On this page
- Distance and Options at a Glance
- Grab, Taxi and Private Car
- The Public Bus: Cheapest and Slowest
- Shuttles and Tour Transfers
- Motorbike and Bicycle on the Coastal Road
- From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An
- 2026 Transport Budget: Real Prices
- What Has Changed Since 2024
- Getting Dropped Off in Hoi An
- Frequently Asked Questions
You land in Da Nang, check your phone, and find a dozen conflicting answers about the 30 km to Hoi An. One site says there is a train, a driver at arrivals quotes 800,000 VND, and a forum post swears the bus no longer runs. This guide sorts out what actually works in 2026, what each option costs, and which one suits your bags, budget and arrival time.
Distance and Options at a Glance
Hoi An Ancient Town is about 30 km south-east of Da Nang city centre and about 28 km from Da Nang International Airport. There is no train to Hoi An, so every journey ends on the road. Your realistic choices are:
- Grab or taxi: 40–60 minutes, door to door, the easiest option with luggage.
- Public bus No. 1: 60–90 minutes, very cheap, best with a light backpack.
- Shuttle or private transfer: 50–70 minutes, pre-booked, good for late arrivals.
- Motorbike or bicycle: 1–3 hours, for confident riders who want the coastal views.
Grab, Taxi and Private Car
For most visitors, a car is the sensible default. Grab works well in Da Nang, and drivers use the coastal road past My Khe Beach and the Marble Mountains, then cut inland to Hoi An. Expect a 4-seat car to cost about 350,000–450,000 VND ($14–18) from the city centre. Xanh SM, the electric taxi service, also operates around Da Nang and is increasingly available in Hoi An, and its metered fares are easy to predict.
Traditional taxis such as Mai Linh are fine if the driver switches on the meter before leaving. If someone at the airport or hotel door refuses the meter and quotes a flat 700,000 VND or more, walk to the official taxi rank or open Grab instead.
Going the other way is trickier. Drivers in Hoi An sometimes cancel Da Nang bookings because they expect to return empty. Booking through your hotel, or requesting the ride a few minutes early, avoids most of the frustration.
The Public Bus: Cheapest and Slowest
The city bus No. 1 links Da Nang and Hoi An and is the budget traveller’s friend. Fares sit around 25,000–40,000 VND ($1–1.60), paid in cash to the conductor. Buses leave from the Da Nang bus stops near the city centre and run through the morning to the early evening. Check the last departure the day before, because timetables shift with the season.
The bus is air-conditioned, but it stops often. Expect 60–90 minutes, and expect to stand if you board at a busy time. Large suitcases are awkward, since there is no luggage hold. The bus terminates at the Hoi An bus station, roughly 1.5 km from the old town, so you will walk 15–20 minutes or take a short Grab bike for about 20,000–30,000 VND.
The bus suits you if you travel light, start your day early, and treat the journey as part of the adventure. If you arrive at Da Nang Airport after dark, skip it.
Shuttles and Tour Transfers
Between the bus and a private car sit shared minivans and pre-booked transfers. Hotels in Hoi An usually arrange pickups from Da Nang Airport, and many guesthouses do it for 350,000–500,000 VND ($14–20). The big advantage is certainty. A driver waits with your name on a sign, which matters after a late flight when apps are hard to coordinate.
Some travellers book a private driver for the transfer and add stops on the way. The Marble Mountains are about 10 km from central Da Nang and almost directly on the route, so a 30-minute climb among the pagodas and caves fits easily. Ask the driver to wait while you climb, and agree the price before leaving.
Motorbike and Bicycle on the Coastal Road
If you ride well, the drive from Da Nang to Hoi An is one of central Vietnam’s easiest scenic routes. Leave Da Nang along the beachfront at My Khe, then follow Vo Nguyen Giap Street south. Past the Marble Mountains, the road runs through Non Nuoc and then Cua Dai towards Hoi An.
Semi-automatic motorbikes rent for about 150,000–250,000 VND per day ($6–10) in Da Nang, plus around 50,000 VND ($2) for petrol. Foreigners should carry a valid licence recognised in Vietnam, usually an International Driving Permit that covers motorbikes, plus the original home licence. Police checks and insurance claims both depend on it.
Cycling is possible too, since the route is flat. Plan on 2–3 hours, start before 8:00 to beat the heat, and carry water. Avoid riding after dark, when the road is busy and cyclists are hard to see.
From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An
Da Nang Airport is close to the city, but Hoi An is not, so plan this leg separately. At arrivals, ignore the crowd of drivers calling out prices and use Grab from the designated pickup area, or head to the official taxi queue. A standard car costs about 350,000–450,000 VND ($14–18) and takes 40–50 minutes outside peak traffic.
For flights landing after 22:00, public buses will not be running, so pre-book a hotel transfer. For flights landing in the morning, the bus is possible, but you must first get to the city centre stops by taxi. At that point, going straight to Hoi An by car often costs only a little more and saves an hour.
2026 Transport Budget: Real Prices
Prices below are typical 2026 ranges, with $1 at roughly 25,500 VND. They rise during Tet, public holidays and on festival nights.
- Budget: Bus No. 1 at 25,000–40,000 VND ($1–1.60), plus a short Grab bike at the Hoi An end for 20,000–30,000 VND. Total about $2–3.
- Mid-range: Grab or Xanh SM car at 350,000–450,000 VND ($14–18) for up to three passengers, or a motorbike rental at 150,000–250,000 VND ($6–10) per day plus petrol.
- Comfortable: Hotel transfer or private driver with a Marble Mountains stop at 500,000–700,000 VND ($20–27), or a 7-seat van for a family of five or six at 550,000–800,000 VND ($22–31).
Splitting a car between three or four travellers makes it cheaper per person than most tours, and far more flexible.
What Has Changed Since 2024
The biggest change is administrative. In mid-2025, Vietnam merged provinces nationwide, and the former Quang Nam province, which includes Hoi An, joined Da Nang to form a larger Da Nang city. Hoi An is now part of the same city on paper, though signs, maps and bus operators still talk about the two places separately. Do not be surprised if older websites list Hoi An under Quang Nam.
Ride-hailing has also matured. Electric taxis are now a regular option, and more drivers accept in-app payment. Road upgrades along the coast and around Da Nang have eased some bottlenecks, but weekends and holiday evenings still slow down the road to Hoi An.
Enforcement of road rules has tightened across Vietnam, with higher fines and more checks on licences. Anyone renting a motorbike in 2026 should treat paperwork as essential, not optional.
Getting Dropped Off in Hoi An
Hoi An Ancient Town restricts vehicles at certain hours, mainly in the morning and again in the evening, when lantern-lit streets fill with walkers. Motorbikes and cars may be turned away at barriers along the lanes, so your driver will likely stop at the edge. From there you walk, ride a bicycle, or take a short electric buggy.
Staying near An Bang or Cua Dai Beach is different. These areas lie 4–5 km from the old town, and cars reach hotels easily.
Visitors entering the old town’s heritage sites need the ancient town ticket, currently around 120,000 VND ($4.70). Check at the ticket booths when you arrive, since the rules and price can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Da Nang from Hoi An?
Da Nang city centre is about 30 km from Hoi An Ancient Town, and the airport is roughly 28 km away. Driving takes 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. Expect longer on weekend evenings, holidays and festival nights, when the coastal road and Hoi An’s outskirts get congested.
Is there a train from Da Nang to Hoi An?
No. Hoi An has no railway station. Trains on the north–south line stop at Da Nang Station, and you cover the final 30 km by Grab, taxi or bus. From the station, the ride to Hoi An takes roughly 50 minutes by car.
What is the cheapest way to get from Da Nang to Hoi An?
Public bus No. 1 is the cheapest option, at roughly 25,000–40,000 VND ($1–1.60) per person. It takes 60–90 minutes and drops you at Hoi An bus station, about 1.5 km from the old town. It works best for travellers with light bags and flexible schedules.
Can tourists ride a motorbike from Da Nang to Hoi An?
Yes, if you hold a licence recognised in Vietnam, usually an International Driving Permit covering motorbikes, along with your home licence. The coastal road is scenic and fairly flat. Riding without correct documents risks fines and can void travel insurance after an accident.
Is Grab reliable between Da Nang and Hoi An?
Mostly yes. Pickups in Da Nang are quick and prices are shown upfront. From Hoi An back to Da Nang, drivers sometimes cancel because they return empty, so book early or ask your hotel to arrange a car, especially for early flights.
Explore more
The Ultimate Hoi An Food Guide: Where to Eat & Drink Like a Local
Beyond the Ancient Town: Best Day Trips from Hoi An Revealed
Best Areas to Stay in Hoi An for First-Time Visitors
