There are 3 ways to travel the 400 km from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha: an 8.5-hour bus with fares from [price 428,000 VND], a 9.5-hour train with rates from [price 734,000 VND], and an 8-hour private transfer with prices from [price 6,300,000 VND].
The bus is the only direct public transport from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha. What we like about this option is that there are buses departing from both Ninh Binh centre and Tam Coc centre. Another advantage is that all buses drop you off at the main street in Phong Nha.
When you travel by train, you'll have to go to Dong Hoi. From Dong Hoi, you can take a public bus or taxi to Phong Nha. Taking a train is more expensive with combined rates of [price 734,000 VND] for a sleeper berth in the train and public bus. It's worth noting that train travel is generally safer and more comfortable than buses in Vietnam.
If you prefer taking a private transfer from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha, you can book a 3-seater car from [price 6,300,000 VND].

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| Transport | Duration | Price | Best For | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BusFastestBudget | 6h 45m | ($13) | -- | |
| Private Transfer | 8h | ($372) | -- | |
| Train | 8h 45m | ($16) | -- |
Own experience: I travelled this route with Queen Bus and had a very comfortable ride. However, the last two passengers who entered the bus had to sleep in the walkway, even though they booked their tickets from their accommodation. Travelling by bus in Vietnam is not as safe as in Western countries. Taking the train is safer, but for this route, it comes with more hassle.
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Carbon Footprint
This 400 km journey produces approximately 36 g CO2 by bus. Taking public transport is one of the lowest-emission ways to travel this route.
Used the Songserm ferry from Koh Samui. Cheaper than Lomprayah but takes a bit longer. Still a perfectly fine crossing. The views approaching Koh Tao are stunning either way.
OOliver S.November 2025Ferry
Train via Surat Thani was our pick. More scenic than Chumphon route and the Lomprayah catamaran from Tapee Pier is very comfortable. Book the special express train for the quickest ride.
The overnight bus with Montanatip was okay but not great. The bus was older and the seats didn't recline much. Ferry portion was fine though. If you're on a tight budget it works.
Took the sleeper train to Chumphon — magical! Woke up to palm trees and transferred to the Lomprayah catamaran. Whole journey felt like an adventure.
Lomprayah bus+ferry combo from Khao San Road was seamless. Departed at 6am, arrived Koh Tao by 3pm. Well organized.
Flew to Koh Samui and took Lomprayah catamaran. More expensive but saved a full day. Worth it if your holiday is short.
Most travelers base themselves near the main beach for easy access to transport, restaurants, and activities.
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