Hue is located in central Vietnam and used to be the imperial capital. The main landmark is the Perfume River. Other important places to see include the Citadel and the old city. With a changeable weather, bringing an umbrella when traveling to Hue is a must. And if you dislike humidity, it’s best to come here during summer.
Hoi An is located just south of Da Nang. Its old city has been added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pack your walking shoes, as negotiation the city center on foot is the best option.
Quick summary
It’s easy to get between Hue and Hoi An. The only thing influencing your choice will the budget. Tours cost quite a lot and many people don’t like them. But whether you take the train to Da Nang and then the bus to Hoi An or travel the entire distance from Hue to Hoi An by bus, you won’t pay much at all. The travel time is about 4 hours by bus.
Trains from Hue to Hoi An
Hoi An is not served by a railway station, but the closest one is in Da Nang. The North-South Reunification main line links Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and passes through both Hue and Da Nang.
There are six departures per day. Trains leave Hue at 1:18 a.m., 4:48 a.m., 6:12 a.m., 8:02 a.m, 10:50 a.m. and 7:12 p.m. The travel time to Da Nang is 3 hours.
On the way back, catch the trains from Da Nang at 12:06 p.m., 2:42 p.m., 4:50 p.m. 10:34 a.m., 11:27 p.m. and 6:58 a.m.
Fares start at 67000 Dongs /US$3.21 for a soft seat (AC) one way. You do need a reservation for the ticket, so head to railway station some time before the train leaves (or even get the reservation a day or two before if you can). You don’t really need to book to far in advance though.
From Da Nang, either take a bus or a taxi to Hoi An, which is located about 30 km from Da Nang. The bus fare is about US$3 and the travel time is about 45 min to 1 h.
>>read more about Train Travel in Vietnam
Buses from Hue to Hoi An
You can show up at the bus station in Hue and get a ticket to Hoi An without a problem. You can also get a bus ticket via various travel agents or the personnel at the hotel/hostel you are staying at can get one for you. Either way it’s not expensive (US$5 to US$10 one way, depending on the company).
You can also opt for the “open tour” bus service. It leaves Hoi An at 8 a.m and the travel time is 4 hours to Hue. Or you can opt for a tour from Hue to Hoi An (and back). You can find details and prices here .
>>read more about Bus Travel in Vietnam
Driving from Hue to Hoi An
You can rent a car in Hue and drive the 123 km to Hoi An in about 2 hours (according to Google Maps). Or you can drive to Da Nang and from there rent a motorcycle for the rest of the trip.
You don’t have to be a fashionista to appreciate having nice clothes to wear. But most of the time, you do get what you pay for – which means budget travelers who are more intent on travel than on accumulating “stuff” will pass over quality clothing pieces in favor of saving that money for a trip. But more travelers are discovering the custom tailoring done in Hoi An for a fraction of what it would cost anywhere else in the world. So in this case, you really can have your cake and eat it, too.