Timetable checked on October 21, 2026
Hanoi to Dong Hoi by train
Dong Hoi is the railway station for Phong Nha and its caves, 45 minutes away by road. Every North–South train stops there, and the night trains cover the 522 km from Hanoi while you sleep.
- Journey time
- 9h 25m to 11h 40m
- Departures
- 9 a day
- First / last
- 06:00 / 21:45
- From
- ₫580,000
- Distance
- 522 km
Hanoi Station (Ga Hà Nội) → Dong Hoi Station (Ga Đồng Hới)
The short answer
The official timetable lists 9 trains a day from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, leaving between 06:00 and 21:45; the trip takes 9h 25m to 11h 40m, the fastest being SE3 in 9h 25m. An evening train in a 4-berth soft sleeper saves a hotel night and arrives in the early morning; the morning departures arrive in the late afternoon. Phong Nha has no station: from Dong Hoi, allow about 45 minutes by road to the village and the caves.
- FastestSE3 at 19:20, arrives 04:45 (9h 25m)
- CheapestSoft seat, air-conditioned from ₫580,000 (≈ $23)
- Think twiceSE23 arrives at 01:28, in the middle of the night
Timetable Hanoi → Dong Hoi
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE76-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 06:00 | 16:15 | 10h 15m | ₫580,000≈ $23 | Book |
| SE56-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 08:00 | 17:59 | 9h 59m | ₫630,000≈ $25 | Book |
| SE96-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 13:00 | 23:45 | 10h 45m | ₫670,000≈ $26 | Book |
| SE23 | 14:15 | 01:28+1 day | 11h 13m | — | Book |
| SE3Night train6-berth · Soft seat | 19:20 | 04:45+1 day | 9h 25m | ₫760,000≈ $30 | Book |
| SE19Night train | 19:45 | 05:16+1 day | 9h 31m | — | Book |
| SE17Night trainSoft seat · 4-berth | 20:25 | 07:36+1 day | 11h 11m | — | Book |
| SE11Night train | 20:40 | 08:20+1 day | 11h 40m | — | Book |
| SE1Night trainSoft seat | 21:45 | 07:21+1 day | 9h 36m | ₫760,000≈ $30 | Book |
Timetable Dong Hoi → Hanoi
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE18Soft seat · 4-berth | 01:31 | 14:10 | 12h 39m | — | Book |
| SE86-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 05:34 | 16:20 | 10h 46m | ₫630,000≈ $25 | Book |
| SE66-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 08:25 | 19:14 | 10h 49m | ₫630,000≈ $25 | Book |
| SE106-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 15:30 | 03:40+1 day | 12h 10m | ₫630,000≈ $25 | Book |
| SE4Night train6-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 18:18 | 04:36+1 day | 10h 18m | ₫1,140,000≈ $45 | Book |
| SE2Night trainSoft seat · 4-berth | 19:08 | 05:42+1 day | 10h 34m | ₫760,000≈ $30 | Book |
| SE24Night train | 20:56 | 09:35+1 day | 12h 39m | — | Book |
| SE12Night train | 22:29 | 10:10+1 day | 11h 41m | — | Book |
| SE20Night train4-berth · VIP 2-berth | 23:54 | 11:10+1 day | 11h 16m | ₫920,000≈ $36 | 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 | — | ₫580,000≈ $23 |
| Hard sleeper, 6 berths | — | ₫820,000≈ $32 |
| Soft sleeper, 4 berths | — | ₫1,070,000≈ $42 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapa Express | SE19 | ₫2,650,000≈ $104 | 4.4/5 (345 reviews) |
| Charmy Express | SE1, SE3, SE19 | ₫2,840,000≈ $111 | 3.9/5 (46 reviews) |
| Hana Train | SE1, SE3, SE19 | ₫2,310,000≈ $91 | — |
| Laman Express | SE19 | ₫2,470,000≈ $97 | 4.4/5 (1,263 reviews) |
| Lotus Train | SE1, SE19 | ₫2,450,000≈ $96 | 4.3/5 (497 reviews) |
| NewLivitrans Express | SE1, SE3, SE19 | ₫1,860,000≈ $73 | 4.1/5 (404 reviews) |
| Tonkin Heritage Express | SE19 | ₫4,980,000≈ $195 | 4.6/5 (5 reviews) |
| Violette Trains | SE19 | ₫6,720,000≈ $263 | 4.3/5 (236 reviews) |
Stations and connections
Trains leave from Hanoi Station (Ga Hà Nội), main building on Lê Duẩn street; arrive half an hour early.
Dong Hoi station (Ga Đồng Hới) is in the city, a few kilometres from the coast. Phong Nha, the village at the entrance of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, is about 45 km away, roughly 45 minutes by taxi or Grab; many Phong Nha guesthouses arrange a pick-up at the station, and our Dong Hoi to Phong Nha guide details the other options.
Going back, 9 trains leave Dong Hoi for Hanoi between 01:31 and 23:54. To carry on south to Hue and Da Nang instead, see our Da Nang–Dong Hoi page.
Train or bus?
Sleeper buses run from Hanoi straight to Phong Nha village, which spares you the transfer from Dong Hoi, usually for a little less than a berth. Dong Hoi also has an airport with flights from Hanoi. The train remains the most comfortable night: a real berth, toilets on board and no stops at roadside restaurants.
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 Hanoi to Dong Hoi?
Between 9h 25m and 11h 40m, depending on the train. The fastest is SE3, which leaves Hanoi Station at 19:20 and arrives at 04:45.
How much is a train ticket from Hanoi to Dong Hoi?
On 12Go, prices start at ₫580,000 (≈ $23) 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 Hanoi to Dong Hoi?
Yes, several every evening; they reach Dong Hoi from before dawn to mid-morning (see the timetable below). Berths are either Vietnam Railways sleepers or cabins in the private carriages coupled to some of these trains, which cost more. What is on sale changes from day to day: check the berths offered for your train when you book.
Can I book the Hanoi 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 station do I need for Phong Nha?
Dong Hoi. The railway does not go to Phong Nha: from Dong Hoi station, the village and the caves are about 45 km away, around 45 minutes by road (taxi, Grab, local bus or a pick-up arranged by your guesthouse).
Which train arrives at a convenient time?
The evening trains arrive between dawn and mid-morning. The earliest ones reach Dong Hoi before sunrise, when few transfers run: if you take one, book your pick-up in advance or wait at the station until morning.
Can I stop in Dong Hoi on the way from Hanoi to Hue?
Yes, with two tickets: Hanoi–Dong Hoi, then Dong Hoi–Hue a few days later. Every train on the line stops in both stations, and the Dong Hoi–Hue leg takes about three hours.
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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