Vietnam just launched a dedicated tourist train between Hue and Phong Nha — two of central Vietnam’s biggest draws — and it’s a genuinely good option if you’re moving between them. The service started on 1 September 2026, connecting a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in a single four-hour train ride.
Before this, the only practical options were private car, minibus, or piecing together the regular train network. This changes that.
The route
The train covers roughly 190 km, stopping at five stations along the way: Hue, Dong Ha, My Trach, Dong Hoi, and Tho Loc. Tho Loc is the gateway station for Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park — from there it’s a short taxi or transfer to town.
The Dong Ha stop is worth flagging. It’s the main access point for DMZ sites — the Vinh Moc Tunnels, Khe Sanh Combat Base, and the former demilitarised zone between North and South Vietnam. If that’s on your list, you could break the journey there and continue to Phong Nha another day.
What’s on board
This isn’t a standard Vietnam Railways carriage. The eight-car set was purpose-built for tourism:
- 5 soft-seat rotating cars (56 seats each, 360° swivel to face the scenery)
- 1 VIP car (24 seats)
- 1 community and cultural space
- 1 entertainment and service car
On board: local food, OCOP product displays, cultural performances, and multilingual interpretation. The rotating seats are the standout feature — you can reposition to face the window as the landscape changes, which matters a lot on a route that passes through karst hills and coastal river plains.
Schedule
The train runs once daily in each direction:
- Southbound (Hue → Tho Loc): departs Hue 7:15 am, arrives Tho Loc 11:55 am
- Northbound (Tho Loc → Hue): departs 1:15 pm, arrives Hue 5:25 pm
The timing is practical. Heading south, you arrive before midday with the full afternoon in Phong Nha. Heading back north, you have the morning free for a cave visit before catching the 1:15 pm departure.
Tickets and price
Fares run from 420,000 to 760,000 VND depending on class. Promotional discounts are available through 31 December 2026. The VIP car (24 seats only) will sell out first during peak season, so book ahead if that’s what you want.
Private car vs. the train
Private car is still faster and more flexible — a driver can pick you up from your hotel, stop at viewpoints, and drop you at your guesthouse in Phong Nha village. If you have a lot of luggage or are travelling with kids, it’s the easier option.
The train makes more sense if you want to slow down, take in the scenery, and arrive without the fatigue of sitting in a van. The landscape between Dong Ha and Dong Hoi — coastal dunes, lagoons, and karst outcrops — is genuinely worth watching. And if you’ve already done central Vietnam by road, the train gives you a completely different perspective on the same stretch.
For a full overview of getting around Vietnam, see our Vietnam transportation guide.
How to book
You can book through Baolau, which lists Vietnam Railways routes with English booking and card payment. Search your travel date and look for the tourist train option — the VIP car sells out first, so book in advance.
👉 Book the Hue → Phong Nha train on Baolau
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