Halong Bay to Hue: Complete Guide for First Time Travel

Vietnam is a country filled with natural beauty, rich history, and delicious cuisine. If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, a visit to Halong Bay and Hue should definitely be on your itinerary.

Halong Bay is located in the northern part of Vietnam and is known for its stunning scenery of towering limestone islands and emerald waters. One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Halong Bay is by taking a boat tour. You can choose from a variety of tours that range from a few hours to several days. During the tour, you'll be able to admire the natural beauty of the bay, explore hidden caves and beaches, and enjoy delicious seafood.

After a visit to Halong Bay, make your way to Hue, which is located in central Vietnam. Hue is a city steeped in history and is home to the Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Imperial City served as the political and cultural center of the Nguyen Dynasty, and today, visitors can explore the ancient citadel and palace complex. Hue is also known for its delicious cuisine, including famous dishes such as bun bo Hue and banh khoai.

Halong bay's distance to Hue is about 783km (486 miles) and takes about a 1.10-hour flight. The exact distance depends on your transport type and route.

• Halong Bay's distance to Hue by land transfer is 783km (486 miles) and takes 13.46 hours of transfer.
• The flying distance is 479 km (298 miles) and takes a 1h10m flight.

Travel map from Halong Bay to Hue 

Getting from Halong Bay to Hue is easy, with several options to choose from. Taking a bus is the most popular option and is affordable, but if you prefer a more comfortable and scenic journey, taking a train or hiring a private car is a great option.

Bus from Halong Bay to Hue

There are direct local buses from Halong Bay to Hue. Traveling time is around 15 hours and more. However, most tourists prefer traveling back to Hanoi after the Halong Bay cruise, then taking an overnight bus from Hanoi to Hue. Traveling on an overnight bus to Hue saves time and money for accommodation, so it becomes a favorite choice for many backpackers in Vietnam. Most buses offer 45 seats with ticket price ranging from 250,000 to 400,000 VND (approximately $11 to $25). Here are some bus companies we recommend to you.

1. Van Luc Tung

• Price Ticket: $15
• Pick-up point: Bai Chay station 
• Pick-up time: 14:30
• Drop-off point: Along 1A National Road
• Hotline: 0987 231 777

2. Hung Duc

• Price Ticket: $25
• Pick-up point: Bai Chay station, Cai Rong station
• Pick-up time: 10:30, 12:30
• Drop-off point: Lao Thai supermarket
• Hotline: 097 1576 576

3. Viet Son Anh

• Price Ticket: $25
• Pick-up point: Halong, Cua Ong, Mong Cai, Uong Bi
• Pick-up time: 6:30, 9:00, 10:00, 10:50
• Drop-off point: Along 1A National Road
• Hotline: 0969 555 044

Camel Bus to Hue

You may need an English-fluent supporter to take a bus for you, we absolutely help you and also make a good offer of transportation and attractive tours in Hue to you.

Train from Halong Bay to Hue

There is no direct train from Halong Bay to Hue city in the Central. Tourists can still enjoy a train trip to Hue by traveling to other places such as Hanoi or Ninh Binh to catch Hue's train. Most tourists travel to Hanoi, then catch an overnight train from Hanoi train station to Hue train station. Like most of the trains in Vietnam, the train from Hanoi to Hue are all equipped with air-conditioned; they are safe, comfortable & inexpensive. Each train offers various types of tickets for you to choose from soft-seat to hard-sleeper, soft-sleeper. Traveling on the train, tourists will be able to enjoy the marvelous sights of Vietnam. 

Something to note for traveling on the train from Hanoi to Hue:

• Meals are not included on the train.
• It would be best if you showed up at the train station at least 45 min – 1 hour before
• The train can be very noisy; it is not an ideal way to transfer for tourists who have difficulty sleeping. 
• Do not forget to bring the Voucher/tickets.
• Contact our hotline number in any emergency cases.

Hue train station

Flight from Halong Bay to Hue

There is no direct flight from Halong Bay to Hue. Tourists can travel to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, then fly to Phu Bai airport in Hue. Traveling time from Halong Bay to Noi Bai airport is about 3.5 to 4 hours. The flying time from Hanoi to Hue is 1 hour and 15 minutes. 2 airlines are operating the flight from Hanoi to Hue: Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet. 

Schedule and price for the flight from Hanoi to Hue with Vietnam airline

Schedule and price for the flight from Hanoi to Hue with VietJet

Alternatively, tourists can get to Hai Phong airport, fly to Da Nang, then take 2 hours car transfer from Da Nang to Hue. Not many tourists travel this way; however, it is a good option when the flight ticket from Hanoi to Hue is high. Moreover, Da Nang to Hue road is among the best route in Vietnam that you should never miss!

Schedule and price for the flight from Hai Phong to Da Nang

• Booking the bus ticket: You can call the bus company's hotline or go to their website to book the ticket.
• Booking train ticket: The three most common ways to book a train ticket in Vietnam are booking directly at the train station, booking online with train ticket websites such as Baolau, 12go.Asia, or Dsvn booking through the agent. For more detail, please see Vietnam Train Tickets: Essential Guide to Buy Ticket & Go.
• Booking the flight ticket: It is easy to book a flight ticket; tourists can either go to the airline website to book directly or book through a travel agent like Best Price Travel. Please see the instruction for booking the flight ticket with Best Price Travel. 

• If you are looking for the cheapest way from Halong Bay to Hue, use a local bus from Halong Bay to Hue.
• If you are looking for the fastest way, take a flight from Hanoi to Hue.
• If you have a lot of time in Vietnam and want to see more Vietnam, travel from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh, then heading down to Hue. 
• The train trip is ideal for tourists who would love to see the local life and enjoy the beautiful landscape along the road. 
• Flying to Da Nang, get a transfer from Da Nang to Hue if you love to see the beautiful coastal line and Hai Van pass. 

Hue citadel being seen from above 

You have read our information to transfer from Halong Bay to Hue. Each option transfer has its own advantage or disadvantage. Depend on your preference you can choose the best one for you. To get a comfortable trip from Halong Bay to Hue, you should book a Vietnam package tour with us. You will not have to worry about the transfer, time, price in each route. Everything will be taken care of for you.

A travel trip from Halong Bay to Hue will be unforgettable no matter which kinds of transportation you choose. Well-plan to have a perfect holiday vacation in Vietnam. 

Jenny Tran

Image sources: Internet