How to Get to Phong Nha: Flights, Trains, Sleeper Buses and Our Pickup Point
The fastest way to reach Phong Nha is to fly to Dong Hoi airport, then drive about 45km (around 1 hour). From Hue there is a daily tourist train, and from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh and Da Nang there are sleeper buses straight to Phong Nha. Below you’ll find each option with times, fares and operator phone numbers.
Joining a Moc Nam tour: how to reach the pickup
- Staying in the Phong Nha area: we pick you up free of charge from your accommodation between 8:00 and 8:30 on the morning of your tour.
- Arrive the evening before, or by night bus: tours start early, so most guests spend the night in Phong Nha first. Sleeper buses from Hanoi arrive between 4:00 and 6:00, early enough to join a tour the same morning.
- Bags and a shower: leave the bags you do not need on the trail at our office in Phong Nha, then shower and change there for free after your tour, so you can travel on the same day.
- Staying in Dong Hoi or landing at Dong Hoi airport: we can book a car for you, from 5-seat cars to 16-seat vans. Spending a day in the city first? See our guide to things to do in Dong Hoi.
- Staying elsewhere: make your own way to our pickup point in Phong Nha, or message us and we’ll help book a taxi at a fair price.
- Not sure how many days to stay? See our Phong Nha itinerary for 1, 2 or 3 days to see what fits in each day.
Our pickup point in Phong Nha: open in Google Maps
Distances and travel times to Phong Nha
| From | Distance | Suggested way to travel |
|---|---|---|
| Dong Hoi airport / station | About 45km, around 1 hour | Taxi, B4 public bus, or a taxi booked through us |
| Hue | About 200km | Hue – Phong Nha tourist train, or sleeper bus |
| Da Nang, Hoi An | About 300km | Sleeper bus |
| Hanoi | About 500km | Flight to Dong Hoi, sleeper bus, or driving yourself |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Too far by road | Flight to Dong Hoi |
Hanoi to Phong Nha: flight, train or sleeper bus
Hanoi is about 500km from Phong Nha. You can fly or take the night train to Dong Hoi and then drive about 1 hour, or take an overnight sleeper bus that goes all the way to Phong Nha.
| Option | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Flight to Dong Hoi | About 1 hour in the air, then about 1 hour by car (45km) | The fastest. Direct flights with Vietnam Airlines; the number of flights changes with the season. |
| Night train to Dong Hoi | About 10 hours, for example leaving Hanoi around 21:00 and arriving around 7:00 | Then about 1 hour to Phong Nha by taxi, the B4 bus or a car we book. Fares depend on the class; check Vietnam Railways. |
| Sleeper bus to Phong Nha | Overnight, leaving Hanoi between about 16:15 and 19:30 | No change of vehicle. 400,000 to 650,000 VND one way depending on the bus. Operators and phone numbers are listed below. |
After a night on the train most guests rest for a day and join a tour the next morning. Sleeper buses reach Phong Nha between 4:00 and 6:00, so by bus you can also join a tour the same morning. Our pickup is 8:00 to 8:30 from your accommodation in Phong Nha.
For every train time, sleeper class and bus operator on this route, and which overnight option to pick, see our Hanoi to Phong Nha guide.
Flying to Dong Hoi
There are direct flights to Dong Hoi airport from Hanoi with Vietnam Airlines, and from Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air. The number of flights per day changes with the season, so check the airline’s schedule when you book.
Dong Hoi airport is about 45km from Phong Nha, around 1 hour by car. From the airport you can take a taxi, the public bus or a motorbike, or ask us to book a car.
Taking the train
Hue – Phong Nha tourist train (running since 28 August 2026)
The “Hue – Phong Nha” heritage tourist train runs daily and stops at 5 stations: Hue, Dong Ha, My Trach, Dong Hoi and Tho Loc.
- Outbound: leaves Hue at 7:15, arrives at Tho Loc at 11:55.
- Return: leaves Tho Loc at 13:15, arrives back in Hue at 17:25.
- Fares: soft seat 420,000 VND (about $16), VIP carriage 760,000 VND (about $29). Vietnam Railways is offering 15% off tickets until the end of 2026.
The train arrives around midday, so take it the day before your tour, stay the night in Phong Nha and join the tour the next morning. Message us if you need a car from the station to your accommodation. Times and fares may change, so check with Vietnam Railways before booking.
North-South trains to Dong Hoi station
From major stations such as Hanoi, Da Nang and Saigon, take the train to Dong Hoi, then continue about 45km to Phong Nha the same way as from the airport. It takes longer than flying, but the scenery along the way is part of the trip.
Public bus from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha
The B4 public bus runs between Dong Hoi and Phong Nha twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The fare is 35,000 VND per person one way. Phone: +84913559357 – +84 232 3717178.
Driving yourself
You can drive to Phong Nha from Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City, averaging about 50km per hour. The roads are wide and easy, and Phong Nha fits well into a north-south road trip through Dong Hoi, mixing jungle and beach. Plan to arrive in Phong Nha in the evening, rest overnight and start your tour the next morning.
Sleeper buses to Phong Nha
Fares and times below come from the bus companies and may change. Call ahead to reserve a seat. Most operators speak mainly Vietnamese, so message us if you need help booking. For a full trip budget with beds, food and cave tickets, see Phong Nha on a budget.
Hanoi – Phong Nha
- Hung Long: +84914077779 (32-38 berths)
- Hoang Linh: +84825599599 (20-32 berths)
- Queen Cafe: +84339070692 (32-38 berths)
Fare: 400,000-500,000 VND (about $15-19) one way. Pickup in Hanoi: 19:00-19:30. Pickup in Phong Nha: 19:30-21:00.
- HK Buslines: +84979252622 (24 cabins). Fare: 650,000 VND per person or 950,000 VND for 2 people, one way. Pickup in Hanoi: 16:15-18:30. Pickup in Phong Nha: 23:30-1:00.
- Tan Quang Dung: +84962334334 (limousine, 22 cabins). Fare: 500,000 VND one way. Pickup in Hanoi: 17:30. Pickup in Phong Nha: 9:30-10:30.
- HM Happy Car
Ninh Binh – Phong Nha
Same operators as the Hanoi – Phong Nha route. Planning Ninh Binh and Phong Nha in the same trip? See Phong Nha or Ninh Binh: how to fit both in.
Hai Phong – Phong Nha
Thanh Sang: +84912556555 (38 berths). Fare: 350,000-450,000 VND one way. Pickup at Vinh Niem and Thuong Ly bus stations: 17:30. Pickup in Phong Nha: 15:00.
Vinh (Nghe An) – Phong Nha
Thanh Sang: +84869725775 / +84986401162. Fare: 250,000 VND one way. Pickup in Vinh: 7:50 and 14:00. Pickup in Phong Nha: 6:50 and 14:30.
Da Nang – Phong Nha
- Hai Ha: +84905619619
- Hanh Luyen: +84339070692
- Quang Dung: +84962334334 (limousine, 22 cabins)
Fare: 300,000 VND (about $11) one way. Pickup in Da Nang: 8:00-15:00. Pickup in Phong Nha: 14:00.
- HK Busline: +84979252622 (24 cabins)
- Phong Phu: +84978330678
Fare: 250,000 VND one way. Pickup in Phong Nha: 8:00.
Hue, Quang Tri, Hoi An – Phong Nha
Same operators as the Da Nang – Phong Nha route. From Hue you can also take the tourist train above.
If there is no direct bus from where you are, take a sleeper bus to Dong Hoi and continue to Phong Nha from there. From Hoi An southwards, we recommend flying.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting to Phong Nha
Choose your Abandoned Valley tour
Once you’re in Phong Nha, pick one of our 4 tours with daily departures:
- 1-Day E Cave Tour – from $68
- 1-Day Golden Cave and E Cave Tour – from $82
- 2-Day E Cave Camping – from $156
- 2-Day Dark Cave Exit, E Cave and Golden Cave – from $226
Not sure which tour fits your fitness? See the adventure level of each tour or read about Abandoned Valley.