How to get from Pakse 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 2 ways to travel the 405 kilometre (252 miles) distance from Pakse to Hoi An. You can choose between the bus and flight. The journey takes 6 hours 15 minutes to 11 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 360,000 VND ($13.70).

Travelling by bus from Pakse to Hoi An is not easy. You cannot book your tickets online and you will have to take two buses as there is no direct connection.

Both Mai Linh Express and Dien Hong offer trips from Pakse to Vietnam. The bus will go to Pleiku, which you will reach around 2 hours after crossing the border.

You should confirm with your agency, but you will likely have to get off the bus earlier. Either in Ngoc Hai District or Kon Tum. From either of these locations, you can catch a bus heading to Da Nang, which will also make a stop in Hoi An.

You can book a bus through local travel agencies or at affiliated Vietnamese restaurants in Pakse. The journey takes about 6 hours for the first leg.

A bus ticket from Ngoc Hai District or Kon Tum to Da Nang costs about 140,000 VND ($5.30). Make sure that you book a bus on the same day, otherwise you may end up staying overnight in these towns.

This bus will pass Hoi An, but also here, confirm with the company if they will make a stop to drop you off in Hoi An.

Note: The border immigration does not offer visas on arrival, which means you cannot enter Vietnam if you didn’t get one beforehand. See our Vietnam Visa page on how to get one.

The closest airport to Hoi An is in Da Nang. This means you need to book a flight from Pakse to Da Nang, and from there you’ll get a bus to Hoi An.

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

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Pakse to Da Nang. The shortest flight requires a 2.5-hour layover in Ho Chi Minh. This flight is operated by both Lao Airlines and Bamboo Airways and fares start at 4,150,000 VND ($160). There are also indirect flights with Vietjet Air and Vietnam Airlines but they either take longer or are more expensive.

From Da Nang Airport, you can catch a shuttle bus to Hoi An. This shuttle bus costs around 120,000 VND ($4.60) and the journey takes about 45 minutes. Check the Da Nang Airport page for more info.