Travel Planning

Travelling Between Cities in Vietnam: Flight vs Train vs Sleeper Bus

Q: Should you fly, take the train or the sleeper bus in Vietnam?

| Route | Flight | Train | Sleeper bus | |---|---|---|---| | Hanoi to Hue | about 1 hour, fares from about 1,400,000 VND (₹5,200) | 12 to 14 hours, about $20 to $60 | 12 to 14 hours, about $15 to $30 | | Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City | about 2 hours | 30+ hours | 30+ hours | | Ho Chi Minh City to Hue | cheap fares from about $30 to $35 | long | 20 to 24 hours | These figures come from travel blogs and booking sites, not live fares, so check dates before you book. We found no reliable fare data for Hanoi to Da Nang or Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City flights.

Kaushik RK

Co-founder, Trripah · 21 Oct 2026 · 5 min read

Travelling Between Cities in Vietnam: Flight vs Train vs Sleeper Bus

Vietnam is long and thin. For most routes between Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, flying beats the train or bus. Here is when each makes sense.

Quick answer: For long legs such as Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, fly: it takes about 2 hours, versus 30+ hours by road or rail. For short legs, a train or sleeper bus can work. For Hanoi to Hue, the train and sleeper bus take about 12 to 14 hours; a flight takes about an hour.

Should you fly, take the train or the sleeper bus in Vietnam?

Route	Flight	Train	Sleeper bus
Hanoi to Hue	about 1 hour, fares from about 1,400,000 VND (₹5,200)	12 to 14 hours, about $20 to $60	12 to 14 hours, about $15 to $30
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City	about 2 hours	30+ hours	30+ hours
Ho Chi Minh City to Hue	cheap fares from about $30 to $35	long	20 to 24 hours

These figures come from travel blogs and booking sites, not live fares, so check dates before you book. We found no reliable fare data for Hanoi to Da Nang or Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City flights.

When is the train worth it?

Short or scenic legs, or when you want an overnight berth to save a hotel night. Book in advance in peak months.

When is the sleeper bus worth it?

For short budget legs. Quality varies; cabin buses cost more but are more comfortable.

Are domestic flights reliable?

Mostly, but one blogger warns of delays on the Hanoi to Hue route. Allow buffer time, especially in typhoon season (August to November).

How do you plan a route?

Pick a direction and fly one way. A common route is Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Da Nang and Hoi An, then Ho Chi Minh City. See our 7-day Vietnam itinerary for timings, and check our Vietnam tour packages if you want flights and transfers handled.