Getting around Hoi An: from the airport to the beach in 2026
Hoi An has no airport and no train station. The nearest airport is Da Nang (DAD), 30 km north, about 45 minutes away. But the best transport in town is a bicycle — often free from your hotel. The direct airport bus 01SB is ~$4.60, a Grab from ~$12, a hotel transfer from ~$14.
The setup is simple: you reach Hoi An through Da Nang (the town has no airport and no station of its own), and once there a bicycle does almost everything. It is flat as a pancake and distances are tiny: 4 km from the centre to An Bang beach, 3–5 km to the nearest villages. The Old Town is a pedestrian zone from 09:00 to 21:30 in summer and to 21:00 in winter, with no cars or motorbikes allowed inside during those hours.
- Da Nang airport (Sân bay quốc tế Đà Nẵng (DAD)): Nearest airport, 30 km away — Bus 01SB ~$4.60 | Grab ~$12–16
- Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn): On the way from Da Nang to Hoi An
- Hoi An bus station (Bến xe buýt Hội An): 1 km walk to the Old Town
- Old Town (Phố cổ Hội An): Pedestrian zone 09:00–21:30, to 21:00 in winter — No cars or motorbikes inside during those hours
- An Bang Beach (Bãi biển An Bàng): 4 km from the centre — 15 minutes by bicycle
- Cửa Đại port (Cảng Cửa Đại): Speedboats to the Cham Islands — 7 km from the centre
| Route | Transport | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Da Nang airport → Hoi An | Bus 01SB | ~$4.60 | 60–90 min |
| Da Nang airport → Hoi An | GrabCar | ~$12–16 | 30–45 min |
| Old Town → An Bang Beach | Bicycle | Free | 15 min |
| Hue → Hoi An | Bus | ~$4–6 | 4 h |
For the town itself, see our full guide to Hoi An. And since flights land in Da Nang, the pieces on flights to Da Nang and getting around Da Nang are worth a read.
Fast Track — no queue at the border
5–10 minutes instead of an hour in the immigration queue
from$11per passenger
Getting in from Da Nang airport
Da Nang International Airport (code DAD) handles both domestic and international flights. Most travellers arrive via a connection in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Bangkok, Singapore or Seoul. It is 30 km to Hoi An — about 45 minutes by car, up to 90 by public bus. The path of least resistance is to pre-book a hotel transfer or hail a Grab straight from arrivals.
…anywhere from 40 minutes to forever if something floods or a road gets closed. An hour, give or take, is about rightMidian, Vinsky Forum, 2025, translated by VietnamSpot
Every option: from ~$4.60 to ~$19
Currency converter
| Transport | Price | Time | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 01SB | 120,000 VND (~$4.60) | 60–90 min | Straight from the terminal |
| GrabCar | 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) | 30–45 min | Fixed price, door to door |
| Transfer / shuttle | 350,000–450,000 VND (~$14–18) | 45 min | Met with a name board |
| Metered taxi | ~470,000 VND (~$19) | 30–45 min | No app needed |
By bus from the terminal
There is exactly one direct scheduled route from the airport to Hoi An — 01SB, ending at the Cua Dai pier car park. It has no timetable: departures follow the flight schedule, and the line runs three ten-seat minibuses. The cheaper option means changing — ride into the city, then take LK02 or 02.
01SBShuttleHải Vân (Quảng Nam)
- Da Nang airportCảng hàng không quốc tế Đà Nẵng
- Hoi An, Cua Dai pierBến tàu Cửa Đại
45 km
- Timetable
- The operator publishes no timetable. Departures follow the flight schedule, so the operator publishes no times. Ask at the arrivals hall desk
- Fare
- 120,000 VNDVeterans, disabled passengers and children under 6 pay half
Ten-seat Hyundai Solati minibuses, three vehicles in total — seats can run out at peak times
Official source — Da Nang public transport portal · Checked on Sep 18, 2026
LK02BusPhương Trang Futabuslines
- Vietnam-Korea UniversityTrạm xe buýt Đại học Việt Hàn
- Hoi An, Cua Dai pierBãi đỗ xe Bến thủy nội địa Cửa Đại
23.2 km72 trips a day
- Timetable
- Every 15–30 minFrom the university06:05–19:05From Cua Dai05:00–18:00
- Fare
- Up to 11.6 km8,000 VNDBeyond that — full route15,000 VND
Official source — Da Nang public transport portal · Checked on Sep 18, 2026
02BusPhương Trang Futabuslines
- Da Nang central bus stationBến xe Trung tâm Đà Nẵng
- Da Nang city centreTrung tâm hành chính
- Con Ga cathedralNhà thờ Con Gà
- Hoi An, Cua Dai pierBãi đỗ xe Bến thủy nội địa Cửa Đại
46.7 km60 trips a day
- Timetable
- Every 15–30 minWhole route05:15–18:30
- Journey
- 90 min
- Fare
- Up to 10 km8,000 VND10–25 km20,000 VNDBeyond that — full route30,000 VNDSchool and university students pay 8,000 VND for any distance
The city centre to Cua Dai leg takes 70 of the 90 minutes — boarding at the bus station is noticeably longer
Official source — Da Nang public transport portal · Checked on Sep 18, 2026
Grab: how to book
- Download the Grab app (iOS / Android) before you land.
- Sign up with any phone number.
- Choose "GrabCar" (4 seats) or "GrabCar 7" (7 seats).
- Enter your hotel address — the fare is calculated automatically.
- Pay cash (VND) or by card (Visa / Mastercard). Cards issued by Russian banks will not work.
Grab works in Hoi An, but there are fewer drivers than in Da Nang. At peak times expect a 10–15 minute wait. To get the app running at the airport you need data, so pick up a SIM or eSIM before you fly — see our guide to SIM cards and staying connected in Vietnam.
Hotel transfer
Many hotels offer an airport pickup — free, or 300,000–500,000 VND (~$12–20). Ask when you book. It is often the most hassle-free option: a driver meets you with a name board.
From Hue, Nha Trang, Saigon and Hanoi
Hue → Hoi An
It is 130 km, but the drive is one of the most beautiful in Vietnam. Scheduled buses usually take the Hải Vân tunnel. The pass above it — a switchback road with views over mountains and sea — is for bikes and tours.
| Transport | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bus (Sinh Tourist, Hanh Cafe) | 100,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6) | 3.5–4 h |
| GrabCar | ~800,000 VND (~$32) | 2.5 h |
| Motorbike rental | 150,000 VND/day (~$6) | 3–4 h |
Nha Trang → Hoi An
A sleeper bus is from 300,000 VND (~$12) and takes 10–12 hours — narrow berths, air-con on full. A flight via Cam Ranh to Da Nang is from 700,000 VND (~$28), one hour plus the transfer. Faster and far more comfortable.
Saigon and Hanoi → Hoi An
From either city, fly to Da Nang in 1–1.5 hours, from 600,000 VND (~$24). Vietnam Airlines and VietJet run the route. Then take an airport transfer (see above).
From Hanoi there is also the train — 15–17 hours in a sleeper berth; fares by class are in the Reunification Express guide. The coastal stretch is one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.
Getting around Hoi An itself
Hoi An is a town built for bicycles: flat, compact, with a pedestrian core. Forget taxis — grab a bike.
The bicycle is Hoi An's main transport
Rental: 25,000–50,000 VND a day (~$1–2). Many hotels hand you a bike for free — ask at reception. Rental shops line every street.
- Old Town → An Bang Beach: 15 minutes.
- Old Town → Trà Quế village: 15 minutes.
- Old Town → Cẩm Thanh (the coconut forest): 15 minutes.
- Rice paddies, pottery and carpentry villages — all within a 5 km radius.
Parking is free everywhere, and a lock usually comes with the bike.
Motorbike
Rental: 130,000–200,000 VND a day (~$5–8). Automatic scooters are the standard. A helmet is compulsory.
A bike makes sense if you plan to head out of town: the Marble Mountains (20 km), Mỹ Sơn (40 km), the Hải Vân Pass (80 km). Don't fancy riding? For the My Son sanctuary it is easier to take a tour or a round-trip GrabCar, and bus 02 drops you at the Marble Mountains on the way.
Grab and taxis
Grab works in Hoi An, but with fewer drivers than the big cities, and GrabBike moto-taxis are thin on the ground — don't count on them the way you would in Da Nang or Saigon. In practice you will mostly get a GrabCar, which is the better choice with luggage anyway. At peak times reckon on a 10–15 minute wait.
| Route | Price |
|---|---|
| Old Town → An Bang Beach | 20,000–30,000 VND (~$0.80–1.20) |
| Old Town → bus station | 15,000 VND (~$0.60) |
| Old Town → VinWonders | ~130,000 VND (~$5) |
Regular taxis (Mai Linh, Vinasun) cost 10–20% more than Grab.
Electric cars and boats
Electric cars run set routes inside the Old Town and out to An Bang Beach. Fare: 10,000–20,000 VND (~$0.40–0.80). Handy for older travellers and families with kids.
Boats cross the Thu Bồn river for 5,000 VND (~$0.20). A river ride is 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4) for 30 minutes. From Cửa Đại pier, speedboats run out to the Cham Islands. In the rainy season (October–December) sailings are often cancelled when the swell picks up — check the forecast the night before.
On foot
You can walk the whole Old Town in about two hours. It is compact — three streets along the river, three crossing them. In the evening it turns car-free, the lanterns light up and everyone is on foot.
Common transport mistakes in Hoi An
1. Taking an airport taxi without knowing the price. Airport drivers without a meter quote 600,000–800,000 VND for a ride that costs 300,000–400,000 on Grab, or about 470,000 on the meter. Always check the app first.
2. Renting a motorbike with no experience. Vietnamese traffic is not the place to learn. Start with a bicycle and get used to the local rules (there are none, and that is the rule).
3. Planning to ride into the Old Town in the evening. Riding in is banned during pedestrian hours. Leave the bike at a lot by the entrance.
4. Not downloading Grab before you land. Without data you can't install the app at the airport. Download it in advance, and set up a SIM or eSIM so Grab works the moment you arrive.
5. Booking a transfer through the hotel travel desk. Often two to three times the Grab price. The exception is group shuttles to Hue, which are cheaper that way.
For the seasons and when to visit, see our guide to Hoi An's weather and best time to go.
FAQ
Da Nang International Airport (code DAD), 30 km to the north. Hoi An has no airport of its own. The one direct bus is 01SB at ~$4.60; changing in the city costs less.
A GrabCar is 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) for a 4-seat car. The price is fixed in the app. Pay cash or by card. The drive is 30–45 minutes.
Easily. The town is compact — a bicycle and your feet are enough. The beach is a 15-minute ride, and so are the villages. You only need a bike for out-of-town trips (Mỹ Sơn, the Marble Mountains).
A Sinh Tourist or Hanh Cafe bus is ~$4–6 and takes 3.5–4 hours, usually through the Hải Vân tunnel. The pass itself is for bikes and tours: rent a motorbike — one of the best rides in Vietnam.
Yes, but not as well as in Da Nang. Fewer drivers, and a 10–15 minute wait at peak hours. GrabBike moto-taxis are scarce here, so plan on a GrabCar for short hops around town.
My Son (40 km) is an hour by rented motorbike, a round-trip GrabCar with waiting time (~700,000 VND), or a guided tour. The Cham Islands run by speedboat from Cửa Đại pier in the dry season; sailings are often cancelled in the rainy months when the swell is up. What all of it costs is in Hoi An prices.
Many hotels lend them for free — boutique hotels and guesthouses especially. If not, street rental is ~$1–2 a day.
- Guide
Hoi An Reviews 2026: Is the Old Town Worth Visiting?
Honest Hoi An reviews: what travellers love and criticise, how many days you need and who it suits — with real quotes and a clear verdict.Hoi An Reviews 2026: Is the Old Town Worth Visiting? - Guide
My Son Sanctuary 2026: Cham Ruins Near Hoi An
My Son guide: the UNESCO Champa temple ruins near Hoi An — history, what to see, how to visit from Hoi An or Da Nang, tickets and tips.My Son Sanctuary 2026: Cham Ruins Near Hoi An - Guide
Things to Do in Hoi An at Night: Shows, Bars & Lanterns
What to do in Hoi An after sightseeing: the Memories show, VinWonders, the night market, riverside bars, lantern boats and family picks.Things to Do in Hoi An at Night: Shows, Bars & Lanterns
