How to Get From Da Nang to Hoi An (Hint: Use the Grab App!)

There are a few different ways to get from Da Nang to Hoi An. I actually just rode my motorbike down to Hoi An from Da Nang yesterday. The ride is a little over 30 minutes. I’ve done this trip dozens of times.

Below, I explain the easiest and most convenient ways to get from Da Nang to Hoi An, including using the Grab app, airport transfers, and scooter rentals.

Quick FYI: the local buses are an option, but I skip these because I personally find other ways easier, more convenient, and faster. Currently, the Route 02 bus goes from Da Nang to Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An. The price is about 35.000 VND, and the ride will take over 1 hour. Here’s the official site.

Before booking your trip to central Vietnam, see the best time to visit Da Nang and Hoi An. Here’s how to get your SIM card for Vietnam.

Use the Grab App

The best way to think about the Grab app is that it’s the Uber of Vietnam. It’s also probably the most used app for traveling in Vietnam. I live here, and I use it every day. Here’s my complete guide on using the Grab app. You can download the Grab app here.

Inside the Grab app, you can book moto-taxis (GrabBike), regular taxis (GrabTaxi), private cars (GrabCar), order food delivery, groceries, medicine, and more.

You can pay entirely by cash or add your credit card to the app.

If you’re going from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An, you can use the Grab app from inside the airport, then go outside the arrivals area and meet your driver.

If you’re elsewhere in the city or staying in Da Nang for a few days, you can still use the Grab app. Use it from anywhere in Da Nang to get to Hoi An.

A GrabCar ride costs under 325.000 VND (for a standard car) from My Khe Beach in Da Nang to Hoi An, and it costs 350.000 VND from the Da Nang International Airport to Hoi An. These prices will fluctuate based on vehicle size and how busy the app is.

With the Grab app, you’ll need to book your taxi on the ground here, which means you’ll need Wi-Fi or a SIM card. You can use Klook to order your physical SIM card before you arrive. Note your airport of arrival.

If your phone is eSIM compatible (check here or here) and carrier-unlocked (check here), I highly recommend Airalo. I’ve used the app and their service before. I thought it was very smooth and easy. The app walks you through the entire setup process.

Pre-Book an Airport Transfer

If you’re visiting Da Nang or Hoi An, you’ll likely fly into Da Nang International Airport (DAD). The airport is in a very convenient area of Da Nang’s city side, about 15 minutes from the beach.

Hoi An, however, is about 45 minutes south. Pre-arranging an airport transfer is the easiest way to get from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An. You’ll be able to make the arrangements now, before your flight, and avoid having to deal with random taxi drivers outside the arrival area.

Here are some test bookings I made to the Allegro Hoi An (see on Agoda / Booking) near Old Town. This is a great hotel and location. See more of my Hoi An hotel picks here.

The transfer is through Klook, an all-in-one travel platform that offers airport transfer booking, tours and activities, hotels, and SIM cards, among other services.

At the time of writing, a one-way trip to Hoi An is under $12 USD for a four-seater like a Toyota Altis or Hyundai Genesis (or similar) and under $15 USD for a seven-seater like a Toyota Fortuner or Toyota Innova (or similar). You can also book a van or bus for larger groups.

The price is even lower if you book a shared shuttle.

Renting and Riding a Scooter

Daily scooter and motorbike rentals cost between 100.000 VND and 300.000 VND per day, depending on the bike. Sport bikes are more expensive. There are a lot of engine sizes and brands to choose from — automatic, semi, and manual. Here’s my guide to renting scooters in Vietnam.

The Honda Air Blade is a great, reliable automatic bike. For larger folks, you want something like a Honda PCX (automatic). In my photo, that’s a Honda PCX 150. This is also a nice automatic bike.

Here’s another shot of my bike across from Hoi An Old Town.

I rented from Quang Nga Motorbike Rental in the My An area of Da Nang for almost two years. View their bikes and rental prices here. Here is their Facebook page.

Technically, you need a license to drive any motorbike over 50cc in Vietnam. This is usually an A1 or A2 license. However, motorbike rental companies rarely enforce this on travelers. But the police can stop you. This is usually done through random checkpoints.

If you get stopped by the police and don’t have a valid license, you’ll likely need to pay a cash fine on the spot. Otherwise, they can impound the motorbike. The usual “fee” is anywhere from 500.000 to 1.000.000 VND. They’ll let you go after.

Worse, driving without a valid license will likely void your health or travel insurance if you get in an accident. Furthermore, you could find yourself in big trouble if you get into a serious accident with a local and you’re driving without a license.

Having said all of that, riding scooters without a license is very common for tourists in Vietnam. But do so at your own risk.

The good news is that the motorbike trip from Da Nang to Hoi An is easy, and there’s hardly ever traffic. It’s a straight shot of 30 to 40 minutes, using one of two routes. A road south along the beach will take you all the way there, and another road more inland will, too. I have done both dozens of times.

View the directions from Da Nang to Hoi An here.

If you take the road along the beach, you can cut through the rice fields south into Hoi An along Hai Ba Trung Street. It’s beautiful, and I would recommend this route if you decide to ride a scooter to Hoi An.

Here I am on Hai Ba Trung Street on my scooter. This road goes from An Bang Beach directly into Hoi An.

This beachside road starts as Vo Nguyen Giap in Da Nang, then changes to Truong Sa, and finally to Lac Long Quan, closer to Hoi An. Take this, then cut through the rice fields at Hai Ba Trung across from An Bang Beach in Hoi An.

If you have any questions, ask them in my Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hue travel planning group on Facebook.