From Da Nang to Hue: train, bus, or car over the Hai Van Pass
Hue is about 100 km from Da Nang, roughly two hours by road. The most scenic ways are the train along the coast or the old road over the Hai Van Pass; the tunnel is faster. What to choose, what to do about a motorbike, and flood season.
Hue is about 100 km from Da Nang: 20 km to the Hai Van Pass and roughly 80 km more to Hue along Highway 1A. By car it takes about two hours. The train takes around 3-4 hours but runs along the sea and over the pass almost all the way. There is also an intercity bus; with luggage, Grab or a taxi is the easiest. Motorbikes are not allowed in the tunnel, so they take the old pass road or get carried through. From September to December Hue can flood, so check the forecast.
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Which way should I choose?
| Option | Departs from | Time on the road | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Da Nang station | about 3-4 hours | views of the sea and the pass |
| Bus | Da Nang Central Bus Station | about two hours via the tunnel | light travellers, no rush |
| Grab, taxi, transfer | your hotel door | about two hours | groups and luggage |
| Car with driver | your hotel door | two hours plus stops at the pass | those who want the viewpoints |
| Motorbike | your hotel | about half a day with stops | experienced riders on the old road |
How do I get from Da Nang to Hue by train?
The train takes roughly 3-4 hours from Da Nang station to Hue station, and this is the prettiest stretch: along the sea and across the Hai Van Pass. About 22 km of it is tunnels and bridges, with sea and mountain views from the window. Tickets are sold by the railway itself: on its website, in its app and at the station. In 2024 Vietnam Railways launched a separate tourist train on this stretch with four trips a day; whether it still runs, check the timetable on dsvn.vn before you go.
Which bus goes from Da Nang to Hue?
Buses to Hue leave from Da Nang Central Bus Station. On 1 January 2020 an intercity route Da Nang - Hue opened there, going through the Hai Van Tunnel and running about every 15 minutes from 5:00 to 19:00. That is 2020 information: check the current timetable on danangbus.vn or by phone at 0236 3711 468. Private coach companies also serve the route, each with its own schedule.
How do I go by car, Grab or taxi?
By car, Da Nang to Hue takes about two hours. Most people take Grab, a taxi or a transfer with a driver; Grab shows the fare in the app before you order. Tell the driver in advance which road to take: the tunnel is faster, the pass is prettier. If you want a car for the day with stops, say so when booking. More on taxis in taxis in Da Nang, and companies in the transfers section.
Hai Van tunnel or the old pass road: which is better?
The tunnel is faster, the pass is prettier. The Hai Van Tunnel is about 6.2 km long, opened in 2005, and a second tube was added in 2021. It takes about 10 minutes through the tunnel and almost 30 over the pass. Cars and taxis can use either; buses and trucks mostly use the tunnel, so the old road is quiet. If you want the view, ask your driver to take the pass.
What is there to see on the Hai Van Pass?
The Hai Van Pass is an old road 20-21 km long, up to 496 m high, on the border between Da Nang and Hue. First stop is the Cu Rua rock at the first bend on the Da Nang side, with views of Da Nang Bay and the Son Tra Peninsula. Further on are viewpoints over Lang Co Bay and Lap An Lagoon, and at the top the old gate Hải Vân Quan, restored in 2024. Sunrise and sunset give the nicest light, but get back before dark. Listing: Hai Van Pass.
Can I ride a motorbike to Hue?
Yes, but not through the tunnel: motorcycles and mopeds are not allowed in the Hai Van Tunnel. You have two options: the old road over the pass, or having the bike carried through the tunnel at a transfer station. You need a licence that allows motorcycle riding in Vietnam. What to check on the bike and which licence is needed is in motorbike rental in Da Nang.
What is there to see in Hue?
The main sights are the Imperial City (Đại Nội in Vietnamese) with the palaces of the Nguyen dynasty, and the tombs of emperors Tu Duc, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Nearby are Thien Mu Pagoda with its seven-tier tower, Dong Ba Market and Tu Hieu Monastery. Opening hours and tickets for the Imperial City and tombs are published by the Hue monuments conservation centre at hueworldheritage.org.vn; check it before you go, as hours change with the season.
Day trip or overnight?
A day trip works if you leave early: it is about two hours each way, so you get a few hours in Hue and will have to pick among the tombs outside the city. Staying overnight is calmer: you can fit the Imperial City, one or two tombs and an evening in town. By train or bus, check the last return departure in advance.
When should I avoid going: floods in Hue?
September to December is the rainy season in central Vietnam, and Hue can flood. On 27 October 2025 the Huong and Bo rivers rose above alarm level III, roads were flooded with landslides, and hundreds of families were evacuated. The Hai Van Pass has been closed too: in October 2023 a slope collapsed, the pass was shut, cars were sent through the tunnel and motorbikes through the transfer station. In autumn check the forecast and news the day before. More on seasons in when to visit Da Nang.
FAQ
How far is Hue from Da Nang? About 100 km: 20 km to the Hai Van Pass and about 80 km from the pass to Hue.
How long does it take from Da Nang to Hue? About two hours by car and around 3-4 hours by train.
Can I ride a motorbike through the Hai Van Tunnel? No. Motorcycles are not allowed in the tunnel: take the old pass road or have the bike carried through at the transfer station.
Where do I buy a Da Nang - Hue train ticket? From the railway itself: on its website, in its app or at the station. Check the timetable on dsvn.vn.
Which station does the bus to Hue leave from? Da Nang Central Bus Station. The Da Nang - Hue route opened on 1 January 2020; check the current timetable on danangbus.vn.
Which is faster, the tunnel or the pass? The tunnel: about 10 minutes against almost 30 over the pass.
When does Hue flood? In the rainy season, September to December. The latest big flood in our sources is 27 October 2025.
Sources and checks
The 2024 tourist train: Báo Đấu thầu (26 Mar 2024); train and road times: Tuổi Trẻ / Saigon Times (24 Nov 2023); ticket sales: Vietnam Railways site dsvn.vn. Pass, tunnel, viewpoints and motorbike rules: Da Nang tourism portal (1 Aug 2025); the pass landslide and diversion: VnExpress (13 Oct 2023). Da Nang - Hue bus: Viettimes (2020). Hue flood: VnEconomy (27 Oct 2025). Sights in Hue: the official Vietnam tourism portal vietnam.travel. We do not publish Imperial City opening hours or ticket prices: they change, check hueworldheritage.org.vn. The text has no ticket prices or fares. Updated 22 Oct 2026.