Timetable checked on October 21, 2026
Hanoi to Hue by train
Overnight from Hanoi, wake up in Hue: the North–South line covers the 688 km in 12h 30m to 15h 05m, and the night trains arrive in the morning, ready for a day in the citadel.
- Journey time
- 12h 30m to 15h 05m
- Departures
- 9 a day
- First / last
- 06:00 / 21:45
- From
- ₫730,000
- Distance
- 688 km
Hanoi Station (Ga Hà Nội) → Hue Station (Ga Huế)
The short answer
The official timetable lists 9 trains a day from Hanoi to Hue, leaving between 06:00 and 21:45. The fastest, SE3, takes 12h 30m. The evening trains are the natural choice: board after dinner, sleep in a 4-berth soft sleeper and arrive in Hue in the morning. The early-morning departures arrive in the evening and spend the whole day on board.
- FastestSE3 at 19:20, arrives 07:50 (12h 30m)
- CheapestSoft seat, air-conditioned from ₫730,000 (≈ $28)
- Best night trainSE3 at 19:20, arrives 07:50: a full night on board, no hotel needed
- Think twiceSE9 arrives at 03:07, in the middle of the night
Timetable Hanoi → Hue
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE76-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 06:00 | 19:38 | 13h 38m | ₫730,000≈ $28 | Book |
| SE56-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 08:00 | 21:35 | 13h 35m | ₫770,000≈ $30 | Book |
| SE96-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 13:00 | 03:07+1 day | 14h 07m | ₫780,000≈ $31 | Book |
| SE23 | 14:15 | 05:20+1 day | 15h 05m | — | Book |
| SE3Night train6-berth · Soft seat | 19:20 | 07:50+1 day | 12h 30m | ₫890,000≈ $35 | Book |
| SE19Night train | 19:45 | 08:45+1 day | 13h 00m | — | Book |
| SE17Night trainSoft seat · 4-berth | 20:25 | 10:52+1 day | 14h 27m | — | Book |
| SE11Night train | 20:40 | 11:26+1 day | 14h 46m | — | Book |
| SE1Night train6-berth · Soft seat | 21:45 | 10:25+1 day | 12h 40m | ₫910,000≈ $36 | Book |
Timetable Hue → Hanoi
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE86-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 02:17 | 16:20 | 14h 03m | ₫730,000≈ $29 | Book |
| SE66-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 04:49 | 19:14 | 14h 25m | ₫790,000≈ $31 | Book |
| SE106-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 12:15 | 03:40+1 day | 15h 25m | ₫870,000≈ $34 | Book |
| SE46-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 15:10 | 04:36+1 day | 13h 26m | ₫890,000≈ $35 | Book |
| SE26-berth · Soft seat · 4-berth | 15:54 | 05:42+1 day | 13h 48m | ₫890,000≈ $35 | Book |
| SE24 | 16:52 | 09:35+1 day | 16h 43m | — | Book |
| SE12Night train | 19:06 | 10:10+1 day | 15h 04m | — | Book |
| SE20Night train4-berth · VIP 2-berth | 20:48 | 11:10+1 day | 14h 22m | ₫1,310,000≈ $51 | Book |
| SE18Night train | 21:43 | 14:10+1 day | 16h 27m | — | 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 | ₫570,000≈ $22 | ₫730,000≈ $28 |
| Hard sleeper, 6 berths | ₫830,000 – ₫1,070,000≈ $33 | ₫1,000,000≈ $39 |
| Soft sleeper, 4 berths | ₫1,140,000 – ₫1,220,000≈ $45 | ₫1,320,000≈ $52 |
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 | ₫2,440,000≈ $96 | — |
| Laman Express | SE19 | ₫2,630,000≈ $103 | 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 | ₫7,150,000≈ $280 | 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.
Hue station is on the south bank of the Perfume River, a short taxi ride from the hotels and the citadel. To continue to Da Nang along the coast, see our Da Nang–Hue page.
Train or bus?
Night buses take around 12 to 14 hours and cost less, but a berth on the train is far more restful; a flight takes about 1 hour 20 minutes in the air plus the airport transfers. For an overnight trip, the train is the most comfortable option.
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 Hue?
Between 12h 30m and 15h 05m, depending on the train. The fastest is SE3, which leaves Hanoi Station at 19:20 and arrives at 07:50.
How much is a train ticket from Hanoi to Hue?
On 12Go, prices start at ₫730,000 (≈ $28) 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 Hue?
Yes, several every evening. SE3 leaves Hanoi at 19:20 and reaches Hue at 07:50: a full night's sleep and the morning free.
Can I book the Hanoi to Hue 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.
Does the train stop at Dong Hoi for Phong Nha?
Yes: every train on the line stops at Dong Hoi, the station for Phong Nha (about 45 km by road). Book Hanoi–Dong Hoi and Dong Hoi–Hue as two tickets if you want to visit the caves on the way.
Which train arrives in Hue at a good time?
The evening departures arrive in the morning. Avoid the trains that reach Hue in the middle of the night unless your hotel accepts very late check-ins.
Is there food on board?
Yes. A trolley sells snacks and drinks, staff sell set meals at meal times, and the sleeping cars have a free hot water dispenser at the end of the corridor (seat61).
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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