Hanoi to Hoi An Vietnam: Transport Guide
Hoi An is one of those places I never get tired of coming back to. I love the yellow streets, lantern-lit evenings, little cafés, and how quickly you can escape the busy center for rice fields or the beach.
Getting there from Hanoi takes a bit of planning because the two cities are a long way apart. There are a few good ways to travel south, though, and each gives you a completely different kind of journey.
Some make the trip part of the adventure, while others get you from Hanoi to Hoi An with as little fuss as possible. Here’s how I’d compare them.
Hanoi to Hoi An overview
| Transport | Travel time | Good to know | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight + transfer | 4–5 hours overall | Fastest way to reach Hoi An | Check flights |
| Overnight train + transfer | 16–18 hours | Sleep on the way and arrive via Da Nang | Check train tickets |
| Sleeper or cabin bus | 16–20 hours | Direct overnight journey to Hoi An | Check sleeper buses |
One thing to know before you book
Hoi An doesn’t have its own airport or railway station. Flights and trains bring you to Da Nang, then you finish the journey to Hoi An by road.
That sounds like an extra hassle, but the two cities are close enough that the final transfer is pretty easy. A direct sleeper bus skips Da Nang altogether, which gives you another option if you’d rather stay on one vehicle.
Book transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An →
Flying from Hanoi to Hoi An via Da Nang
Flying from Hanoi to Da Nang is easily the quickest way to travel. The flight takes around an hour and a half, and then you can take a car from Da Nang to Hoi An.
I’d choose this when I only had a few days in central Vietnam. Losing most of a day to a train or bus doesn’t feel worth it when I could already be wandering around the Ancient Town by afternoon.
Check Hanoi to Da Nang flights →
Getting from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An
Once you land in Da Nang, Hoi An is about another 30 km away. Private transfers, taxis, Grab, and shared shuttles all make the final leg fairly simple.
After a flight, I like having the next part already sorted. Walking out of arrivals, finding the driver, and heading straight to Hoi An means the trip feels almost finished as soon as you land.
Book your Da Nang Airport to Hoi An transfer →
If you’re spending some time in Da Nang first, my Da Nang to Hoi An transport guide covers the journey separately.
Hanoi to Hoi An by overnight train
The train takes much longer, but I’d choose it when I wanted the journey to feel like part of my Vietnam trip.
You leave Hanoi, spend the night traveling south, and wake up much closer to the coast. The train stops in Da Nang, so you’ll still have the short road journey to Hoi An.
For a trip this long, I’d definitely want a sleeper rather than a seat.
Which sleeper to choose?
A 4-berth soft sleeper is my favorite for overnight train journeys in Vietnam. There are fewer people in the cabin, you get a proper bed, and it feels much easier to settle in for the night.
The 6-berth cabins are fine too if you don’t mind sharing with a few more people. I’d only choose a soft seat if I was traveling during the day and actually wanted to watch the scenery go by.
What is the journey like?
I never board an overnight train expecting eight perfect hours of sleep. There’s movement, station noise, and the occasional person climbing into the cabin in the middle of the night.
But waking up somewhere completely different is still one of my favorite parts of train travel in Vietnam. I usually bring snacks, water, earplugs, and something warm, then settle in and see how much sleep I manage.
My Vietnam train travel guide has more tips if this is your first sleeper journey.
Check Hanoi to Da Nang train tickets →
Hanoi to Hoi An by sleeper bus
The direct bus is appealing for one very simple reason: you don’t have to change in Da Nang.
You board in Hanoi, spend the night on the road, and eventually arrive in Hoi An. If you’re happy sleeping on buses, that makes the journey wonderfully straightforward.
The newer cabin-style buses make this route much more appealing to me than the traditional sleeper coaches. Having your own little space feels much nicer when you know you’ll be there for most of the night.
Cabin bus or regular sleeper?
I’d go for the cabin bus on such a long journey. You get a little more privacy, and I find it easier to switch off when I’m not surrounded by a whole row of other passengers.
Traditional sleeper buses still work well if you’re not fussed about the extra space. If you’re tall, have a look at vehicle photos before you book because some of the beds can feel surprisingly snug.
And if your bus leaves from around Hanoi Old Quarter, departure day becomes very easy. There’s something nice about having dinner, collecting your bag, and starting the journey without first crossing half of Hanoi.
Check Hanoi to Hoi An sleeper buses →
Flight, overnight train or sleeper bus?
I’d choose the flight when time mattered most. Hoi An is somewhere I want to actually spend time, so on a shorter trip I’d rather arrive quickly and start enjoying it.
The train wins when I have a more relaxed itinerary. I like the extra space, the proper sleeper berth, and that little feeling of adventure you get from waking up in a different part of the country.
A cabin bus makes the most sense when you want the convenience of a direct overnight journey. No airport and no change in Da Nang can be very appealing when all you really want is to wake up in Hoi An.
Once you arrive in Hoi An
This is where I’d slow everything down.
I love wandering through Hoi An Ancient Town without much of a plan, especially later in the afternoon when the light starts changing and the lanterns come on. Then another day can be completely different, cycling through the rice fields or heading out to An Bang Beach.
And definitely leave some room for food. Hoi An is one of those places where lunch has a habit of turning into another snack, then coffee, then suddenly you’re planning where to eat dinner.
My 3-day Hoi An itinerary works nicely if you’re still deciding how long to stay.
Check Hoi An tours and activities →
Where to stay in Hoi An
I like staying just outside the busiest part of the Ancient Town, where you can still walk in for dinner but come back to somewhere a little calmer at night.
For a polished beach stay, Boutique Hoi An Resort is one I’d happily book. You’re right by An Bang Beach, with a lovely pool and an easy trip into the Old Town when you want the lanterns and evening buzz.
If you want to stay closer to the historic center, Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa is a great pick. I like that you get a proper resort feel while still being close enough to wander into town without turning every outing into a journey.
And for something more peaceful, Anantara Hoi An Resort has a beautiful riverside setting that feels made for slower mornings. It’s still close to the Ancient Town, so you get that relaxed atmosphere without feeling cut off.
Heading back to Hanoi or continuing your trip
You can make the same journey north by flight, train, or sleeper bus, but I wouldn’t automatically use the same transport twice. Sometimes I’m happy taking the overnight train one way and flying back when I’m ready for an easier travel day.
But Hoi An also fits beautifully into a longer central Vietnam trip, so there may be no reason to return to Hanoi at all. Da Nang is right next door, while Hue makes a natural next stop if you’re continuing north or south through the country.
