Da Nang and Hoi An share one airport and one short stretch of coastal road between them, which makes this simpler than it looks: get the transfer right, pick Grab or a scooter for the rest, and you're set for both cities.
The only airport: Da Nang International (DAD)
Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is the gateway for this entire region — there's no airport in Hoi An itself, so every arrival, whether you're basing in Da Nang or heading straight on to Hoi An, lands here first. It handles direct international routes (Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur among them) plus domestic links to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Airport (or Da Nang) to Hoi An
It's about 28–30km, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road along a scenic coastal route.
| Option | Roughly | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Grab | ~300,000–400,000 VND | Most arrivals — upfront pricing in the app, no haggling, easy to order from the arrivals hall. |
| Metered/negotiated taxi | ~200,000–500,000 VND | A backup when Grab is scarce; agree the fare or confirm the meter before you get in. |
| Shared shuttle bus | ~130,000 VND per person | Solo travelers happy to wait for a shared departure to save over a private car. |
Figures are a 2023–2024-dated ballpark from travel-guide research, not a live fare check — confirm the current price in the Grab app before you ride.
Grab is the easiest and most transparent way to move between the two cities and around each one — you see the fare before you book, which street taxis in Vietnam don't reliably offer. Install the app before you land.
Getting around Da Nang
Da Nang is spread out enough that you'll want wheels. Grab covers it cheaply and reliably; metered taxis from established operators like Mai Linh and Vinasun are a reasonable fallback when Grab is thin on the ground.
Renting a scooter
A scooter is the classic way to do the Da Nang–Hoi An coastal drive on your own schedule, and it's cheap: roughly 80,000–150,000 VND a day for a standard 100–110cc automatic. An international driving permit is technically required under Vietnamese law — worth having before you travel, both for the legality and because travel-insurance motorbike claims can hinge on it.
Vietnamese traffic takes some adjusting to, and the coastal road has its share of trucks and buses. If you're not already comfortable on two wheels, this isn't the place to learn — Grab covers the same ground without the risk.
Inside Hoi An's Ancient Town
The Ancient Town core is built for walking, and it's genuinely motorbike-restricted at various hours of the day and evening — part of why it feels so different from Da Nang. A bicycle (roughly 20,000 VND a day to rent) is the other local standard, easy and flat, and the way most people get out to An Bang Beach or Cẩm Thanh's coconut-palm waterways without needing a car.
What to skip
Skip pre-booking a pricey private airport transfer by default — Grab does the same 45-minute run for a fraction of the cost with a fare you can see upfront. And skip renting a scooter just because it's cheap if you're not actually confident riding one: Grab plus a bike inside Hoi An covers both cities perfectly well without it.
Agoda has strong coverage of both Da Nang and Hoi An, and is worth comparing against Booking for the same property before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Da Nang airport to Hoi An?
Grab is the easiest option — about 300,000–400,000 VND for the 45-minute to one-hour, 28–30km drive, with the fare shown upfront in the app. A metered or negotiated taxi (roughly 200,000–500,000 VND) and a shared shuttle bus (around 130,000 VND per person) are the other two options; confirm current pricing live before you ride.
Do you need a scooter in Da Nang and Hoi An?
No — Grab covers both cities and the drive between them cheaply and reliably. A scooter (roughly 80,000–150,000 VND/day) is worth it if you want to do the coastal road on your own schedule and already ride confidently; an international driving permit is technically required.
Can you walk around Hoi An's Ancient Town?
Yes, and it's the best way to see it — the core is compact, walkable, and motorbike-restricted at various hours. A rental bicycle (around 20,000 VND/day) is the easy way to reach An Bang Beach or the Cẩm Thanh coconut village a little further out.
Land already connected with an eSIM instead of hunting for a SIM at the airport, and don't travel uninsured — one medical bill abroad costs many times the premium.