When traveling from Danang to Hoi An, in Vietnam, there are a few options for you to get from Da Nang to Hoi An. Those options are private car, taxi, bus or, if you are really adventurous, you can rent a motorbike. Whilst Uber and Grab (a local type Uber company) 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.

How far is Danang from Hoi An

Danang is around 40km from Hoi An.  Depending on your mode of transport, travel time could be anywhere from 30 min to 90 min.

Getting from Danang to Hoi An FAQ

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. 

We prefer to fly, 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 Danang 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, we absolutely LOVE the comfort of Blacklane Transfers. 

Comfy, air-conditioned cars and their drivers always drive carefully!

3. What is the easiest way to transfer from Danang airport to Hoi An?

If you are wondering how to get from Danang airport to Hoi An, here are the easiest solutions for you. 

You could easily grab a Danang 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 we prefer to organize our transfers with tourist companies as we know that they drive slower and more carefully.

Our recommended mode of transport from Danang to Hoi An is via the Hoi An Express Shuttle Bus.

How to get from Danang 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 Danang 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

The Hoi An Express bus from Danang Airport to Hoi An is one of the most popular ways. The bus is very affordable and the drivers drive safely.

Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport upon arrival and will drop you off at your hotel. 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 is our preferred way to get from the airport to Hoi An, as well as from Hoi An to Danang.

The Sihn Tourist Transfer Bus

Journey Time: 90 Min
Cost involved: US $6

Perfect for: Those who are already in Da Nang city

This bus leaves from a Da Nang bus station located at 16, 3 Thang 2, Thuan Phuoc, Hai Chau, Đà Nẵng. So please check to see how far away the location is from your chosen Da Nang accommodation.

This Danang to Hoi An bus is designed for tourists and only costs a fraction more than the public bus. 

I wouldn’t even think twice about the extra $5 to have air conditioning and a comfy seat for the 1.30hr bus ride ahead. Plus it has storage space for all your luggage.

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 Danang to Hoi An – Bus #1 – for just 18000 VND ($1) – 30 0000 VND (with luggage). Although the bus is the cheapest travel option, it will take a bit longer, 70 to 80 minutes to get to Hoi An.

Bus services start at 5:30 in the morning and stop operating at 18:00, with a frequency of 1 bus every 20 minutes. (This depends on the season, expect the bus to operate less frequently during low or shoulder season).

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 Danang 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: 18000 VND (1$).

If you are arriving from the 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 $25- $80

Next, you have the option of grabbing a private car transfer. These are especially convenient if you are travelling from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An or vice versa (from Hoi An to Danang Airport). Your first option is to simply inquire 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 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).

Another option to use one of our favourite transfer companies. Blacklane transfers are available worldwide and we have always found them to be professional, safe drivers.  The cars are luxurious and super comfortable. If you don’t mind paying a higher price tag, you can never go wrong with a Blacklane transfer.  It is also a great way to build in some stops to visit some sites along the way.

If you are traveling in a group or with your family, this will be the best way! In addition, a private car pickup is available at any time whereas taxis are more difficult to find during the quiet hours of the day.

There are also other car rental services in the city, but please always ask for the price before booking. It should cost around the same price as the amount I provided above. Here are my recommended and trustworthy companies:

• Da Thanh travel: +84 511 355 0022
• Vu Khoa travel: +84 511 355 2768
• Quang Da Thang travel: +84 511 363 8638

Call the car service company and provide your details such as pickup time, location, and even flight number if you’d like to be picked up at the airport. The private car option is as comfortable as it gets, so of course, it will be slightly more expensive than the other options available, therefore you can arrange with the driver if you want to visit some sites along the way. If you are traveling in a group or with your family, this will be the best way! In addition, a private car pickup is available at any time whereas taxis are more difficult to find during the quiet hours of the day.

Option 3: Taxi

Journey Time: 30 – 45 min
Cost involved: US $15 – $23

Many locals and frequent travelers to the area consider a Da Nang to Hoi An taxi the easiest way to get to Hoi An from Da Nang. You won’t have to make any prior arrangements since you can catch a taxi from the city center or the airport.

It is important to know though that the taxi drivers drive really fast and I would even go as far as to say that they are pretty crazy drivers! Often there won’t be any seat belts in them either. 

For many solo travellers this might not be a problem, but for families, I’m sure you would invest a bit more money for a safer means of transfer!

A taxi from Danang Airport to Hoi An will take you around 30 – 45 minutes and will cost you from $15 to $23 USD. 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. 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: +84 511 352 5252
• Song Han Taxi: +84 511 372 7272
• Tien Sa Da Nang Taxi: +84 511 379 7979
• Vinasun Taxi: +84 511 368 6868

There is a new service that recently launched at the Da Nang 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 ($7) and the normal one will be 220.000 VND ($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.

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 3G 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, my favorite beach of Hoi An. Beginning in Da Nang, pass 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 Nghiaand 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 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. So I am not recommending it at the moment, yet it is still the quickest way to Hoi An.

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!

Hoi An emanates an ancient, rare charm that pulls in travelers and locals alike. Its beauty is just a car, bus, or motorbike ride away from the exciting city of Da Nang. Book your flight, make the easy arrangements, and be ready for the adventures ahead.