Danang, locally referred to as Vietnam’s most livable city  is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam, as well as being the largest city in the region. This city is located between three World Heritage Site: Hue ancient capital, Hoi An ancient town, My Son relics. Danang is also the tourism city with the attraction landscape as Ngu Hanh Son mountain, Ba Na Hills, Son Tra peninsula, Hai Van Pass, My Khe beach – one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. Being the first province of the South Central area along the length of Vietnam, Danang is about 759 kilometers south of Hanoi and about 960 kilometers  north of Ho Chi Minh City. If you live in Hanoi or you have transit international flight from the other countries to the capital of Vietnam, How to travel from Hanoi to Danang? Therefore, for anyone who is still confused about which means of transports to choose, this article will give you all the information that you need.

I. Hanoi to Danang by plane - the fastest and the most comfortable way

You should fly to any destination if you do not have so much time!

The distance on the air between Hanoi to Danang is 606 kilometers. The quickest way to get from Hanoi to Danang is to fly which takes you 2 hours and one-way flight costs VND 600,000 - VND 5,000,000 for commercial flight or will be more expensive if you book a charter flight with a seaplane. Currently, in Vietnam, 3 commercial airlines are operating  in Hanoi to Danang with approximately 20 direct flights every day from Hanoi to Danang. There are Vietnamairlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar operated in Danang to Hanoi with a flexible itinerary. Moreover, you can access some websites to compare and save on a wide choice of cheap flights online:Traveloka; Cheap flights; Skyscanner. There will be plenty of flights for you which match with your budget

Read more: 4 ways to getting around in Da Nang City, Vietnam

As I mention above, if you travel with your family, want to get a private flight and enjoy the view of Vietnam from the top, you can choose Seaplane. You can contact via Haiau Aviation - be considered as one of the most unique service providers in Vietnam tourism. Due to having headquarter in Hanoi, it is easy for you to request a charter flight from Hanoi to  Danang but you have to make your plan as soon as possible. This is a specific airline, now they only have three Cessna Grand Caravan 208B – EX amphibian aircrafts to offer the most incredible view of all Vietnam’s heritage and sightseeing to the local and international tourists. The limited quantity of aircraft  will make Haiau Aviation can not confirm if you send your requirement at last minutes. For more information, you can access their website Haiau Aviation

Is travelling by plane completely advantages?

If you want to book the cheap price for your journey, you will have to plan for months but instead , you have more time for your favorite destination. This is the most expensive form of transport. A minority of people can afford a trip by plane while a journey on land or by sea is much cheaper. Moreover, the plane is also elective passengers, unless passengers have strong health, they will be airsickness. And formalities and procedures are complicated. We have to body check, custom office check and so on. Besides, to get a confirmation for a charter flight on a seaplane, you must pay a very high quotation even included return fee though you only request one-way Hanoi to Danang. You should consider your budget first.

II. Hanoi to Danang by train - enjoy the view of the most beautiful pass in the Central Vietnam

Why you should choose a train when you travel?

Every day several trains are running between the North and South of Vietnam, so it is   easy to buy a train ticket from Hanoi to Danang. With a total length of 780 kilometers railway, it takes you 16 hours to go. You should take a train because the fare is so cheap and stable, Comfortable, even luxurious, private carriages tagged onto the back of trains offer a classy way of trave ling, safe journey, simple procedure. Taking the Thong Nhat Train through Hai Van Pass, you will enjoy the sea view extremely  poetically.

Read more: Weather & Best time to travel to Da Nang, Vietnam

You can  buy tickets in advance from the
Vietnam Railways bookings site DSVN; Vietnamrailway; VR or you can also book online using the travel agency Baolau, which has an efficient
website, details seat and sleeper-berth availability, and accepts international
cards. You can reserve seats/berths on long trips 60 to 90 days in advance
(less on shorter trips). Most of the time you can book train tickets a day or
two ahead without a problem, except during peak holiday times. For sleeping
berths book a week or more before the date of departure.

You should consider: Traveling by train still has disadvantages!

Traveling by train brings you a lot of great experiences and gives you the chance  to explore the culture, life, humans of the country you come. But, compared to cars that provide the maximum flexibility, and planes that have much more time and travel alternatives, railways are not as flexible. They often have a fixed schedule that cannot be tailored for a single individual. Moreover, It depends on the budget you have and the country you are traveling in. There are super expensive and brand trains, as well as super cheap alternatives. If you choose to travel during the evening time, you will want to find the most comfortable option, especially if you are traveling for long hours on end. You must share your journey with strangers, which might not be so nice when the passenger next to you is a crying child or someone who speaks loudly on their telephone while you are trying to sleep or even you use the Toilets, bathrooms and other public areas on trains can often be dirty or non-functional. The train is the least popular option if you are not the person who has time and health because Traveling by train can take longer.

III. Hanoi to Danang by sleeping bus - best option for backpackers 

What are the advantages of the Sleeping Bus?

In all countries, buses along with public transports are the most popular and convenient ways to move from place to place. Another reason for it to become everyone’s favorite transportation is its cheap price. A coach can make your trip much more comfortable and simpler. Especially if you’re not a good map reader yet an eager traveler, a coach is really helpful. Traveling by coach will provide you a closer look at the life of local Vietnamese and all beautiful landscapes on the way.

The common route of all coaches is National Highway 1A. the journey is just about 16 hours long. The price for one-way tickets can vary from VND 250,000 - VND 500,000 depending on the coach’s quality and size. Another good thing about the coach is that you don’t get any surcharge on the weekend.

Some Coach/Bus providers information:

The process to buy a ticket from Danang to Hanoi is not too complicated. The first thing to do is choosing your departing date. After a few clicks on the website Vexere or Saodieu, you will get a fully detailed schedule of the day from all providers. The wide range of choices might overwhelm you. You should take time to consider the quality of the coach as well as the coach provider’s credibility.

What  are the disadvantages of traveling by sleeping bus?

Even traveling by sleeping bus is more comfortable, less wasting time, cheaper than the train but this is   transportation on the road. And you know, Roads are not nice straight tracks or open air and also have traffic. You can not control any dangerous issues which will happen on the road. Finally, buses, like trains or airplanes, have a route. The bus is not a taxi, so if it suddenly starts to pour rain right before your stop, you get will have to walk in it. The drive is not going to take a detour to your ideal drop-off location. Weather is the weather.

A useful tip for you is reading the reviews of previous travelers and seeing the provider’s popularity. Especially, you can have more trust in the providers having active licenses in local coach stations. Once you find out the suitable coach, you just need to pick up your phone, call them and make a reservation. You can also book through the website. Otherwise, you can directly go to their offices or local coach stations and buy the ticket. Booking in advance will ensure you a smooth journey and lessen the trouble

IV. Hanoi to Danang by private car/taxi - carefree and painless

Who to take a private car from Hanoi to Danang ?

If the local coach and shuttle bus can’t satisfy you, a private car/taxi can be your choice to travel from Hanoi to Danang. While private car/taxi is not really economical and also takes as much time as the local coach and shuttle bus, it will give you a carefree direct  journey and more space of privacy in return. It suits with flexible travelers who don’t like to follow any rules or schedules. This is also a good choice for a small group of friends or family. There is enough space for a lot of luggage, especially if you want to make a BBQ on the beach. In addition, everyone can sit nice and close to each other to have a chit chat or lean on each other sleeping. The private car/taxi is also ideal for a businessman who wants to work on the way without being disturbed.

How to get a private car from Hanoi?

With Driver: There are a lot of agencies or individuals providing this service promoting themselves on the internet. You can check out some  Aleka or Xedulich to book and update the price. Tell them about your requests, They may make your journey less boring if you travel alone or give you a lot of interesting facts along the way. The experienced drivers can help give you recommendations of accommodations or services to take. The price for the private car to travel from Hanoi to Danang is in such a wide range. Many factors are affecting the price of  this journey. A few to mention are the size, the brand and status of the car, if it’s one way or round trip, waiting surcharge, etc. The average price is about US$ 1000(~VND 20,000,000) for the round trip including parking fees, tolls, petrol, driver. To get the best service, you’d better ask your friends or other travelers having had experience with the private car. This will guarantee that you won’t hire a fake one that can harm or rob you.

Without a driver: The private car without a driver can be a choice for you but it’s not highly recommended. The process to hire a car is too complicated. You have to have the B1 driving license, original identity card, original household and a bike with a registration certificate (or cash instead). It means that You can rent a car but you must also rent the driver you cannot drive in Vietnam without a Vietnamese driver’s license.

Why not choose a private car  to travel from Hanoi to Danang?

Private car shares the same disadvantage with the coach and bus which is the long trip. Other than that, there are also some hidden risks. The taxi drivers may take a longer route to charge you more for example. Some other more serious ones lie in the private car without a driver. You will need to check the car and all the terms in the contract carefully because some unclear trapping terms can cost you a great amount of money. You might be charged more for damaging the car, not knowing the traffic rules. The worst scenario is you getting lost and messing up your journey. However, if you have the experience, enough budget and a detailed plan for it, driving on your own also promises so much fun.

V. Hanoi to Danang by motorbike - adventurous journey

What are the advantages of the motorbike?

Although motorbike is not convenient for the long journey, yet to the eager travelers who want an adventure and explore, it is such a great means of transport. With a motorcycle, you can be completely flexible and active with your schedule. The total time to travel from Hanoi to Danang by motorbike is about one day and a half. However, you can stop wherever you want, spend time studying local lives. You can challenge yourself with non-stop driving and feel the air blowing through your hair. The price of   gasoline is fairly cheap that you don’t mind going the round way to see more and learn more. Especially when you get to Danang from Hanoi, the feeling of achieving something will definitely satisfy you. If you don’t own a bike, it’s still possible to hire one. The process of renting a motorbike is much simpler than a car. Please note that You will need an international license with a motorcycle endorsement or you will be driving illegally.

Renting a round trip motorbike is easier than a one-way motorbike unless Rental Service Provider has many offices in all provinces in Vietnam. For Roundtrip Motorbike Rental, it is not hard to find a bike renting a store. Most of the owners can speak English fluently, so you can communicate with them easily. Once you go to the shop, you can ask to try the bike that you like. They will also give you some suggestions on  which one is suitable for your driving experience and aim.

There are many kinds of bikes available which are Honda Win, Honda Wave, Airblade and even more powerful motorbike. After having chosen the one that will accompany you, the last step of the process is giving the owner the photocopy of your passport, the deposit, and the renting fee. Some owners may ask you for the original passport. However, it’s recommended to try to make a deal with them. The deposit and the renting fee is VND 5,000,000 – VND 10,000,000 and VND 80,000 – VND 400,000/day respectively.

Some motorbike rental shops:

You will not find a motorcycle big enough for 2 bags and 2 people. The most common people driving these dangerous roads with a death wish ride a 100 or 110 honda win type motorcycle. They can be purchased for about VND 4,500,000 or more and you can resell them in Danang for half price. It is the way to rent a one-way motorbike and  almost backpacker does rent like this

What are the disadvantages of   motorbike?

There are actually many disadvantages to driving a motorbike. With a  distance of 780 kilometers, it requires you to have good health and driving skill. Otherwise, you will easily get tired and have no energy left for other activities. A bigger obstacle for you is when your bike breaks down. If you’re in the middle of the highway, the chance that you can find a store to fix it is almost zero. Another disadvantage could be the weather, especially when it rains heavily. It’s challenging to drive under the rain, followed by the chance of an accident. Therefore, using a motorbike to travel from Hanoi to Danang could be really dangerous for people having no experience. Easily getting lost is also one of the disadvantages. The messy, chaotic traffic can confuse you and lead you in the wrong direction.

Brief summary of all vehicles