When traveling from Da Nang to Hoi An, in Vietnam, there are a few options you can choose. Those options are private car, taxi, bus or, if you are really adventurous, you can rent a motorbike. Whilst Grab are available in the area, chances are your ride won’t get accepted, so it is best not to depend on one of those options.
Find below all the information on how to get from Danang to Hoi An (& Vice Versa)
How far is Da Nang from Hoi An
Da Nang is around 40km from Hoi An. Depending on your mode of transport, travel time could be anywhere from 30min to 90min.
Getting from Da Nang to Hoi An
1. How to Get to Hoi An
The easiest way to get to Hoi An from other destinations in Vietnam is via plane or train. The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang. As most flights to Hoi An around an hour duration; whilst train rides can take 15 hours.
2. What is the easiest way to get from Da Nang train station to Hoi An
The easiest way to grab a Da Nang to Hoi An transfer from the train station is either via private car transfer or via a taxi. It is pretty hard to get to the buses from the train station, so if you prefer not to catch a taxi (they are crazy drivers) it would be best to pre-organize your transfer.
You could either do this through your hotel or if you have a bit of money to splurge out on, you should try the comfort of Blacklane Transfers. Comfy, air-conditioned cars and their drivers always drive carefully.
3. What is the easiest way to transfer from Da Nang airport to Hoi An
If you are wondering how to get from Da Nang International Airport to Hoi An, here are the easiest solutions for you. You could easily grab a Da Nang International Airport taxi as you leave the airport. Taxi drivers in Vietnam are pretty fast and crazy drivers (and often there are no seat belts), so you should to organize your transfers with tourist companies as you know that they drive slower and more carefully.
For further detailed information of transfers, please read the info below
How to get from Da Nang to Hoi An
Below you will a detailed guide on to get from Da Nang to Hoi An.
Option 1: By bus (Most popular method)
There are three different ways to get from Da Nang to Hoi An. The first is the Hoi An Express Shuttle Bus. This one is popular if you are arriving at the airport. If you have been staying in Da Nang city, it would be easier to either catch the Sinh Tourist Bus or to simply hop on the public bus. Please find more info on each of these below.
Hoi An Express Shuttle Bus
Journey Time: 60 Min
Perfect For: Those who arrive at the airport
Cost involved: US $6
Click here to check prices for the Hoi An Express Shuttle Bus
The Hoi An Express bus from Danang Airport to Hoi An is one of the most popular and convenient ways to travel to Hoi An. The bus is very affordable and the drivers drive safely.
Your driver will be waiting for you at the Da Nang International Airport upon arrival and will drop you off at your hotel (if it is located in Hoi An city center). The bus is comfortable & air-conditioned. They have different sized vehicles to suit your needs or you could even choose to use their shared vans. This will be preferred way to get from the airport to Hoi An, as well as from Hoi An to Da Nang.
The Sinh Tourist Transfer Bus
Journey Time: 90 Min
Cost involved: US $6
Perfect for: Those who are already in Da Nang city
Click here to check prices for the Tourist Transfer Bus
This bus leaves from a Da Nang bus station located at 16, 3 Thang 2 Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang. So please check to see how far away the location is from your chosen Da Nang accommodation.
This Da Nang to Hoi An bus is designed for tourists and only costs a fraction more than the public bus. Plus it has storage space for all your luggage (something that can be a pain when you go on the public bus).
Public Bus
Journey Time: 70 – 80 Min
Cost involved: US $1
To encourage tourists to visit Da Nang, the government launched a direct bus from Da Nang to Hoi An – Bus #1 – for just 25.000 VND ($1). Although the bus is the cheapest travel option, it will take a bit longer, 70 to 80 minutes to get to Hoi An. The bus is well known as the yellow bus.
Bus services start at 05:30 in the morning and stop operating at 18:00, with a frequency of 1 bus every 20 minutes. For your convenience, you can use Google Maps and its schedule explorer to pinpoint the nearest bus stop near your stay and check out the Da Nang to Hoi An bus timetable.
The ticket for this Da Nang – Hoi An bus can be easily purchased on the bus but make sure to pay the right price: 25.000 VND ($1). If you are arriving from the Da Nang International Airport this option will be less convenient because the nearest bus stop is around 3km away. It can also be a pain if you have plenty of luggage for you, but this option works well for backpackers.
Option 2: Private car transfer
Journey Time: 45 min +
Cost involved: US $12- $80
Click here to check prices for private transfers
Next you have the option of grabbing a private car transfer. These are especially convenient if you are travelling from Da Nang International Airport to Hoi An or vice versa (from Hoi An to Da Nang International Airport).
Your first option is to simply enquire at your hotel to see if they can pick you up. Once you have booked your stay in Hoi An, ask your hotel if they can arrange for a private car to pick you up. If they can, then you will want to give them your pickup address at the Da Nang International Airport or wherever you are staying in Da Nang.
The cost of a private car can vary, so it is a little hard to figure out an exact budget, but this is the easiest way to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An or vice versa (from Hoi An to Da Nang).
Option 3: Taxi
Journey Time: 30 – 45 min
Cost involved: US $15 – $23
Taxis are the most convenient and also considered the easiest way to get to Hoi An from Da Nang since from the city center (or the Da Nang International Airport) you can just catch a taxi and get on in without making any prior arrangement. It will take you around 30 – 45 minutes and will cost you from US $15 to $23. Make sure your driver is aware of where to take you to. Some of them may not be very familiar with the Hoi An area and they could end up driving in circles trying to find the destination. Also, to avoid scams, you should choose a well-known taxi brand:
- Mai Linh Taxi: +84 236 352 5252
- Song Han Taxi: +84 236 372 7272
- Tien Sa Da Nang Taxi: +84 236 379 7979
- Vinasun Taxi: +84 236 368 6868
There is a new service that recently launched at the Da Nang International Airport – Dichungtaxi (shared Taxi). By booking your taxi on their site, the system will send your booking information to drivers and have them pick you up. You can share the taxi with other people heading the same way by choosing the “share” option. If not, you can always take the “private” taxi as usual. This new service is potentially cheaper than other normal options and can also help you avoid being scammed since their pricing is fixed based on the package you select. Shared taxis will be around 150.000 VND (US $7) and the normal one will be 220.000 VND (US $10).
Option 4: Motorbike
Journey Time: 35 – 45 Min
Cost involved: US $6
If you are truly the adventures type, then this last option will be perfect for you. Traveling by motorbike is the preferred option for most locals and is actually the most popular form of transportation in Vietnam.
If you choose this method, please be careful and make sure you have experience with driving a motorbike. Traffic in Vietnam is quite different from traffic in other countries; driving requires a special set of skills like situation awareness, good reflexes, excellent balance, and guts of steel. If you do not have this set of skills, do not take the risk.
There are 2 common types of motorbikes: manual and automatic transmission. Automatic bikes are the first choice for most travelers because they are easier to handle, especially in light of the slew of new traffic laws you must obey. Just turn the throttle and it will run.
However, if you also plan to visit other nice spots in the area including Son Tra Peninsula or challenge yourself to Hai Van Pass, then the manual bike will be more suitable since you can manually control the torque (force) which is essential to going uphill.
Remember to check the bike carefully: tires, horn, brakes, and lights. If you have rented a manual bike, then also check the gear pedal. Make sure all functions are in good condition and take a photo of the shop, with contact and address, or take their business card with you in case something unexpected happens on the way and you need their assistance.
The average price for a bike rental is 130.000 VND ($6) per day. Some shops will give you a discount for a longer rental period. There are a few small shops that provide bike rentals for less than 130.000 VND per day but this is because they rent older motorbikes; make sure nothing is missing or wrong with the bike if you choose this option.
You will have to leave your ID or your passport – sometimes they allow a copy – at the rental shop in order to rent a motorbike and ensure the bike’s safe return. You can either go directly to the shop to retrieve the bike or you can pay the shop extra money and they will bring it to your place.
Read more: Guide to Motorbike Rental in Da Nang
Route to Hoi An
With the variety of off-line maps and other navigation tools on your phone, it should be very simple to navigate by yourself. Just in case you don’t have 4G data and have trouble connecting to the wifi along the way, it is useful to keep this piece of information with you. Getting to Hoi An on your own bike is fairly easy, and the traffic is minimal. There are 2 common routes from Da Nang to Hoi An:
- Route 1 – This route takes you along the sea shore, arriving at An Bang Beach. Beginning the Dragon Bridge, towards the beaches. Turn right at Vo Nguyen Giap street. Continue straight ahead for 20km, along the linking Truong Sa street and Lac Long Quan street. Continue until you see the Hoi An city welcome sign
- Route 2 – This route takes you through Da Nang city’s urban and suburban areas, arriving in downtown Hoi An. Start from Tran Thi Ly Bridge, heading away from the city center. Turn right at the roundabout to Ngu Hanh Son street. Ride straight for 24km on connecting streets of Le Van Hien, Tran Dai Nghia and Nguyen Tat Thanh. You will know you’re in the right place upon seeing a series of yellow old houses.
The first route should be easier, faster, and more straight-forward, since it runs along the beach and you can take in nice views along the route. On the way, you can pay a visit to the temples and marble stone sculpture facilities in Marble Mountain (Ngu Hanh Son) area if you like. But in its current condition, the beach route has a lot of construction in the latter half of the route and the street might be bumpy and risky there.
Also read: Guide on How to Get from Da Nang to Hue (& Vice Versa)
If it is not your cup of tea and you would like to see more of Da Nang, then the second option is for you. The second route follows a highway and there are many places for you to catch a break or get your bike refueled and well-maintained. Stop at Vagabond Cafe, no.4 Vo Chi Cong St., Da Nang. It is located right at the 3-way junction of Tran Dai Nghia street and Vo Chi Cong street. Dong Tra park is nearby. The cafe is conveniently a garage as well, so you can get something to drink while you get your bike checked or fixed. The cafe was opened by a guy from Nha Trang along with his French buddy. You can meet beautiful mademoiselle Céline and learn about her project of planting aquaponics right in the backyard.
Now that you have the necessary information, let’s hit the road
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