Ho Chi Minh City To Da Nang: 5 Ways To Travel - 2023 Travel Guide

Da Nang is an educational, commercial, and tourist city in Vietnam. Situated in the central part of Vietnam, it has long been the most important and the largest city of the region. In addition, Da Nang is an ideal place for traveling for its   attractions, some of which are Ba Na Hills, Son Tra Peninsula, beautiful beaches and bridges, as well as for the several famous tourist sites nearby (Imperial City of Hue, Hoi An Ancient Town, the My Son ruins).

The distance between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang is 900 kilometers by land. In recent years, tourists coming to Vietnam tend to   travel from Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam’s largest city - to Da Nang thanks to the modern and convenient means of transport.

This article will provide you 5 ways to travel to Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. Hope you will find it helpful for your upcoming trip.

I. Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by plane - the fastest way

1. How to book a flight ticket from Ho Chi Minh City from Da Nang?

The most popular and fastest way to book flight tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang is purchasing on the Internet. A typical ticket costs from VND 1,000,000 to VND 3,000,000, depending on different airlines and periods  . Each flight will take you 1 - 1.5 hours.

All about Da Nang, Vietnam: https://journeyonair.com/da-nang-vietnam

There are 3 airlines in Vietnam: Vietnam Airline, Jetstar, and Vietjet. Among them, Vietnam Airline is the most expensive one, but it is also highly recommended for   good services.

In Vietnam, Traveloka is the most common website to book flight tickets for its cheaper price and the logical arrangement. But it is alright if you book directly on the airlines’ websites.

2. Contact information of the airport in Ho Chi Minh City

Tan Son Nhat Airport

Address: Truong Son Street, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Contact number: (+84)28 3848 5634

Open hour: 24/7

3. Advantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by plane

Traveling by plane is such a smart choice to travel because it is time-saving, which takes nearly ten-fold faster than traveling by other vehicles. Also, the services of the airlines are convenient: soft seats, prepared meals, and snacks, etc, which are to bring you a stress-free flight.

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

4. Disadvantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by plane

Despite the convenience of this choice, there are some downsides. The weather plays an important role when you travel by plane. Passengers may find it uncomfortable flying when it is cloudy and rainy, or sometimes the cancellation occurs due to storms. A common situation of some of Vietnam’s airlines that may get on travelers’ nerves is delaying. You have to wait for a long time, which leads to undesirable lateness on your personal scheduled events and commitments.

5. Our recommendations when you travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by plane

Firstly, try to arrive at the airport 1.5-2 hours before the departure time of the flights because you have to check-in before boarding the plane. Secondly, check your luggage carefully at home in case you will have to pay the extra money if it weighs more than 7kg. Also, you should bring something to entertain during the flight such as books or mp3 players.

II. Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by plane - the safest choice

1. How to book train tickets from Ho Chi Minh from Danang?

Normally, there are 2 most popular ways to get a train ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. The first one is purchasing the tickets directly at any railway station nationwide. The other way is booking e-tickets on the website of Vietnamese railway dsvn.vn, which is more convenient than the first one because you can do it anywhere and anytime. But in whichever way, you have to provide your card ID or passport number. There are different levels of price due to when you travel, type of seat, seat position, and type of passenger.

Read more: How to get to Da Nang, Vietnam

2. Contact information of the main railway station in Ho Chi Minh City

Sai Gon Railway Station

Address: 1 Nguyen Thong Street, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Contact number: N/A

Open hour: 24/7

3. Advantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by train

First, this means of transport is considered as the safest for tourists. It is also one of the cheapest ways to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. Hence, it is suitable for people whose budget is not very great and  doesn’t want to spend too much money on transport. What is more, traveling by train gives you the chance to do sightseeing because there is a lot of sceneries along the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang.

4. Disadvantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by train

Despite the benefits provided above, there are some drawbacks to the train. It is time-consuming because it often takes you 13-16 hours on the whole, which can lead to tiredness and inconvenience for those taking the seat tickets. Besides, this is not a suitable option for those who need much private space.

5. Our recommendations when you travel from Ho Chi Minh to Danang by train

First, check the information carefully before buying a boarding pass, in case you buy a wrong ticket or get on the wrong train, which is really embarrassing. Second, you should arrive at the station at least 15 minutes before departure time, also watch out the luggage and be aware of the arrival station. We recommend you   prepare something to entertain (books, mp3 players,...), as well as snacks and a U pillow if you have a more comfortable journey.

III. Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by sleeping bus/coach - the cheapest way

1. How to book sleeping bus/coach tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang?

Basically there are 2 ways to get a bus ticket from Ho Chi Minh to Hoi An. The first one is buying the tickets directly from bus stations or bus companies. The other one is purchasing through the company's phone number or website and give them your contact information such as name, seat priority, address (in case some buses provide the pickup services). The price may vary, due to different bus brands, but it should cost VND 400,000 on average. A typical trip by sleeping bus/coach from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang often takes tourists 18 - 20 hours.

2. Contact information of bus companies in Ho Chi Minh City

Here is the information about some bus companies in Ho Chi Minh City:

3. Advantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by sleeping bus/coach

Traveling by sleeping bus/coach is a budget-friendly way because it only costs you about VND 400,000 on average, which is much cheaper than traveling by other means of transport. Especially, you will have the opportunity to do sightseeing along the way because of the scenic views outside.

4. Disadvantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by shuttle bus/coach

Traveling by sleeping bus/coach still has some downsides. First, like the train, going by bus is not a time-saving way because it takes you 19-20 hours to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, which makes you tired after such a long trip. this may not be your cup of tea if you prefer a comfortable, relaxing and more private means of transportation because the service and space of the sleeping bus/coach are not so good as other private options and it causes motion sickness. Some people may  not find it private with the locals when traveling by coach. 

5. Our recommendations when you travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by shuttle bus/coach

First, check the time and the name of the bus carefully, make sure you will not get on the wrong bus. Second, be punctual, turn up at the station at least 15 minutes before departure time. By the way, watch out your luggage and be aware of the arrival station during the journey because you may over-sleep and cannot hear the notice of the driver. Because traveling by sleeping bus/coach is somehow boring, you should prepare something to entertain (books, mp3 players,..) and snacks (in case you may get hungry)and a U pillow if you take the coach.

IV. Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by private car/taxi -  the private way

1. How to rent a car/taxi in Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh is the biggest city in Vietnam, so it is not too difficult to find a car rental store. You can go to the shop to directly deal with the owner. There are available car rental services in almost all districts. Another way is contacting the shops through its phone number/website. By the way, you have to give them your information. The price may vary, depending on the kind of car and the period  when you travel. The price for a 4-seat and 7-seat and car and a 16-seater is VND 10,000,000, VND 11,000,000 and VND 14,000,000 respectively.

2. Contact information of car rental stores in Ho Chi Minh City

Here is the contact information of some car rental stores in Ho Chi Minh City:

3. Advantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by private car

Here come some merits when you travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by private car/taxi. Privacy and convenience are the reasons why people choose private cars and taxi as their means of transport. When going with a group of friends or family, it is recommended to choose these vehicles because you will have the space talking with them or taking a rest without strangers' disturbance. Plus, you can arrange with the drivers to travel another route or stop along the way to pay a visit to some sites along the way, thanks to the flexibility of this vehicle. By the way, some drivers know English and they can understand what you mean; therefore, do not be worried about the language barriers during the trip.

4. Disadvantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by private car

The first disadvantage of traveling by private car is the high fee it involves, which is only suitable for those whose traveling budget is rather great or travel in a team. also , despite its flexibility, it is still time-consuming when taking you 16-18 hours if there are at least 2 drivers. In case there is only a driver, you need more time because it is impossible to drive a car continually from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang in just 1 day. This option is also not a smart selection for those who suffer from motion sickness.

5. Our recommendations when you travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by private car

First, you need to discuss carefully with the shop owner about the rental service and make sure the price is not too much higher than the amount mentioned above. Importantly, remember to take the contact information or a business card of the rental shop in case you get in an emergency and need their help. Also, If you are not in a good health condition or usually suffer from motion sickness, take medicine before setting off at least 30 minutes. And finally, tell the drivers where you want to visit on the way before setting off so that they may need some preparation.

V. Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by motorbike - the venturous way

1. How to rent a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City?

It is rather easy to hire a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City. If you have already had the information about the rental shop, go there for more direct discussion with the shop owners and have the chance to check the bike carefully. Another convenient way is paying them the extra fee, along with your contact information and then they will bring the motorbike to your place.

As usual, there are some levels of rental, which is dependent on different types of bike. You should choose the one that is most suitable for a long ride and you can easily handle it. The average price for renting is VND 180,000/bike/day.

2. Contact information of the motorbike rental stores in Ho Chi Minh City

Here is the information about some rental stores in Ho Chi Minh City:

3. Advantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by motorbike

 biking outperforms other options in the aspect of flexibility because you can enjoy the perfect view of the amazing things around. Moreover, you can stop on the way to do sightseeing, take a rest and take photos. By the way, traveling by motorbike is an effective way to run away from the busy daily life. If you love adventures, whether you go with friends or on your own, you will find it worthwhile choosing this way.

4. Disadvantages of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by motorbike

Because the distance between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang is   long and the route is sometimes hard to drive, even if you choose to go in the National Highway 1, thus, it is fairly dangerous to travel by motorbike. Besides, getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang may be time-consuming and tired because you cannot finish the journey in just one day, hence you have to think of the accommodation, which may make the travel plan more complicated. It is highly recommended for you to divide the trip into 3 days, but by the way, you have to think of where to stay. One more thing should be considered is the weather. The bad condition of the weather can prevent you from finishing the way as expected.

5. Our recommendations when you travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by motorbike

If this is the first time you have been to Vietnam and you did not ride a motorbike so often before, we would not think you should choose this option because of its danger. But you are skillful enough for this kind of vehicle, traveling by motorbike will be an unforgettable experience.

We suggest that you should research carefully in order to find the most suitable bike and have a safe journey. Normally, there are 2 common kinds of motorbikes: manual and automatic transmission. The manual one is more suitable to travel in case of a long route because you can control the torque manually, which helps you to go uphill easier. However, automatic bikes are easier to ride because all you have to do is just turning the throttle and then it will run. But still, we highly recommend that you should choose the manual one for this long route.

Another thing you should bear in mind is checking the bike carefully before starting the trip. Make sure the functions: brakes, tires, horns, light and gear pedal are in good condition. And also, don’t forget to get the store’s information in case you need help on the way. Last but not least, do   careful research on the route and prepare a map in case you may get lost and there are some problems with your phone.

VI. How to choose a suitable vehicle from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang

1. What is your budget?

Budget is one of the first and foremost factors that decide which vehicle you will use to travel. If you don’t want to spend too much on transportation, an appropriate choice is taking the train and sleeping bus/coach because they don’t cost you much. Otherwise, if your budget is greater, you should choose the plane or private means of transportation.

2. Who do you go with?

The way you travel is also dependent on the number of your travel-mates and who they are. If you intend to take an individual trip, public transport and motorbike rental are highly recommended. But if you travel with friends, almost every option is suitable and makes a lot of fun. In case there are children on your team, choosing a comfortable means of transportation is necessary. The plane and private cars are the most suitable choices for them to have a good trip.

3. When do you have your trip?

Our advice is you should not travel by motorbike in the rainy season due to the long route. But if you prefer the other choices, it is ok for you to travel by other means of transportation because they are almost suitable in all seasons, but think carefully before deciding what to choose.

4. How much luggage do you bring along?

If you intend to bring much luggage, vehicles such as private cars, and the public ones are better choices than others because they contain much space to carry your luggage. But if you want to travel light, don’t worry because every vehicle suits your choice.

VII. BRIEF SUMMARY OF ALL VEHICLES

Transportation has an impact on the success of your trip; therefore, with the 5 means of transport mentioned above, we hope you will make up your mind carefully which to choose to have unforgettable memories. Thank you for reading this article. Wish you a good time in Da Nang. Bon, voyage!