Timetable checked on October 21, 2026
Da Nang to Dong Hoi by train
From Da Nang to Dong Hoi, the station for Phong Nha's caves: 269 km along the coast and through Hue, by day or by night, then 45 minutes by road to the park.
- Journey time
- 5h 35m to 7h 06m
- Departures
- 9 a day
- First / last
- 02:01 / 23:41
- From
- ₫330,000
- Distance
- 269 km
Da Nang Station (Ga Đà Nẵng) → Dong Hoi Station (Ga Đồng Hới)
The short answer
The official timetable lists 9 trains a day from Da Nang to Dong Hoi, between 02:01 and 23:41; allow 5h 35m to 7h 06m. A morning or midday train is the best choice: you see the sea along the Hai Van coast just after Da Nang and arrive in Dong Hoi before dark. A soft seat is enough for the trip, a berth is more restful on the night trains. From Dong Hoi, Phong Nha and its caves are about 45 minutes away by road.
- FastestSE2 at 13:21, arrives 18:56 (5h 35m)
- CheapestSoft seat, air-conditioned from ₫330,000 (≈ $13)
- Think twiceSE18 arrives at 01:19, in the middle of the night
Timetable Da Nang → Dong Hoi
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE66-berth · 4-berth | 02:01 | 08:13 | 6h 12m | ₫440,000≈ $17 | Book |
| SE10Soft seat | 08:59 | 15:18 | 6h 19m | ₫360,000≈ $14 | Book |
| SE46-berth · 4-berth | 12:28 | 18:06 | 5h 38m | ₫640,000≈ $25 | Book |
| SE2 | 13:21 | 18:56 | 5h 35m | — | Book |
| SE24 | 13:38 | 20:44 | 7h 06m | — | Book |
| SE12 | 16:29 | 22:17 | 5h 48m | — | Book |
| SE204-berth · VIP 2-berth | 18:00 | 23:42 | 5h 42m | ₫470,000≈ $19 | Book |
| SE18Night train | 18:55 | 01:19+1 day | 6h 24m | — | Book |
| SE8Night trainSoft seat | 23:41 | 05:22+1 day | 5h 41m | ₫330,000≈ $13 | Book |
Timetable Dong Hoi → Da Nang
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE23 | 01:40 | 08:20 | 6h 40m | — | Book |
| SE3Soft seat | 04:57 | 10:28 | 5h 31m | — | Book |
| SE19 | 05:28 | 11:35 | 6h 07m | — | Book |
| SE1Soft seat | 07:33 | 13:14 | 5h 41m | ₫420,000≈ $17 | Book |
| SE17 | 07:48 | 14:30 | 6h 42m | — | Book |
| SE11 | 08:32 | 14:50 | 6h 18m | — | Book |
| SE76-berth · Soft seat | 16:27 | 22:15 | 5h 48m | ₫440,000≈ $17 | Book |
| SE5Night trainSoft seat | 18:11 | 00:21+1 day | 6h 10m | — | Book |
| SE9Night trainSoft seat · 4-berth | 23:57 | 05:48+1 day | 5h 51m | ₫550,000≈ $22 | Book |
Official Vietnam Railways (VNR) times for Thursday, November 12, 2026, checked on October 21, 2026; 12Go fares checked the same day. Times change at Tết and during engineering works: the booking page always shows the live timetable.
Fares by class
| Class | VNR fare | 12Go, from |
|---|---|---|
| Soft seat, air-conditioned | — | ₫330,000≈ $13 |
| Hard sleeper, 6 berths | — | ₫440,000≈ $17 |
| Soft sleeper, 4 berths | — | ₫470,000≈ $19 |
| VIP cabin, 2 berths | — | ₫930,000≈ $37 |
VNR fares: best carriages, compiled from dsvn.vn by seat61 (June 10, 2026); a lower berth costs a little more than an upper one. 12Go prices include its service fee and were checked on October 21, 2026. Amounts in other currencies are indicative.
Private carriages
Private companies attach their own sleeping cars to the Vietnam Railways trains: same times, newer cabins, water and snacks, and a higher price. The ratings below are 12Go customer ratings for each operator.
| Carriage | On train | From | 12Go rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violette Trains | SE20 | ₫1,830,000≈ $72 | 4.3/5 (236 reviews) |
Stations and connections
Da Nang station is in the city, a short taxi or Grab ride from the Han River and the beaches. From Hoi An, allow 30 to 45 minutes by road to reach it (seat61).
Dong Hoi station (Ga Đồng Hới) is in the city. Phong Nha, at the entrance of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, is about 45 km away, roughly 45 minutes by taxi or Grab; many guesthouses arrange a pick-up.
Going back, 9 trains leave Dong Hoi for Da Nang between 01:40 and 23:57.
Train or bus?
Buses and limousine vans from Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue go straight to Phong Nha village, without the transfer from Dong Hoi; those from Hoi An and Da Nang take the Hai Van tunnel. The train is more comfortable and follows the coast around the Hai Van pass; it also lets you stop in Hue on the way with a second ticket.
Booking tips
- Outside the holidays, a soft sleeper is usually easy to find a few days ahead; book one to two weeks ahead for a weekend, and as soon as sales open for Tết (late January or February) and the 30 April – 1 May holiday.
- Tickets are e-tickets: keep the PDF or the QR code on your phone with your passport, which staff can ask to see.
- Children aged 0 to 4 travel free, children aged 5 to 9 get 25% off and children from 10 pay the full fare (seat61, from the Vietnam Railways rules).
- Luggage goes under the lower berths or in the space above the compartment door; keep valuables with you at night.
Where to buy
- 12Go: English interface, foreign cards, Vietnam Railways seats and private carriages in one search; a service fee is included in the price.
- Trip.com also sells Vietnam Railways tickets (and fewer private carriages than 12Go), with a discount code for a first booking. Trip.com train code (TRIPTRAIN5P, −5 %)
- dsvn.vn, the official Vietnam Railways site: the cheapest, but less easy to use from abroad.
- At the station ticket office: cash in dong, often no English; fine a few days ahead outside the holidays.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Da Nang to Dong Hoi?
Between 5h 35m and 7h 06m, depending on the train. The fastest is SE2, which leaves Da Nang Station at 13:21 and arrives at 18:56.
How much is a train ticket from Da Nang to Dong Hoi?
On 12Go, prices start at ₫330,000 (≈ $13) for soft seat, air-conditioned (fee included, checked on October 21, 2026). A berth in a 4-berth soft sleeper or a private carriage costs more.
Is there a night train from Da Nang to Dong Hoi?
Yes, but the night trains arrive in Dong Hoi in the small hours or around midnight, which suits only travellers with a room booked near the station. For this distance, a daytime train is more practical.
Can I book the Da Nang to Dong Hoi train online?
Yes. 12Go and Trip.com accept foreign cards and send an e-ticket; the official site dsvn.vn is cheaper but less easy to use from abroad. Book early for weekends and holidays.
Which side should I sit on?
Heading north from Da Nang, sit on the right for the sea along the Hai Van coast, between Da Nang and Hue; heading south from Dong Hoi, on the left.
How do I get from Hoi An to Phong Nha?
Hoi An has no station: go to Da Nang station (30 to 45 minutes by road), take the train to Dong Hoi, then allow about 45 minutes by road to Phong Nha. Direct buses from Hoi An avoid the two transfers but take longer on the road.
Can I break the journey in Hue?
Yes, with two tickets: Da Nang–Hue, then Hue–Dong Hoi. Every train on this route stops in Hue, about two and a half hours from Da Nang.
How we compile these timetables
Times come from the official Vietnam Railways timetable (giotaugiave.dsvn.vn) for one travel date, cross-checked with the 12Go booking engine; private carriages, ratings and "from" prices were read on 12Go the same day. We update the page after each new check and show the date at the top. We do not copy reviews: ratings are 12Go's, dated.
- Vietnam Railways official timetable, giotaugiave.dsvn.vn (travel date Thursday, November 12, 2026, checked on October 21, 2026)
- 12Go booking engine, train results (travel date Thursday, November 12, 2026, checked on October 21, 2026)
- seat61.com, Vietnam page, fares compiled from dsvn.vn (updated June 10, 2026)
Booking links go to our partner 12Go; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the times or prices shown.
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