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How to travel from da nang to hoi an.
Learn how exactly to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An. From the bus, taxis, private transfers, and more these are my top tips so you don’t miss checking out the beautiful tourist hangout of Hoi An!
Hoi An is one of the most popular places in Vietnam for tourists. And no wonder why, it is a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage City famous for its old town.
However, most longer transport options from other parts of Vietnam end in Da Nang, such as trains or flights. This means to travel to Hoi An you will need to work out how you 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 route I have made multiple times, and mainly on public transport. When I am backpacking Vietnam there is no way I am splurging on a taxi!
Luckily because Hoi An is so popular there are numerous transport options to choose from. No matter what time of day or night you arrive there will always be something available.
The e asiest way to get to Hoi An is by booking a private shuttle with Hoi An Express. The journey takes around 45 minutes, and starts from $20.00 per person , though they also offer shared shuttles for a cheaper rate if you are coming from the airport.
So, what actually is the ultimate way to get from Da Nang to Hoi An? Taking a taxi can be expensive, though taking a local bus can be a bit daunting for the first time, how are you even meant to know which one to get on?
Note: Since 2020 the No. 1 public bus between Da Nang and Hoi An and Sinh Tourist Bus have stopped running. I will update this guide when they resume service.
How To Get To Hoi An From Da Nang: The 6 Best Ways To Travel
Need A Quick Answer?
If you don’t have spare time to read my full article on how to get from Da Nang to Hoi An, no biggie, here are the main takeaways:
🚗 Easiest & Best Way to Travel Hoi An From Da Nang: I recommend a private or shared shuttle transfer with Hoi An Express which you can book with GetYourGuide .
🏠 Accommodation in Hoi An: Top hostel choice for budget travelers in Hoi An include Mad Monkey Hoi An (dorms start from $8.00) and Backhome Hostel Bar (dorms start from $6.50)
🍜 Foodies Favorites: Book a Hoi An cooking class including a tour around the market and a basket boat trip with GetYourGuide .
🔎 Best Hoi An Day Trip: An early morning excursion to My Son Sanctuary is a highlight.
Distance From Da Nang & Hoi An
Da Nang is relatively close to Hoi An, especially considering the other distances between popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. Thank goodness no overnight bus or train is needed here!
In total, you will find the distance is around 29 kilometers or 18 miles.
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Vietnam: Baolau & 12.Go Asia
How Long Does It Take To Travel?
As I said the time to travel to Hoi An is pretty quick and you have two different ways of transport available.
This is either the coastal route or inland on the main highway. However, honestly, the exact time it takes to travel depends on the route the driver takes, the type of car, as well as traffic.
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 at 50 to 60 minutes to travel the inland road on the highway.
Is There A Train All The Way To Hoi An?
No, you can’t travel all the way to Hoi An by train.
However, there are other modes of transportation available such as buses, taxis, private transfers, and Grab.
1. Private Transfer With Hoi An Express
If you’re looking for a one-way transfer and you don’t want to mess around with buses and taxis or share the ride with other passengers, booking a private car and driver is the most efficient and comfortable option.
This can be booked through your hotel in Da Nang prior to arriving or online in advance.
A great company to choose is Hoi An Express , which is travelers’ favorite choice as they are affordable, safe, and reliable.
They have over 1,000 reviews by fellow travelers and an excellent rating! I used them on my recent trip and it was a stress free and straight forward experience.
Booking with GetYourGuide means you can book instantly and pay securely via their website. It’s perfect if you leave things to the last minute, you can even do a same-day transfer!
Also, being a backpacker things easily can change last minute and the benefit of booking through them is that you have the flexibility to cancel up to 24 hours in advance.
Hoi An Express offers 4-seater cars, 7-seater minivans, and 16-seater minibusses. The travel time is around 45 minutes to Da Nang and prices start from $20.00.
2. Shared Shuttle From Da Nang To Hoi An
Next up we have another awesome option for travelers from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An is taking the Hoi An Express shared shuttle .
They are the same company mentioned above, though they also have shuttle buses departing every hour between 5 am and 11 pm daily from Da Nang Airport.
However, depending on what time your flight arrives you may find yourself waiting a little while for the next bus to depart.
Nevertheless, if you are arriving on an international flight you may find yourself waiting a while to get your visa on arrival, which is never fun, especially when you’re tired. But at least your transfer will be sorted!
The journey on the Hoi An Express Bus costs $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.
If you are not overly confident about traveling and navigating airports this is an excellent option.
The buses also have air conditioning and free wifi on board. Huge bonus is that they will also drop you off right outside of your hotel in Hoi An.
Just be aware that if it is outside of the main city center there may be an extra charge.
If you think the Hoi An Express shuttle bus is the perfect choice for you to get from Da Nang to Hoi An Vietnam then you can book tickets over at Get Your Guide . You will see there are over a thousand reviews showing just how popular this method of transport is!
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 don’t want to miss out on exploring this beautiful 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.
Seriously it’s incredible here.
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 with you, so you need to speak with the company to ensure they have extra room.
This is something I have done numerous times before when traveling and 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
A super easy and convenient way to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An is by taxi. This is the perfect choice if you are looking for something that is comfortable, private, and efficient.
Whether you are already in Da Nang at a hostel or hotel, or perhaps you want to travel to Hoi An from the airport or train station there will be plenty of taxis around who can take you the distance.
I mean if you have either traveled to Vietnam or anywhere in Southeast Asia, you will know how easy taxis are to come by.
They will take approximately 45 minutes to travel to Hoi An.
How Much Is A Taxi
Depending on your exact location in Da Nang, the time of day, the taxi company that you book with, and even the mood of the driver can and will affect the end price that you will pay!
Crazy I know, but haggle away.
You can also find yourself spending more than necessary when finding a driver in popular locations such as Da Nang Airport or train station where demand is high.
If possible, in such situations, you are best off walking a short distance away and then getting a taxi.
Nevertheless, you can expect the taxi to Hoi An to cost between 350,000 to 450,000 VND / $14.00 to $18.00.
Should You Prebook Your Taxi
To keep things stress-free you may decide you want to instead pre-book your taxi rather than 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. They offer instant confirmation, secure online payment, and decent prices.
This is a good method when you are worried about getting ripped off, something which unfortunately is a common occurrence in Vietnam.
On their site, you will easily be able to book with Ouros Travel, who are a professional taxi company that is registered with the Ministry of Tourism.
Ouros runs sedans, SUVs, and minivans, starting from $14.00. These taxis run 24/7 and offer a door-to-door service, so all the hard work is done for you.
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. It is used widely in Southeast Asia and often will provide you with better rates than getting a taxi by the meter.
It also takes away the stress of having to negotiate a rate or make sure you are using a reputable company.
I have also 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 that you are receiving a fair price.
If you are not staying over in Hoi An, perhaps just wanting to do a day trip, you can also book a motorbike via the Grab app, since you won’t be traveling with luggage. This will be cheaper again than booking a vehicle.
To use Grab you will need a Vietnamese sim card, eSim, or download the app before you leave home so you can register your phone number.
I always try to get a local SIM card or eSim wherever I am traveling as it makes it easy to use apps like these when on the road and they are usually pretty affordable.
5. Take The Public Bus
Note: Since Covid hit unfortunately the public bus between Da Nang and Hoi An has been out of service. Hopefully, with increased tourism, this will restart again, but as of current, we are still waiting.
A budget-friendly option, perfect for backpackers, is taking the public bus. I took the bus on one of my trips simply because it was the cheapest. However, that doesn’t mean it is for everyone.
This is definitely the local way to travel. Expect plenty of stopping along the way, picking up and dropping off passengers. Also, there isn’t air conditioning.
However, if it’s warm they will drive with the doors open, just make sure your bags don’t fall out.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bean Knight (@beanknight)
Where To Catch The Bus From
You will want to take bus #1, also known as the yellow bus. This is a local bus that just drives back and forth from Da Nang and Hoi An throughout the day.
You can catch it from the museum, Cho Market, the Cathedral, and a few other stops in town.
We caught it the block over from the train station, just head over to the next street away from the train station, and the bus drives through here. You can find the exact bus stop locations on Google Maps.
Though the locals are friendly enough to point you in the correct location, at least they were with us.
The bus runs every 20 minutes in the high season and 40 minutes in the low season between 5.30 am and 6 pm.
In Hoi An the bus stops at Bến xe Hội An Nguyễn Tất Thành bus station, 1.5km north of the Ancient Town. From here it is a flat walk into the city center, perfect if you have a suitcase.
How Much Are Bus Tickets
To travel by bus costs 18,000 VND / $0.80 per person. Just note that you will be charged an extra 12,000 VND / $0.50 if you have big bags with you.
This is simply because you are taking up extra space with your luggage and they won’t be able to fit as many people on the bus. Be aware this is the cost for one large suitcase or backpack .
If you have multiple pieces to carry, you may want to look at a different option as you will need to be able to get your bags on and off quickly depending on where you are stopping and starting.
My Experience Taking The Public Bus
After taking the train from Hue to Da Nang we needed to take some sort of transport from Da Nang to Hoi An. Doing some prior research I decided against taking a taxi, simply because this would be too expensive for my Vietnam travel budget.
Since it was only midday we decided we could travel from Da Nang to Hoi An public bus. We had a semi idea where the bus stop was, and if the bus never came then we had plenty of time to come up with a plan B.
Luckily there were a few groups from the train who all had the same idea and we all started to cross the road away from the train station entryway and head to the next street over.
We all kind of bunched together in a spot we thought was the stop by the traffic lights. But a local soon came over and pointed us in the correct direction about 50 meters or so down the street.
Soon enough the bus came along and we all jumped on board. We paid the 30,000 VND which is the ticket price including bags and found a spot at the back of the bus with a few other travelers. Our bags were piled up on a large space on the floor as the bus continued down the street.
I sat back and watched the sights go past. The bus stopped and started again a few times in the city of Da Nang, though as soon as we were out of there it was an easy drive alongside the coastline to Hoi An .
Honestly, the drive itself is rather uneventful, there are not any spectacular landscapes along the way. Though soon enough the bus pulled into a small little depot seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Looking at our phones it was only a short walk from here to our accommodation, so we headed on the way to our homestay. It was a super easy walk with wide footpaths and minimal obstructions.
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 bus departs from The Sinh Tourist office located at 16, 3 Thang 2, Thuan Phuoc in the north-western part of the city. It is 8 kilometers from the main bus terminal and 2 kilometers from Con Market.
The Sinh Tourist bus leaves twice a day, first at lunch at 12 pm 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 to travel on The Sinh Tourist bus from Da Nang to Hoi An. 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 my Vietnam travels. They are always professional, reputable, and reliable.
Many times I have chosen to pay a little bit more to travel with them than a random company. There will be air conditioning, plenty of luggage space, and extra legroom.
For the Da Nang to Hoi An route, The Sinh Tourist uses sleeper buses with lie-down seats. I am not always the biggest fan of these, but it is a short distance, and this company has taken extra steps to make their buses as comfortable as possible.
The journey finishes at The Sinh Tourist office in Hoi An. This is located at 646 Hai Ba Trung, 1.5km north of the Night Market and 600m from the Ancient City.
Where To Stay In Hoi An?
Being a super popular tourist destination you will find plenty of nice resorts, guesthouses run by lovely local families, and hostels in Hoi An.
There are also plenty of different landscapes to choose from whether that is something in the city, beachside, or in the countryside.
It’s not hard to find a good location here. You will easily find yourself within walking distance of great shopping, restaurants, and those incredible sights this place is known for.
During my time in Hoi An, I stayed at Backhome Hostel & Bar , which I highly recommend for budget travelers. It’s just a five minute walk from the old town and offers a vibrant social scene, making it perfect for solo travelers.
However, keep in mind that the hostel has four floors and no elevator, which can be a challenge if you have heavy luggage.
For those seeking a private room, consider the Hoianese Center Hotel . It’s still quite affordable at $25.00 per night.
The staff here are incredibly helpful, offering plenty of information about the town and organizing free walking tours for guests.
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
Hoi An is a bustling city with plenty of attractions, there are so many things to do here that will keep you busy throughout your stay. This is just a small overview, so for more information be sure to check out my guide on things to do in Hoi An .
Hoi An Old Town: No doubt exploring the Old Town is the number one thing to do in Hoi An, and is considered one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam . This fact is proven true by it being granted a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
My Son Sanctuary: Located in a rainforest-like setting, the amazing complex of the My Son Sanctuary is incredible. Venture to 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: Easy to reach on bicycle or motorbike is Thanh Ha Pottery Village . It is an integral place of Vietnamese history. The skilled craftsmen who lived here even contributed pieces in the Imperial City of Hue when it was under the control of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Night Market: Located within the Hoi An Old Town in the Night Market you could find any Vietnamese souvenir your heart requires. Held every night from 5 pm to 11 pm you will no doubt be spending your nights exploring the many stalls.
Beach Day: This coastal town is lucky enough to be close to some amazing beaches. The most popular beach 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 is extremely accessible and soon enough you will find yourself in a slower pace of life surrounded by workers and delicious produce.
FAQs About Traveling Danang To Hoi An
How much is a taxi from da nang to hoi an.
The Da Nang to Hoi An taxi fare varies depending on the taxi company, the type of car, and the time of day. The fare can range from $13.00 to $25.00. The distance is approximately 29 kilometers, and travel time is around 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Can you do a day trip to Hoi An from Da Nang?
Yes, you can do a day trip to Hoi An from Da Nang. There are many options available for day trips to Hoi An from Da Nang. You can choose from bus tours, private sightseeing tours, walking tours, full-day tours, historical tours, cultural tours, adventure tours, and nature walks.
How to get from Danang airport to Hoi An?
There are three ways to travel the distance of 30 km from DaNang Airport to Hoi An: by airport shuttle, taxi, and public bus. The journey takes between 1h – 1h30m and the quickest way is by airport shuttle. The Hoi An Express shared shuttle is one of the most popular options for travelers.
How long does it take from Danang airport to Hoi An?
There are three ways to travel the distance of 30 km (19 miles) from DaNang Airport to Hoi An: by airport shuttle (1 hour), taxi (1 hour), and public bus (1.5 hours) 1. The quickest way is by their shared airport shuttle, which costs around $6 and takes about an hour.
Wrap-Up: How To Travel To Hoi An From Da Nang
If you’re planning to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An, there are several options available to you. You can choose to travel by private transfer, which is the most convenient and fastest option.
You can also opt for a GrabBike or GrabCar, which is extremely cheap and convenient for solo travelers with a single backpack.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, you can take a public bus. There are several routes available, and you can choose the one that suits you best.
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Want more Vietnam Inspiration? Check out….
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. As always all opinions are my own and your support is much appreciated.
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Tasha Amy is a true backpacker at heart and has been discovering the world on a budget since 2015. Based in Gisborne, New Zealand she will spend many months each year traveling overseas as a solo female traveler before coming home and sharing her adventures online with you.
2 thoughts on “ How To Travel From Da Nang To Hoi An ”
I really enjoyed reading your blog post about how to travel by bus, taxi or transfer in Da Nang to Hoi An. It was very informative and I learned a lot about the different options available. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Great work !
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