From the ancient port filled with colorful and vibrant lanterns, to the ancient capital streets, here’s how to get from Hoi An to Hue. Catching a bus from Hoi An to Hue is the most common mode of transport between these two Vietnamese gems. Both filed with plenty of history and unforgettable sights, traveling from Hoi An to Hue (and vice versa) is a common route for many travelers along the banana pancake trail. There are a number of ways to get from Hoi An to Hue:

• Bus – most common and less hassle as the bus actually leaves from Hoi An
• Train and flights – while these two are usually faster, there is no train station or airport in Hoi An. The closest train station and airport is in the nearby city of Da Nang.
• Hire a private car or motorbike with a driver to Da Nang – this is also a great way to see the Hai Van Pass while you’re at it.

So, if you’re after the best way to get from Hoi An to Hue, then this article is for you! I’ll give you my personal favorite form of transport from Hoi An to Hue, you can book everything you need for the adventure right here and there are plenty of tips along the way!

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What is the fastest way to get from Hoi An to Hue?

Hiring a car from Hoi An to Hue is the easiest and fastest way to travel from Hoi An to Hue. If you’re on a tight schedule, you can skip the sightseeing and much of the scenic tour for a private shuttle from Hoi An to Hue. A straight shot from Hoi An to Hue takes around 3 hours. These companies offer door to door service from your accommodation in Hoi An to the front door of your place to stay in Hue.

The only other direct transport from the two destinations is by bus, and there will be more stops than your private car. And getting from the bus station to your final destination in Hue will be up to you. Book your private car from Hoi An to Hue. There are a few other ways travelers can get to Hue from Hoi An, and they are all detailed below!  

 

What is the most common way people get from Hoi An to Hue?

One of the most common, if not the most common way for people to visit Hue from Hoi An is by bus. It’s one of the cheapest options and also one of the fastest. Hoi An has a bus station with direct routes to Hue, making it one of the most direct routes to the ancient capital of Vietnam.

All up, it takes around 4 hours to get from Hoi An to Hue. What makes this option one of the fastest and easiest is that there are no changes in transport. You will have a stop for a bathroom and lunch break, and then it’s straight back on the same bus to Hue.

There are downsides to taking the most convenient route from Hoi An to Hue. While the train and private tours to Hue see some beautiful scenery, including the Hai Van Pass, the bus takes a different route. Going through many tunnels, the beauty of the area is missed a lot of the time. You can book your bus from Hoi An to Hue online. If you’re after a more scenic option to arrive in Hue, read on below!  

 

What is the most scenic way to get from Hoi An to Hue?

The road from Hoi An to Hue is smooth and scenic. I’m talking about stunning vistas of mountains and beaches stretching into the distance. Part of the road between these two Vietnamese destinations is a 21-kilometer stretch known as the Hai Van Pass. It’s known as one of the best roads in the world to experience. Hiring a car or a motorbike with a driver is the best way to experience the Hai Van Pass. You can also stop off at a lot of the best places to visit between Hoi An and Hue. Two of the most popular places you can visit are:

• Marble Mountains – climb the hills for a beautiful 360-degree view of the plateau around Hoi An and Hue.
• Da Nang – this bustling city lights up at night and on the weekends, has a fire breathing dragon!

  

I took my tour from Hoi An to Hue with EasyRider. Apart from having a numb butt by the end of the tour, the day was perfect. On the back of a bike, wind in your face and being driven by a capable driver. These tailored tours offer a great way to experience the scenic route between Hoi An and Hue. EasyRider charge around $50 USD for the day tour, one way from Hoi An to Hue.

This doesn’t cover lunch or entrance fees of any places you visit. You can skip the lines and book your seat through GetYourGuide.com. If being on the back of a bike for most of the day doesn’t sound enjoyable to you, plenty of companies offer the same tours, just in private cars. The tour with private car costs around $60-80 USD and doesn’t include lunch or entrance fees. There are companies offering up to 16 seats in a van for larger groups.  

 

How did I travel from Hoi An to Hue?

Myself and my partner hired a motorbike along with drivers. It was, in my opinion, the best way to travel from Hoi An to Hue and see some great sights along the way. Each person will have to hire their own bike and driver, which does increase the cost – $50 USD per person. If you have a backpack, the driver will securely strap your bag to the back of the bike.

This acts as a backrest for you throughout the day – it makes the journey a lot more comfortable. Don’t be like me and wear inappropriate pants along the bike tour to Hue. I wore the southeast Asian baggy style pants you commonly see at markets. By the end of the trip, my crotch had a gaping hole in them, they only got larger the more times I had to stretch my legs apart to sit down on the bike.  

 

What are other ways to get from Hoi An to Hue?

There are a couple more options to choose from for those wanting to visit Hue from Hoi An. Trains and planes. The problem with these two forms of transit is Hoi An does not have an airport or a train station. The city of Da Nang holds the closest airport and train station to Hoi An. So, if you want to catch the train to Hue or a plane, you need to make your way to Da Nang first.

After you get to Da Nang (see below), you can get to the train station or airport easily and make your connecting transport from there. While these two are my least favorite options, there is something to be said for both of them. The train route is known for having some beautiful scenery from the windows.  

 

Train from Da Nang to Hue

The train from Da Nang to Hue takes around three hours and costs roughly 86,000 VND. Leaving 4 times a day from around 10 am to 6:45 pm. Traveling from DaNang to Hue by train is one of the best options as you’re able to see plenty of beautiful views from the window. While you won’t actually be traveling the Hai Van Pass, you will be treated to very similar views of this beautiful area of central Vietnam. Book your train from Da Nang to Hue hassle-free.  

 

Fly from Da Nang to Hue

So I’ve included flying from DaNang to Hue as an option, but I think it’s one of the weakest options out there unless you particularly love flying. The issue is that not only is there no airport at Hoi An, but there’s also no direct flight from Da Nang to Hue. So a stopover in either Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi is required.

This makes the travel time around 4-5 hours, and still, that doesn’t include getting from Hue airport to the city. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air service this route. For this extra time spent in transit, you’re looking around $150 USD. So, if you still want to check out the options for your flight from Da Nang to Hue, you can plug in your details below and see what you get – there are plenty of better options in my opinion.  

 

Hiring a motorbike for one way trip from Hoi An to Hue

There are also companies where you can hire a motorbike and drive yourself to hue Hue from hoi an. These companies provide you with the set of wheels and helmet and you’re on your way. They also transport your luggage from Hoi An to Hue included in the price. If you’re after the most flexibility when traveling from Hoi An to Hue.

There are a number of companies offering motorbike rental from Hoi An to Hue, prices start around $12 USD and up. That includes a helmet, map of the route and luggage transfer to Hue. Renting a bike between Hoi An and Hue is the most flexible way to travel between the two destinations in Vietnam, as long as you feel comfortable driving the sometimes chaotic streets.  

 

How to get from Hoi An to Da Nang

There is a bus from Hoi An to Da Nang. Bus #1 costs 18,000 VND (30,0000 VND with luggage). While this option is the cheapest way to get to Da Nang, it’s also the longest. Expect the bus to take a little over one hour. The #1 bus is easy to spot as it is bright yellow. You can get private shuttle buses from Hoi An to Da Nang for around 25,000-30,000 VND.  

 

What else should I know about traveling to Hue from Hoi An?

Depending on what transport you choose for getting to Hue to Hoi An, there may be some things to be aware of.

• Taking a bike tour from Hoi An to Hue doesn’t give much protection from the sun. Many of the tourist attractions between the popular places in Vietnam also don’t give much relief from the sun. Sunblock and water are heavily recommended.
• No matter the tour you take from Hoi An, none of the entrance fees are included. This includes the Marble Mountains and Elephant Springs.
• You can tailor many of the sightseeing tours between Hoi An and Hue of you have visited them before. For example, on my EasyRiding tour, our drivers had no issue skipping marble Mountains as my partner and I had been there before.

There are many ways to travel from the colorful lanterns of Hoi An to Hue, the ancient capital filled with history and abandoned water theme parks. Depending on your time and budget, as well if you want sightseeing between Hue and Hoi An, there’s a great option to suit every traveler. Both these destinations in Vietnam are so popular, and in my mind, it is justified popularity. Adding the beautiful scenery between Hoi An and Hue only adds to the unforgettable travel opportunities through Vietnam. If you’re still unsure how you would like to travel between these two destinations, plug your information in below and you will get a run down and prices of every available option to book online.

 

How else can I prepare for my trip to Vietnam?

There are a couple of other things you can do to make your travels throughout Vietnam run smoother and easier.

• Buying the right travel insurance is so important. World Nomads is who I use and I love them for their great plans and fast customer service.
• Lonely Planet’s guide to Vietnam will give you plenty of tips and recommendations. Guide books aren’t dead – especially those who cover a destination so well.

Have you traveled from Hoi An to Hue (or Hue to Hoi An)? What did you think? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below! If you enjoyed this post, here’s what you can do now:

• Share this post to social media to help others travel between Hoi An and Hue better
• Sign up to Horizon Unknowns Newsletter for more travel tips and tricks – also get an 8-page free travel checklist!

 

Read more about traveling Vietnam

• Here are 5 tours in Hoi An that you shouldn’t miss!
• The best hostels in Hanoi right here!
• Ever had a culture shock? Here’s how to learn to love them.

 

Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown