Getting Around

Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is ~3 km from the city center — one of the closest major airports to a city center in Southeast Asia. The domestic terminal and international terminal are connected. From arrivals: the taxi/grab pickup zone is outside on the ground floor. Don't accept rides from anyone soliciting inside the terminal. Grab is the move: set your destination before stepping outside, and you'll pay ₫80–120k to the main expat areas (An Thượng, Mỹ Khê). International flights connect Da Nang to Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and increasingly to Russian and European charter destinations.

Hoi An's flat terrain and rural surroundings make it ideal for cycling. Many hotels offer free bicycles. Cycling to An Bang Beach (3 km) and Tra Que Vegetable Village (2 km) are popular.

Local bus #1 runs between Da Nang and Hoi An. Cost is ~20,000 VND, takes about 45-60 minutes. Departure from Da Nang bus station, arrives at Hoi An bus station (~2 km from old town).

Da Nang center to Hội An Old Town is ~30 km, 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. Your options: **Grab car** (~₫250–350k, easiest, AC, door-to-door) · **Bus #1** (~₫20k, 45–60 min, no AC, infrequent — useful if you're not in a hurry) · **Motorbike rental** (~₫100–150k/day, fastest, but you need traffic confidence and technically a valid international permit for anything over 50cc). For first-timers: Grab all the way. The coastal road from Da Nang south to Hội An is beautiful on a motorbike once you know what you're doing — that's the reward for building the skill, not the starting point.

Private car hire with driver for day trips (Hai Van Pass, Ba Na Hills, My Son Sanctuary) costs ~800,000-1,500,000 VND/day. Bookable through hotels or Grab.

Da Nang has a public bus network covering most districts. Buses are cheap (<10,000 VND) but infrequent and routes are Vietnamese-only. The Yellow Bus (#1) runs from airport to city center.

Grab operates across Da Nang and Hoi An for car, motorbike taxi, and food delivery. It is the most widely used ride-hailing platform. Requires a local SIM card.

Scooter/motorbike rental is widely available in Da Nang and Hoi An. Typical cost: 100,000-200,000 VND/day. Requires passport or deposit (negotiable). Automatic and semi-automatic options.

Da Nang Railway Station is on the north-south Reunification Express line. Trains connect Da Nang to Hanoi (~16 hr), Hue (~3 hr), and HCMC (~17 hr). Soft sleepers and hard seats available.

Da Nang's My Khe beachfront is walkable — there's a 5+ km promenade running the length of China Beach that's pleasant in the morning before the heat hits. But the city itself (Han River, Dragon Bridge, markets, coworking spaces in An Thuong) is spread out enough that you'll need Grab or a motorbike for anything beyond the beach strip. An Thuong area (the main expat/nomad zone) is about 2 km from the beach — manageable by bicycle, annoying on foot. Source: danangfantasticity.com.

Hoi An Ancient Town is largely pedestrianized in the core area. Motorbike traffic is restricted in the old quarter during daytime. Walking and cycling are the best ways to explore.