How to get from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha National Park?

Is there a Grab in Phong Nha?

Phong Nha, March 2023. Scorching. Sweaty. No Grab. Seriously. Not a single one. Remember frantically opening the app? Nothing. Blank screen. Like a desert. So frustrating. Ended up haggling with a taxi. Rip-off. Paid way too much. Should’ve booked a private car earlier. Learned my lesson.

• No Grab in Phong Nha.
• Taxis expensive. Pre-book private cars.
• Motorbike rentals an option. Watch the heat.
• Xe ôm available. Negotiate the price. First. Always.
• Dusty roads. Really dusty.
• Bring a mask. Seriously.

Staying at Phong Nha Farmstay. Amazing place. So peaceful. Except for the roosters. 5 am. Every. Single. Day. But still. Worth it. The landscape. Wow. Paradise. Highly recommend Phong Nha Farmstay. Ask for a bungalow overlooking the river. You won’t regret it.

Went kayaking. Dark Cave. Amazing experience. Ziplining. Mud. Everywhere. Good times. Food was great too. Especially the goat meat. So tender.

• Plan transportation in advance. Especially during peak season (March-September).
• Download offline maps. No reliable internet outside the town. Sometimes no internet at all.
• Cash is king. ATMs are scarce.

Remember the dust? Yeah. Covered in it. From head to toe. Worth it though. Phong Nha is magical.

How do I get to Phong Nha National Park?

Okay, Phong Nha… right. How to get there? Ugh.

Bus, yeah, that’s easiest now. I hate buses, though. Cramped. Sweaty. Are flights even an option?

• Flights: Dong Hoi airport? Then a taxi, probably. Is it far?

• Buses: Direct to Phong Nha now. So convenient but… ugh.

• Trains: Dong Hoi too, I guess. Then transport?

Dong Hoi…it all goes thru Dong Hoi, basically, doesn’t it? Even the flight.

Dong Hoi is the hub. Stupid.

Ugh.

The park is gorgeous, it’s worth it, even the horrible bus. Last time I went, saw a pangolin, or was it a scaled anteater? Cool stuff, either way. How do they even survive? Oh, and the caves!

• Paradise Cave: Insane scale.

• Dark Cave: Mud bath! So weird.

Maybe this time I will rent a motorbike in Dong Hoi. How hard could it be? Oh, I’m not driving, never mind.

Rent a motorbike sounds like a good idea in theory. Risky though… I am prone to accidents.

How do I get to Phong Nha from Da Nang?

Da Nang to Phong Nha. A journey. Dust motes dancing in the sunbeams, slanting through the bus window. Six to eight hours. A slow, deliberate unraveling of the landscape. The scent of rice paddies, sharp and green.

Dong Hoi. A fleeting glimpse. A transfer. The chaotic symphony of a Vietnamese town. The bus groans, a tired beast. My back aches.

Then, Phong Nha. The air is different. Heavier, wetter. The mountains, looming. Impenetrable. Ancient. A taxi. A brief, jarring ride. Then, stillness.

That feeling, settling into the quiet. The deep green of the jungle pressing in. A profound, personal silence. I could have stayed there forever.

• Bus from Da Nang to Dong Hoi. Many companies.
• Taxi or local bus from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha.
• Expect six to eight hours, depending on 2024 weather.
• The journey itself. It’s the heart of the matter.

The memory of the road, shimmering. Each curve, a whisper of adventure. The slow, deliberate unfolding. I felt it in my bones. The heat. The dust. The anticipation. The mountains. Always the mountains. They swallowed the bus, whole. Then spat it out in Phong Nha.

The smell of gasoline and rain. Everything felt saturated. Overwhelmed. Perfect.

Does Grab work in Phong Nha?

Grab doesn’t operate directly in Phong Nha. No Grab, train station, or airport exists there. This geographical limitation presents a fun challenge for travelers. You must use alternative transport.

Dong Hoi is your gateway for air or rail travel. Makes sense, right? Think of it as a regional hub.

Other options abound. Buses are readily available from various locations. I personally used one from Hue last year. It was… an experience.

Consider these alternatives:

• Buses: Convenient and affordable; routes from Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An.
• Private car hire: More expensive but offers greater flexibility and comfort. My uncle swears by this method. He’s a bit of a snob though.
• Local taxis: Available within Phong Nha itself, but only for shorter trips. Not for long hauls.

Phong Nha’s charm lies in its remoteness, wouldn’t you agree? It forces you to slow down. It’s a deliberate design choice perhaps. The lack of major transportation hubs compels alternative travel methods. It’s something to keep in mind when planning.

I booked my Dong Hoi bus ticket online in 2023. Easy peasy. But remember – book ahead, especially during peak season. This is crucial. Seriously. You don’t want to be stuck.

Finding yourself unexpectedly stranded is part of the charm of the less-traveled path, though. At least that’s what I tell myself. But you really shouldn’t get stuck, just be prepared.