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What to expect from Hoi An?
Coming from Hanoi’s French Quarter, Hoi An’s Old Town will be a delight. Here, you will find a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and European influence brought by merchants to this once major port.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An is a beautiful fusion of foreign and indigenous architecture, laid out in a small-scale example of a 15th to 19th century trading port. The town is so well-preserved, exploring its streets feels like walking back in time.
Make sure to explore further than the crowded tourist spots to get a better feel of local life in Hoi An!
How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An
Hoi An is about 800 km (500 miles) south of Hanoi. By road, the trip takes about 17 hours, while by air, the nearest airport in Da Nang can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The cost range from 351,000 VND ($14.50) to 1,379,000 VND ($58).
3 ways to get from Hanoi to Hoi An
The flight is the most cost-efficient way to get from Hanoi to Hoi An. Note that you can only take the plane up to Da Nang, from where you can take a bus or taxi the rest of the way. Combined travel time is around 3 hours and fares start from 820,000 VND ($34.50).
Taking the train is a good alternative option to flying. It is quite a long journey from Hanoi to Hoi An at 17 hours, but you will save a night on accommodation when you take the sleeper train. Also with the train, you can only take one up to Da Nang.
If you are on a strict budget, you can take the bus directly from Hanoi to Hoi An for as low as 351,000 VND ($14.50). Bear in mind that travelling by bus is not as safe and comfortable as taking the train, especially for such long journeys.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Itinerary from Hanoi to Hoi An
Flight
- Hanoi City Centre
- 45 minutes
- Hanoi Airport
- 1hr 20m
- Da Nang Airport
- 1 hour
- Hoi An
Train
- Hanoi City Centre
- 10 minutes
- Hanoi Railway Station
- 15.5 hours
- Da Nang Railway Station
- 1 hour
- Hoi An
Hanoi to Hoi An by Flight
There is no airport in Hoi An so you can only take a flight to Da Nang, a city located 30 km away. Despite this, the flight is still the fastest option to get from Hanoi to Hoi An.
Step 1: City Centre to Hanoi Airport by Flight
Hanoi Airport is located about 35 km north of the Old Quarter. The best way to get there is via Express Bus #86. A ticket costs 45,000 VND ($1.90) for the 45-minute journey.
Bus 86 departs from Hanoi Railway Station every 25 minutes from 06:25 to 23:05. It also makes several stops close to the Old Quarter so you can just hail the bus at the nearest stop to your accommodation.
For more details and transport options, you can check out our page on Hanoi Airport.
Step 2: Hanoi to Da Nang by Flight
Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways and Vietair Travel fly daily from Hanoi to Da Nang. Flight time is 1hr 20m.
Rates range from 620,000 VND ($26) to 860,000 VND ($36) if you buy your tickets in advance. Note that airfares can go as high as 1,200,000 VND ($50) if you book near the travel date or during peak season.
Step 3: Da Nang Airport to Hoi An by Bus
From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An, you can take a shuttle bus if you’re travelling solo and a taxi if you’re with a group. Rates start from 155,000 VND ($6.50) and 320,000 VND ($13.50), respectively.
You can pre-book your shuttle bus ticket or private transfer via BookAway. Just click the link below.
Check Shuttle Bus Tickets with BookAway
The ride takes about an hour. Visit our page on how to get from DaNang Airport to Hoi An for more info.
Hanoi to Hoi An by Train
When you want to travel by train from Hanoi to Hoi An you have to one to Da Nang Railway Station. From here, you can reach Hoi An centre in about an hour.
Step 1: City Centre to Hanoi Railway Station
You can find Hanoi Railway Station about 3 km southwest of the Old Quarter. That should be about a 20-minute walk depending on your hotel’s location.
If you’re carrying a lot of luggage though, you can also just take a taxi for convenience. Fares start from 70,000 VND ($2.90) for the 10-minute ride.
Step 2: Hanoi to Da Nang by Train
There are 5 trains operating from Hanoi to DaNang daily. Some trains travel throughout the day, while others travel overnight so you can sleep for half of the journey.
As this is a very long ride, we recommend getting a bunk for a 4-berth cabin. This should be comfortable enough to get you through the 15.5 to 19-hour journey.
The fastest train is SE1. You can get a bunk at a 4-berth cabin for 1,154,000 VND ($48.50). Soft seats and 6-berth cabins are also available for lower prices.
See below an overview of the night trains:
Train schedules from Hanoi to Da Nang (4-Berth Sleeper)
PRO TIP: Use the free N26 debit card to avoid the extra fees charged by your bank. This N26 debit card is becoming very popular among travellers, because they don't charge any fees on payments in foreign currencies (most banks charge 3%-5%). New members can order one for free on the N26 website
Step 3: Da Nang Railway Station from Hoi An by Minivan
Da Nang Railway Station is 30 km north of Hoi An. To get to the Old Town, you can take a 1-hour minivan with prices from 155,000 VND ($6.50). Minivans are available every day from 07:00 to 21:00, but you have to book your ride in advance so that the driver knows to pick you up from the train station.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi directly from the railway station to your hotel’s doorstep. Rates start from 440,000 VND ($18.50).
We recommend pre-booking your minivan or taxi via BookAway, which offers comfortable vehicles and good customer service.
IMPORTANT: There used to be cheap public buses (Bus #1) operating trips from Da Nang to Hoi An. But the last time we checked (March 2023), these were no longer available.
Hanoi to Hoi An by Bus
We do not recommend travelling this long distance by bus since it will be a really long and exhausting journey. If you don’t want to fly, consider taking the train instead (also much safer).
We cannot deny that buses are cheaper when travelling from Hanoi to Hoi An. Bus fares start from 351,000 VND ($14.50) for the 15.5 to 17-hour ride.
If you still want to take a bus from Hanoi to Hoi An, you can take one of these two popular companies: The Long Travel and Camel Travel.
Hung Thanh is another direct bus operator for this route. However, we don’t recommend travelling with them because they get bad reviews. These include overloading, rude staff, and dirty buses.
Departure and arrival station
Different bus companies depart and arrive at varying stations – usually in their own offices in Hanoi and Hoi An.
One advantage of the bus is that their offices are located very near the city centre of both cities. This means you’ll most probably only need a short taxi ride to travel between the bus stations and your hotels in Hanoi and Ho An.
Bus schedules from Hanoi to Hoi An
It’s best to book your bus tickets online so you can check out which company has the most convenient rates, amenities, and departure & arrival points. We recommend doing so via BookAway, which has excellent customer service.
Our favourite places to stay in Hoi An
HaLo HomeStay
HaLo Homestay is an incredible budget option. You won't quite believe the standard of the rooms for the price you're paying. They're large, modern and very clean. The owners serve a delicious breakfast and will do everything they can to guarantee you a perfect stay. They even have free bikes for you to use. From the homestay you can reach the Old Quarter or beach within 5 minutes.
Double rooms from: $11
Flame Flowers Homestay
Expect a warm welcome when you arrive at Flame Flowers Homestay. The owners feel like family from the moment you meet them. Guests have been known to extend their stays here as they just can't face leaving. The spacious rooms provide you with everything you need - a good nights sleep and ultimate comfort!
Double rooms from: $25
Vina Beach Pool Villas
Dreaming of a luxurious retreat right next to the beach? Vina Beach Pool Villas tick all the boxes. There's a relaxing pool, lush gardens and it's only steps away from the beach. And after a hard day of relaxing, their super comfortable beds offer the best nights sleep. On top of that, the owners can't do enough to ensure you have an unforgettable stay.
Double rooms from: $40
Things to do in Hoi An
Things to do in Hoi AnThe online activity platform Klook offers many tours in Hoi An at great prices. I used it now for a couple of times and had great experiences. And the prices are often even lower than when you book with a local travel agent!
And most important, by booking the activity in advance, you avoid the problem of fully booked tours.
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About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Avoid Hey Travel buses or at least check out the reviews first. They are in cahoots with thieves and leave people stranded sometimes.
Hi James! Thank you so much for this info. When we last updated this route, Hey Travel was the most trusted company of all our recommendations. But we see now that it is not the case anymore. We have just updated the route again to notify our readers of the possibility of having a bad experience with this company. Thanks again and let us all stay safe this season!
Lotus Train would be the perfect option as it connected to SE19 soft sleeper cabin. The train provide free Wi-Fi and renovated toilets that no other trains have.
Hello Hieu! Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately I don’t see any availability when I try to book tickets for the Lotus Train. Once tickets are available again, I will add your train as a more luxury option. The reviews from other travellers sound like it’s worth the extra money!