Are you planning to visit Hoi An from Hanoi? Here’s our short guide on how to get from Hanoi to Hoi An.

If you want to read about other amazing places to visit in Vietnam, check out our detailed guide here.

Where is Hoi An?

Hoi An is a city in central Vietnam. It is around 30 km from Da Nang and around 120 km from Hue. Hoi An is a popular stop in central Vietnam, between Hanoi to the North and Ho Chi Minh City to the South.

You can read more about places to visit in central Vietnam here.

How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An

The distance between Hanoi and Hue is around 810km With good traffic, this is around a 14 to 15 hour drive.

We did not hire a car in Vietnam and we wouldn’t necessarily recommend driving. The public transport in Vietnam is excellent and driving conditions are a little chaotic. It may be better to leave the driving to the professionals in Vietnam!

How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An by bus

There are a few different bus options running from Hanoi to Hoi An. The buses are operated by a couple of companies and tend to run once a day. All the services are overnight.

Brace yourself if you plan to take the bus from Hanoi to Hoi An. Most journeys are expected to take between 16 hours (on a very good day) and 18 hours. Conditions on board are a little cramped. The buses do have reclining seats, but they are not very comfortable for anyone tall or on the larger side. You may want to look into different options if this does not suit you.

If you’re up for the bus from Hanoi to Hoi An – you can book on the link below. Prices are around $20 to $30.

How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An by train

There is no train station in Hoi An, therefore there are no direct trains from Hanoi to Hoi An. However, Da Nang, a neighbouring city to Hoi An, has a train station. You can take a direct train from Hanoi to Da Nang and then a bus or taxi from there to Hoi An. This is a good option if you prefer the comfort of the train over a bus, but don’t want to fly on an airplane.

The tourist train, run by aptly named Lotus Trains, runs once a day at 20:00. This in overnight service that takes around 16 hours. So you won’t arrive into Hoi An until midday the next day. It costs around $70 for a bed in a shared sleeping birth, with four beds in total.

What is public transport in Vietnam like?

You can find out more about transport in Vietnam in our article here. This guide will provide details about the conditions on public transport with more detail about what buses and trains are like in Vietnam.

How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An by private transfer

At time of writing, I could not find any private transfer options between Hanoi and Hoi An. This is probably because it is a long journey that would not be lucrative for drivers.

This may change in the future, we recommend checking with Bookaway or Getyourguide. You could also ask at your hotel in Hanoi and they may be able to arrange something privately.

How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An by airplane

Another option is to take a flight from Hanoi to Hoi An. As Hoi An is quite small, it does not have it’s own airport. But, you there is an airport in Da Nang that is around a 45 minute drive from Hoi An, making it an easy hop in a taxi.

Flights from Hanoi to Da Nang take around 1 hour 15 minutes and cost as little as $45 with Bamboo Airlines.

What to do in Hoi An

Hoi An is one of our favourite places in Vietnam. It’s a stunning and romantic city for a start. But we also love it because there’s so much to do. From cooking classes and exploring markets, to boat tours and lantern making courses. Plus, there’s a theatre, fabulous food and great night life.

We’ve written a full guide to visiting Hoi An, including what to do in Hoi An here.

If you want to book some activities or tours in and around Hoi An in advance, we’ve selected a few options below with the tour booking agent Viator. Click the link for more information and to check availability for your stay.

Where to stay in Hoi An

Hoi An is a relatively small place to visit. You can get around easily on foot or on bicycle. Indeed, cycling is a really popular way to explore Hoi An. This means that you can choose to stay centrally in Hoi An, or pick a slightly cheaper accommodation option a little distance from the centre, or even on one of the peninsulas.

If you’re ready to book accommodation – check out our recommendations here.

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