How To Travel From Da Nang To Hoi An

Learn how to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An in detail. From the bus, taxis, private transfers, and more these are my top tips!

Hoi An is one of the most popular tourist spots in Vietnam, and no wonder! It’s a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage City famous for its old town.

However, taking the train and or flight here will actually end in Da Nang. This means you will need to work out how to get to Hoi An from Da Nang.

Which, let’s be honest, can be quite a hassle, especially if you are coming from a long overnight journey!

This is a trip I have made multiple times, and mainly on public transport.

The easiest way to get from Da Nang to Hoi An is for sure by booking a private shuttle. You can book this with Hoi An Express. which costs $20.00 per person and takes 45 minutes. They also offer shared shuttles at a cheaper rate if you are coming from the airport.

What Is The Distance?

Da Nang is actually pretty damn close to Hoi An. This is especially so compared to other popular spots in Vietnam, so no overnight bus or train!

In total, you will find the distance is around 29 kilometers or 18 miles.

How Long Does It Exactly Take To Travel?

As I said, the time to travel to Hoi An is pretty quick, and you have two different routes to choose from.

This is either the coastal route or inland on the main highway.

At a minimum, it will take you 45 minutes when you are taking a taxi by the coastal road option.

In contrast, it takes slightly longer, 50 to 60 minutes, to travel the inland road on the highway.

Is There A Train All The Way To Hoi An?

There is surprisingly no train service that allows passengers to reach Hoi An directly.

In terms of available transport, you have buses and taxis, together with private transfers and Grab services to choose from.

1. Private Transfer With Hoi An Express

If you’re looking for an easy transfer where you don’t have to deal with taxis or dropping people off at different places, booking a private transfer is a great choice.

You can book this either through your hotel in Da Nang before arriving or online in advance.

One of the best companies to choose is Hoi An Express since they are affordable, safe, and reliable.

With over 1,000 reviews and an excellent rating they are truly tested and tried by travelers! I used them on my recent trip, and it was a straightforward experience.

Booking with GetYourGuide means you can book instantly. You can even book a same day transfer if you have left things till the last minute!

Hoi An Express offers 4 seater cars, 7 seater minivans, and 16 seater minibusses to book.

Depending on where exactly you’re staying in Hoi An, you can expect it to take around 45 minutes from Da Nang, and prices start from $20.00.

2. Shared Shuttle From Da Nang To Hoi An

Next up, we have another awesome option from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An, which is Hoi An Express shared shuttle.

This is actually the same company as above. Though they also have shared shuttles leaving Da Nang Airport every hour between 5 am and 11 pm.

Basically, this means that depending on when your flight arrives, you may wait a little.

The trip costs just $8.40 per person, making it a great option for solo travelers such as myself. When you prebook, a representative will meet you at arrivals with your name on a place card and take you to the bus.

Onboard, there is air conditioning and free wifi. Also, a huge bonus is that they will also drop you off right at your hotel in Hoi An.

3. Book A Day Tour To Hoi An

Now, another option is simply doing a day trip to Hoi An.

This is an excellent option if you plan to base yourself in Da Nang, though you don’t want to miss out on exploring this UNESCO World Heritage town.

Even though one day in Hoi An doesn’t seem like long, you will still be able to see all the highlights in the Old Town and really soak up the atmosphere.

Alternatively, you could even organize in advance with your tour provider to leave you in Hoi An at the end. You will need to bring your luggage, so confirm with the company that they have extra room for it.

Honestly, this is something I have done numerous times when traveling.

It allows you to experience the best of a destination on a tour and then explore at your own pace the following day.

4. Splurge On A Taxi To Hoi An

Why not take a taxi for a super convenient way to travel to Hoi An? You’ll get to chill out in a comfortable and private car, and extra bonus, it’s the fastest!

Whether you are already in Da Nang or wish to travel to Hoi An from the airport or train station, there will be plenty of taxis around that will be happy to help.

I mean, if you have traveled Vietnam or anywhere in Southeast Asia, you will know how annoyingly easy taxis are to come by.

You can expect the taxi to Hoi An to cost 350,000 to 450,000 VND / $14.00 to $18.00.

You can also easily get ripped off when trying to find a driver at the airport or train station because of the high demand.

If possible, you will be best off walking a short distance away and then getting a ride.

Should You Prebook Your Taxi

To keep things stress-free, you can prebook your taxi instead of just trying to find one on the side of the road.

12.Go Asia is my favorite way of booking transport in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

This is a good method when you are worried about getting ripped off, something which, unfortunately, is a common occurrence here.

You will easily be able to book sedans, SUVs, and minivans, starting from $14.00. These taxis run 24/7 and offer a direct drop off service, so you don’t need to worry about logistics.

To check availability and book a taxi here on 12Go Asia.

Booking a Grab Taxi

Another option is booking a Grab car.

Grab is a mobile app similar to Uber that is popular in Southeast Asia, since you generally get better rates than just a standard taxi.

I have used Grab throughout Vietnam, and it is an excellent way to travel. I also quite like that it predetermines your rate, so you know what to expect and receive a fair price.

If you are just wanting to make a day trip to Hoi An, you can book a motorbike since you won’t be traveling with luggage. This will be even cheaper than booking a vehicle.

To use Grab you will need a Vietnamese sim card, eSim, or download the app before you leave home to register your phone number.

5. Take The Public Bus

For those backpackers on a budget, like myself, it’s definitely worth thinking about taking the public bus.

This is actually what I did to get to Hoi An, however, it did take some research to figure out which stop would be best for us to get on. Since this is the cheapest option, for us it was worth the extra fuss.

The relatively new LK02 line is run by DanaBus, runs between Da Nang Bus Station (BX Trung Tam) and Cua Dai Wharf, and stops at Hoi An Bus Station along the way. It costs $1.30 / 35,000 VND and you will need to pay with cash.

Technically, and a little confusing, this is actually two separate trips that the same bus operates. This means you will be given two different tickets, but you just stay onboard the whole time:

• Bus 02 Da Nang Bus Station to Vietnam/Korea University in Da Nang
• Bus LK-02 From Vietnam/Korea University in Da Nang to Cua Dai via Hoi An

They run every day from 4:45 AM to 6:00 PM, leaving every 15 to 30 minutes, and taking an hour to Hoi An.

Thankfully, the buses are pretty damn decent for the price and even have air conditioning onboard.

Some travel blogs still talk about the old #1 public bus, which is no longer in operation and has been replaced by this service.

Where To Catch The Bus From

The bus does make numerous stops along the way, which I will outline in the table below.

But if you happen to be arriving from the Airport, the easiest way is still to head to the Da Nang bus station. You can easily catch a grab taxi here for around $3.00 / 70,000 VND.

For the exact details for where you can get picked up along the route:

• Head to the Danabus website
• Translate to English
• Navigate to Roadmap
• Click on ’02 Central Bus Station – Da Nang City Administrative Center – Cua Dai’ under NON-SUBSIDIARY BUS ROUTE (Phuong Trang).

Alternatively, you can also download the FUTA app /City Bus

6. Sinh Tourist Bus To Hoi An

Lastly, we have the Sinh Tourist bus. This is a good option if you are already in Da Nang or perhaps arrived at the train station.

The Sinh Tourist bus leaves twice a day, first 10.30 am and second at 3.30 pm. The drive itself will take around an hour and a half as long as you don’t hit traffic on the way.

The tickets cost 250,000 VND / $10.80 per person, and if you are keen it can be booked over on 12.Go Asia or Baolau. Alternatively, you can also visit their office in Da Nang and book it in person.

They are a popular bus company with travelers and I have used them numerous times in Vietnam. They are always professional, reputable, and reliable.

I have often paid a little bit more to travel with them than with a random company. Knowing there will be good air conditioning, plenty of luggage space, and extra legroom, is a big bonus.

For the Da Nang and Hoi An route, they use the typical Vietnam sleeper buses with lie-down seats. I am not always the biggest fan of these, but they are short-distance, and this company has taken extra steps to make their buses as comfortable as possible.

• Departs: The Sinh Tourist office Da Nang, 16, 3 Thang 2, Thuan Phuoc
• Arrives: The Sinh Tourist office Hoi An, 646 Hai Ba Trung

Where To Stay In Hoi An?

Since Hoi An is a super touristy destination, there is a heap of accommodation options you can choose from. Whether this is fancy resorts, guesthouses run by lovely local families, or budget friendly hostels.

There are also plenty of different areas to choose from, whether it is in the city, beachside, or countryside. It’s not hard to find a good location here.

Now, I stayed at Backhome Hostel & Bar in Hoi An. It’s a decent price, only a five minute walk from the old town, and has a great social vibe.

The only downside is that it’s in a 4 story building with no elevator, which can be a hassle if you don’t travel light.

For those looking for a private room, Hoianese Center Hotel is a good affordable option at $25.00 per night.

A common thing in Hoi An is that your accommodation will include bicycle use, so if possible, try to book somewhere that includes this.

The Best Things To Do While In Hoi An

Okay, so prepare yourself, you will be super busy during your time in Hoi An. You seriously won’t run out of things to do, or even get close to doing them all!

You can check out my full guide for a complete run down, however, this here is just a little taste:

Hoi An Old Town: Hands down, the Old Town is the #1 thing to do here in Hoi An and one of the most beautiful places in all of Vietnam. A claim that is backed up by its UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

My Son Sanctuary: Now, for those history lovers, My Son Sanctuary is a must. Book yourself a morning or afternoon tour (I recommend the morning to not only avoid the heat but also catch a beautiful sunrise). Here you will learn about the Champa history and admire the temples. The grounds are another UNESCO site, and it is marketed as the Angkor Wat of Vietnam.

Thanh Ha Pottery Village: If you happen to be getting around by bicycle or motorbike it is well worth checking out Thanh Ha Pottery Village. It may not look like too much from the outside, but the craftsmen in this village made items for the Nguyen Dynasty at the Imperial City of Hue.

Old Town Night Market: Head out to Hoi An’s Old Town at night for some souvenirs and remember to barter! Held every night from 5 pm to 11 pm, you will no doubt be spending your nights exploring the many stalls.

Beach Day: You’ll find some pretty damn good beaches in the area. The most popular one is definitely An Bang.

Tra Que Vegetable Village: Sometimes, you just need to get out of the city, and a visit to Tra Que Vegetable Village is the perfect way to do this! It’s super easy to reach, and soon enough, you will find yourself in a slower pace of life, surrounded by workers and delicious produce.

Wrap-Up: How To Travel To Hoi An From Da Nang

Now you know all the different ways to get from Da Nang to Hoi An, and all explained in detail.

Whether this is by private taxi, on a tourist shuttle, with Grab, or on the bus.

It doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get there to explore the beautiful town of Hoi An.