Plan your departures from Hoi An and Da Nang as if they were one town. Trains and flights all leave from Da Nang, while tourist buses and vans often pick up in Hoi An too. From here the classic route runs north to Hue over or under the Hai Van Pass, or south to Nha Trang, where flying usually beats the long overnight bus.
How we built this guide: this page pulls together our three route guides from the area. Those checked fares and timetables on 12Go, Vexere, Daytrip and The Sinh Tourist on 2 October 2026, plus Vietnam Railways' heritage-train details. Follow the links for the full detail behind each number.
Where do you actually leave from?
Most departures start in Da Nang, even if you are staying in Hoi An. Hoi An is not on the North-South railway, so trains to Hue and Nha Trang leave from Da Nang station, about 40 minutes away by road (12Go). Flights use Da Nang airport, which sits close to the city centre.
Tourist buses and limousine vans are the exception. Many pick up in Hoi An itself, and The Sinh Tourist runs scheduled departures from both towns. Ask where your pickup is when you book, since some vans collect from hotels and others leave from an office.
How do you get between Hoi An and Da Nang?
A car is the simple answer: about 40 minutes for the 29 km trip, per Daytrip, with private cars from about US$11 on 12Go on 2 October 2026. Shared shuttles take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours and cost about US$5 from the city, or US$11 to US$16 from the airport. Public bus 02 is the cheapest and slowest option and stops running in the early evening. Our Da Nang to Hoi An guide has the stops and fares.
Which way next: north to Hue or south to Nha Trang?
North is a short, scenic hop; south is a long haul that most people should fly. Here is the summary from our route guides.
| Going to | Fastest | Cheapest | Our pick | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hue (north) | Private car through the tunnel, about 2 hours 40 minutes | Train from Da Nang, from 79,000 VND (about US$3) | Car over the Hai Van Pass, or the heritage train | Hue to Hoi An |
| Nha Trang (south) | Flight Da Nang to Cam Ranh, 1 hour 15 minutes in the air | Sleeper bus from Hoi An, from 266,000 VND (about US$10) | Fly, or split the trip with a night in Quy Nhon | Hoi An to Nha Trang |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Flight from Da Nang, about 1 hour 31 minutes on average (Kayak) | Two long bus legs via Nha Trang | Fly | The classic route |
North to Hue: decide whether you want the pass
The Hai Van Pass is the reason to take this leg slowly. Buses and vans take 3 to 4 hours and cost 170,000 to 650,000 VND on Vexere, but they do not promise the pass road. To see it, book a car that goes over it or a motorbike tour. Rail fans can take the heritage train from Da Nang to Hue, which runs 3 hours 5 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes for 234,000 to 265,000 VND (Vexere).
South to Nha Trang: fly unless you want the journey
The ground options south are long. Sleeper buses from Hoi An take roughly 7 hours 45 minutes to 11 hours on Vexere, and trains from Da Nang take 9 to 11.5 hours. The direct flight from Da Nang to Cam Ranh takes 1 hour 15 minutes, though transfers at both ends make it more like 4 to 5 hours door to door. A night in Quy Nhon turns the trip into two daytime rides.
Tips for leaving Hoi An and Da Nang
- Late arrival at Da Nang airport? Book a car. Shared vans thin out at night and public bus 02 stops in the early evening.
- October and November are the flood months in this part of the coast. Check road conditions into Hoi An on the day, and keep a spare night in your plan.
- Around Tet (6 February 2027, per Wikipedia), trains and buses sell out. Vietnam Railways has already opened its Tet 2027 ticket sale, so book that week early.
Key facts at a glance
- Hoi An to Da Nang is about 29 km, roughly 40 minutes by car (Daytrip).
- Hoi An has no railway station; trains leave from Da Nang (12Go).
- The direct Da Nang to Cam Ranh flight took 1 hour 15 minutes on 12Go's listing for 14 October 2026.
- The Hue to Da Nang heritage train takes 3 hours 5 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes (Vexere).
Limitations
Every time and price here comes from booking sites and operator timetables checked on 2 October 2026, not from our own trips, and fares move with demand. Bus pickup points change often, so confirm yours with the operator. Weather matters more than usual on this stretch: autumn floods and landslides can close roads at short notice, so check conditions before you travel.
