Travel Hue to Hoi An by Train, bus, taxi, car, motorbike 2024

Hoi An is a place where the bold march of progress peters into a leisurely amble. In this one-time trading port, the Thu Bon River meanders past crumbling shop houses and weathered pagodas, while sampans come and go from the old ferry quay. Outside the Old Town, two-lane roads slice through waving rice fields and emerge at a frothy coastline. Stay a couple of days, and Hoi An’s easygoing beauty and lantern-lit nights may leave you hopelessly beguiled.

The desire to come to Hoi An has raised concern in most of the travelers that how to get there. I hope this article will help you a lot in finding the suitable way to get to Hoi An from Hue.

=> How to travel from Da Nang to Hoi An?

Distance Hue to Hoi An and Vice Versa

As you know, the distance from Hue to Hoi An is about 140km and normally it takes about 3 hours non-stop to travel from Hue to Hoi An

The distance between Hoi An and Hue is around 140 kilometres, and the travel duration depends on which type of vehicles you choose to go with. Particularly, Traveling by car is considered to be the quickest option which takes only 2,5 hours. If you are not in a rush, you can go by train, bus, or even motorbike if you are into some adventures (4 hours) . Depending on your chosen mode of transportation, the average travel time between the two cities varies from 3 to 4 hours. It is even possible to make a day trip from Hue to Hoi An city tour and back

Best ways travel from Hue to Hoi An

There are several ways to travel from Hue to Hoi An, including by bus, train, taxi / Grab, car or Motorbike . Each mode of transportation has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider your options and choose the one that best fits your needs. To help you make the right choice, we have outlined the details of each option below:

Hue to Hoi An by Taxi,Grab – The Fastest way

How to book the taxi/Grab from Hue to Hoi An?

• Travel time: approximately 3 hours
• Cost: VND 1,500,000 – VND 1,800,000 ($70 ~ $85)

Grab (Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber) is a popular transport app that can be used to book taxis, ride-share cars and motorbikes in Vietnam. Grab works in Hue, so it is possible to book a ride to Hue through the app. To use Grab, you’ll either need to pick up a Vietnamese sim card or preferably an eSIM and download the app before you leave home and register with your usual phone number. Expect to pay slightly less for a Grab taxi compared to a street taxi.

Finding a taxi in Hue is easy, as they are readily available. If you are arranging a transfer in advance the easiest way to get a taxi is by requesting it through your hotel reception. The hotel could also negotiate a set-rate fare on your behalf, especially for longer distances. If you are on the street, you can simply hail a cab directly by raising your hand in the direction of a taxi, or find one at a taxi stand. Local taxi ranks will be located outside main bus and train stations, as well as large shopping complexes. It is recommended to use reputable taxi companies exclusively, as scams can be quite common – with visitors often charged excessive prices or taken on longer journeys than necessary.

There are lots of different factors that determine the price of a taxi from Hue to Hoi An, including time of day, how much luggage you have, type car you want, and what kind of a mood the driver is in!
If you’re hailing a taxi off the street or at Hue Airport/station (which I don’t recommend!), it’s very easy to get talked into paying more than you should. Generally speaking, a taxi from Hue to Hoi An should cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1,500,000-1,700,000 VND ($65-$75). Some companies charge up to 1.800,000 VND.

Tips : Top 5 BEST Hoi An Taxis & Shuttles – You Need to Know !

The current Hue taxi rates

With Danang Transfer, we provide available options. Taxi prices will be calculated according to the travel route or hourly/day => Price list private cars in Hue by travel itinerary or by hourly/day

If you wish to phone up a local provider for pickup service, some of the most established and well-known Hue taxi companies you can call for on-demand assistance are:

► Booking: If you don’t know how to use the app, you can call a traditional taxi instead. Taxis are available everywhere in Danang, and the most 2 popular companies that you should call are: Mai Linh Taxi or Vinasun Taxi, Tien Sa taxi

► Duration: around 2.5 hour – 3 hour

► Cost: around 1.500.000VND – 1.800.000VND (USD $65.00 to $75.00).

With people who do not have much time, they usually choose taxi to get to Hoi An from Hue because of its mobility. 

What are the advantages of taxi when traveling from Hue to Hoi An?

The taxi driver system in Hue is very polite, civilized and never overcharge with foreign travelers. So you can convince in taxi system here and enjoy your trip. For some skeptical travels, you can take the city map to make sure that you will not be tricked. The maps always have hotline number of authorities, you can call conveniently if having some unexpected situation.  The biggest advantage if you choose the taxi to go to Hue to Hoi An is saving time, it just takes about 3 hours for 126 km. Besides, comparing with other vehicles, the taxi is the best choice because of its mobility. You can catch the taxi and stop everywhere you want. Especially in some day with bad weather, the taxi can protect you and give you have a safe trip.

=>Read more: Hue private cars with driver – Nice Car & Professional Driver‎

What are the disadvantages of the taxi when traveling from Hue to Hoi An?

Among 5 ways to get from Hue to Hoi An, the taxi will be the most expensive way, it is about VND 1,500,000-1,700,000. For some travelers have not much money, the taxi will not be recommended. Besides, the language barriers will make you feel discouraged because some drivers, as well as saleman, cannot speak English or other languages. To make sure that you can have the perfect trip, you should learn just some Vietnamese sentences such as the name of the place you want to go, even bargain with the drivers. In some cases, the language barrier will create the difficulty when you communicate with the taxi driver.

Hue to Hoi An by private motorbike

How to rent a motorbike from Hue to Hoi An ?

• Travel time: approximately 3 hours
• Cost: VND 250,000- VND 350,000

There’s no denying that the road from Hue to Hoi An is incredibly scenic. On the Danang coast, there’s a long stretch of ocean with circular boats bobbing on the waves, while on the Hue side, there’s beautiful Lang Co Beach as well as endless fields of rice as you approach the imperial city.

Although motorbike is not convenient for the long journey, yet to the eager travelers who want an adventure and explore, it is such a great means of transport. With a motorcycle, you can be completely flexible and active with your schedule. The total time to travel from Hue to Hoi An by motorbike is about 3 – 3,5 hours. However, you can stop wherever you want, spend time studying local lives. You can challenge yourself with non-stop driving and feel the air blowing through your hair. The price of gasoline is fairly cheap that you don’t mind going the round way to see more and learn more. Especially when you get to Lang Co Bay, the feeling of achieving something will definitely satisfy you. The process of renting a motorbike is much simpler than a car.

It’s not hard to find a bike renting store. A lot of them are available in the Central of Hue City. Most of the owners can speak English fluently, so you can communicate with them easily. Once you go to the shop, you can ask to try the bike that you like. They will also give you some suggestions of which one is suitable with your driving experience and aim.

There are many kinds of bike available which are Honda Win, Honda Wave, Airblade and even more powerful motorbike. After having chosen the one will accompany you, the last step of the process is giving the owner the photocopy of your passport, the deposit, and the renting fee. Some owners may ask you for the original passport. However, it’s recommended to try to make a deal with them. The renting fee is VND80,00-VND300,000/day respectively and no need to deposit if you rent in an accomodation you stay

Some motorbike rental shop: 

The only route for going by motorbike to Hoi An from Hue is through Hai van Pass or Hai Van Tunnel. The Hai Van Pass can be ridden as a day-trip from any of the three main cities on either side of it: Hoi An, Danang, and Hue. Alternatively, the Hai Van Pass is a great way to ride all the way between these 3 cities via an extended coastal route, which avoids busy Highway 1 for the vast majority of the way, and uses quiet, scenic coast roads instead. Although this route is slightly longer than taking Highway 1, it’s far more scenic, more rewarding, and quieter (not to mention safer)

What are the disadvantages of the motorbike?

There are actually many disadvantages todriving a motorbike. With the distance of 150 kilometers, it requires you to have good health and driving skill. Otherwise, you will easily get tired and have no energy left for other activities. A bigger obstacle for you is when your bike breaks down. If you’re in the middle of the highway, the chance that you can find a store to fix it is almost zero. Another disadvantage could be the weather, especially when it rains heavily. It’s challenging to drive under the rain, followed by the chance of an accident. Therefore, using a motorbike to travel from Hue to Hoi An could be really dangerous for people having no experience. Easily getting lost is also one of the disadvantages. The messy, chaotic traffic can confuse you and lead you in the wrong direction.

Hue to Hoi An by shuttle bus – The cheapest way

• Travel time: approximately 4 hours
• Cost: VND 80.000-250.000

If you do not have much money, traveling from Hue to Hoi An by shuttle is a good idea. The price is cheapest when comparing with other vehicles. I will give you more detail about some brands of the shuttle bus below:

How to book the shuttle bus from Hoi An to Hue?

You can call to book bus tickets according to the information below

What are the advantages of shuttle bus when traveling from Hue to Hoi An?

When we mention about advantages of this vehicle, you have to mention about the tickets’ price. It is the cheapest way if you want to travel from Hue to Hoi An. Besides, the time start of this kind is very flexible with many turns every day from 7:00 to 16:00, so you yourselves can control the time of your trip. Moreover, you are easy to start the conversation with the local people in the car and gain a lot of knowledge such as the local characteristics, their life opinion and their thinking bringing for you unforgettable memories.

What are the disadvantages of shuttle bus when traveling from Hue to Hoi An ?

Different from the taxi, the shuttle bus has some permanent stops, you have to go there in time to make sure that you will not miss your turn. In some cases, the travelers are overloaded, you cannot follow your schedule anymore and have to change depending on the next turn. Moreover, the language barriers will make your trip become more difficult because neither driver nor sale man can understand what you say and your purposes.

Time-consuming is another reason make many travelers do not choose the shuttle bus. It takes about 4 hours to transfer- the longest time among 5 vehicles.

Some tips you should consider if you want to travel by the shuttle bus.!

The first thing is the tickets booking. In normal circumstances, the shuttle bus can serve all the travelers, but in some cases, you miss your turns because of visitors overloaded. Therefore, you should book the tickets before at least 1 day by calling for the phone number of the shuttle bus management that I mentioned above.

Secondly, your luggage will be put into the specific place for the luggage, it can lead to a chaos and your luggage is easy to be lost. You should notice carefully and put the important documents such as passport, identity card, driving license, etc. into your handbag.

Thirdly, you should wear convenient and comfortable clothes because of the long distance from Hue to Hoi An, the time you transfer is relatively long, about 4 hours

Hue to Hoi An by train – The traditional way

• Travel time: approximately 3 hours
• Cost: VND  75,000-120,000 + 25,000-300,000 transfers

Actually, there is no train going directly from Hue to Hoi An, you must divide into 2 routes, Hue – Da Nang by train and Da Nang to Hoi An by car .

How to travel from Hue to Da Nang by train?

The train route from Hue to Da Nang is known as one of the most exciting railways on the North-South railway and was included in the list of the most beautiful railways in the world by Daily Mail magazine in 2020. On this railway, you can admire the majestic and stunning natural landscapes. Today’s train quality has also been invested in modern equipment, serving the needs of young people to take pictures to check-in destinations or those who want to explore. Every day there are about seven departures. The average travel time is about 3 hours to Da Nang Railway Station.

There are about 10 trains every day of Vietnam Railways. One-way train ticket costs about VND 150,000 – VND 180,000 (hard seat, soft seat, SE+NH trains, 1st+2nd class)

• Train station in Danang – Danang Railway Station (791 Hai Phong)
• Train station in Hue – Hue Railway Station (NguyenTri Phuong Street)

You can buy tickets in advance from the Vietnam Railways bookings site DSVN; Vietnamrailway; VR or you can also book online using the travel agency Baolau which has an efficient website, details seat and sleeper-berth availability, and accepts international cards. Most of the time you can book train tickets a day or two ahead without a problem, except during peak holiday times. For sleeping berths book a week or more before the date of departure. 

The distance between Hoi An and Da Nang is about 35 km, it is relatively short so you can travel to Da Nang from Hoi An by several ways such as taxi, bus, private vehicle. We will give you more detail for each means of transports below:

Take a private car from Da Nang to Hoi An

A private car rental is cheaper than a taxi ride but still keeps the convenience and comfort, making it one of the best ways. Affordable prices for it are from 300,000 to 400,000 VND, mainly depending on the number of seats. This range of cost doesn’t change even if the departure and arrival places are not too far from the city center. The ride lasts around 45 minutes, but may be longer because of weather, traffic congestion and construction. Booking Here

You should consider: Traveling by train still has disadvantages!

Traveling by train brings you a lot of great experiences and gives you the chance to explore the culture, life, humans of the country you come. But, compared to cars that provide the maximum flexibility, and planes that have much more time and travel alternatives, railways are not as flexible. They often have fixed schedule that cannot be tailored for a single individual. Moreover, It depends on the budget you have and the country you are traveling in. There are super expensive and brand trains, as well as super cheap alternatives.

If you chose to travel during the evening time, you will want to find the most comfortable option, especially if you are traveling for long hours on end. You must share your journey with strangers, which might not be so nice when the passenger next to you is a crying child or someone who speaks loudly on their telephone while you are trying to sleep or even you use the Toilets, bathrooms and other public areas on trains can often be dirty or non-functional. Although this is the low route, it would still affect you if you are a quiet and private person. The train is the least popular option if you are not the person who has time and health because Traveling by train can take longer.

The departure time is fixed, and the train station only stops for a short time (5-7 minutes), so you must ensure the estimated time of the arrival station and get on/off the train in time. In addition, for those people who want to fully enjoy the panoramic view of Hai Van Pass along the way, remember to put your seat on the left side, close to the entrance.

Hue to Hoi An by Private car: Nice Car & Professional Driver‎

If the local coach, shuttle bus, taxi/ grab can’t satisfy you, private car can be your choice to travel Hue to Hoi An. While private car/taxi is not really economical and also takes as much time as the local coach and shuttle bus, it will give you a carefree direct journey and more space of privacy in return. It suits with flexible travelers who don’t like to follow any rules or schedules. This is also a good choice for a small group of friends or family. In addition, everyone can sit nice and close to each other to have a chit chat or lean on each other sleeping. The private car is also ideal for a businessman who wants to work on the way without being disturbed.

There are a lot of agencies or individuals providing this service promoting themselves on the internet. You can check out the Danang Transfer, Nhan Vy Travel or Hoian Private Car to book and get the updated price. The driver normally can speak English. You don’t have to worry about miscommunication too much. They may make your journey less boring if you travel alone or give you a lot of interesting facts along the way. The experienced drivers can be helpful in giving you recommendations of accommodations or services to take.

The price for the private car to travel from Hue to Hoi An is in such a wide range. There are many factors affecting the price of this journey. A few to mention are the size, the brand and status of the car, if it’s one way or round trip, waiting surcharge, etc. The average price is about USD60 – USD75(VND1,380,000 – VND1,700,000 for one way including parking fee, tolls, petrol, driver. 

If you get a private car you could probably negotiate a cheaper rate for roundtrip. Private cars have the option of taking a tunnel that saves a bit of time on the pass but you tell the driver not to, at least one way so you get to see the whole pass.

=> One way transfer from Hue to Hoi An by Private car

How to choose suitable transportation from Hue to Hoi An

What is your budget?

Finance is a key factor for every trip because all of your activities based on your money you have. In case you don’t have much money, you should consider traveling by shuttle bus instead of the taxi or the private vehicles, you should consider other activities which need more money than the transportation. If you have a lot of money, you can choose any vehicles being suitable for your demands. The Private car can be a good idea because of its mobility, you can confer with the drivers if you want to stop in many places, you can believe in the driver in Hoi An since the local people here are very friendly and truthful.

Who do you go with?

The partners are also a key factor if you want to have an interesting trip, if your team like adventurous, the private vehicles are the best choice, you will have more opportunities to experience, challenge and explore your ability. On the other hand, if your team has children, using private motorbike is not considered because it is too dangerous for you-foreign travelers and your children – vulnerable people. You should consider traveling by train if your finance is limited, or by Private car if you have enough money. The size of the group also affects your decision, if you have a large group, you should consider the train or shuttle bus, in this case, you are easy to go travel together. Besides, you should notice other members’ opinion, because they are different in characteristic, financial ability and demands as well. Apparently, the unification in the big group seems to be difficult, but the decision will depend on a mass, other members should respect and have cooperative attitudes to make sure that you will have a fun and comfortable trip.

How much luggage do you bring along?

The luggage seems to be not really related to your decision, but in our opinion, you should notice that before choosing any means of transport. If your luggage is big and large, the train allows you can bring 20 kg luggage should be considered. The private motorbike, in this case, is not recommended because it will be a balk for your trip. If you want to travel by private motorbike, please remember that bringing your belongings as few as possible.

The brief summary of all vehicles

There are several ways to travel from Hoi An to Hue as I mentioned above, depending on your interests and demands, you can choose the suitable one. Finally, I will give you an overview of all vehicles to get Hue from Hoi An:

4 Beautiful Landscapes You Shouldn’t Miss when you travel from Hue to Hoi An

Central Vietnam is known for both delicious and authentic Vietnamese cuisine and awe-inspiring natural and man-made landscapes. There are three famous cities to visit within Central Vietnam : Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An and when traveling within these three historical and modern cities, there are landscape you just can’t afford to miss.

Lang Co is located in Phu Loc District about 65 kilometers away from the city center of Hue, beautiful bodies of water gives refreshment to the day. Lang Co has no specific tourist destination but it is known for Lap An Lagoon and Lang Co beach.

Lap An Lagoon is both scenic and useful for locals and tourists. The lagoon is for oyster farming, it is the main source of income of the residents. Make sure to look at this beautiful lagoon at the foot of Bach Ma mountain as it is picture perfect most especially during sunset. Another must see landscape on the way to Hoi An from Hue is the Lang Co Beach. A good beach to chill and swim as it is not crowded like the other beaches in Central Vietnam. This white sand beach looks amazing at the starting point of Hai Van Pass. It sets expectation to what other things to see upon reaching the Hai Van Pass viewpoint.

Hai Van Pass is located along the Annamite Range between Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang. It is approximately 20km long and highest pass in Vietnam. The winding road gives excitement to adventure seekers, expect to see number of motorbike riders on the way to the viewpoint of the pass. Upon reaching the viewpoint of Hai Van Pass, take a good look of the beautiful landscapes of Danang and Hue.

Then Marblem Mouintain – Danang is the biggest city in the central of Vietnam. In the middle of this modern city, the wonderful landscape of the Marble Mountain still stuns visitors. This is why it is the top visited site within the city. The mountain overlooks the city buildings and the famous My Khe Beach. The five mountains are considered as holy and locals set up grottoes and shrines to honor their gods that dates back thousand of years ago.

Frequently asked questions

Local tips to get from Hue to Hoi An 

• If you are planning to travel by train, select a seat on the right side of the train in order to catch an excellent view of the coastline along the Hai Van Pass. 
• If you are renting motorbikes to travel from the local store, remember to check the bike carefully before hitting the road. Test the engine, the brake, the horn if it’s working well.
• When renting a motorbike, the owner will ask you to deposit your original passport however it’s highly recommended to make a deal with them to just keep a copy file. 
• Follow the local traffic rules and do not drive over the speed limit.
• Check the weather before starting the journey as it is very dangerous to drive in the rain, following the chance of an accident, particularly for people who have less driving experience.

Above is the detailed transportation guide taking you from Hue to Hoi An. Visit Danang Transfer and let us help you plan the best Danang Tours with private car and have the most authentic experiences in Vietnam.