Ultimate Guide Of How To Get To Hoi An From Hanoi
Hoi An is a pretty small town, a nice trading port with a culture mixed with Chinese, Japanese, and Champa from the 15th to 19th centuries. Visiting Hoi An becomes one of the unmissable plans for any tour itinerary. Located in the Middle of Vietnam, Hoi An is easily accessible from any place in Vietnam. If you are in Hanoi right now, it’s possible to reach Hoi An by plane, bus, and even motorbike.
Distance to get to Hoi An from Hanoi
As you know, Vietnam is in the shape of an S letter. Hanoi is located in Northern Vietnam, which is in the upper part of the S, while Hoi An stays in the middle of Central Vietnam. Hence, they are quite long-distance 800 km far away. Besides, Hoi An has no airport or train station, and the only way to get there is by road. Usually, people come to Hoi An from Da Nang Airport or Da Nang railway station.
However, distance is not a barrier especially when there are many kinds of transportation to support. Therefore, the parts below will show you how to get to Hoi An from Hanoi in the most appropriate ways.
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How to get to Hoi An from Hanoi by airplane
Duration: About 1 hour 20 mins for every flight
Cost: From $40 per one-way ticket
This is the quickest way to get to Hoi An from Hanoi. The journey from Hanoi is only 80 minutes long. And there are multiple direct flights available every day from Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Jetstar Pacific Airlines. Many options and schedules are available, right?
After reaching Danang Airport, you will continue your journey to Hoi An for the 30-minute drive in a taxi heading to Hoi An. Because you should take a car to drive you from Danang airport, you should check with the hotel in advance. Or, you can create your route by booking a car and making an appointment of picking you up.
Additionally, there are several notes for you when you use airplane service in Vietnam. You should remember to check the schedule carefully. Before the take-off time of about 1 hour, prepare to call a taxi to bring you and your luggage. The price can be $25 per ride. Then, don’t forget to check in right after you arrive at the airport because the line will always be crowded and you will have to line up for a while. While waiting in the lobby, be conscious to listen to the loudspeaker not to miss the flight.
Although the airplane is the fastest way to get to Hoi An from Hanoi, if you have time, you can choose other options to enjoy Vietnam’s beautiful natural scenery.
How to get to Hoi An from Hanoi by train
Duration: About 15 hours
Cost: From 18 USD to 35 USD
You can book a train if you wish to explore the Vietnamese railway system and enjoy the scenery from the seat near the windows.
However, there is no railway station in Hoi An, so you must take a train to Danang and then use a cab or bus to Hoi An. The Reunification Train (Thong Nhat Train) operates many trains every day from Hanoi to Danang. The first train leaves at 6:00, while the last one leaves at 22:00.
The price of a railway ticket varies based on the seat type, which includes hard seats, soft seats, hard sleepers, and soft sleepers. One-way tickets typically range from 18 USD for a hard seat to 35 USD for a soft sleeper.
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To purchase a train ticket, you can go straight to the railway station or book online through a travel agency. It is advised that you book your ticket online in advance in order to get the best available seat.
Moreover, we have some advice for your trip by train. Due to the long distance, you’d rather sleep on a soft bed than seating on a chair all night. So you should book the soft sleeper cabin, which will have a bed, window, and private space to relax. Besides, each train will last for more than 10 hours, therefore you can bring some snacks, board games, or books to entertain yourself. Also, please remember that the train will stop and sell food for a full of 3 meals a day, so don’t worry too much about the food. The scenery is also nice, be awakened to see how beautiful Vietnam is.
Please check the station's locations for a better tour routine:
Hanoi Railway Station: 120 Le Duan, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Danang Railway Station: 202 Hai Phong, Tan Chinh Ward, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang
How to get to Hoi An from Hanoi by bus
Duration: 17-18 hours
Cost: The cost of a one-way ticket is $15 USD
The advantage of taking a bus is that you will not have to change vehicles and will arrive in Hoi An directly from Hanoi without stopping in Danang. However, it is advised that you take a sleeper bus rather than a conventional bus because you will be on it for around 17 hours. If you’re traveling in a bus with a sleeping bed, you will be provided Internet, TV, and charging outlets. Therefore, although the time is long, you will still have a more pleasant and convenient ride.
This platform is suitable for anyone who wants to enjoy an extended time on the road. We don’t highly recommend it for the elderly and children, because they will have to wait for too long.
Things to do in Hoi An
As a land rich in valuable resources, Hoi An impressed tourists with its charming beauty. Visitors can find almost everything, from clean and large beaches to architectural works with typical culture and history... Don’t forget to bring a camera and a bag! You will need to take pictures, go shopping, and enjoy coffee on the rooftop.
Wander around the old town
Many centuries ago, Hoi An is the famous trading port in Vietnam, therefore they have mixed cultures from Chinese, Japanese, French, and the old Champa. Being recognized by UNESCO, there are various kinds of activities for you to have unforgettable experiences.
First of all, let’s enjoy the tranquility of Thu Bon River with the boat during the day and the Lantern Festival on specific nights of the month. The lanterns shine brightly and decorated the old town, making this place more poetic and picturesque. The Japanese Covered Bridge and the Chinese assembly halls are also interesting check-in points for visitors. Also, take the time to sip a coffee or a cup of tea while enjoying the scenic view of the city from the rooftop and take beautiful check-in photos.
Visit Hoi An Memories Land and watch the show
Hoi An Memories show is organized on Hoi An Memories Land, which is only 4 km from the city center. More than 500 dancers, actors, and actresses join the show and perform directly on the 25.000 m2 stage. Tourists will not only learn about the history of Hoi An through the 5 parts of the story but also be impressed by the massive performance. In 2019, Hoi An Memories was screened at Times Square in the USA. Since then, the show has undergone more than 2,000 performances with more than 2 million visitors, creating a prominent mark on the international tourist map!
In addition, winning in the category of "World's Leading Entertainment Destination", Hoi An Memories Island was evaluated by the Organizing Committee as the most beautiful and spectacular show of reality. Specifically, Hoi An Memories was honored by Reuters News as "The most beautiful show in the world”, and was reported by 200 different international newspapers.
Enjoy the unique basket boat
How about swaying on the basket boat? If you have good balance and like to challenge yourself, then surely spinning in a basket boat will delight you. Or simply, if you are adventurous, try spinning on a basket boat. Along the green coconut palms, you will enjoy the extremely fresh natural scenery in Hoi An. After that, the boatmen will rotate the basket and you will have the experience of rotating the basket in the middle of the river.
Be a farmer in Tra Que village
Located near Hoi An ancient town, Tra Que vegetable village is a great destination for the whole family. Tra Que has green vegetables such as cruciferous vegetables, lettuce, water spinach, and spices such as cilantro, basil, and perilla... Visitors will also be shared and guided by local people. They will teach you the methods of watering, fertilizing, and harvesting. You can also participate in a cooking class on Quang Nam specialties with ingredients provided on the spot.
Besides, you can also join the cycling tour, and travel along the town. The Cam Thanh village near Tra Que village provides you with this opportunity.
>> More than being a farmer: Hoi An Countryside Cycling Day Tour
Visiting My Son Sanctuary
About 40km from Hoi An City, My Son Sanctuary attracts visitors with its mysterious wild beauty imbued with spirituality. Nestled in the mountains, this place is a complex of relics of the ancient Champa people with elaborately built temples, delicately carved, with distinct architectural features. Not only prominent in ancient architectural works, but Cham culture is also clearly expressed through traditional festivals, and gentle, flexible, and attractive dances. Do not forget to keep for yourself the beautiful photos of My Son in the charming Hoi An discovery journey album.
Final Thoughts
How to get to Hoi An from Hanoi might no longer be your worry now, cause you’ve understood more about the transportation in Vietnam and the route, right? And, when you’re wondering whether you should Hoi An or not, don’t hesitate to add this beautiful city to your list, because there’re multiple things to discover here.
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