About the route from Da Nang to Hanoi
Da Nang sits on the central coast and Hanoi far to the north, roughly 760 kilometers apart by road, a drive of eleven to twelve hours that almost nobody makes themselves. So the practical ways to travel from Da Nang to Hanoi are the plane, the train, and the bus. Flying is by far the quickest, and this happens to be one of the country’s busiest air routes, with flights all day. The train and the bus each take somewhere between 13 and 17 hours, run mostly overnight, and appeal to travelers who would rather see the country and save a hotel night than rush. Da Nang, where the trip begins, is the main city of the central coast, covered in our Da Nang travel guide if you are still shaping your time there.
Hanoi is the capital and the cultural heart of the country, a busy, atmospheric city with a very different feel from easygoing, beachside Da Nang. Its historic Old Quarter is a maze of narrow trading streets, best explored slowly on foot between coffee stops, and the lakes, colonial architecture, and well-known street food give it plenty to fill a few days. It is also the base for most trips into the north, whether a Halong Bay cruise or the mountains around Sapa and Ha Giang. Our Hanoi travel guide sets out what is worth your time.
Tip: Turn the journey into a trip with Local Vietnam
If you have not yet explored central Vietnam, our 6-day guided tour linking Hoi An and Hanoi covers it properly, with stops at Hue, the Phong Nha caves, the DMZ, and Ninh Binh, and every transfer, guide, and overnight arranged for you. It is normally sold from Hanoi down to Hoi An, right next to Da Nang, but runs the other way on request, so it works just as well heading north.
Option 1: By flight from Da Nang to Hanoi
Why choose the flight
Flying is the fastest way north by a wide margin, replacing a long day of travel with well under two hours in the air. On a route this busy there are flights all day, so you are rarely stuck for a convenient time. For most travelers, that combination of speed and choice makes it the default.
How it works
Direct flights from Da Nang to Hanoi take about 1 hour 20 minutes, and this is one of the busiest domestic routes in the country, with departures roughly every hour from early morning until late at night. Several airlines fly it, including Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways. Flights leave Da Nang Airport, right beside the city, and land at Noi Bai Airport, about 45 minutes to an hour from the Old Quarter, so allow for the transfer into Hanoi. Booked ahead, fares often run from around 700,000 to 1,100,000 VND (roughly $28 to $44), with VietJet’s cheapest tickets covering hand luggage only and Vietnam Airlines including a checked bag. Prices climb steeply last-minute and in peak season, so book early. Our domestic flights guide covers the rest.
Who it is for
The flight suits almost anyone, and with so many departures there is little reason to force an awkward time. Unless you specifically want the overland experience or the lowest possible fare, it is the sensible pick. Those two alternatives follow below.
Option 2: By train from Da Nang to Hanoi
Why choose the train
The train is the most comfortable way to travel overland, and on this route it comes with a real scenic bonus. Soon after leaving Da Nang it climbs over the Hai Van Pass, the coastal stretch of track between Da Nang and Hue that is widely rated one of the finest rail sections in the country. An overnight service also doubles as a night’s accommodation, so you sleep through the long haul north and wake up much closer to Hanoi.
How it works
These are Reunification Express services, run by Vietnam Railways. Trains leave Da Nang Railway Station, close to the city center, and arrive at Hanoi Railway Station in the Old Quarter area, taking roughly 16 to 17 hours over the 790 kilometers. You can pick a soft seat, a six-berth hard sleeper, a four-berth soft sleeper, or a two-berth VIP cabin on some trains, and for an overnight this long a berth is well worth the extra. A soft seat starts from around 700,000 VND (roughly $27), a soft sleeper from around 1,100,000 VND (roughly $45), with VIP cabins higher. Tickets are simplest to buy through 12Go, Baolau, or Vexere; foreigners cannot easily use the official railway website, which needs a Vietnamese bank card. Our train travel guide covers the classes.
One thing worth knowing about the Hai Van Pass: it comes in the first couple of hours out of Da Nang, so a daytime departure lets you see it in daylight, while the common overnight trains cross it after dark. If the scenery is the draw, choose a daytime train and sit on the right-hand side for the coastal views.
Who it is for
The train is a genuine highlight on this stretch, not just a way to save on a flight. It suits travelers who enjoy rail journeys, want the Hai Van scenery, and would rather sleep their way north than pass the time in airports. If you sleep poorly on trains, or simply want to arrive fast, flying is the better fit.
Option 3: By sleeper bus from Da Nang to Hanoi
Why choose the bus
The bus is the cheapest way to make the trip, and an overnight service lets you sleep through most of it and save a hotel night. Today’s cabin buses give each passenger an enclosed pod rather than the old open bunks, which makes a long ride easier to take. It is the budget option, and a workable one, though it is a long night on the road.
How it works
Buses take somewhere between 13 and 16 hours, most leaving Da Nang in the evening and reaching Hanoi the next morning. Standard sleepers are the cheapest, from around 500,000 VND (roughly $20), while cabin and VIP coaches with private pods cost more, up to around 1,150,000 VND (roughly $46). Operators on the route include HK Buslines, G8 Sapa Open Tour, and Hoang Long, all of which show up on 12Go, Vexere, and Baolau. Buses leave from several points around Da Nang and drop at a few spots in Hanoi, often near the Old Quarter, so check where yours actually stops before you book. On the overnight run, valuables belong on you, not in the luggage bay. Our bus travel guide has more on the coach types.
Who it is for
The bus makes sense for tight budgets, and for anyone content to swap comfort for the cheapest fare and a saved night’s accommodation. A cabin bus is worth the small step up from a basic sleeper on a haul this long. If sleep or comfort matters to you, the train does the overland trip far better.
Breaking the journey to Hanoi: Hue and Phong Nha
This is a long route, and two of central Vietnam’s best places sit right on it, both reachable by the same trains and buses. If you have the time, stopping at either turns a long transfer into part of the trip. Heading north from Da Nang, you reach them in this order.
Hue
Hue comes first, only a couple of hours north of Da Nang over the Hai Van Pass, which makes it an easy addition to almost any central Vietnam route. The country’s former imperial capital, it holds a walled Citadel, the grand tombs of the Nguyen emperors set along the Perfume River, and a quieter, more historic feel than the beach cities. A day or two is enough for the highlights, and it makes a natural first stop on the way north. Our Hue travel guide covers what to see, and the short leg is covered in our guide on getting from Da Nang to Hue.
Phong Nha
Further north, roughly four hours from Da Nang, Phong Nha is one of the most remarkable and least crowded corners of the country. It is a national park of thick jungle and vast limestone mountains, riddled with caves, including Son Doong, the largest cave in the world, and many smaller ones open to ordinary visitors. For anyone who loves nature and adventure, it is a destination in its own right, with cave expeditions, boat trips on the Son River, and jungle treks, and far thinner crowds than Halong Bay or Sapa. If you add only one stop on the way north, this is a strong candidate. Our guide on getting from Da Nang to Phong Nha covers the leg, with more on the area in our Phong Nha travel guide.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Da Nang to Hanoi
On a long route like this, the best way from Da Nang to Hanoi comes down to time, comfort, and budget.
Fly if your time matters most. With flights all day and a journey of under two hours, it is the easy default, as long as you allow for the transfer from Hanoi’s out-of-town airport.
Take the train for the most comfortable way overland, and for the Hai Van Pass right at the start, sleeping through the long haul north in a berth.
Take the bus for the cheapest trip, ideally a cabin bus for the extra comfort on a long overnight.
And whichever you choose, think hard about breaking the journey at Hue or Phong Nha. Both sit right on the route north, and both reward far more than a quick pass-through.
