Sapa Tours & ActivitiesHanoi to Da Nang Train (2026): Times, Prices & Both Ways
Most people should fly this one. The train is still worth taking — but only for one reason, and only on certain trains.
Compare Your Options at a Glance
| Mode | Time | Price (one-way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | 1 h 20 m | ~$30–60 | Most travelers — fast & cheap enough |
| Train (SE) | 15–18 h | ~$27–45 | Scenery lovers, slow travel |
| Sleeper bus | 15–16 h | $39 | Tightest budgets |
| Private car | ~11–12 h | $230–257 | Rare — only for special needs |
By Train — The Scenic Way
The Hanoi–Da Nang train runs on the Reunification (north–south) line from Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Hà Nội, 120 Le Duan). The southern stretch over the Hai Van Pass is the reason to take it: cliffs, sea and rice terraces for hours. Nine SE trains a day cover the ~790 km in 15 to 18 hours — SE3 is the fastest at 15h08, SE11 the slowest at 18h10, per Vietnam Railways’ own timetable.
You’ll choose between hard/soft seat and 4- or 6-berth sleepers. Figure roughly $27 for a soft seat, $34–44 for a 6-berth sleeper and $40–45 for a 4-berth cabin. The private “tourist” carriages (Violette, Lotus, Damitrans) run $65–70.
Pro tip: book a soft 4-berth sleeper on SE1 or SE19. These time the Hai Van coast in daylight, so you sleep through the dull northern half and wake for the views into Da Nang.
By Flight — The Fast Way (and Usually the Smart One)
Let’s be honest: over that distance, most travelers fly. Hanoi to Da Nang is a 1 hour 20 minute hop with many daily flights (VietJet, Bamboo, Vietnam Airlines), often $30–60 if you book ahead. Unless the train ride itself is your goal, flying saves you a full day each way.
By Sleeper Bus — The Budget Option
A sleeper bus runs the route overnight in about 15 to 16 hours. It’s the cheapest comfortable way down, and we book HK Open Tour on this route from $39.
→ Heading to Hoi An rather than Da Nang? See our Hanoi to Hoi An guide — Hoi An is a short ride from Da Nang. Going to Hue instead? It’s the next stop north.
Da Nang to Hanoi — the return leg
Same line, same views, and nine SE trains a day heading north. The one thing that changes is the clock: northbound runs 16h08 to 19h57, against 15h08 to 18h10 going south. Roughly an hour slower at both ends, on the same track.
| Train | Depart Da Nang | Arrive Hanoi | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE6 | 02:01 | 19:14 | 17h13 |
| SE10 | 08:59 | 03:40 | 18h41 |
| SE4 | 12:28 | 04:36 | 16h08 — fastest |
| SE2 | 13:21 | 05:42 | 16h21 |
| SE24 | 13:38 | 09:35 | 19h57 |
| SE12 | 16:29 | 10:10 | 17h41 |
| SE20 | 18:00 | 11:10 | 17h10 |
| SE18 | 18:55 | 14:10 | 19h15 |
| SE8 | 23:41 | 16:20 | 16h39 |
Book SE20 at 18:00. It is not the fastest on paper — SE4 is. But SE4 puts you in Hanoi at 04:36, and there is nothing to do with a Hanoi 4 AM except pay for a hotel night you barely use. SE20 arrives 11:10, a normal hour to reach a city.
Fares and classes are the same in both directions, and the flight is still 1h20m. Note the views flip: going north, the Hai Van Pass comes early in the run rather than near the end, so an afternoon departure catches it in daylight.
How to Book
- Decide train vs flight — is the journey part of the trip, or do you just need to arrive? That answers it.
- Book ahead — flights are cheapest 2–3 weeks out; sleeper trains and buses sell out on weekends and around Tet.
- For the train, book on dsvn.vn (official); for the bus, book through a verified operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Hanoi to Da Nang?
Between 15h08 and 18h10 depending on the service, on an SE Reunification train — slow, but one of Vietnam’s most scenic rides, especially over the Hai Van Pass.
Is it better to fly or take the train to Da Nang?
Fly if you just need to arrive — it’s 1h20m versus 15 hours at best. Take the train if the scenic journey is part of your trip.
How far is Da Nang from Hanoi?
About 741 km. Google Maps measures the fastest drive at 741 km, roughly 11.5 hours — which is exactly why almost no one drives it.
How do I get from Da Nang back to Hanoi?
Nine SE trains a day run north, taking 16h08 to 19h57 — about an hour slower than southbound. SE4 is fastest but arrives 04:36; SE20 at 18:00 arrives 11:10 and is the one to book. Flights are the same 1h20m.
How much is the Hanoi to Da Nang train?
Roughly $27 for a soft seat, $40–45 for a 4-berth sleeper, one-way. Premium tourist carriages run $65–70. Confirm current fares on dsvn.vn.
Flying north instead? Sapa is the other direction
Half the people comparing this route are deciding between the beaches and the mountains. If the mountains win, Sapa sits about six hours north of Hanoi by night train or sleeper bus, and it is the trip we actually run. Two nights up there fits neatly either side of a Da Nang leg.
→ Next: Hanoi to Sapa: Every Way Compared →
The Honest Verdict
This is what I tell guests who ask me to choose for them:
- Just want to arrive → fly (1h20m, ~$30–60). The obvious choice for most.
- Want the journey → the evening SE train, soft 4-berth sleeper. The Hai Van Pass earns the extra hours.
- Tightest budget → the sleeper bus ($39), if you’d rather sleep on the move.
Whatever you book, do it ahead — and don’t take the train expecting speed. Take it for the view.
→ Planning the whole route? See our Northern Vietnam Transport Guide.
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