If you’re looking for the way to travel between Da Nang and Hue, taking a train is one of the best options. Train travels are safe and the prices of tickets are reasonable in Vietnam. We did the trip from Da Nang to Hue by train recently and loved our travel experience.
The train departs from Da Nang Railway Station, passes the scenic coast and the Hai Van Pass, and arrives at Hue Railway Station. The distance from Da Nang to Hue is about 103 kilometers (between railway stations) and the train ride from Da Nang to Hue or vice-versa normally takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Da Nang - Hue Train Schedule
We would recommend choosing one of daytime trains running between Da Nang and Hue, so you could admire the views that make this train route so special. Make sure to get the seat by the window so you could enjoy the beauty that awaits you along the rail, especially in the section through Hai Van Pass. The scenery is extremely poetic and wonderful.
Da Nang to Hue Train Schedule
SE22: 06:30 - 10:10
SE10: 10:03 - 12:58
SE4: 12:45 - 15:26
SE2: 13:53 - 16:19
SE18: 14:40 - 17:08
SE20: 18:45 - 21:24
SE8: 23:04 - 01:34
SE6: 02:23 - 04:52
SE12: 03:03 - 05:55
NH2: 19:53 - 23:00
Hue to Da Nang Train Schedule
SE21: 07:00 - 09:40
SE3: 08:37 - 11:08
SE19: 09:31 - 12:20
SE17: 10:13 - 13:00
SE1: 10:59 - 13:26
SE7: 19:51 - 22:21
SE11: 22:08 - 01:35
SE5: 22:28 - 01:06
SE9: 04:55 - 07:35
NH1: 17:10 - 19:51
Travel Itinerary
We took the SE4 train from Da Nang to Hue. This is our travel itinerary of taking a train along the most scenic route in Vietnam.
12:10 Da Nang Railway Station
Address: 791 Hai Phong Street, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City
Travelling by train from Da Nang to Hue is easy and simple. You just need to come to Da Nang Railway Station, which is an important transport hub of Central Vietnam. The station is modern and clean. You can check the latest train schedule on the signboard.
At first we’ve tried to check for tickets on this orange electronic machine, but we found out that it’s only for checking the train schedule and printing a boarding pass when you book tickets online.
The local suggested us to buy tickets at the nearby desk which hardly had any signage that you would expect to be displayed on the ticket counter. Here we bought our tickets from the staff who barely speak English so no dealing to get the seats we want was possible. Luckily, we managed to get train tickets for the train SE4 departing from Da Nang to Hue at 12:45 so we didn’t have to wait long. Train tickets cost us 71,000 VND per person.
If it’s only possible, we would suggest booking a ticket online as there you can choose the seat to be sure that you get the seat you want (try getting the seat on the RIGHT side of the train so you could admire the best view).
12:20 Going to Terminal
There is an automatic ticket gate to control that only passengers could get into the terminal. Here the staff checked our boarding passes and scanned them for us to let in.
There is a large waiting area with several shops where you can sit and wait for the train. However, our train was already waiting for passengers so we boarded the train earlier. We got soft seats in the air-conditioned carriage that was just perfect for a short ride.
One thing we love about travelling by train is that it’s more comfortable when carrying lots of luggage. The train has quite large storage dedicated to each seat so you don’t need to worry about limits.
12:45 Leaving from Da Nang
The train left from Da Nang to Hue almost exactly on time.
Along the route, we found out that we are missing the view. We got seats near the window but they were on the left side of the train. If you are a photo lover, be sure to get the seat on the “RIGHT” side of this train for the best shots. The train was full of people so moving to another side wasn’t possible.
Hai Van Pass is considered to be one of the most beautiful routes in Vietnam. The train go thought many tunnels and climb high into the mountains along the Hai Van Pass. We enjoyed the coastal and mountainous scenery a lot. We didn’t take lots of photos but memories are priceless.
Food is allowed on the train and there was a food and drinks cart provided by staff. Sometimes local sellers got on the train to sell some food such as rice, noodle, and chips. However, the price was about double if compared to the price outside so it’s better to prepare your own food to bring on board.
15:16 Hue Railway Station
Address: 2 Bui Thi Xuan Street, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
To our surprise, we arrived at Hue Railway Station even before the scheduled time. Hue Railway Station is also known as Tran Van Cao Station. The train station is about 20-minute walk from the city center, where most of city’s hotels are located. Nearby the train station, there are plenty of taxis, cyclo and motorbike taxis available that are ready to send you to your hotel.
How to book a train ticket?
When traveling between Da Nang and Hue by train, you should book tickets as much in advance as possible. The number of cheapest seats is limited and once they’re gone you have to buy the more expensive tickets. Normally the price of train ticket from Da Nang to Hue ranges from 70,000 to 400,000 VND, depending on the type of seat and departure time.
Train tickets can be bought at Da Nang Railway Station or on the official website of Vietnam Railways. Ticket prices there might be slightly lower, but you are going to have some difficulties as the website of Vietnam Railways only accepts cards issued by Vietnam banks or payments by local electronic wallets such as Payoo.
We were too late for online bookings so had to try our luck at the station but you can easily book train tickets online here: Da Nang - Hue Train Ticket.
Choose a seat on the train
When booking online, you can easily choose the class of your seats. On Vietnamese trains you can choose various classes, including soft sleepers, hard sleepers, soft seats, and hard seats.
If you are traveling on a very tight budget, hard seat will be fine to travel between these two cities. However, soft seats are not that much more expensive than the hard ones so paying a little for additional comfort is really worth it. The sleepers on the train are suitable for those who travel longer distances and are prone to motion sickness.
Traveling from Hanoi to Hue by train
Hue is about 653 km from Hanoi and despite the long way this route is really popular. When traveling from Hanoi to Hue by train, the travel time is usually 13-15 hours. Ticket prices range from 400,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND, depending on the type of seat. Tickets are running out fast so it’s better to book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Unless you have Vietnamese card, book your train tickets here: Hanoi - Hue Train Ticket.
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue by train
Hue is about 900 km from Ho Chi Minh City and the travel time between two cities is about 17-19 hours. Ticket prices usually range from 700,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND, depending on the seat. Tickets for the train from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue can be booked in advance here: Ho Chi Minh City – Hue Train Ticket.
Other ways to travel from Da Nang to Hue
From Da Nang to Hue you can travel not only by train, as there are many other ways to move between these cities such as buses, taxis, cars and even airplanes.
Traveling around Hue
Depending on your travel style, you can choose various means of transportation for getting around Hue City. For a detailed Hue transportation guide check: How to get around Hue City.
Tips
On the way back, we decided to take a bus from Hue to Hoi An for different experience. Full review of the sightseeing bus can be found here: Sightseeing Bus from Hue to Hoi An [Review].
When looking for the place to stay in Hue, you basically have few areas to choose from. How to choose the right one? Check here: Where to Stay in Hue.
If you don't have much time, you can take Hue day tour from Da Nang and visit the main historical sites in Hue in one day.