Da Nang to Hoi An is short and easy: about 29 km and 40 minutes by car, per Daytrip. For most travelers a private car or ride-hailing car is the right call, because it costs little more than a shared shuttle for two people and drops you at your hotel. Shuttles suit solo travelers, and public bus 02 suits anyone with time, light bags and a tight budget.
How we built this guide: we checked fares and timetables on 12Go, Daytrip and Vexere and The Sinh Tourist's published schedule on 2 October 2026, plus Bao Da Nang's notice on the public bus and Da Nang's tourism portal for the Marble Mountains. We did not ride these services for this guide. Prices are in Vietnamese dong (VND) with US dollar estimates at Vietcombank's selling rate of 26,170 VND per dollar on 2 October 2026. Where a site showed dollars, the VND figure is our conversion.
One naming note: Hoi An's wards became part of Da Nang city in the 2025 local government reorganization, per Wikipedia, but booking sites such as Vexere still list the town as "Hoi An - Quang Nam". Both names point to the same place.
What is the quickest way from Da Nang to Hoi An?
A car is quickest, at about 40 minutes door to door. On 2 October 2026, 12Go listed a three-seat private car from about $11 (about 288,000 VND) with a 40-minute ride time, and gave a wider range of about $13 to $38 per car across operators. Daytrip's door-to-door transfer started at $6 per person and includes one suitcase and one carry-on per passenger, plus flight tracking.
Ride-hailing apps such as Grab also run in the area, as 12Go's travel notes for Hoi An mention, which makes them a handy fallback if you land without a booking.
Which shuttles run from the city and Da Nang airport?
Shared shuttles run from both, and they take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on how many pickups they make. On 12Go, a 28-seat VIP limousine coach from 204 Ho Nghinh in Da Nang reached 134 Ton Duc Thang in Hoi An in 45 minutes for about $5 (about 131,000 VND), with several departures a day.
The Sinh Tourist's schedule shows Da Nang to Hoi An departures at 10:00 and 15:30, each taking 1.5 hours, and the reverse trip from Hoi An at 08:00 and 13:45 in 45 minutes. The slower southbound time likely reflects pickups, so ask where yours starts.
From the airport, 12Go listed 16-seat and 9-seat vans leaving Da Nang Airport for Hoi An in 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, at about $11 to $16 (about 288,000 to 419,000 VND). 12Go's notes describe the airport as sitting close to the city centre, so road times from the airport and from town are similar.
Is there a public bus from Da Nang to Hoi An?
Yes, route 02 links Da Nang's Central Bus Station with Cua Dai beach, passing Hoi An bus station on the way. Bao Da Nang reported that FUTA Bus Lines (Phuong Trang) began running it on 18 July 2025 with large buses on a 46.7 km route, every 20 minutes at peak times. Single fares run from 8,000 to 48,000 VND (about $0.30 to $1.80) depending on distance.
Da Nang's public transport site lists the earlier LK02 version of this line running from 5:45 to 18:00 every 15 to 30 minutes, per danangbus.vn. Check current hours at the stop, since route numbers and timings here have changed more than once.
Watch out: Neither source publishes an end-to-end journey time. With stops along 46.7 km, route 02 is the slowest option, so skip it if you have a big suitcase or a dinner booking.
How do the options compare?
For two or more people, a private car beats shuttles on time and costs only a little more per head.
| Mode | Time | Price seen on 2 Oct 2026 | Comfort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private car, taxi or Grab | About 40 minutes | From $11 per car on 12Go, from $6 per person on Daytrip | Door to door | Most travelers, airport arrivals |
| City shuttle | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours | About $5 (131,000 VND) on 12Go | Fixed pickup and drop points | Solo budget travelers |
| Airport shuttle van | 1 to 1.25 hours | $11 to $16 (288,000 to 419,000 VND) on 12Go | Shared, timed departures | Arrivals who want a set fare |
| Public bus 02 | Not published, slowest | 8,000 to 48,000 VND (about $0.30 to $1.80) | Basic city bus | Lowest cost, light bags |
| Motorbike | About 40 minutes plus stops | Rental prices not checked | Exposed, license needed | Licensed, confident riders |
Can you stop at the Marble Mountains on the way?
Yes, and it is the easiest sight to fold into this trip. The Marble Mountains sit about 8 km from central Da Nang, at 81 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, and about 30 minutes by car from Hoi An, per Da Nang Fantasticity, the city's tourism portal. Entry to Thuy Son, the main peak with its caves and pagodas, costs 40,000 VND for adults, the elevator 15,000 VND one way or 30,000 VND return, and Am Phu Cave 20,000 VND.
Daytrip offers a 1 hour 30 minute Mount Thuy stop on its transfer. With a ride-hailing car, the simplest plan is two short rides: Da Nang to the mountains, then on to Hoi An. Our Da Nang guide has more on the city end.
Should you ride a motorbike to Hoi An?
Only if you hold the right license and are comfortable in Vietnamese traffic. The UK government's travel advice says you need the 1968 international driving permit plus your home license, it is illegal to ride without third-party insurance, and helmets are compulsory for riders and passengers. It also warns that motorbike accidents are common. If you want the scenery without the risk, a car with a Marble Mountains stop gives you most of the same views.
Where will you be dropped in Hoi An?
Shuttles stop at company offices around the town rather than at your door. On 12Go on 2 October 2026, Hoi An drop points included 134 Ton Duc Thang, 32 Nguyen Phan Vinh and 487 Hai Ba Trung. Route 02 stops at Hoi An bus station and continues to Cua Dai. A car or ride-hailing driver takes you to your hotel, as close as local traffic rules allow. Our Hoi An guide covers the town itself.
What about late flights, luggage and rain?
Book a car for late arrivals. 12Go listed private transfers at any hour and only a few overnight vans, while route 02 runs until about 18:00. For luggage, Daytrip includes one suitcase and one carry-on per passenger. On a city bus you keep bags with you, so travel light if you choose route 02.
Rain matters more than distance here. The UK government lists October to December as central Vietnam's rainy season, with flooding most likely in October and November, so allow extra time and book a car on stormy days.
Key facts at a glance
- Da Nang to Hoi An is 29 km and about 40 minutes by car, per Daytrip.
- Public bus route 02 started on 18 July 2025 on a 46.7 km route, per Bao Da Nang.
- Route 02 fares run from 8,000 to 48,000 VND, per the same Bao Da Nang notice.
- The Sinh Tourist lists the trip as 30 km, 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, per its schedule.
- Thuy Son entry at the Marble Mountains costs 40,000 VND for adults, per Da Nang Fantasticity.
Limitations
Fares were checked on 2 October 2026 and change with demand. Booking sites show partner prices, and our dollar and dong conversions are approximate. We did not check motorbike rental prices.
Public bus details come from a July 2025 notice and an older operator page. Numbering and hours may have changed since, so confirm at the Central Bus Station or on the bus itself.
Around Tet, which falls on 6 February 2027 per Wikipedia's Tet date table, cars and shuttles get busier and prices can rise. Book airport transfers ahead for that week. In the October and November flood season, roads into Hoi An can be affected, so check conditions on the day. For onward trips, see routes from Hoi An and Da Nang, our Hue to Hoi An guide and getting around Vietnam.
