How to Get From Da Lat to Hoi An by Bus, Train, Plane, Car
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To get from Da Lat to Hoi An, you can take a lengthy bus ride; use a combination of buses, taxis, and trains; fly and then transfer to a minibus or taxi; or hire a private car for the long journey. It’s about 614 km or 381.5 miles from Da Lat to Hoi An, so traveling between the two via road can take 12 to 15 hours.
Given how long it takes, it’s important to choose the best transportation option for you. Otherwise, you’ll be pretty miserable. Let’s break down all the methods of transportation that are available between Da Lat and Hoi An so you can book the one that fits your budget, convenience, and other travel preferences.
Bus
Travel time: 12 – 15 hours
Cost: $20 – $36 USD
How to book: 12Go.Asia or ask your accommodation.
Buses are one of the most straightforward ways of traveling from Da Lat to Hoi An because you don’t need to transfer to another mode of transportation. It’s important to know that these are all overnight buses though. The earliest ones leave around 4 PM and the last bus leaves at 5:35 PM. You’ll arrive in Hoi An any time between 4:45 AM and 8 AM. It can be challenging to arrive extremely early in the morning though, since your accommodation may not have a 24/7 front desk where you can drop off your luggage.
Depending on your ability to sleep anywhere, taking an overnight bus from Da Lat to Hoi An can either be very unpleasant and tiring or the most efficient way to travel. For backpackers on a budget though, the bus is going to be the best option in terms of cost and convenience.
Bus or taxi + train + minibus or taxi
Travel time: 12.75 – 15.75 hours (3 – 4 hours by bus or 3 hours by taxi from Da Lat to Nha Trang, 9 – 11 hours for the train, 45 min – 1.5 hours for the minibus or 40 min for a taxi)
Cost: $41+ USD ($8 – $15 for the bus or $40+ for a taxi from Da Lat to Nha Trang, $30 – $56 for the train, $3 – $13 for a minibus or $12+ for a taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An)
How to book: 12Go.Asia for a bus or taxi and Vietnam Railways for the train.
There isn’t a train that goes between Da Lat and Hoi An. So the only way to take the train is to first get a bus or taxi from Da Lat to Nha Trang, hop on the train to go from Nha Trang to Da Nang, and then transfer to a minibus or taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An. While the travel time looks to be about the same as taking an overnight bus directly between Da Lat to Hoi An, the reality is that it’ll take longer once you factor in transfer time.
Since you not only end up spending more time, but also more money in comparison to the overnight bus, I don’t recommend going with this option.
Plane + minibus or taxi
Travel time: 4.75 – 10 hours (4 – 8.5 hours for the flight, 45 min – 1.5 hours for the minibus or 40 min for a taxi)
Cost: $84+ USD ($69+ for the flight, $3 – $13 for a minibus or $12+ for a taxi)
How to book: Vietnam Airlines for the flight and 12Go.Asia for a minibus or taxi.
For the quickest way to get from Da Lat to Hoi An, you’ll want to fly from Da Lat to Da Nang and then take a minibus or taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An. One transfer doesn’t seem bad, but you should also note that flights between Da Lat and Da Nang are not direct. There’s one layover, usually either in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. This means you’re actually flying away from or past Hoi An on the first leg of the flight.
This method is also more than double the cost of an overnight bus. The cheapest flights are around $60 USD and require getting a good deal, but most flights cost $100 or more.
Because of the high cost and inefficient route, I would only recommend flying if you really can’t manage an overnight bus ride.
Private car
Travel time: 12.25 hours
Cost: $334+ USD
How to book: 12Go.Asia or ask your accommodation.
If you have the means, traveling by private car is the ultimate way to make such a long trip comfortable, convenient, and stress-free. Unfortunately, due to how long the drive takes, it can be tough to find a private driver that’s willing to do it.
Even if you have the budget for a private car, you may actually want to consider taking a plane and then transferring to a minibus or taxi because you’ll save some time.
More resources for traveling Vietnam
- Complete Hoi An Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
- Hoi An One Day Itinerary: See the Highlights in 24 Hours
- The Perfect Hoi An 2 Day Itinerary: What to Do and See
- How to Solo Travel Vietnam
- 5 Best Hostels and Homestays I Stayed at in Vietnam
