The cities of Da Nang and Hue are part of the popular tourist route in Central Vietnam. When traveling between Da Nang and Hue, you have many options to choose from. Wondering how to get from Da Nang to Hue? Discover different travel options between two cities and find detailed info about taking a Hue day trip, train, bus, taxi, or even flight!
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Da Nang to Hue Distance
The distance between the coastal city of Da Nang and Hue is about 100 km, and it can take about 2-3 hours to travel. However, the travel time depends on the means of transportation you choose. In particular, traveling by car is the fastest way, as it takes only 2 hours. If you are not that much in a hurry, you can also choose to travel by train, bus, or even motorbike.
Da Nang to Hue Travel Options
Travel options covered below include Hue day trip, train, private transfer, bus, limousine, taxi, motorbike, and even a flight!
1. Hue Day Trip
Hue is a charming land cut by the romantic Perfume River with examples of traditional architecture, cuisine, special historical periods, and culture.
If you have no intention of staying overnight in Hue, you can easily take a Hue day trip to visit the most famous landmarks and must-sees in Hue during the day and come back to your hotel in the evening.
Hue Day Trip Itinerary
Most of Hue's day trips are provided by the similar itinerary:
- 8:00-8:30 Meeting up at Cham Museum in Da Nang
- 9:15-9:45 Hai Van Pass
- 10:00 Lang Co Beach
- 11:30 Lunch
- 12:30 Khai Dinh Tomb, Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue Imperial City
- 16:00 Depart for Da Nang City
- 18:00 Drop off at meet-up point
However, the timings, type of vehicle, and inclusions of the day trip can be different.
To get one of the best deals in the market, you can join this Hue City Tour from Da Nang and visit the most important historical sites in Hue.
Hue Day Trip Bookings
When thinking about which Hue day trip to book, in addition to the tour price, you should take into consideration the following points:
a) If admission tickets are included - some tours, like this Hue City Full Day tour from Da Nang, don't include entrance fees and therefore are significantly cheaper than other tours. However, you need to buy entrance tickets at the place or skip the attraction. Such a flexible option might be convenient if you want to visit just some specific attractions in Hue and some of the parts of the itinerary don't interest you.
b) The type of vehicle used for transportation - all join-in Hue day trip organizers use either a minivan (small group tour) or a bus (large group tour).
Advantages of bus tours, such as this Hue Imperial City full-day tour, are usually better comfort of the ride, safety, and more competitive price. The downside is harder to manage the group, less attention from the guide, and slower travels.
Advantages of minivan tours, such as this Hue Imperial City Small Group Tour, are the smaller and better manageable group, faster traveling, and better presence of the guide.
c) Time spent at the attractions that interest you - travelers complain that some tours rush too much, especially when visiting the Imperial Palace (Citadel), which is huge, and it takes time to explore it thoroughly. The most generous tour that gives plenty of time at Citadel is this Hue Imperial City and Hai Van Pass Small Group Tour.
2. Train from Da Nang to Hue
With the convenience and wide choice of departure times as well as the experience that brings this way of traveling, taking a train from Da Nang to Hue is preferred by many people. The train is a safe and economical way to travel between the cities. The distance between Da Nang Railway Station and Hue Railway Station is about 110 km, and the average time of the journey is from 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on the train. However, trains can be delayed, which is the biggest drawback of this transportation.
The positive point is that trains are the safest way to travel in Vietnam. When taking a train, you get a comfortable seat in the cool air-conditioned carriage and have the freedom to admire the beauty through the large glass windows. The route between Da Nang and Hue is really impressive, as you can see the Truong Son mountain range, the spectacular Hai Van Pass, and the blue sea of Lang Co Bay and Lap An Lagoon.
We did this trip by train and loved our travel experience. Our review of taking this train: Da Nang to Hue Train.
Train Schedule
The train to Hue departs daily, and there are plenty of trains per day serving this route. Scheduled train departures from Da Nang are the following:
- SE6: 01:59 - 04:31
- HD2: 07:45 - 11:26
- SE10: 09:06 - 12:59
- SE4: 12:38 - 15:12
- SE2: 13:33 - 16:03
- HD4: 14:20 - 17:35
- SE12: 16:05 - 18:56
- SE20: 18:00 - 20:33
- SE8: 23:20 - 01:59
As not all train departures are daily, trains often get fully booked out, and the schedule is updated. For the current train schedule, check here: Da Nang - Hue Train Schedule.
Train Tickets
You can buy train tickets at the following places:
Da Nang Railway Station: 791 Hai Phong, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City
Hue Railway Station: 02 Bui Thi Xuan, Dieu Ward, Hue City
Book tickets online: Da Nang to Hue Train Tickets
Another good place to check availability of train tickets: Da Nang - Hue Train Ticket
3. Private Transfer from Da Nang to Hue
When traveling in a group, another popular option is booking a private transfer, as this way is much more convenient and less time-consuming. When taking a private transfer, you will not have to worry about anything and will have more time to explore the cities. The transfer takes only 2 hours.
The rental rates for 4-seater, 7-seater, and 16-seater cars will vary, so you can choose according to your needs.
Private transfer via the picturesque route over Hai Van Pass can be booked online here: Da Nang to Hue via Hai Van Pass with Private Car.
4. Limousine from Da Nang to Hue
Limousine in Vietnam is actually a luxury minivan. Taking a limousine from Da Nang to Hue is one of the best ways to travel between the cities. It is also one of the most popular transportation options because travelers can experience high-class and luxurious services for a really affordable price.
There are a number of high-quality limousine companies operating on this route, and they are offering plenty of departure times. Limousine departure schedule can be found and limousine tickets can be booked here: Limousine to Hue.
Another great place to book cheaper limousine tickets for a trip between the cities is here: Shared Bus To Hue From Da Nang & Vice Versa.
5. Bus from Da Nang to Hue
Among the vehicles used for traveling between the cities, buses are quite popular because they are cheap enough and relatively convenient. You can consider choosing a bus if you are not interested in admiring the views of Hai Van Pass because buses on the Hue-Da Nang route go through the Hai Van road tunnel. Taking a bus is more time-consuming and sometimes creates inconveniences with not the best travel experience.
Bus schedules can be found, and bus tickets can be booked here: Bus Da Nang - Hue.
Intercity Bus
At the start of 2020, the intercity bus route Da Nang–Hue/Hue-Da Nang was officially launched by the government.
Operating Hours: From 5:30 to 19:00 daily
Frequency: Depart every 15 minutes
Route: Da Nang Central Bus Station - Ton Duc Thang Street - Nguyen Luong Bang Street - Nguyen Van Cu Street - Hai Van Tunnel - Highway 1 - An Duong Vuong Street - Nguyen Tat Thanh Street - Southern Bus Station in Hue
Fare: 80,000 VND
For more detailed information about this and other public bus routes in the city, check Da Nang Bus.
6. Taxi from Da Nang to Hue
If you are traveling with young children or elderly parents, taking a taxi might be the ideal choice for you. However, the distance between 2 cities is more than 100 kilometers, so the journey won’t come cheap.
Usually, taxi fare is from 1,300,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND. Taxi fare depends on the number of seats, route, and company, as different taxi companies have different rates, and each company also has different pricing policies.
Some of the most reliable taxi companies:
- Mai Linh Taxi
- Taxi Tien Sa
- Taxi Huong Lua
- VinaSun Green Taxi
- Airport Taxi
- Han River Taxi
If you want to avoid any misunderstandings and being overcharged, consider booking online your taxi to Hue from Da Nang.
7. From Da Nang to Hue by Motorbike
Motorbike rides are the most thrilling way to travel on this route, especially for couples who love adventures and want to explore the scenic route closely. The road trip Da Nang - Hai Van - Lang Co - Hue is always among the most attractive and challenging motorbike routes in Vietnam.
When traveling between the cities by motorbike, you can go by Hai Van Pass or the tunnel. If you follow the Hai Van Pass, you can stop and rest at the back of the pass to admire the beautiful scenery of Lang Co and Hai Van Gate. This will surely be a very amazing experience, and you will have a chance to take lots of beautiful photos along the way. However, this road is quite dangerous, so you should be careful. It is best to move via the pass during the day and to travel in a group of people.
If you are not ready to drive via the mountain pass, you can go to the Hai Van tunnel. If you choose this way, drive to the tunnel and park your motorbike at the office of the Hai Van Pass Tunnel Management Office. The truck will take your motorbike to the other side of the tunnel, and you will take the transfer bus and get your motorbike back on the other side.
For completing this journey, it is possible to rent a motorbike in Da Nang and return it in Hue. The motorbike rental price is about 100,000-150,000 VND per day.
Da Nang Airport to Hue
If you are flying to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) and want to head right to Hue, you can book a private transfer with airport pickup here: Taxi from Da Nang Airport to Hue.
The price of the transfer starts from 1,000,000 VND per car.
Tickets
If the selection of options for traveling between the cities seems overwhelming, to compare different means of transportation and to book tickets for the trip, use the following form.
Attractions on the way
Hai Van Pass: This is the first place you must experience when traveling from Da Nang to Hue. The pass is bordered by the sea, creating a majestic natural landscape.
Lang Co Bay: This is one of the most beautiful bays in the world, just down from Hai Van Pass.
Bach Ma National Park: If you love nature, animals, streams, and waterfalls, Bach Ma is a great choice. Standing on the top of Bach Ma, which is over 1400 m high, you almost conquer the whole beautiful Thua Thien - Hue province.
Historic Monuments in Hue: The Complex of Hue Monuments consists of historical and cultural sites built during the Nguyen Dynasty from the early 19th to the mid-20th century in the ancient capital Hue (now it is Thua Thien Hue province). Situated on the northern bank of the Perfume River, the Complex of Hue Monuments occupies a total area of over 500 hectares with a system of 3 circles of ramparts, namely Hue Capital Citadel (Kinh Thanh Hue), Hue Royal Citadel (Hoang Thanh Hue), and Forbidden Citadel (Tu Cam Thanh Hue).
Other attractions in Hue that you must definitely visit once there: Hue Tourist Attractions.
Tips
If you are flying to Da Nang International Airport (DAD), book a discounted Vietnam SIM card online and pick it up at the airport to stay connected with your family and friends since the start of your trip. A pre-booked SIM card is significantly cheaper than purchasing it at the place.
When traveling in the opposite direction from Hue, some travelers prefer to skip Da Nang and go directly to Hoi An. In case you are planning to do so, check how to get from Hue to Hoi An.
While in Da Nang, make sure to visit Ba Na Hills, as it is one of the most important Da Nang tourist attractions.
