then bus/taxi to Phong Nha); sold out around Tet and major holidays | See schedule above | 50–70 USD |
| Open-tour bus | Cheap; can be booked online in advance | Only one departure per day; no stops en route; can arrive as late as 9:00 PM; sells out around Tet | 13h | 40 USD |
| Local bus | Cheapest option if you speak Vietnamese | No advance booking; 3 transfers required (Hoi An→Da Nang, Da Nang→Dong Hoi, Dong Hoi→Phong Nha); sold out around Tet | 13h | 60–65 USD |
| Private car | Safest and most comfortable; hotel pick-up/drop-off in both cities; free Wi-Fi; travel insurance included; flexible stops and departure time | Highest cost | Flexible | From ~125 USD |
Whichever way you choose, getting to Phong Nha from Hoi An is straightforward once you know the routes and schedules. If you’re after the cheapest option and don’t mind a few transfers, the bus or train will get you there; if comfort, flexibility, and scenic stops along Hai Van Pass matter more, a private car transfer is the smoothest way to make the journey part of the adventure.
