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How to get from Hanoi to 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!
3 ways to get from Hanoi to Hoi An
The fastest way to travel the 800km from Hanoi to Hoi An is by flight, which takes 3 hours and costs around 820,000 VND ($33.50). Alternative options include a 17-hour train and a 17-hour bus with rates from 1,240,000 VND ($51) and 351,000 VND ($14.50), respectively.
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 ($33.50).
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 though 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 30km 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 35km north of the Old Quarter. The best way to get there is via Express Bus #86. A ticket costs 45,000 VND ($1.85) 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 ($25.50) to 860,000 VND ($35.50) if you buy your tickets in advance. Note though that airfares can go as high as 1,200,000 VND ($49.50) 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) and 320,000 VND ($13), 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 3km 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 ($2.85) 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 ($47.50). 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 Bus
Da Nang Railway Station is situated 30km north of Hoi An. To get to the Old Town, you can take a 1-hour public bus for 20,000 VND ($0.80).
The nearest bus stop to Da Nang’s train station is located at 155 Le Duan Street, which you can find 750m away. The bus parks at Hoi An Bus Station, 2km northwest of the Old Town.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi directly from the railway station to your hotel’s doorstep. Rates start from 385,000 VND ($15.50).
Hanoi to Hoi An by Bus
We do not recommend to travel 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 though that buses offer a cheaper alternative 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 the three popular companies operating on this route: The Long Travel, Hung Thanh, and Camel Travel.
Departure & 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
You think you can only find good banana pancakes in Thailand? Wait till you get them for breakfast at HaLo HomeStay. This homestay has it all: The high-end standard of a hotel combined with the family feeling of a homestay. The owners serve a lovely breakfast and will do everything to get most out of your stay. You can explore Hoi An with their free bicycle rental and reach the Old Quarter or beach within 5 minutes.
Double rooms from: $11
Flame Flowers Homestay
When Halo Homestay is already fully booked, there are still several other great options to stay in Hoi An. Flame Flowers Homestay is one of them. Expect a very warm welcome from the owners. They will feel like family from the moment you meet them.
Double rooms from: $25
Vina Beach Pool Villas
Looking for a more luxurious experience right next to the beach? This little villa is within walking distance from the beach and is a perfect place to stay when you want to escape from the busy city life. Chill at the beach, relax at the pool and have a great night of sleep in a comfy bed.
Double rooms from: $40
Things to do in Hoi An
The 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.