Skip to content
LarkTours

Routes · Asia

Buenos Aires to central Vietnam: Hue and Phong Nha

Buenos Aires → Hue → Phong Nha

Imperial City of Huế
"Đại_nội.jpg" by NguyenThanhBac123, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Thành phố Huế nhìn từ trên cao (2) (Hue)
Photo: Lê Huy Hoàng Hải, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Imperial city & giant caves Best season (general guide): Mar–Aug

Central Vietnam holds the old imperial capital of Hue and, further north, some of the largest caves on Earth. This route spends three nights in Hue and three in Phong Nha. From Buenos Aires you'll need at least two connections, usually through Europe or the Middle East and then Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Hue: day one, the Perfume River; day two, Imperial City; day three, royal tombs and Thiên Mụ Pagoda. Then spend days four to six in Phong Nha: day four, travel north to Phong Nha; day five, Phong Nha Cave by boat; day six, Paradise Cave.

Hue was the seat of the Nguyen emperors from the early nineteenth century. Its Imperial City is surrounded by walls and a moat, with palaces, gates and gardens, some restored and some still in ruins. UNESCO lists the complex of monuments.

The royal tombs lie in the hills along the Perfume River, each designed by its emperor. Thiên Mụ Pagoda, with its seven-storey tower, stands on the riverbank. Bún bò Huế, a spicy beef noodle soup, is the city's signature dish.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a few hours north, is a vast area of limestone mountains and forest, listed by UNESCO. Boats travel up the river into Phong Nha Cave, and Paradise Cave has a long boardwalk past huge formations.

The park also holds Son Doong, the largest known cave passage in the world, which can only be visited on a limited expedition booked far in advance through the licensed operator.

Spring and summer are the drier months in this part of Vietnam. The rainy season, usually from September to December, can bring flooding.

In Hue, a boat trip on the Perfume River is a relaxing way to reach the tombs and pagodas.

Good to know: Buses and trains link Hue with Dong Hoi, the nearest town to Phong Nha. Book cave tours with licensed operators, and bring good shoes and a torch. Some caves close in the wet season.

Suggested outline

  1. Buenos Aires

    Start

  2. Hue

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    The walled Imperial City, royal tombs and pagodas on the Perfume River.

  3. Phong Nha

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    Limestone karst with vast caves, reached by river boat and jungle trails.

    Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park
    "Phongnhakebang6.jpg" by Genghiskhanviet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Hue — Arrive; the Perfume River· Buenos Aires → Hue (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Hue — Imperial City
  3. Day 3 · Hue — Royal tombs and Thiên Mụ Pagoda
  4. Day 4 · Phong Nha — North to Phong Nha· Hue → Phong Nha (overland)
  5. Day 5 · Phong Nha — Phong Nha Cave by boat
  6. Day 6 · Phong Nha — Paradise Cave
  7. Day 7 · Phong Nha — Travel home from Phong Nha· Phong Nha → Dong Hoi (overland), then Dong Hoi → Buenos Aires (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

Each button opens a live, dated search. We don't show stored fares here: check today's price on the booking site.

Showing dates about a month ahead — change them when you search.

Hue

More about Hue →

Plan the trip: Hue

These links go to partner sites. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices and terms are set by the partner.

Phong Nha

Nearest airport: Dong Hoi

Partner links may earn LarkTours a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, availability and terms are set by each partner.