How to get from Phong Nha to Hoi An

Why visit Hoi An?

Hoi An is a charming city on Vietnam’s central coast. Once a major port, the mixed influences of Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants are still visible here.

Its Old Town is a well-preserved fusion of foreign and indigenous architecture, laid out in a small-scale model of a 15th to 19th-century trading hub. No wonder it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Travelling to Hoi An feels like walking back in time.

There are 3 ways to travel the 340 kilometers (211 miles) from Phong Nha to Hoi An. You can choose between the bus, private transfer and train. The journey takes 6 hours 30 minutes to 11 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by private transfer. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 319,000 VND ($12.30).

The bus is a direct way to travel from Phong Nha to Hoi An but isn’t as scenic as taking the train. Most buses take the Hai Van Tunnel, which means you’ll miss the amazing views from Hai Van Pass.

If you still want to take a bus from Phong Nha to Hoi An, you can choose from seven companies: Queen Cafe Bus, Green Trips, Grouptour, Duc Duong Bus, To Vietnam Travel, Techbus VN JSC and TBus.

Bus ticket prices start from 319,000 VND ($12.30) and the journey takes around 6 hours 55 minutes to 11 hours 30 minutes.

Departure and arrival station

Both Queen Cafe Bus, Green Trips, Grouptour, Duc Duong Bus, To Vietnam Travel, Techbus VN JSC and TBus depart from the Central Backpackers Hostel along the main street in Phong Nha.

Grouptour parks at Hoi An Luxury SSB, while Queen Cafe arrives at its own headquarters in Hoi An. You can find both along Ton Duc Thang Street, some 1.5km north of the Old Town.

Travelling by train from Phong Nha to Hoi An includes several transfers: a bus or taxi from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi, a train from Dong Hoi to Da Nang, and then a minivan or taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An.

Taking the train might involve some more steps, but at least you will still get a view of the famous Hai Van Pass. This is a 21km mountain pass overlooking the sea from Hue to Da Nang. The bus, on the other hand, goes through a tunnel so you won’t see any of it during your journey.

Although travelling the Hai Van Pass by motorbike will be the most exciting, the train ride between Dong Hoi and Da Nang (step 2) will still reward you with magnificent scenery.

Below we will explain which steps to take when travelling by train.

From Phong Nha, you can get to Dong Hoi in two ways: via a bus ride that takes 1.5 hours for 50,000 VND ($1.90) or via a taxi ride that takes 1 hour with rates from 400,000 VND ($15.40).

If you’re on a budget, you can catch the bus from the main street in Phong Nha. Just allow some extra time so that you don’t miss your desired train. The bus drop-off point in Dong Hoi is a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride for 40,000 VND ($1.50) to the railway station.

If you’re taking the 06:00 train from Dong Hoi, you’ll have to take a taxi to the train station because buses aren’t available yet at that time.

For bus schedules and more details, see our guide for Dong Hoi to Phong Nha.

From Dong Hoi station, there are 4 direct trains operating daily between Dong Hoi to Da Nang. We recommend taking one of the trains leaving in the morning so you can fully appreciate the beauty of Hai Van Pass.

Ticket prices start from 241,000 VND ($9.30) for a soft seat. Travel time is around 5h 25m - 6h 30m.

From Da Nang Railway Station, you can take a 1 hour minivan or taxi to Hoi An.

A minivan ticket costs around 155,000 VND ($6), and you can take a minivan as long as you arrive at the train station between 07:00 and 21:00. As for the taxi, fares start from 440,000 VND ($17).

Visit our page for Danang Railway Station to Hoi An for more info.

IMPORTANT: Cheap local buses used to operate from Da Nang to Hoi An. But the last time we checked (September 2024), these were no longer available. Some drivers try to take advantage of this situation by luring tourists to take overpriced taxis. This is why we recommend that you pre-book your minivan or taxi online through BookAway, which offers fixed rates and comfortable cars.

You can take a private transfer from Phong Nha to Hoi An. The advantage of this is that you can travel door-to-door. It is also the fastest option at 6 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 40 minutes.

Of course, all these luxuries come with a price. Rates for a 2-seater private transfer from Phong Nha to Hoi An start from 3,967,000 VND ($155). You can also get an 8-seater minivan for 5,840,000 VND ($225).

We recommend booking your private ride through BookAway, which offers spacious cars that come with professional drivers.

Private Transfer options from Phong Nha to Hoi An