Da nang Airport to Hue (How to)

There seems to be a lack of updated information on how to get from Da Nang airport to Hue in Vietnam.  So I have decided to post my experience doing this route.

First of all, Da Nang seems to only have major access points from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in terms of frequent flights.  Since most people are not likely to spend much time in this city, the main reason for landing in this city is to transit towards either Hue or Hoi An.

After Googling old forums about the Da Nang/Hue route I found very limited information about my options.

First off, the easy way to get from Da nang to Hue is to hire a car which is your most expensive option.  You are looking anywhere between $50-$70USD depending on whether you will be stopping on your way.  The scenery is beautiful, so this might be something you would like to opt for.  There are two "Tourist Information" desks when you get off your plane before exiting the doors.  You can get them to help you with this method of transportation.

Your second option is hiring a taxi directly outside the airport exit.  I am not sure what your price will end up being as it is probably the least cost effective way of getting to Hue.  Keep in mind that Hue is about 2.5 hours away from Da Nang and that different taxi companies have different meter rates.  What I mean by this is that some meters go quicker than others.  In my experience May Linh (the green taxis) are quite reliable.

The same tourist information desk at the Da Nang airport suggested taking a taxi to the train station and catching a train (the last one was at 4:45PM) which took about 3 hours.  I was quite lucky in that I had arrived at the airport at 4PM and had just enough time to make the train and I have no regrets.

The advantages of taking the train is that you have a wonderful view along the river which sets you up for a beautiful and enjoyable ride.

Let's look at the cost breakdown:

-  I found a May Linh taxi and asked him to bring me to the "train station" which is 4Km away.

From Da nang airport to Da nang train station =100,000 Dong which equates to about $5USD

From the Danang Train Station to Hue = 75,000 Dong which equates to about $3.75USD.

So total ends up being less than $10USD.

 So in comparison to hiring a car, you are saving quite a bit of money.  $40 goes a long way in Vietnam.

In addition, you will have a lovely scenic journey shall you decide to take a train.   Either way, you have a couple of options, so assess what type of journey you would like to take.

Here are a couple pics and video(s) taken from my useful iPod Touch: