How to get from Hoi An to Hanoi

Why visit Hanoi?

Hanoi is Vietnam’s bustling capital, where heritage and modernity collide. At its heart is the iconic Old Quarter bustling with cosy hotels, old residential buildings and neighbourhood cafes. Composed of 36 streets, just walking around this area will reward you with many amazing discoveries.

Must-visit sites include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the 19th-century gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We recommend munching on as much street food as you can, strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, and our favourite: watching the world go by from one of the many coffee shops in Hanoi.

There are 4 ways to travel the 800 kilometres (497 miles) from Hoi An to Hanoi. You can choose between the bus, private transport, train and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 35 minutes to 20 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 454,000 VND ($17.30).

We don’t recommend travelling this route by bus. It’s a journey that takes 13 hours 30 minutes to 19 hours, and the bus is neither the safest nor the most comfortable option.

It is the cheapest option, though. So if you’re on a budget, the bus is still a good alternative.

Bus fares from Hoi An to Hanoi start from 454,000 VND ($17.30). You can choose from eleven companies: Green Trips, Queen Cafe Bus, Grouptour, Full Moon Party, The Long Travel, Camel Travel, Tan Kim Chi, Cua Ong Limousine, Techbus VN JSC, TBus and Duy Khanh Limousine.

Departure and arrival station

Both companies depart from Camel Travel Office in Hanoi, about 3 km south of the Old Quarter. Their buses park at Camel Bus Ticket Office, 2 km east of Hanoi Old Town.

Hoi An doesn’t have its own airport. So when flying from Hoi An to Hanoi, you’ll have to take a flight from Da Nang.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Da Nang Airport is 30 km northwest of Hoi An. To get there, you can take either a 30m - 1h 30m shuttle bus or a taxi. Rates start from 79,000 VND ($3) and 320,000 VND ($12.20), respectively.

If you’re travelling solo, it’s already convenient to take the shuttle bus. It will pick you up from Hoi An centre and take you straight to Da Nang Airport. But if you’re travelling in a group, it will be more cost-efficient to just take a taxi.

You can book your shuttle bus ticket or private transfer beforehand through BookAway.

Visit our page on Da Nang Airport for more info.

Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways all offer daily flights from Da Nang to Hanoi. These flights are available throughout the day so you can be very flexible with your schedule.

Flight time from Da Nang to Hanoi is about 1h 20m.

Airfares start from 620,000 VND ($23.50). It’s best to book your flight weeks or months ahead for the best rates. Do note that airfares soar when you book closer to the travel date or during the peak season.

From Hanoi Airport, there are several ways you can get to the city centre. The most cost-efficient option is to take Express Bus #86, which can take you from the airport to the Old Quarter in around 45 minutes. A ticket costs 45,000 VND ($1.70).

Other options include the shuttle bus, public bus, and taxi.

For more details on how to reach Hanoi city centre, check out our page on Hanoi Airport.

The train is an interesting way to travel from Hoi An to Hanoi. It will be a very long train journey, but the ride itself will be an adventure. Also, you’ll enjoy the many beautiful sights along the way.

There is also no train station in Hoi An. This means you’ll need to get a bus or taxi to the closest train station, which is in Da Nang.

From Hoi An city centre, you can take either a minivan or a taxi to travel the 30 km going north to Da Nang Railway Station. Travel time is around 45m - 2h

Minivans are available every hour or two from 06:00 to 20:00 daily. Fares start from 114,000 VND ($4.40). There are several companies operating on this route and they depart from their respective offices in Hoi An town centre.

If you’d rather be picked up from your hotel, you can get a taxi for around 440,000 VND ($16.80).

Whether you’re taking a minivan or a taxi, we recommend pre-booking your ride via BookAway. This way, you can expect a ride on your preferred day and time. Also, BookAway offers fixed rates, unlike local taxi drivers who often try to overcharge tourists.

See our page on Da Nang Railway Station for more info.

IMPORTANT: Previously, there were cheap public buses operating direct trips from Hoi An to Da Nang. But the last time we checked (August 2024), these are no longer available.

Travelling by train from Da Nang to Hanoi is a good way to make a very long journey quite fun. The train ride alone is already an adventure, but you’ll also get the bonus of seeing many beautiful sights along the way.

The fastest train can complete this journey in around 16 hours, with ticket prices from 643,000 VND ($24.50) for a bunk at a 4-berth sleeper.

You can also get a 6-berth sleeper or a much cheaper soft seat. But for this very long ride, we think a bed at a 4-berth sleeper will be the most comfortable.

Hanoi Railway Station is situated about 2 km southwest of the Old Quarter. That’s about a 20-minute walk to your hotel.

If you’re carrying a lot of luggage, you can also take a taxi ride that takes 10 minutes for around 834,000 VND ($32).

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Hoi An to Hanoi.

Rates start from 13,955,000 VND ($530) for a 2-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 6,977,000 VND ($265) per person. Travel time is around 15 hours.

Private Transport options from Hoi An to Hanoi