Last Updated on February 10, 2025 by Sammie
Simple Guide: How to get from Da Nang to Hoi An in Vietnam
You touch down in Da Nang Airport. The palms are sweaty. Knees weak, arms are heavy. You’re nervous. How in the name of good pho are you supposed to get from the safety of the Da Nang International Airport all the way to Hoi An? Simple. Follow my foolproof guide to get from Da Nang to Hoi An, Vietnam and you’ll be golden. If you’re trying to catch a flight because your Hoi An noodle time is coming to a close, you’re in luck. Getting from Hoi An to Da Nang is just as easy.
Relax. We’re gonna get through this together. Hoi An is my favorite Southeast Asian city, and now that I’ve moved back to Macau I’m planning on coming back multiple times. It’s only an hour and a half flight so if you’re in the neighborhood, come stop by Macau and see our show!
I’ve been to Hoi An 5 times. Done the tailoring, done the food, done the coffee. I LOVE Hoi An. Now let’s get your booty to Hoi An so you can love on it too.
How far is Hoi An from Da Nang?
Hoi An is a mere 30 kilometers from Da Nang. So close! Depending on the time of day and traffic it can take about 30-45 minutes in a car.
NEED MORE ON VIETNAM?
CHECK OUT MY POST ON THINGS TO DO IN HOI AN, VIETNAM HERE.
Have a question on Hoi An? I can help, drop a comment below.
What transportation options are there to get to Hoi An from Da Nang?
I find taking a Grab the easiest. And if you don’t mind spending a few extra dollars, a private car is very convenient and the least “scary”. By scary I mean if the idea of traveling makes you want to puke with nerves, this might be your preferred option. The cheapest option is going to be the public bus which is just under $1.50. Talk about a deal.
Options for transportation
“But Sammie, HOW do I get there??”
Let’s walk through the details, friends.
Small Hoi An Street next to the Hoi An Night Market
1. Taking a private car to Hoi An
About 300,000 dong [$12]
Difficulty score: 1
You can’t screw this up, I promise. Contact your host, hotel, hostel, or Airbnb. Chances are they offer a private car service and would be more than happy to set you up. They will ask for your arrival information (plane number, time of arrival, etc) and confirm the day of pick up. Once you have given them the needed information, they will confirm with you. The next part is fun. They will be waiting for you outside of baggage claim (as in outside of the airport) with a sign with your name on it. So fancy. There may be quite a few other pickups so don’t get nervous if you don’t immediately find your name. Your driver will be standing very visibly when you exit the sliding doors of the airport. Good luck and don’t panic.
Private cars are amazing because they’ll wait for you right outside the baggage claim with a sign with your name on it. Zero time wasted trying to find your own transportation.
2. Take a Grab to Hoi An
250,000 to 440,000 dong [$10-$18]
Difficulty score: 3
This option requires a touch more effort, but I believe in you. That being said, you will need to download the app GRAB and have access to data or wifi. See below for how to get a SIM card in Vietnam. If possible, I suggest downloading the app before your trip to make things a touch easier upon arrival. You’ll need a code sent to your phone in order to activate your account. If you know how to use Uber or Lyft you will do just fine.
How to get a SIM or eSIM card in Vietnam.
You can either purchase an eSIM online before your trip or wait until arriving in the airport and purchase one on arrival, albeit you will pay a touch more (as in a couple dollars more). The preferred Esim providers at the moment amongst the traveler community are Airalo and Gigago. Personally, I only just got an iphone with an eSIM and wasn’t organized enough to grab an eSIM before I landed in Da Nang. I purchased one by the baggage claim for $10 and it worked just fine. There are a few counters that all sell eSIM cards for the same price. If you need a regular SIM card, you can purchase one from these counters as well.
This is going to be the most convenient option. Not only can you use Grab for your airport transfer but you can also use the app all around Vietnam instead of bargaining with taxis your whole trip. Side note: you can also use Grab in Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Phillippines, and more. Simply download the app, create a quick profile, click on “car”, put in your destination and boom bam bam thank you ma’am. You’re all set to go.
Private cars are amazing because they’ll wait for you right outside the baggage claim with a sign with your name on it. Zero time wasted trying to find your own transportation.
3. Take a Taxi to Hoi An
300,000 to 450,000 dong [$12- $18]
Difficulty score: 4
Slightly more stress-inducing than downloading an app but not by much. The only reason I think this is more nerve-wracking is you will most likely need to bargain with your taxi driver on the price to get to Hoi An. Knowing ahead of time what is normal to pay is key. This includes knowing if it is a holiday in Vietnam while you’re there enjoying the sites.
I recently went to Hoi An with my boyfriend and Vietnam was observing the Tet Holiday. Tet is their celebration of Lunar New Year. As beautiful as it was, everything, including the taxi rides, had a 20% “holiday tax” increase.
A normal price to pay is anywhere between 300,000 to 450,000 dong [$12- $18]. However, I’ve had taxis try to charge me as much as 800,000 dong. Helpful tip: knowing just a couple of words in Vietnamese usually puts them in a good mood to offer a decent price. Plus it’s fun.
They’ll be plenty of taxis waiting outside of Da Nang International Airport.
4. Take the public bus to Hoi An
35,000 dong [$1.50]
Difficulty score: 5
Not hard but also not easy. Taking the public bus from Da Nang to Hoi An is a great way to see how the locals get around and is very cost effective at only 35,000 dong or $1.50. Purchase your ticket on an online platform or at the bus station. You will need to get yourself to the Da Nang Central Bus Station. This option doesn’t make sense coming from the airport because you would need to take a taxi 15 minutes to the bus stop which will cost you triple the amount of the bus ticket. Though, if you’re already in the city, this might be a good option for you.
Buses leave about every 30 minutes from 5:30 AM to 5:50 PM with less buses available during off season (October to December). It will take between 1 ½ hours to 2 hours. The public bus is also not a good option for travelers with a lot of luggage due to the fact that the buses do not have luggage compartments underneath. Backpackers, where you at?
Operating bus route (from Da Dang to Hoi An): Da Nang central bus station – Ton Duc Thang Street – Dien Bien Phu Street – Ha Huy Tap Street – Nguyen Tat Thanh Street – Ong Ich Khiem Street – Le Duan Street – Chi Lang Street – Hung Vuong street – Tran Phu Street – Trương Vuong Nu Street – Nui Thanh Street – Duy Tan Street – Tran Thi Ly Bridge – Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) – Le Van Hien Street – Tran Dai Nghia Street – Hoi An Bus Station
5. Bicycle to Hoi An
You can rent a bike for around 50,000 dong/day [$2]
Difficulty score: Adventure!
So you’re interested in an adventure are you? Good news is this adventure will only set you back about $2 a day or 50,000 dong per day. It’s not an absolutely absurd idea either. The distance between Da Nang and Hoi An is about 30 kilomters making the total bike ride between one to two hours depending on how fast you pedal. There are no dedicated bike lanes but if you stick to the right, the cars will go around you. It may seem a bit intimidating at first glance but it’s possible. Just bring a helmet and reward yourself with a Saigon beer once you arrive.
We did not bike TO Hoi An but we did bike AROUND Hoi An. Same same…but different.
6. Motorbike to Hoi An
You can rent a motorbike for around 100,000 dong/day [$4]
Difficulty score: Adventure!
Easier or harder than bicycling? That is something I cannot answer for you. But it’s cheap! Like, $4 a day or 100,000 dong cheap. If you ask my boyfriend, money aside he’s far more comfortable weaving in and out of cars pedaling a bicycle than he is on a motorbike or scooter. He might have a point as we know quite a few friends who have gotten into some gnarly scooter accidents in Thailand. I have not rented a motorbike in Vietnam but I would like to. Though, until I no longer rely on my body for my paycheck, it’s going to have to wait. You on the otherhand, go crazy! Just remember that helmet I mentioned earlier.
The roads in Vietnam can get a bit dangerous for inexperienced riders and I wouldn’t recommend driving at night. You will also need your International Driver’s Permit (IDP), though I’m not sure how heavily they enforce needing one. If having the wind in your hair still appeals to you, there are many many many motorbike rentals in Da Nang. You can ask your hotel or host for recommendations. Some reputable ones include; Tuan Motorbike Rental, Huu Vy, or Song Han.
Grabbing yourself a motorbike to get around Vietnam might be the easiest way to fit in with the locals. A fun game to play? See who can spot the youngest rider. I think I saw a 10 year old once…
Need to get from Hoi An to Da Nang?
No problem! Let’s reverse it.
The same options apply to get from Hoi An back to Da Nang.
- Private Car ~ 250,000 to 440,000 dong [$10-$18]
- Grab ~ about 300,000 dong [$12]
- Taxi ~ 300,000 to 450,000 dong [$12- $18]
- Bus ~ 35,000 dong [$1.50]
- Bike~ 50,000 dong/day [$2]
- Motorbike~ You can rent a motorbike for around 100,000 dong/day [$4]
It’s even easier to get back to Da Nang than it is to get to Hoi An. Besides the options listed above, there are numbers for taxis and private cars listed all over the ancient town.
Whatever choice you make, you will make it, at some point…at some hour. I kid I kid. It’s not as scary as it sounds. The locals are very familiar with this route and will be more than happy to help you out if you’re lost. Enjoy your trip and drop me a comment if I missed anything.
