If you’re planning a trip to central Vietnam, chances are Hoi An is on your itinerary.
Curiously, although Hoi An is central Vietnam’s main tourist destination, it has no train station. That’s why many travelers first head to the bigger, more modern city of Da Nang — far better connected to the rest of the country — and continue to Hoi An from there.
If that’s your case and you’re wondering how to get from Da Nang to Hoi An and which options are best, this post explains everything in detail — read on and find the way that suits you best.
Building your full route? This guide is part of how to get around Vietnam, where you’ll find all the country’s main connections gathered on a single page.
In this post
Distance between Da Nang and Hoi An
The good news is that these two cities are very close, which makes the transfer between them remarkably easy.
The distance between Da Nang and Hoi An is roughly 28 km, which takes about 40 to 45 minutes to cover depending on the transport you choose.
If you arrive in Da Nang by plane, your starting point will normally be Da Nang International Airport, sparing you a trip through the city itself.
If, on the other hand, you arrive by train or bus, keep in mind that both the train station and the bus station are in the city.
Da Nang to Hoi An by taxi or private transfer
The easiest and fastest way to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An (and back) is booking a private transfer.
You can arrange it through your accommodation, book it online in advance here, grab a taxi at the arrivals area of Da Nang airport, or use apps like Grab.
The advantage of these services, besides their speed, is that they’re door to door: they pick you up at your hotel/hostel or at Da Nang airport and take you straight to Hoi An.
The price is roughly 250,000–300,000 VND (~US$10–11.50), depending on traffic.
Da Nang to Hoi An by shared van
If you land at Da Nang airport and want something a bit cheaper than a taxi or private transfer, you can opt for a shared shuttle service.
Several shared van services depart from Da Nang International Airport to Hoi An. There’s usually a departure roughly every 30 minutes, so you may have to wait a bit if your flight lands just after one leaves — but if you’re not in a hurry and want to save a little, it’s an excellent option.
You can check timetables, prices and bookings here.
If instead you’re departing from the bus station, check here under the bus section.
You can also use these shared services for the return trip — to the airport or to the city center — if you want to spend the day in Da Nang while saving on transport.
Da Nang to Hoi An on a tour or day trip
If you’re staying in Da Nang and simply want to visit Hoi An as a day trip, you can book a tour with a guide and private transport to make the most of your time.
We recommend spending more than a day in Hoi An, but if that’s all the time you have, a day tour is enough to see some of the highlights and soak up the old town’s atmosphere.
Is there a bus from Da Nang to Hoi An?
No. Bus number 1, known as “the yellow bus”, which ran between Da Nang and Hoi An, suspended service during the pandemic and hasn’t resumed it so far.
The shared van services, however, work quite well and are affordably priced.
Is there a train station in Hoi An?
No. Hoi An has no train station. The nearest one is Da Nang train station, about 30 km from Hoi An.
Is there an airport in Hoi An?
The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang International Airport, about 27 km away.
Da Nang’s airport is very well connected, with domestic flights to Vietnam’s main cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as international routes to Southeast Asia’s main hubs, including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
