The Ultimate Guide on How to Get from Hanoi to Hoi An (& Vice Versa)

Vietnam

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.


Hoi An is a small town in central Vietnam that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999. 

It is known for its rich history, historical heritage, architecture, and atmosphere.

Well, that is all lovely and I bet you already know that Hoi An is worth a visit.  

So how do you actually get to Hoi An (or vice versa from Hoi An to Hanoi)? 

Many people who are traveling to Hoi An are coming from Hanoi.

This can be a bit confusing for someone who is making the trip for the first time as many of the transfer routes are not direct.  

Instead, all travelers choosing to travel by plane or train will need to make a journey from Hanoi to Danang and from there find transport from Danang to Hoi An itself. 

Direct transfer options are only available for those who are happy to travel by either private transfer or sleeper bus.

Don’t worry though, this article will explain everything you need to know to safely make your trip.

Find below all the information on how to get from Hanoi to Hoi An (& Vice Versa)

How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An

Note: We have other transport guides as well.  See how to get from Hanoi to Sapa and from Danang to Hoi An.

How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An

For further detailed information on transfers, please read the info below where we share with you a detailed guide on to get from Hanoi to Hoi An.

1. By Plane + Transfer (Most Popular Option)

Hanoi to Da Nang Flights
  • Journey Time: 75 Min flight + 60 Min transfer
  • Cost Involved: US$50-$175 (Flight) + $6 (Transfer)

Click here to find the cheapest prices for flights

You will need to catch a flight and then a transfer. Below are the details on how to do both.

There are approximately 20-30 direct flights every day from Hanoi to Da Nang International Airport. (Note that there is no direct Hanoi to Hoi An flight option). 

The airlines that service Hanoi to Da Nang International Airport are: 

  • Pacific Airlines,
  • Bamboo Airways,
  • Vietnam Airlines, or
  • Viet Jet Air

We love taking the flight option and for us, it is well worth the extra cash in comparison to the train option.

Flight time is short (1h15min), whilst the train takes a whopping 15 hours to get from Hanoi to Danang. 

We have personally flown on Viet Jet Air. 

Click here to book your Hanoi to Danang flight

The next step is to get from Danang to Hoi An using a transfer.

Hoi-An-Express-Shuttle-Bus

Our recommended mode of transport from Danang to Hoi An is via the Hoi An Express Shuttle Bus (US$6).

You could however also grab a taxi (US$15 – $23).

Click here to secure a seat for the Hoi An Express Shuttle Bus

2. By Train + Transfer

Hanoi to Danang Train
  • Journey Time: 17hrs Train + 90min Transfer
  • Cost Involved: US $23-$90 (train) + $25-80 (Transfer)

Click here to see prices for train tickets to Danang

The first step is to get the Hanoi to Danang Train (or vice versa from Da Nang to Hanoi).

An interesting experience is to travel by train in Vietnam.

Traveling by train from Hanoi to Da Nang (or the train from Danang to Hanoi) takes about 16-17 hours (note there is no direct Hanoi to Hoi An train option).

Night trains are comfortable (they have soft beds), and you can buy food and snacks on them.

There are 5 trains every day on Vietnam Railways from Hanoi to Da Nang. A one-way train ticket costs about US$23-30.  

Foreigners typically prefer to indulge in the luxury trains: Violette Train and Livitrans Express, where you can grab a private berth for around $70-90.

It is recommended that you book your train tickets online prior to your date of travel as they tend to sell out in high season.

When booking your ticket online, you will receive your e-ticket by email, ready to print or carry in your mobile phone or tablet and present when boarding the train.

Click here to see prices for train tickets to Danang

Once you arrive in Danang by train you will need to get a transfer from Danang to Hoi An.

The easiest way to grab a Danang to Hoi An transfer from the train station is either via private car transfer or via a taxi. 

It is pretty hard to get to the buses from the train station, so if you prefer not to catch a taxi (they are crazy drivers!) it would be best to pre-organize your transfer.

You could either do this through your hotel or if you have a bit of money to splurge out on, we absolutely LOVE the comfort of Blacklane Transfers. 

Comfy, air-conditioned cars and their drivers always drive carefully!

Check prices for your private Blacklane transfer here.

3.  By Sleeper Bus (Cheapest Option)

Comfortable Bus for Travel
  • Journey Time: 18 hrs Bus
  • Cost Involved: US $19-$30

Click here to see prices for bus tickets to Hoi An

The Hanoi to Hoi An Sleeper Bus means traveling by bus from Hanoi to Hoi An which takes about 18 hours.

There are a few benefits of choosing the bus option as it is by far the cheapest option (only $19-30) and it is the only direct way to get from Hanoi to Hoi An itself, without having to deal with the hassle of stopping in Danang.

Sleeper buses are however not the most comfortable way to travel, but I’m sure if you can fall asleep on a plane, then this could work as an option for you. 

It is our least favorite way to travel, but if money is an issue, this is your best option.

Tip: When traveling by sleeper bus you will want to arrive at the station at least 1 hour before your departure time.

Buses are known to leave a bit early at times, and if you miss your bus you will not be given a refund. 

Click here to secure your bed a Sleeper Bus to Hoi An

Getting from Hanoi to Hoi An FAQ

1. What is the fastest way to get from Hanoi to Hoi An?

The fastest way to get from either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is by using a plane. 

There are no flights to hoi itself. The closest airport to Hoi An is in Danang. The Hanoi to Danang flight is only 1h15min long.  

From there you will have another 30-60 min journey to get to Hoi An itself.
Click here to see prices for flights to Danang

2. Is there a direct transfer option from Hanoi to Hoi An?

Yes, there is. 

If you are happy to grab a bed on one of the Vietnam sleeper busses, you can hop on the bus at the Hanoi bus station and get off at Hoi An.  

It is convenient, but might not be the most comfortable way to travel.  

It is our least favorite way to travel in Vietnam, but it is also the cheapest way to get there.

Click here to see prices for sleeper busses from Hanoi to Hoi An

3. Is the train from Hanoi to Hoi An worth the long trip?

The benefit of taking the train option is that you will be able o enjoy the scenery along the coast on your journey. 

Personally, I prefer to fly as the 16-17 hour train journey is simply way too long for my liking; especially in comparison to the quick 1h15 min flight.

Click here to see prices for train tickets to Danang

Final Thoughts on How to Get From Hanoi to Hoi An (or Vice Versa)

We hope that this guide on how to get from Hanoi to Hoi An has helped you plan your travel when wanting to travel from Hanoi to Hoi An or from Hoi An to Hanoi.

Let us know which method of travel you choose or have used to travel from Hanoi to Hoi An.

Photo of author

Jolene Ejmont

Originally from South Africa, now living in Australia, Jolene is a wife and a mother to three beautiful daughters. Together with her family, she is embarking on a journey towards changing her current stress-filled life to one focusing on her dreams and her passion for travel. She wants to share her stories in the hope to inspire you to chase your own dreams!

13 thoughts on “The Ultimate Guide on How to Get from Hanoi to Hoi An (& Vice Versa)”

  1. Last year I was taking the share bus service from Hanoi to Halong from “Hanoi Travel Bus”. you can save a lot of money if you or a group wants to travel on your own.

  2. Thank you for your article. I’m going to Vietnam in April and want to go straight from Hoi An to Mui Ne. Is there any shuttle bus connecting two these destination? By the way, where can I buy tailored clothes in Hoi An. How hard to find a post office to send some clothes to my family?

    • Hi, you can take a bus to Nha Trang and then grab a bus from there to Mui Ne. Or fly from Danang to HCMC and bus from there 😉 We never got tailored clothes so no personal recommendations, but it is SUPER easy to find tailors, …. actually their friends and family will find you whilst you are walking around 😉

  3. dear blogger
    we will travel to vietnam in July.
    we want to fly to Hanoi and from there take a domestic flight to Dannag. Do you have any idea how long the take time the suitcases are rolling out when vi landing i Hanoi? How is the transport between the terminals? How much time is needed to receive the suitcases and until vi come to another terminal to fly to Dannag?
    thanks for your time

    • Hi Sara, we normally give ourselves one-hour timeframe to get off the plane and to collect our luggage and it is usually more than enough time. One thing you need to be aware of though is that flights in Vietnam are more often than not delayed. I think almost all our flights were delayed, so it is best to not plan too much to timeframes and just to go with what happens.

  4. My husband and I are going to go from Thailand to Vietnam in February, 2019. I am wondering how much time is “too much” or “too little” to stay in Hoi An. I am also interested to go from Hoi An to Hue, is it possible to fly from Da Nang to Hue? I love your site, it is so helpful! Thank you for info/suggestions.

  5. This is so detailed and helpful! One question, I fly in to Hanoi and was thinking of taking a flight straight to Hoi An instead of going in to Hanoi and coming back again for a flight to Hanoi. Do you think it’s a good idea for the particular airport? I get to Hanoi around 11 am in the morning so thought have enough time to get the short flight to Danang and transfer to Hoi An…

    • Hi there, you could do that, but why don’t you rather simply fly into Danang directly (they have an international airport there). I think we had delayed flights with every single one of our domestic flights in Vietnam, so be prepared for that possibility also.

  6. Hello,
    We have been looking on the Vietnam Railway website but there doesn’t seem to be any option for VIP cabins (private berth for 2 ppl) on the train from Hanoi to Danang? Only from Hanoi to Sapa… Please can you tell us where you can purchase these private cabins?
    Also you can’t seem to book specific dates, only the time you want.
    Thanks!

  7. HI, thanks for the post and info. I am travelling to Hanoi late August and still quite open about where to go but definitely keen on Hoi An. I am wondering about taking the train down and stopping somewhere on the way for a couple of days. Is there anywhere you would recommend?
    Thanks!

  8. I have just booked to go to Hoi An and I fell over your blog which has set my mind to rest. I have nearly sorted everything out in a day, thanks to your advise and experiences. Thank you so much x

Comments are closed.