How to get from Ninh Binh to Da Nang

Why visit Da Nang?

Da Nang is a bustling coastal city in central Vietnam. A known transport hub, it’s a popular gateway to the nearby city of Hoi An. But this fast-developing city is so much more than a stopover, it is now a destination on its own.

Travellers are making Da Nang a part of their itinerary for its laidback beaches, clear waters, and centuries-old pagodas. Some of Da Nang’s best attractions include the Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hills, the Son Tra Peninsula, and My Khe Beach.

There are 4 ways to travel the 670 kilometers (416 miles) from Ninh Binh to Da Nang. You can choose between the bus, private transport, train and flight. The journey takes 4 hours 20 minutes to 15 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 ($17.50).

The bus is the cheapest option with fares from 454,000 VND ($17.50), but it may not be the best choice when travelling from Ninh Binh to Da Nang.

We recommend checking bus company reviews before booking your ride for this route. We’ve seen some negative reviews — including disorganised schedule, rude staff, and overbooked buses resulting in some passengers sleeping on the floor.

These aren’t the best conditions to endure during a bus ride that takes 12 hours 30 minutes to 15 hours 30 minutes. But do let us know if you have a different (better) experience when taking the bus from Ninh Binh to Da Nang!

Departure and arrival station

Queen Cafe and Camel Travel depart from Ninh Binh Central Hotel in Ninh Binh city centre. Grouptour departs from its office in Tam Coc.

Camel Travel and Grouptour park at their own offices located across from each other in Da Nang city centre. Queen Cafe stops at Vietsheen Travel Office in Da Nang’s tourist centre, close to My Khe Beach.

Both day and night trains are available from Ninh Binh to Da Nang. Travel time varies — from 14 hours to 14 hours 30 minutes — depending on which train you take.

We recommend taking one of the overnight trains so that you don’t lose an entire day on travelling. Another advantage is that you’ll be able to save a night on accommodation. You can enjoy a good night’s sleep and wake up to views of Vietnam’s rural landscape.

Ticket prices start from 716,000 VND ($27.50) for a 2nd class seat. But given the duration of the journey, you’ll be more comfortable if you book a bunk in a 4-berth sleeper.

Departure and arrival station

Trains depart from Ninh Binh Railway Station and arrive at Da Nang Train Station. Both are in the city centre.

Are you short on time? Taking a flight from Ninh Binh to Da Nang cuts the travel time in half compared to the train, but you will be constantly on the move from one transfer to another.

Ninh Binh doesn’t have its own airport. You’ll need to travel 95 km to the nearest airport, which is in Hanoi.

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

There are plenty of limo vans operating throughout the day from Ninh Binh to Hanoi. What we like about these vans is that they pick you up from your hotel and drop you off in the centre of Hanoi, from where you can transfer to a shuttle bound for the airport.

Ticket prices start from 195,000 VND ($7.50) and the journey takes 1h 40m - 4h. You can book your tickets online beforehand through BookAway.

Buses are also available for this route, but they are usually slower and don’t offer any advantage over the minivan. For more info, check out our page on how to get from Ninh Binh to Hanoi.

There are also limo vans that can take you directly from Ninh Binh to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport. This option is slightly more expensive than a combined limo van & shuttle bus, but we think it’s well worth it if you prefer convenience over saving a few bucks.

Ticket prices for a direct limo van from Ninh Binh to Hanoi Airport start from 377,000 VND ($14.50). Travel time is around 4 hours.

If you’re taking this direct limo van, you can already skip Step 2 and go straight to Step 3 of this guide.

From downtown Hanoi, we recommend taking Express Bus 86 to Noi Bai Airport. This bus makes fewer stops compared to other buses and can take you to the airport in around an hour. A ticket costs 45,000 VND ($1.70).

Check out our page on Hanoi Airport for other transport options.

Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways and Vietnam Airlines offer several daily flights from Hanoi to Da Nang. Flight time is around 1.5 hours.

Airfares start from 600,000 VND ($23), but can cost over a million dong during the peak season and holidays.

Book your flight early for a better chance of getting good rates!

From Da Nang Airport, the city centre is some 2 km away. You can take a short taxi ride to get to your hotel. Fares start from 80,000 VND ($3.10).

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Ninh Binh to Da Nang. It can be a bit expensive, though.

Rates start from 7,061,000 VND ($270) for a 2-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 3,455,000 VND ($135) per person. Travel time is about 14 hours.

Private Transport options from Ninh Binh to Da Nang