Flights
Flying is
the fastest and often the most expensive way to travel from Hanoi to Phong Nha, but with a bit of luck you can score very good deals for as little as
USD 53.37.
Things to remember: Note that some of the airlines may have restrictions on checked luggage weight or require paying extra for check-in, choosing seats or transportation of oversized luggage.
If opting for a flight, calculate the time you will spend getting to and from the airports as well as the waiting time before your flight, getting through immigration in case of an international flight and recovering your checked luggage.
In certain cases all these procedures can add no less than 5 hours to your total travel time.
Airlines flying between Hanoi and Phong Nha
Vietnam Airlines (เวียดนาม แอร์ไลน์), Vietnam Airlines (เวียดนาม แอร์ไลน์)
Bus
Travelling from Hanoi to Phong Nha overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is
the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.
Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.
They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.
Companies operating bus routes between Hanoi and Phong Nha
Camel Transport, Duc Duong Bus, Duy Khanh Transport (Công ty cổ phần thương mại và dịch vụ vận tải duy khánh), Full Moon Party Tour, Green Trips, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), HK Sapa Open Tour, King Express Bus, Luxury Van Limousine, QH Discovery Travel, Queen Cafe Bus, Sapa Discovery Travel, The Queen Tourist, To Vietnam Travel, Vietnam Luxury Travel, VietNam Travel Bus (Việt Nam Travel Bus), Vin Bus
Train
Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to
sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.
Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.
