Hoa Binh is 76 km southwest of Hanoi on Highway 6, the main road into the northwest. The journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours by private vehicle, or closer to 2.5 to 3 hours on the buses that stop along the way.
Buses depart regularly from Hanoi's My Dinh bus station (the main terminal for northwestern routes) and from Gia Lam and Luong Yen stations. Fares are modest — around US$4 one-way. There is no train connection.
From Hoa Binh, Highway 6 continues southwest toward Moc Chau and Dien Bien Phu, making the city a natural first stop on the northwest loop. Motorbike riders on the classic Hanoi-to-Dien Bien Phu circuit pass through here on day one.