Hue To Hoi An: 4 Ways To Travels - The Best Travel Guide

Hoi An, located in Quang Nam province, is one of the World’s cultural heritage. Once a major port, it now becomes a famous tourist attraction for its remained unique and delightful architecture including tottering Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples, and ancient tea warehouses. 

Hoi An is 132 km from Hue and 40 km from the center of Da Nang city. Because it has neither any airport nor train station, the only way to get there is by road. However, you can travel from Hue to Da Nang - the neighboring city by any means of transportation and then find a suitable way (bus, taxi, Grab, private car or rented motorbike) to Hoi An. Overall, there are 4 main ways to get from Hue to Hoi An and each one has its pros and cons.

I. Getting from Hue to Hoi An by train - the most popular way

Since Hoi An has no railway station, the journey has to be divided into 2 parts: getting from Hue to Da Nang by train and getting from Da Nang to Hoi An by other means of transportation. It often takes about 2.5 - 3 hours to travel from Hue to Da Nang by train and 30 - 90 minutes to get from Da Nang to Hoi An.

1. How to book a train ticket from Hue to Da Nang?

Normally, you can buy offline tickets at any railway stations in Vietnam (in Hue, the main station is located at 02 Bui Thi Xuan Street). But a more convenient and faster way is purchasing online tickets on the website of Vietnam railway dsvn.vn. The price varies, depending on time, type of seat, seat position, type of passenger

Information of trains from Hue to Da Nang:

Contact information of train in Hue: 

Hue Railway station

Address: 02 Bui Thi Xuan Street, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province

Contact number: (+84) 234 382 2175

Open hours: 24/7

2. Getting from Danang to Hoi An

After getting off the train, you have to find another way to travel to Hoi An. Travelers can choose between a private car, taxi, shuttle bus, motorbike rental or Grab to get to Hoi An. Each of these transportations has its own characteristics, so think carefully what kind of transportations is the most suitable. The transportation guide below will help you save your time and leave you stress-free when deciding how to travel.

a. Private car

You can order a private car through a car rental service in the city. It often costs VND 350,000 for a 4-seat car and VND 460,000 for a 7-seater and single trip. However, bear in mind to ask for the price before booking. But if you have already booked your stay in Hoi An, ask your accommodation if they could arrange a private pickup car for you.  It should cost almost the same price as the amount given above.

Read more: Where To Stay In Hoi An, Vietnam - Best 30 Hotels, Resorts & Homestay

Call the car service company and provide them your information, such as pickup time, location, or even the train number if you want to be picked up at the train station. 

The private car option is comfortable in case you are traveling in a group of friends or family because it is available at any time and you can arrange with the driver if you want to visit some sites along the way, but by the way, it certainly costs more than other transportations.  

Here are our recommended and trustworthy companies:

 

b. Taxi: 

Taxi is the most convenient and also considered as the easiest way to get to Hoi An from Da Nang because all you need to do is catching a taxi and getting on it without any prior arrangement most of the time. 

Occasionally, it costs around VND 11,000/km if the distance to your destination is under 10 km. But with the distance over 10 km, you can call the directory inquiries to have a discount. It often costs you around VND 350,000 to VND 400,000 to travel from the city center to Hoi An and also, it takes you around 30-45 minutes.

Make sure your driver knows where to take you to. The area of Hoi An may not be familiar with some drivers and these drivers may end up driving round and round trying to find the destination. Also, you should choose a well-known taxi brand to avoid scams.

Here are some popular taxi brands and their contact number:

 

c. Shuttle bus:

There is a direct bus line between Da Nang and Hoi An - bus no.1 - for just VND 25,000. The earliest bus starts operating at 5:30 a.m and it stops serving at 18:00 and there is 1 bus every 20 minutes. You can use Google Maps to pinpoint the nearest bus stop and the arrival time of the bus. The nearest bus stop at Da Nang railway station is at 162 Ong Ich Khiem Street, which takes only 6 minutes to walk. The ticket is purchased on the bus, but make sure to pay at the right price: VND 25,000. Although the bus is the cheapest travel option, it will take a bit longer, about 1,5 hours to get to Hoi An. This, hence, may not be a smart choice if you are tired after a long way of getting from Hue to Da Nang by train.

d. Motorbike rental

If this is your first time in Vietnam and you are not familiar with driving a motorbike, we would not recommend this option because it is fairly dangerous. But if you are skillful enough, traveling by motorbike is the most exciting option of all because of its flexibility to visit destinations along the way.

The average price for a bike rental is VND 130,000/day. You will have to leave your ID or your passport (sometimes they accept a copy) at the rental shop in order to ensure the bike’s safe return. You can go directly to the shop or pay the extra money and they will bring it to your place.  Some shop will give you a discount for a longer rental. Make sure all functions are in good condition and take the shop’s contact and address in case you need help when something unexpected happens on your way. 

Here are 7 famous motorbike rental shops in Da Nang city:

e. Grab: 

As grab is becoming increasingly popular for its convenience and cheap price, many people choose it as a way to travel. There are several kinds of Grab, each of which has different types of price and depends on different time. You have to book online through the mobile app (named “Grab”). The advantages of this option is that you will know how much it costs after entering your location and destination in the given space, as well as a lots of discounts for you.

Here is the information of some popular types of Grab:

Although Grab is recently available in Da Nang, the chance of getting your ride accepted is comparatively low compared to the options above. 

3. What are the advantages of traveling by train?

It is undeniable that traveling by train is a budget-friendly option for any tourist. Besides, since the quality of train has been enhanced day by day, it is more comfortable to travel by train, especially with those who suffer from sickness motion. More interestingly, you can have the chance doing sightseeing while the train gets over Hai Van Pass. 

4. What are the disadvantages of traveling by train?

Although traveling from Hue to Da Nang by train may have some benefits, there are some certain drawbacks. Firstly, due to the fact that Hoi An has no railway station, you have to think of not only which train to choose, but also other types of transportation to get from Da Nang to Hoi An, which is complicated and may sometimes cause tiredness when setting up the travel plan. 

5. Our recommendations when you travel by train

First and foremost, you should check the time and the train carefully when purchasing the tickets, make sure you will not buy the wrong ticket or get on the wrong train. Second, be punctual, try to arrive at the station at least 15 minutes before departure time, watch out your luggage as well as be aware of the arrival station. Also, prepare something to entertain (books, mp3 players,..) and snacks (in case you may not find the food on the train tasty) and a U pillow if you get the seat ticket. Finally, take the chance to enjoy the scenic views outside because it can make your trip more delightful.

II. Getting from Hue to Hoi An by sleeping bus/coach - a direct way to Hoi An

1. How to book a sleeping bus/coach ticket from Hue to Hoi An?

Basically, there are 2 ways to get a bus ticket from Hue to Hoi An. The first one is purchasing directly from the bus company or the bus station. The second way is booking through the company’s website/contact number and give them your information, such as name, seat priority, address (in case some buses have the pickup service). If your bus does not have the pickup service, go to the main station because all the buses stop here before departing.

Here is the contact information of Hue’s south bus station - the main bus station in Hue: 

Address: 97 An Duong Vuong Street, Hue City.

Contact number: (+84) 234 382 50 70

2. What are the advantages of a sleeping bus/coach?

There are reasons that many tourists choose sleeping bus/coach as their main transportation. Like the train, this is a budget-friendly option because it is cheap.  Moreover, these buses are air-conditioning and comfortable, since its target customer is foreigners. Most importantly, this is one of few choices that take you directly to Hoi An without any transitions, so it is time-saving when traveling by sleeping bus/coach.

3. What are the disadvantages of sleeping bus/coach?

However, if you are keen on doing sightseeing, you will be disappointed because these buses always go through Hai Van tunnel in order to save time. Therefore, traveling by bus is boring than others. The service of the sleeping bus is not so good as other private options and maybe rather disturbing to some people, especially those who suffer from motion sickness. As a result, this may not be your cup of tea if you prefer a comfortable, relaxing and more private means of transportation.

4. Contact information of bus companies in Hue

There are several bus companies for you to choose from, however, their service quality, as well as the price varies. Thus, we will give you some suggestions to pick the most suitable sleeping bus/coach for the journey.

Here is the information of some bus companies in Hue:

5. Our recommendations when you travel by sleeping bus/coach

First, check the time and the name of bus carefully, make sure you will not get on the wrong bus. Second, be punctual, try to arrive at the station at least 15 minutes before departure time. During the journey, watch out your luggage and be aware of the arrival station 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.

6. Compare sleeping bus/coach and train

III. Getting from Hue to Hoi An by car - an ideal and comfortable way

1. How to rent a car in Hue?

Hue itself is a tourist destination, so it is not too difficult to find a car rental shop. Most shops are located in some tourist areas (near the Huong river banks), such as Hung Vuong, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Chu Van An, Vo Thi Sau,... All you have to do are getting the information (address, contact number, website) of these stores and hire the cars in an offline or online way. The price varies depending on the kind of car: 4-seat car rental costs 1,600,000 VND, 7-seater 1,800,000 VND and 16-seater 2,600,000 VND

2. What are the advantages of private cars?

Privacy and convenience may be the 2 first things that appear in one’s mind when it comes to private cars. It gives you and your friends/family the private space to talk or sleep without being disturbed. By the way, some drivers know English and they can understand what you mean; therefore, don’t be worried about the language problem during the trip.

3. What are the disadvantages of private cars?

The only noteworthy downside of traveling by private car is the high involved fee. It is a rather expensive traveling in a private car. Hence, if you are planning a low-budget journey, this may not be an appropriate selection. But if your budget is greater, don’t hesitate to hire a car because it will leave you stress-free on the way to Hoi An. Last but not least, you can choose another option if you get motion sickness. 

4. Contact information of some car rental shops in Hue

Here is the information of some rental stores in Hue:

5. Our recommendations when you travel by private car

Take the contact information or business card of the rental store in case something unexpected happens. Discuss carefully with the shop owner about the rental service and make sure the hire fee is not too much, normally it should be around the amount mentioned above. And finally, tell the drivers the sites which you want to pay a visit during the way in order that they may make some preparations.

IV. Getting from Hue to Hoi An by motorbike rental - a risky but try-worthy way

1. How to rent a motorbike in Hue?

Motorbike rental service is not too difficult to find in Hue because Hue is a famous tourist destination. Many of them are available in Huong riverside area, such as Le Loi, Chu Van An, Vo Thi Sau, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hung Vuong. Don’t hesitate because the owners are friendly and wise enough to understand what you mean even they do not know English. Moreover, they always give you some suggestions and advice on which is suitable for you. 

Some rental shops offer one-way pick-up as well as drop-off services, which allows you to ride in just one direction without having to give the bike back at your starting point.  

2. What are the advantages of motorbike rental?

Biking is the best way to enjoy the nature because you will have the perfect view of the amazing things around. This option outperforms others since you can stop on the way to do sightseeing and take photos, or just take a rest if you get tired whenever you want without disturbing anyone. Moreover, traveling by motorbike is effective to run away from the daily hustle and bustle life, whether you go with friends or take an individual trip, especially with the ones who love adventure.

3. What are the disadvantages of motorbike rental?

Danger will be the first disadvantage of this transportation that appears in everyone’s mind. This is certainly because the Hai Van Pass route is rather hard to ride, though it may seem attractive for its picturesque scenery. 

Getting from Hue to Da Nang by motorbike may be time-consuming and tired. The Pass route is a bit longer than going through the tunnel (165 km), so after spending about 5 hours riding to Hoi An,  you will have no energy left to do anything. One more thing should be considered is the weather, which affects the ride directly. Because Bach Ma mountain is situated between Hue and Da Nang, there is a difference between these 2 areas’ weather. You may be able to experience the change in 2 parts of Hai Van pass: the Northern part is raining while the other is not. And watch out, the road may get slippery and dangerous when it’s raining.

4. Contact information of some motorbike rental shops in Hue

Here is some information of some motorbike rental stores in Hue:

5. Our recommendations when you travel by rented motorbike

If this is your first time in Vietnam and you are not familiar with driving a motorbike, we would not recommend this option because it is fairly dangerous. But if you are skillful enough, traveling by motorbike is the most exciting option of all because of its flexibility to visit destinations along the way. 

Our advice is choosing the suitable type of motorbike in order to have a safe and stress-free journey. There are 2 common kinds of motorbikes: manual and automatic transmission. Automatic bikes are easier to handle, all you have to do is just turning the throttle and then it will run. However, the manual one is more suitable and petrol-saving when going over Hai Van Pass because you can control the torque manually, which helps you to go uphill easier. 

By the way, check the bike carefully: brakes, tires, horns, light and gear pedal (if you want to rent a manual motorbike). Make sure that all the functions are in good condition. Don’t forget to take a photo of the shop as well as contact information in case you need help on the way. Also, do a careful research of the route before setting off because it is challenging and dangerous, even to skillful bikers. And don’t forget to take the weather forecast. Last but not least, prepare a map in case you may get lost and your phone cannot connect to the Google Maps.

6. Compare with private car

V. How to choose a suitable transportation from Hue to Hoi An?

1. What is your budget?

Budget is one of the most important factors that decide how you travel. If you intend not to spend too much money on transportation, an adequate choice is taking the train and then get to Hoi An by shuttle bus, or you can catch a sleeping bus or a coach because it doesn’t cost much. Otherwise, if your budget is greater and convenience is your priority, you should choose other options like private car.

2. Who do you go with?

The means of transportation you use depends on the number of travelers as well as who they are. If you go alone, a private car is absolutely not a good choice, but it would be really nice if that’s a family trip. Also, if you go with friends, almost every option is suitable, especially the motorbike tour.

3. When do you have your trip?

It is true to say that you can travel at any time of the year because Hoi An is still picturesque in the rain season. But each season has its characteristics that you should bear them in mind in order to decide which option to take. If you plan to take a motorbike tour, the best time of the year is from April to September because at other times, Hai Van Pass is usually covered with cloud and the road gets wet, which is dangerous to ride. Other options would be suitable in all seasons.

4. How much luggage do you bring along?

If you want to travel light, it does not matter so much how you intend to travel. But if you are to bring along a pretty much luggage, think carefully. Maybe traveling by private car, train and public transportations are better choices than going by motorbike rental.

VI. Brief summary of all vehicles

There are a variety ways to travel and each means of transportation has its own pros and cons. We think after reading this article, you will find it informative and interesting and thus can find a suitable one to travel. Whatever option you take, we all wish you an unforgettable experience with friends, family or with yourself. It wouldn’t be nicer to walk along the street, stop by the yellow Japanese-styled houses and paper flower trees and have some tofu dessert, or just simply enjoy the afternoon tea in an 80s teahouse. Now you have the necessary information, let’s set off and go exploring Hoi An!