How to get from Da Nang to Hoi An: All your questions answered

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Getting from Da Nang city to Hoi An is not a difficult task, and there are surprisingly lots of comfortable options available despite the seemingly poor infrastructure. 

If you have not been to this part of Central Vietnam, we encourage you to do so soon, before it becomes the next tourist hotspot. 

For most visitors coming to this part of Vietnam, they either head straight to Hoi An or take day trips to nearby Hue, My Son Sanctuary or head to the cool Ba Na Hills. 

Well, you are not most tourists, so it would be wise to mix in a couple of days in Da Nang first. Check out our Da Nang itinerary to find out more about the best things to do. 

If you are considering visiting Da Nang or Hoi An from either Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, our advice is to take a flight (there are many cheap options) and land in Danang airport. The 14 – 15 hours bus/train ride is simply not worth the effort. Hence we will not be covering any info about Da Nang Train Station.

We have presented the info below and included a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section, so read on to find out the cheapest and most convenient Da Nang to Hoi An transfers. 

Related: Phu Quoc Night Market Guide

Transport Type	Directions	Time needed	Cost
Bus	Take bus service #1	45 - 60 minutes	US$1.30 per person
Taxi	Flag down from the city (choose from Mai Linh Taxi, VinaSun Taxi, Song Han Taxi, Tien Sa Da Nang Taxi)	30 - 40 minutes	US$20 per car
Car Sharing	Use Dichung (check website)	30 - 40 minutes	US$10 per car
Grab or Uber	Download the app	30 - 40 minutes	US$15 - US$20 per car
Private Car	Sign up here	30 - 40 minutes	US$17 per car
Motorbike or car rental	Plenty of shops in city center	30 - 40 minutes	Varies widely
Tourist bus	Look for Sinh Tourist Bus or Coco Bus	around 60 minutes	US$4 - US$5 per person
Shuttle Bus	Contact operator	45 - 60 minutes	US$6 per person

What are the ways to get from Da Nang to Hoi An?

By Public Local Bus

Bus service number 1 runs every 20 minutes from Da Nang to Hoi An, with a number of bus stops in between where you can board from. 

The first bus station is located around 3 kilometres from the airport (really unsure why they do that since the bus is meant to encourage tourists to take the bus), with stops in the city center or even near Marble Mountain. 

Total time needed is between 45 minutes to 60 minutes depending on the traffic, and expect to pay 30,000 VND or US$1.30. 

Da Nang to Hoi An Taxi

Da Nang is served by a number of taxi companies, namely:

• Mai Linh Taxi
• VinaSun Taxi
• Song Han Taxi
• Tien Sa Da Nang Taxi

All of them are reputable companies, and we recommend that you ask the driver to turn on the meter or negotiate a rate you are willing to pay before getting on. The usual price between the 2 locations is typically around US$20 one way, but any slight deviation should be accepted. 

From our understanding, Mai Linh now has an app where you can even get an estimate of the taxi fare by keying in your locations. 

If you are going to Hoi An from Da Nang Airport, there are lots of taxis waiting outside the arrival hall, so you will always be able to find a ride. Duration is between 30 -45 minutes.

By Car Sharing

Recently, there is a new car sharing app, Dichung, that has sprouted up in Vietnam. We have not tried it but it does seems quite useful and helps to save some money.

The idea is based on car pooling, and you can choose from a number of contract drivers. This helps to defray the cost of travelling from Da Nang to Hoi An, and still get there relatively fast (as in a taxi). 

The cost is about US$10 for 2 riders (so that’s you and your partner), but if you choose the sharing option, the price can lower down to US$7. 

Only drawback about this method is the luggage allowance when you car pool. You are restricted to only 1 piece of small luggage per person (30X20X54 cm), but works well if you are traveling light though.

Da Nang to Hoi An Grab or Uber

Grab is one of the top ride sharing app in Southeast Asia, and you will find it prevalent almost everywhere. Just like Uber, it pairs you up with a private driver. 

The service is very reliable here, but you may encounter a bit of waiting time if you are traveling intercity from Da Nang to Hoi An. 

They even have a Grab Motorbike service (if you are brave enough!) that takes you to your destination for about US$5. Regular sedans will run around US$15 to US$20, and takes about 30 to 40 minutes to reach Hoi An.

Available in both iOS and Android versions. 

Da Nang to Hoi An Private Car

Definitely our favourite and easiest way to get from Da Nang to Hoi An, as it provides the most comfort and convenience, although with services like Grab these days, the lines are somewhat blurred. 

The representative will be at your arrival gate to greet you with a sign board, carry your luggage and walk you to the waiting car. 

Right away you get cold water, WiFi and whisked to the doorsteps of any hotels at your destination.

And here’s a tip: If you need a private driver to drive you around, be it in Hoi An or Da Nang, it is usually possible to make a private arrangement with him. Most of the time, they will be more than happy to do that for you. 

In fact, we were so satisfied we booked them again for our day trip to Hue via Hai Van Pass, one of the best road trips in the world!

There are a lot of services out there, but here’s our recommendation, which is US$17 rather than the usual US$20 to US$25 quoted by its competitors:

I want a private transfer!

By Motorbike or Car Rental

Strictly for the brave or risk takers only. Although we say that Da Nang’s traffic is not crazy like Saigon or Hanoi, it does not mean that it is not crazy. 

Just like everywhere in Vietnam, pedestrians are ignored on the roads, which tells you a lot about the drivers’ attitude. So do you want to rent a bike or car then? 

Well, it is entirely doable, and it gives you a chance to dictate the time needed and stops to take. 

However, we do not have experience with it, and a quick search seems to suggest that you might run into problems such as faulty vehicles, so our advice is to stay away.

By Tourist Bus

Assuming that you are spending a couple of days in Da Nang before heading out to Hoi An, you can consider using one of the tourist bus services that is being offered by travel agencies or guesthouses. 

Most of them are operating a service that runs along the coast, from Da Nang to Hue or Da Lat, and most certainly includes a stop at Hoi An. 

Here are a couple that you can consider: 

• Sinh Tourist Bus
• Coco Bus

They operate from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm, and the ticket price is about US$4 to US$5. 

There is another one that might pop up, Hanh Cafe, but we suggest avoiding them due to numerous bad reviews. 

By Shuttle Bus Transfers

There is one more service that you can consider, which is a shared shuttle service.

Basically, it is a mini bus service that runs on a schedule where it takes passengers from Da Nang Airport or in the city to Hoi An.

You will need to contact the operator to find out more about is pick up and drop off locations. 

Price for this service is US$6 per person, and you can bring with you a medium sized baggage. 

Kind of not worth it if you ask us, since a private transfer is similar in price, unless you are traveling alone. 

What is the distance from Hoi An to Danang?

We love the fact that Hoi An is merely 30 kilometres away from the nearest international airport in Da Nang, making it easy to go back and forth by both public and private transport. It is a small town, and does not have access to airports or intercity trains. 

How much is a taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An?

Whether you are departing from the airport or the city centre, it is typically US$20 to US$25 one way.

How long does it take to get from Da Nang to Hoi An?

• Public bus: 70 to 80 minutes
• Taxi, private car, car sharing, Grab/Uber: 30 to 45 minutes
• Shuttle service, tourist bus: 40 to 50 minutes

How much does it cost to get from Da Nang International Airport to Hoi An?

• By public bus: US$1.30
• By taxi/Grab: US$20 to US$25
• By private transfer: US$17
• Tourist bus: US$4 – US$5

What to do in Hoi An Vietnam?

Hoi An is a small town, but it doesn’t mean there is a lack of activity.

In fact, you can easily plan 2 to 3 days to explore Hoi An. These are but a few suggestions:

• Japanese Covered Bridge
• An Bang Beach
• Old House of Tan Ky
• Ancient Town of Hoi An
• Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese
• Hoi An Night Market

What is the best time of the year to visit Hoi An?

Similar to Da Nang, there is effectively only 2 seasons in Hoi An: dry or wet.

Due to the movements of the monsoon winds, from March to September, the Ancient Town goes through a dry spell, and if you were to choose the most ideal time to visit, it will be between February to April. 

This is when the seasons start to change and the weather becomes milder. Humidity stays comfortably low and there is hardly any rain anymore. 

It becomes pretty hot from May to August, which may make it a bit uncomfortable for those from a cooler area. Think of visiting a rainforest for comparison. 

To be fair, you can visit Hoi An even during the wet months. As typical in a monsoon climate, the heavy showers do not last long, normally starting in the afternoons and stopping within an hour. 

Try to avoid October to December though, as there might be a chance that there is flooding in Hoi An. The unfortunate truth is that Hoi An is located on low land, and is surrounded by mountains and rivers. 

It is rather ironic as the end of the year represents the peak season in Hoi An, but that gives us more reason to skip this period. 

Is Hoi An safe at night?

In general, Hoi An is safe be it during the day or at night. 

You need to consider the fact that tourism plays a huge part in the livelihood of the people here, and hence they are not likely to commit any serious crimes against you. 

That being said, petty crimes such as pickpocketing will happen, be it here or in any large cities. Most importantly, you do not want to be seen showing off your cash or valuables, and try to behave discreetly. 

Vietnamese are generally conservative in nature, and will not confront you for no good reason. 

We have walked here many times, both in the day and at night, even once having drinks beside a quiet canal till the wee hours of the morning. Our walk back to our hotel was free of trouble, neither did we see any signs of trouble. 

How many days do you need in Hoi An?

A Hoi An itinerary should take at least a full day, but we would recommend staying at least one night. 

Our trip here was part of a longer trip in Central Vietnam, covering Da Nang, Hue, Ba Na Hills and finally Hoi An, and we managed to stay a few nights here. 

It gave us the opportunity to walk around the old town and learn more about its history as a trading port city, and what made it get added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. 

You can also explore outside of the Ancient Town, and visit the excellent beaches within a short car ride, or you can even rent a bicycle and get there easily. 

Read more: Beer Street Hanoi: Best Travel Guide to the find the Cheapest Beer in the World​

Conclusion

As we mentioned, taking the private car is our favourite option, but there are so many other choices you can take.

Which method did you try out? Let us know down in the comments!

We hope these travel tips have helped you out!

If you found this article useful, please share it on social media or pin it to Pinterest!

Before you go, be sure to find more travel inspiration on our Destinations page, and find out what Resources we use to plan our trips!

Logistics before visiting Da Nang or Hoi An

Stay connected
While WiFi is mostly available in Vietnam cafes or restaurants, but you can opt to have your own coverage and stay connected to the internet with a mobile router. 

Find cheap flights.
Air tickets are usually the bulk of your expenses. Set up an alert and snag cheap fares with Skyscanner.

Find the best accommodation.
Book a place ahead of time to get good rates. Booking.com has transparent fees and excellent rates. 

Handy travel guide.
For the old school kid in you, get a travel guide book and get lost exploring the city.

Photos.
Your mobile phone can do a pretty good job, but if you need an upgrade, we recommend the Sony A6000 (US) (International)

Travel insurance.
You don’t need us to teach you to be a responsible adult, do you? Get a quote here.

Planned for you activities.
Need a guide to show you and your group around? Lots of operators here to choose from here. You know who they are and how they are reviewed. 

More resources to help you.
All other useful travel resources we use when we book our trips.