About the route from Hanoi to Hoi An
Hanoi lies in the north and Hoi An around 800 kilometers south on the central coast. Hoi An is a small town with no airport or railway of its own, so both the flight and the train run through Da Nang, the city 30 kilometers to its north. The quickest way to travel from Hanoi to Hoi An is to fly into Da Nang and finish by road, a few hours in all, whereas the overland routes fill most of a day or more. Your choice comes down to budget and how you feel about a long trip south. Hanoi, where the journey starts, is the busy capital of the north, and our Hanoi travel guide covers it if you are still shaping your days there.
Hoi An is a small, walkable town on the central coast, and for many travelers the highlight of a trip to Vietnam. Its old quarter, a former trading port closed to traffic, is a cluster of ochre shophouses, temples, and narrow lanes hung with lanterns, famous for its tailors and riverside restaurants. A short cycle away are quiet beaches and green rice fields. After the scale and pace of Hanoi, it feels calm and human-sized. Our Hoi An travel guide sets out what to see and how to plan your days.
Tip: See the whole route on a guided tour with Local Vietnam
Rather than treat this as a transfer to get through, you can travel the corridor properly on our 6-day guided tour between Hanoi and Hoi An, taking in Ninh Binh, the Phong Nha caves, the DMZ war sites, and Hue on the way south, with every transfer, private guide, and overnight arranged for you. It ends in Hoi An, right beside Da Nang, so it fits this southbound trip perfectly, and can run the other way on request.
Option 1: By flight, via Da Nang
Why choose the flight
For a distance this long, flying is by far the quickest and easiest way to reach Hoi An. As Hoi An has no airport, you fly into Da Nang, half an hour up the road, on one of the busiest domestic routes in the country. With departures all day and cheap fares, nothing else comes close on time.
How it works
You fly from Noi Bai Airport, around 45 minutes to an hour outside Hanoi, to Da Nang Airport, then cover the last 30 kilometers to Hoi An by road, a drive of about 45 minutes. The flight lasts about 1 hour 20 minutes, with services roughly every hour on Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways among others. Booked in advance, fares often start from 700,000 to 1,100,000 VND (roughly $28 to $44), with the lowest tickets covering hand luggage only. When you land, our guide on getting from Da Nang to Hoi An sets out the transfer, and our domestic flights guide covers the flying side.
Who it is for
The flight is the right call for nearly everyone, given the frequent departures and low fares. Even with the drive out to Noi Bai and the transfer from Da Nang added on, it beats any overland route by many hours. Travelers who prefer to take it slow, or spend as little as possible, have the two options below.
Option 2: By train, via Da Nang
Why choose the train
The train is the more comfortable overland route, and it finishes on a high note. Trains run south from Hanoi to Da Nang, from where a short transfer completes the trip, since Hoi An has no station. The final stretch into Da Nang is the reward: the line crosses the Hai Van Pass, the coastal cliffs between Hue and Da Nang that rank among the best rail views anywhere. The drawback is the length, so this is a route best broken into stages rather than ridden straight through.
How it works
Trains leave Hanoi Railway Station and run south to Da Nang Railway Station in around 16 to 17 hours, mostly overnight, before the short road transfer on to Hoi An. Classes range from a soft seat to a four-berth soft sleeper, with private carriages run by companies like Lotus Train and Livitrans, and a berth is well worth it for the distance, from around 1,100,000 VND (roughly $45). To catch the Hai Van Pass in daylight rather than in the dark, aim for the SE19, timed to reach it in the morning; sit on the left heading south. Foreigners book through 12Go, Baolau, or Vexere. Our train travel guide explains the classes.
Who it is for
The train suits travelers who would rather not fly and want a comfortable, scenic trip south, above all those planning to break it at Phong Nha or Hue instead of riding through in one night. Taken in stages, it is a highlight in itself. If speed matters most, fly.
Option 3: By sleeper bus
Why we don’t really recommend it
The bus is the cheapest way south, but it is a long slog that only makes sense on a very tight budget. Many services are not even direct, changing in Da Nang, and the trip runs from about 17 hours to well over a day. For much the same time the train is far more comfortable, and a budget flight costs only a little more once you value the hours saved.
How it works
Direct and connecting buses run from Hanoi to Hoi An, taking around 17 to 19 hours on a through sleeper and longer with a change in Da Nang. They are sleeper and cabin buses, with fares from around 500,000 to 1,100,000 VND (roughly $20 to $44) by service. Operators include G8 Sapa Open Tour and HK Buslines, bookable through 12Go or Vexere. Keep anything valuable on you during the overnight leg. Our bus travel guide explains the coach types.
Who it is for
The bus is worth it only for travelers watching every dong who cannot manage the train or a flight. For most people the train is the better overland choice, and the flight far quicker. Given the alternatives, this is the option to skip if you can.
Stops to add on the way to Hoi An
This is a long route, so rather than run it in one go, it is well worth breaking up. Two of central Vietnam’s finest places lie directly on the way south, both reachable by the same trains and buses. Heading down from Hanoi, you reach them in this order.
Phong Nha
Phong Nha comes first, and it is a place many travelers wish they had given more time. This pocket of jungle and limestone holds Son Doong, the largest cave on earth, along with a whole network of smaller caves you can walk or boat through, all set in one of the country’s wildest national parks. For nature and adventure, few places match it. If you are traveling by train, note that Phong Nha has no station of its own, so you get off at Dong Hoi, about 45 minutes away by road. There is more in our Phong Nha travel guide.
Hue
Hue follows, a couple of hours before Da Nang, and slots easily into the trip south. Once the seat of the Nguyen emperors, it centers on a vast walled citadel, with royal tombs scattered through the hills and along the Perfume River and a slower, more historic mood than the beach towns. A day or two is enough for the highlights, and the final stretch from Hue to Da Nang then crosses the Hai Van Pass, a fine way to arrive. Our Hue travel guide has the detail.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Hanoi to Hoi An
The best way from Hanoi to Hoi An comes down to your time and budget.
Fly via Da Nang for the fastest trip, a flight of around 1 hour 20 minutes on a cheap, frequent route, then a short transfer on to Hoi An. It is the sensible choice for almost everyone.
Take the train for the best way overland, comfortable and scenic over the Hai Van Pass into Da Nang, though on this route it is really worth breaking into stages.
Take the sleeper bus only on the tightest budget, since it is long, often not direct, and hard to recommend over the train.
And whichever you choose, give real thought to stopping at Phong Nha or Hue on the way south. Both sit squarely on the route, and both deserve more than a glance from a passing train.
