How to get from Ninh Binh to Hoi An

Why visit Hoi An?

Hoi An is a charming city on Vietnam’s central coast. Once a major port, the mixed influences of Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants are still visible here.

Its Old Town is a well-preserved fusion of foreign and indigenous architecture, laid out in a small-scale model of a 15th to 19th-century trading hub. No wonder it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Travelling to Hoi An feels like walking back in time.

There are 3 ways to travel the 700 kilometres (435 miles) from Ninh Binh to Hoi An. You can choose between the bus, train and flight. The journey takes 5 hours 30 minutes to 18 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 453,000 VND ($17.30).

You can book a direct bus from Ninh Binh to Hoi An for as low as 453,000 VND ($17.30) — less than half the price of a train or plane ride.

Despite that, we do not recommend travelling by bus for this route because it will be a long and exhausting journey. Also, most of the buses operating from Ninh Binh to Hoi An do not really get the best reviews. The train offers more comfort and is also much safer.

Departure and arrival station

There are two departure points in Ninh Binh. Queen Cafe and Camel Travel depart from Ninh Binh Central Hotel in the city centre. The Long Travel and Grouptour leave from The Long Hotel in Tam Coc.

In Hoi An, Camel Travel and The Long Travel arrive at Camel Bus Ticket Office, 2 km east of the town centre. Queen Cafe and Grouptour park at their own terminals along Ton Duc Thang, 1.5 km northwest of the Old Town.

We recommend taking an overnight train when travelling from Ninh Binh to Hoi An. It will be a long 14 hours 30 minutes to 18 hours 30 minutes journey, but you can spend half of that sleeping, and the other half enjoying the rural views from your train window. Note that you can only take the train from Ninh Binh to Da Nang, from where you can transfer to a minivan to Hoi An.

Travelling by train from Ninh Binh to Da Nang takes around 13h 30m - 16h 30m. The good thing is, most trains on this route operate overnight, so you won’t have to lose a lot of daytime.

Train fares start from 694,000 VND ($26.50) when you book a 4-berth sleeper, which gives you the most comfort for this long journey. Cheaper 6-berth cabins are also available if you don’t mind spending the room with more people.

From Da Nang Railway Station to Hoi An centre takes about 45m - 2h by minivan or taxi.

The minivan is the more affordable choice with ticket prices from 117,000 VND ($4.50). Book your minivan trip beforehand through BookAway and the driver will pick you up from the train station at your desired time. Minivans are available daily from 07:00-21:00 and they park in the centre of Hoi An.

If you prefer to be dropped off at your hotel’s doorstep, taxis are also available with rates from 440,000 VND ($16.80).

See the page about Da Nang Railway Station for more details.

IMPORTANT: Previously, there were cheap public buses (Bus #1) operating from Da Nang to Hoi An. But the last time we checked (November 2024), these were no longer available.

If you’re looking to travel from Ninh Binh to Hoi An in the fastest time possible, a flight is your best choice. It’s not exactly the most convenient, though.

Neither Ninh Binh nor Hoi An has its own airport. That means you can only take a flight from Hanoi (3 hours away from Ninh Binh) to Da Nang (1 hour away from Hoi An). Combined travel time takes about 5 hours 30 minutes, excluding the waiting time at the airport.

Do you still want to take a flight? Read on for a step-by-step guide.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

The most convenient way to get to Hanoi Airport from Ninh Binh is by direct minivan. Rates start from 475,000 VND ($18.10) for the journey that takes 3 hours.

You can purchase your ticket from any minivan office in Ninh Binh or you can book it online through BookAway and just wait to be picked up at your hotel.

Cheaper option: Van + Express Bus from Ninh Binh to Hanoi Airport

On a strict budget? You can divide this leg of the journey by first taking a van to Hanoi city centre and then transfering to an express bus to Hanoi Airport. Combined fares start from 220,000 VND ($8.40) and travel time is 3.5-4 hours.

You can save about 255,000 VND ($9.70) when you take this alternative route. But keep in mind that this will also require some extra time, depending on the availability of your connecting bus. We recommend this option only if you can depart from Ninh Binh at least 6 hours before your flight.

For an even cheaper alternative, you can also take a combined train and express bus from Ninh Binh to Hanoi Airport. The disadvantage of this option is that train trips are limited. You can take this only if it fits with your flight schedule.

See our pages on Ninh Binh to Hanoi and Hanoi Airport for a more detailed guide.

There are a good number of flights available daily from Hanoi to Da Nang so you can be flexible with your schedule. When booking your flight, consider that you will be coming all the way from Ninh Binh. It’s best to pick a flight that departs in the afternoon.

Airfares start from 900,000 VND ($34.50). Flight time is around 1.5 hours.

From Da Nang Airport, there are 2 ways you can get to Hoi An: by shuttle bus for around 155,000 VND ($5.90) or by private transfer with rates from 320,000 VND ($12.20).

If you’re travelling solo, the minivan is already a convenient option as it drops you off at Hoi An town centre. But if you’re with at least one other companion, it will be more cost-efficient to take a taxi straight to your hotel.

For more info, check out our page on Da Nang Airport.

IMPORTANT: There used to be cheap local buses available from just outside Da Nang Airport to Hoi An. But the last time we checked (November 2024), these were no longer operating.