Hanoi to Hue: Flight, Train or Night Train
Imperial city next, with parents or on a heritage trip: choose the leg that keeps the day usable.
For most heritage trips, fly from Hanoi to Hue and keep the night train for travellers who sleep well. If you arrive from Kuala Lumpur, the usual way into central Vietnam is Da Nang, then a road transfer to Hue.
Which option suits which traveller?
- Seniors or toddlers: fly, and avoid a late-night arrival.
- Culture seekers on a tight route: fly, so the day in Hue is a full one.
- Train lovers with spare days: the day train gives you the view.
- Good sleepers on a budget: the night train can replace a hotel night.
Should you fly into Hue or Da Nang?
Hue’s airport has the code HUI1, but it has no direct international routes2. Da Nang is the nearest international airport, 80 km south of Phu Bai3.
This gives you two sensible plans. If you start in Hanoi, take a domestic flight to Hue. If you land from Kuala Lumpur in Da Nang, go on by road. Read the Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue comparison before you decide how many nights to give each.
How do the options compare?
| Basis | Flight | Day train | Night train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time in transit | Short in the air, plus airport time | Most of a day | One night aboard |
| Cost range | Wide, lower on early sales | Moderate | Moderate, higher for sleepers |
| Comfort | Seat, baggage handled | Seat, window views | Berth, arrival time can be awkward |
| Best for | Seniors, short leave | Scenery lovers | Good sleepers saving a hotel night |
What should you know about the train?
Tickets are sold through Vietnam Railways’ official site, dsvn.vn5. Our guide to train booking and classes explains berth types and what to confirm.
Check the arrival time before you pay. A very early arrival can leave you waiting for hotel check-in, which is tiring for older travellers.
What is waiting in Hue?
Hue’s monuments were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 19934. If you are weighing it against the capital, read Hue or Hanoi for history and heritage. To decide how long to stay, see Hue as a day trip or overnight stop.
For place details, see the Hue guide. More route advice lives in Getting around Vietnam.
Tell us who is travelling and how you sleep on trains, and we will suggest whether to fly to Hue or take the night train for your heritage route.
Common questions
Should I fly or take the train from Hanoi to Hue?
Fly if you want the shortest travel day and a rested arrival. Take the train if you want a scenic ride and a night's sleep in transit. For seniors, the flight is usually calmer, since it avoids a narrow berth and a middle-of-the-night arrival.
Can I fly into Hue directly from Kuala Lumpur?
No. Hue's airport has no direct international routes, so you fly into Hanoi or Da Nang and continue on a domestic connection or by road. Plan the extra leg when you compare routes.
Is the night train comfortable enough for elderly parents?
It can be, with a lower berth and a calm night, but it suits good sleepers best. Arrival times can be early or late, and a narrow cabin is tiring for anyone with joint or balance problems. Ask us if you are unsure.
Sources
- Phu Bai International Airport (Hue) has IATA code HUI and ICAO code VVPB. Wikipedia
- Phu Bai (Hue) airport has no direct international routes. Wikipedia
- Da Nang, the nearest international airport to Hue, is 80 km south of Phu Bai. Wikipedia
- Complex of Hue Monuments was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. Wikipedia
- Vietnam Railways' official booking website is dsvn.vn. Wikipedia
Keep planning
Tell us who is travelling and how you sleep on trains, and we will suggest whether to fly to Hue or take the night train for your heritage route.