Hoi An Transportation 2026: Da Nang Airport, Hue & Bikes

The easiest way from Da Nang International Airport to Hoi An is a Grab car, Xanh SM taxi or pre-booked private transfer: the trip is about 30 km and takes 40–60 minutes for roughly 250,000–400,000 VND (US$10–16). Hoi An has no airport or railway station; once there, you explore the car-free Ancient Town on foot or by bicycle.

Status (checked October 2026): Since 1 July 2025 Hoi An has been part of Da Nang city, so the airport, Da Nang railway station and Hoi An are all in the same city. October to December is flood season: during high water, riverside streets in the old town are closed to traffic and boats may replace walking, as in the record flood of late October 2025. Cham Islands boats do not run in storm conditions.

Key takeaways:

Nearest airport: Da Nang International (DAD), about 30 km and 40–60 minutes from Hoi An.
Nearest train station: Da Nang Station, about 30 km away; Hoi An has no railway.
Grab and Xanh SM work in Hoi An; cars cannot enter the Ancient Town core during car-free hours.
Bicycles are the classic way to reach An Bang Beach (about 4 km) and Tra Que village (about 3 km).
Hue to Hoi An is about 120–130 km: 2.5–3.5 hours by private car, longer if you drive over the Hai Van Pass.

Hoi An Transportation at a Glance

Nearest airport	Da Nang International Airport (DAD), about 30 km
Airport to Hoi An	40–60 minutes; Grab car about 250,000–350,000 VND (US$10–14)
Private transfer	About 300,000–500,000 VND (US$12–20) per car
Public bus	Route 1, Da Nang Central Bus Station – Hoi An Bus Station, about 20,000–30,000 VND, 60–90 minutes
Nearest train station	Da Nang Station, about 30 km / 45–60 minutes
From Hue	About 120–130 km; private car 2.5–3.5 hours
Ancient Town	Car-free core about 9:00–21:30 (summer) and 9:00–21:00 (winter)
Bicycle hire	Often free at hotels; otherwise about 30,000–50,000 VND (US$1.20–2) a day
Motorbike hire	About 120,000–200,000 VND (US$5–8) a day; licence and 1968-Convention IDP required
Ride-hailing	Grab, Xanh SM (electric taxis) and Be
Cham Islands	Speedboat from Cua Dai area, about 15–30 minutes; visitor fee 70,000 VND

How Do You Get from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?

Take a Grab car, a Xanh SM electric taxi or a pre-booked private transfer: all take about 40–60 minutes door to door. Public buses are cheaper but do not stop at the airport terminal and end at Hoi An Bus Station, outside the old town.

Option	Time	Price (VND)	Best for
Grab car (4 seats)	40–60 min	About 250,000–350,000 (US$10–14)	Most travellers; fixed price in the app
Grab 7-seater	40–60 min	About 350,000–450,000 (US$14–18)	Families, extra luggage
Metered taxi (Xanh SM, Mai Linh, Vinasun)	40–60 min	About 300,000–400,000 (US$12–16)	Taxi rank at arrivals
Hotel or private transfer	40–60 min	About 300,000–500,000 (US$12–20)	Late arrivals, meet-and-greet
Shared shuttle bus	60–90 min	About 100,000–150,000 per person	Solo travellers on a budget
Grab Bike (motorbike)	40–50 min	About 120,000–180,000	Backpack only

Grab shows the fare before you book, which avoids negotiating. At the airport, follow the signs to the ride-hailing pick-up area. Transfers arranged with a Hoi An tour include a driver waiting with a name sign. For background on terminals and routes, see Da Nang International Airport on Wikipedia.

Can You Take a Bus from Da Nang to Hoi An?

Yes. Public bus Route 1 runs between Da Nang Central Bus Station and Hoi An Bus Station for about 20,000–30,000 VND, roughly every 20–30 minutes from early morning to late afternoon; the ride takes 60–90 minutes.

Hoi An Bus Station is about 1–2 km from the Ancient Town: walk, take a bicycle or a short Grab ride.
Buses are not designed for large suitcases.
Timetables change; check at the station or with your hotel on the day.
Some resorts and attractions (such as VinWonders Nam Hoi An) run their own shuttles for guests.

Is There a Train Station in Hoi An?

No. Hoi An has no railway. The nearest station on the North–South line is Da Nang Station, about 30 km away (45–60 minutes by car). From Hue, the train to Da Nang takes about 2.5–3 hours and crosses the scenic Hai Van Pass coastline; tickets are sold on the official Vietnam Railways website.

How Do You Get from Hue to Hoi An?

A private car is the most convenient way from Hue to Hoi An: about 120–130 km and 2.5–3.5 hours, with the option to drive over the Hai Van Pass and stop at Lang Co Bay and the Marble Mountains.

Route / mode	Time	Price	Notes
Hue – Hoi An private car via Hai Van Tunnel	About 2.5–3 hours	About 900,000–1,300,000 VND (US$36–52) per car	Fastest door-to-door
Hue – Hoi An private car via Hai Van Pass	About 3.5–5 hours with stops	Slightly higher	Scenic; Lang Co, Hai Van Gate, Marble Mountains
Hue – Hoi An bus or limousine van	About 3.5–4 hours	About 150,000–250,000 VND per person	Drops at Hoi An Bus Station or hotels
Hue – Da Nang train + car	About 3.5–4.5 hours total	Train ticket plus about 250,000–350,000 VND car	Coastal views from the train
Da Nang city – Hoi An by car	About 40–50 minutes	About 250,000–350,000 VND	Coastal road past the beaches
Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City – Hoi An	About 1h20 flight + 45 min drive	Varies by airline	Fly to Da Nang (DAD)

Read more about the old capital in our Hue transportation guide and the Da Nang transportation guide.

How Do You Get Around Hoi An?

Walk or cycle. The Ancient Town is compact and closed to cars and motorbikes for most of the day, and the beaches and villages are within 3–5 km on flat roads.

1. Walking

The heritage core of Hoi An Ancient Town covers only about 30 ha. Motor vehicles are restricted from about 9:00 to 21:30 in summer and 9:00 to 21:00 in winter, so walking is the best way to see the old houses, assembly halls and lantern streets.

2. Bicycle

Most hotels lend bicycles for free or for about 30,000–50,000 VND a day. Popular rides are to An Bang Beach (about 4 km), Tra Que Vegetable Village (about 3 km), the rice fields of Cam Thanh and Thanh Ha pottery village. Lock your bike and use paid parking near beaches (usually 5,000–10,000 VND).

3. Grab, Xanh SM and taxis

Grab cars and bikes, Be and Xanh SM electric taxis all operate in Hoi An. They are useful for longer trips, rainy days and evening returns from the beach. Cars drop you at the edge of the car-free zone.

4. Electric buggies

Open-sided electric cars run between hotels, the beaches and the edge of the old town. Agree the price per ride before you get in.

5. Motorbike

Renting a motorbike costs about 120,000–200,000 VND a day, but you need a valid licence for the vehicle class and a 1968-Convention International Driving Permit (or a Vietnamese licence). Under Decree 168/2024, riding without the right licence can mean fines of 2–4 million VND (up to 125cc) or more, and travel insurance may not cover you. Always wear a helmet.

6. Cyclo

Cyclos (pedal rickshaws) offer short sightseeing rides around the old town. Agree the price and duration first; about 30 minutes is typical.

7. Boats on the Hoai and Thu Bon rivers

Small wooden boats take visitors along the Hoai River, especially at dusk when lanterns are lit and visitors release floating candles. Agree a price per boat for 15–30 minutes. Longer boat trips go up the Thu Bon River to Thanh Ha and Kim Bong villages.

8. Basket boats in Cam Thanh

Round bamboo basket boats paddle through the Bay Mau coconut forest in Cam Thanh, about 5 km from the old town. Prices vary by operator, so book with a reputable agent or agree the total in advance.

How Do You Get from Hoi An to Nearby Attractions?

Most day trips from Hoi An are 15 minutes to 1.5 hours by road or boat. A private car with driver is the most flexible option for My Son and Ba Na Hills.

Destination	Distance	Time	How
An Bang Beach	About 4 km	15 min by bike	Bicycle, Grab
Cua Dai Beach	About 5 km	20 min by bike	Bicycle, Grab
Cham Islands	About 18 km offshore	15–30 min by speedboat	Day tour from Cua Dai area (weather permitting)
My Son Sanctuary	About 40 km	About 1 hour	Private car, tour bus
Marble Mountains	About 15 km	About 25 min	Car, Grab
Ba Na Hills	About 50 km	About 1–1.5 hours	Private car, tour

Is It Safe to Get Around Hoi An? Scams to Avoid

Hoi An is a safe, relaxed town for getting around, but agree prices in advance for anything without a meter or app fare.

Use Grab, Xanh SM or official taxi ranks rather than drivers who approach you at the airport exit.
Agree the total price for boats, cyclos and buggies before starting, including whether it is per person or per boat.
Photograph a rental motorbike’s condition before you ride away and never leave your passport as a deposit.
Traffic drives on the right; watch for motorbikes when crossing and walk at a steady pace.
During floods, follow police barriers: currents in flooded streets can be strong.

Local Expert Tips for Getting Around Hoi An

These tips come from years of arranging Hoi An tours for international travellers.

Stay within walking or cycling distance of the old town to avoid daily taxi rides.
Book an airport transfer for flights landing after 22:00, when fewer cars are waiting.
On a Hue–Hoi An transfer, choose the Hai Van Pass in clear weather and the tunnel in heavy rain.
Visit My Son by 7:00 to avoid heat and tour groups, then return for lunch in town.
Ride to An Bang Beach in the late afternoon and come back for dinner as the lanterns light up.
Check Cham Islands boat operations the day before: services stop in storm warnings, especially from September to December.
Keep the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket with you while walking; inspectors check it at entry points.
From October to December, build a spare day into your plans in case floods close roads.

Plan Your Hoi An Trip

Once you have your transport sorted, plan what to see: the lantern streets of Hoi An Ancient Town, the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House and Hoi An Market, plus day trips to My Son Sanctuary and the Cham Islands. Our Hoi An food guide, where to stay in Hoi An and Hoi An travel tips cover the rest, and you can continue north with our Da Nang travel tips.

Plan your trip with our Hoi An travel guide and Hoi An tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hoi An Transportation

1. What is the nearest airport to Hoi An?

The nearest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang International Airport (DAD), about 30 km away, or 40–60 minutes by car.

2. How much is a Grab from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?

A 4-seat Grab car from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An costs about 250,000–350,000 VND (US$10–14); a 7-seater is about 350,000–450,000 VND.

3. Is there a bus from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?

There is no public bus from inside the airport terminal to Hoi An. Shared shuttles cost about 100,000–150,000 VND per person, and public bus Route 1 runs from Da Nang Central Bus Station.

4. Does Hoi An have a train station?

No. Hoi An has no railway station; the nearest is Da Nang Station, about 30 km away (45–60 minutes by car).

5. How long does it take from Hue to Hoi An?

Hue to Hoi An takes about 2.5–3 hours by private car through the Hai Van Tunnel, or 3.5–5 hours with stops on the Hai Van Pass.

6. How much is a private car from Hue to Hoi An?

A private car from Hue to Hoi An costs about 900,000–1,300,000 VND (US$36–52) per vehicle, depending on route and stops.

7. Can cars drive into Hoi An Ancient Town?

No. The core of Hoi An Ancient Town is closed to cars and motorbikes from about 9:00 to 21:30 in summer and 9:00 to 21:00 in winter.

8. Is Grab available in Hoi An?

Yes. Grab cars and bikes, Be and Xanh SM electric taxis operate in Hoi An, though cars stop at the edge of the car-free zone.

9. Is cycling a good way to get around Hoi An?

Yes. Hoi An is flat and compact; bicycles cost about 30,000–50,000 VND a day or are free at many hotels, and An Bang Beach is about 4 km away.

10. Can tourists rent a motorbike in Hoi An?

Tourists can rent motorbikes in Hoi An for about 120,000–200,000 VND a day, but they need a valid licence plus a 1968-Convention IDP; fines under Decree 168/2024 start at 2 million VND.

11. How do I get from Hoi An to the Cham Islands?

Speedboats to the Cham Islands leave from the Cua Dai area of Hoi An and take about 15–30 minutes; the visitor fee is 70,000 VND and boats do not run in storms.

12. How far is My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An?

My Son Sanctuary is about 40 km from Hoi An, roughly 1 hour by car; read our My Son guide for tickets and timing.

13. How do I get from Da Nang city to Hoi An?

From central Da Nang to Hoi An is about 30 km: 40–50 minutes by Grab or taxi (about 250,000–350,000 VND) or 60–90 minutes by bus Route 1.

14. How much is a boat ride on the Hoai River in Hoi An?

Boat rides on the Hoai River in Hoi An are priced per boat for about 15–30 minutes; agree the total price with the boatman before boarding.

15. Is it safe to travel to Hoi An during flood season?

Travel to Hoi An is possible in flood season (roughly October–December), but riverside streets can be closed for a few days, so build flexibility into your plans.

16. Can I fly directly to Hoi An?

No. Fly to Da Nang International Airport, which has direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and many Asian cities, then drive 40–60 minutes to Hoi An.

17. Are there night buses from Hoi An to other cities?

Yes. Sleeper buses and limousine vans connect Hoi An with Hue, Nha Trang and other cities; most depart from Hoi An Bus Station or offer hotel pick-up.