About the route from Dalat to Hoi An
Dalat sits high in the Central Highlands and Hoi An lies on the coast far to the northeast, around 600 kilometers apart by road. Hoi An is a small town with no airport or train station of its own, so all travel runs through Da Nang, its larger neighbor 30 kilometers up the coast. The fastest way to travel from Dalat to Hoi An is to fly to Da Nang and finish the trip by road, in a few hours in total. The overland options are far longer, better suited to travelers who want the journey to be part of the trip. There is no direct flight or train to Hoi An itself, and driving the whole way is too far to make sense as a straight transfer. Dalat, the starting point, is Vietnam’s cool mountain town, covered in our Dalat travel guide if you are still planning your time there.
Hoi An is a small, historic town on the central coast, just south of Da Nang, and for many travelers the highlight of a trip to Vietnam. Its Old Town, a former trading port of yellow shophouses and lantern-strung lanes, is closed to cars and best explored on foot or by bike, with tailor shops, riverside cafes, and a beach and rice paddies a short ride out of the center. After the cool highlands of Dalat it offers warmth, the coast, and one of the prettiest old quarters in the country. Our Hoi An travel guide covers what to see and how to plan your days.
Option 1: By flight, via Da Nang
Why choose the flight
Flying is by far the fastest and easiest way to reach Hoi An from the highlands. A short flight to Da Nang, followed by a 45-minute drive south, gets you there in a few hours instead of the twelve or more any overland route takes. For most travelers, it is the obvious choice.
How it works
Since Hoi An has no airport, you fly into Da Nang Airport, then transfer the last 30 kilometers by road. The Da Nang flight takes about 1 hour 5 minutes, run by VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines, which between them fly it roughly twice a day, both in the morning, with each airline putting on about one flight daily. Schedules can thin out in low season, so check for your dates and book ahead. Flights leave Lien Khuong Airport, about 30 kilometers south of Dalat. From Da Nang, a taxi, private transfer, or shuttle covers the short trip to Hoi An in around 45 minutes, which our guide on getting from Da Nang to Hoi An explains in full. The cheaper option is usually VietJet, from around 700,000 VND (roughly $28) with hand luggage only; Vietnam Airlines costs more, from around 1,700,000 VND (roughly $68), but includes a checked bag. Our domestic flights guide covers the rest.
Who it is for
The flight suits almost anyone, especially with limited time. As long as one of the morning departures works for you, it is far quicker than any alternative. Those who would rather travel overland, or cannot make the flight times, have two slower options below.
Option 2: The scenic route via Nha Trang and the train
Why choose it
If you would rather not fly, this is the nicer way to travel overland, and better than the long direct bus. Instead of one grueling road trip, you split the journey into two enjoyable legs: a scenic drive down to the coast at Nha Trang, then a relaxing train up to Da Nang for the short hop to Hoi An. It takes longer and involves a couple of changes, but each leg is a pleasure in its own right.
How it works
The first leg runs from Dalat down to Nha Trang, a scenic three-and-a-half-hour trip by bus or private car over the Khanh Le Pass, one of the finest mountain roads in the south, covered in our guide on getting from Dalat to Nha Trang.
From Nha Trang you take the train north to Da Nang, an overnight or daytime ride of around nine to ten hours along the coast, ideally in a sleeper berth; our Nha Trang to Da Nang guide sets out the trains and classes.
From Da Nang, it is the same short transfer south to Hoi An as above. Broken up this way, with a night in Nha Trang if you like, the trip becomes a small journey through the south rather than a slog.
Who it is for
This route suits travelers with time who would rather see the country than fly over it, and who like the idea of a scenic drive and a train ride over a long bus haul. It works especially well if Nha Trang was somewhere you wanted to visit anyway. If you just want to reach Hoi An quickly, fly instead.
Option 3: By direct bus
Why we don’t really recommend it
There is a direct bus from Dalat all the way to Hoi An, but it is a long, hard trip, and for most travelers hard to recommend. The ride takes around twelve hours, much of it overnight, on a route that is far more comfortable and interesting broken up. Given the flight and the Nha Trang route, the direct bus is really only worth it for travelers on the tightest budget who want to go in one go.
How it works
Direct buses run from Dalat to Hoi An in around twelve to twelve and a half hours, most leaving in the evening and arriving the next morning. They are sleeper and cabin buses, with fares from around 640,000 to 1,050,000 VND (roughly $25 to $41) depending on the class. Operators include An Phu, Viet Lao Bus, and Hoang Minh Limousine, bookable on 12Go or Vexere. Keep your valuables with you on the overnight run. Our bus travel guide covers the coach types.
Who it is for
The direct bus makes sense only for travelers on a strict budget who would rather not change along the way and do not mind a long overnight haul. For nearly everyone else, the flight is far quicker, and the Nha Trang and train route a far nicer way to go overland.
Option 4: By multi-day Easy Rider tour
Why choose it
For travelers who want the journey to be the trip, a multi-day Easy Rider tour turns the long haul to the coast into an adventure through the Central Highlands. Rather than flying over the interior or enduring it on a bus, you ride out on the back of a motorbike with a local guide, over several days, through country almost no other travelers see. It is the opposite of a quick transfer, and for the right person one of the most memorable ways to reach Hoi An.
How it works
These tours usually run over four or five days, climbing north out of Dalat and following the Ho Chi Minh Road through the highlands rather than the coast. From Dalat the route heads for Lak Lake and the coffee city of Buon Ma Thuot, passing waterfalls like Dray Nur, then on through Pleiku and Kon Tum, with their hill-tribe villages and war-history sites, before dropping down to Hoi An at the end. You ride pillion with an experienced guide, or drive your own bike, with nights spent in small towns and homestays and your luggage carried for you. Prices generally run to roughly $85 per person per day, covering the bike, guide, fuel, and accommodation, with meals usually extra. Our overview of Easy Riders in Vietnam explains how these tours work.
Who it is for
The multi-day Easy Rider is for adventurous travelers with several days to spare who care more about the ride and the culture than a fast arrival. It suits those comfortable spending long days on a bike and keen to see the highlands most people skip. Anyone short on time, or wanting to reach Hoi An quickly, is better off flying.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Dalat to Hoi An
The best way from Dalat to Hoi An comes down to how much time you have and what you want from the trip.
Fly to Da Nang for the quickest trip by far, then transfer the short distance to Hoi An. It takes a few hours against twelve or more overland, as long as one of the morning flights suits you.
The scenic route via Nha Trang is the nicer way to go overland: down to Nha Trang over the Khanh Le Pass, then north by train to Da Nang. It is longer, but the drive and the train make it a trip worth taking in its own right.
The direct bus is the budget fallback, a long overnight haul that is really only for the tightest budgets and best avoided if either option above works for you.
A multi-day Easy Rider tour turns the journey itself into the highlight, riding through the Central Highlands rather than rushing to the coast, for travelers with several days and a sense of adventure.
For most people it comes down to the quick flight or, with more time, one of the slower routes that make the trip part of the experience.
