Sapa Tours & ActivitiesHanoi to Hoi An by Train: Via Da Nang, Step by Step
Thousands of people search for Hoi An train station every month. It does not exist — and that changes how you plan this trip.
Is there a train station in Hoi An?
No. Hoi An has no railway station, and the nearest one is Da Nang, about 30 km north. There is no airport either. So every flight and every train on this route ends in Da Nang, and the last stretch is always by road.
That drive takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic and where in the Old Town you are staying. Google Maps measures 30 km from Da Nang station to the Old Town, at 54 minutes when I checked on 27 July 2026.
One exception is worth knowing: the direct sleeper bus runs Hanoi to Hoi An without any change in Da Nang.
Compare your options at a glance
| Mode | Time to Hoi An | Price (one-way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly to Da Nang + transfer | Half a day door to door | from $30 + transfer | Most travellers — fastest |
| Train to Da Nang + transfer | 15–18 h, plus the hour down | $27–45 + transfer | Anyone who wants the Hai Van Pass |
| Direct sleeper bus | 18–19 h, no change | from $45 | Budget, and no transfer to arrange |
Distances differ by mode, which is why the numbers you find online disagree. Da Nang is 741 km from Hanoi by road but 790 km by rail, because the track follows the coast. Add the 30 km down to Hoi An either way.
The train: which one, and which berth
Eight SE trains a day run Hanoi to Da Nang. On Vietnam Railways’ own timetable for 30 July 2026, the journey ranges from 15h08 to 18h10 — so the widely quoted “16 to 17 hours” is wrong at both ends.
| Train | Leaves Hanoi | Reaches Da Nang | Journey |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE3 | 19:20 | 10:28 next day | 15h08 — fastest |
| SE1 | 21:45 | 13:14 next day | 15h29 |
| SE19 | 19:45 | 11:35 next day | 15h50 |
| SE7 | 06:00 | 22:15 same day | 16h15 |
| SE5 / SE9 | 08:00 / 13:00 | next morning | 16h21 / 16h48 |
| SE17 / SE11 | 20:25 / 20:40 | next afternoon | 18h05 / 18h10 |
Pro tip: take an evening departure — SE3, SE19 or SE1. You sleep through the flat northern half and reach the Hai Van Pass in daylight, which is the whole reason to choose the train. The 06:00 and 13:00 departures run that coast in the dark.
On berths: a soft seat is around $27, a 6-berth sleeper $34–44, and a 4-berth cabin $40–45. Private tourist carriages such as Violette, Lotus and Damitrans attach to the same trains and run $65–70. For a night on board, the 4-berth cabin is the one worth the extra dollars.
→ Full fares, classes and booking steps: Hanoi to Da Nang train guide →
Flying: what most people actually do
The Hanoi–Da Nang flight takes 1 hour 20 minutes, and VietJet, Bamboo and Vietnam Airlines all fly it from around $30. Add the transfer and you are in Hoi An in about half a day.
Over 790 km, honesty matters more than romance here: most travellers fly, and they are usually right. Book two to three weeks out for the low fares.
The last hour: Da Nang to Hoi An
However you reach Da Nang, you still need the transfer. Booking it before you land is the single easiest thing you can do for this trip — nobody enjoys negotiating a fare after fifteen hours on a train.
| Option | Seats | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| G8 Limousine VIP | 28-seat, VIP row | $9 | Cheapest with real comfort |
| Vietnam Travel Limousine | 9–11 seats | $12 | Shared, a step up again |
| Private car | 4 or 7 seats | $15 | Couples, families, late arrivals |
For two people or more the private car usually wins, because it is priced per car and drops you at your hotel door. Solo travellers should take the shared seat and keep the difference.
The direct sleeper bus: no transfer at all
One service skips the Da Nang change completely: an overnight cabin bus straight from Hanoi to Hoi An, 18 to 19 hours, from $45. It is the simplest option on the page, because there is nothing to arrange at the other end.
It is also the longest. Take it if the saving matters or the transfer worries you; otherwise the flight and a $9 shuttle beat it on both time and total cost.
Adding the north to the same trip
Hoi An and Sapa sit at opposite ends of the country, and travellers usually pair them through Hanoi. The order that works is Hoi An first, then fly back to Hanoi and go up to the mountains overnight. Sapa is the leg people most often wish they had given an extra day.
→ Planning the rest: Hanoi to Sapa transport guide | Northern Vietnam transport guide
How to book this route
- Pick your Da Nang leg — fly if your trip is short, take an evening SE train if it is not, or take the direct bus to skip transfers.
- Book the train early for evening departures. SE3, SE19 and SE1 sell their 4-berth cabins first, and weekends and Tet go fast.
- Arrange the Hoi An transfer before you travel — from $9 shared, or $15 for a private car to your hotel door.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train station in Hoi An?
No. Hoi An has no railway station. The nearest is Da Nang station, 30 km north, and the road transfer from there takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Is there a direct train from Hanoi to Hoi An?
No direct train exists, because the line does not reach Hoi An. Trains run Hanoi to Da Nang, then you transfer by road. Only the sleeper bus runs all the way to Hoi An.
Which sleeper train should I take from Hanoi?
An evening departure — SE3 at 19:20, SE19 at 19:45 or SE1 at 21:45. All three reach the Hai Van Pass in daylight, and SE3 is the fastest at 15h08. Book a 4-berth cabin for about $40–45.
How long does the train from Hanoi to Da Nang take?
Between 15h08 and 18h10, depending on the service. SE3 is quickest and SE11 slowest, so the train number matters more than the day you travel.
How far is Hoi An from Hanoi?
About 770 km by road, or 820 km if you follow the railway. Da Nang is 741 km from Hanoi by road and 790 km by rail, plus the 30 km down to Hoi An.
How do I get from Hoi An back to Hanoi?
The same route reversed: transfer to Da Nang, then fly in 1h20 or take an SE train north. Flying is the fastest way back too, and the direct sleeper bus also runs in reverse.
What I would book
- Short trip, city-hopping → fly to Da Nang, pre-book a $9 shared transfer. In Hoi An by lunchtime.
- You want one great train journey → SE3 or SE19, 4-berth cabin, Hai Van in the morning light.
- Travelling as a family → fly, then a private car. The $15 door-to-door beats herding luggage onto a shuttle.
- Counting every dollar → the direct sleeper bus at $45, and nothing to arrange when you arrive.
Whichever you pick, book that last hour from Da Nang before you go. It is the cheapest part of the trip and the only one people regularly get wrong.
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