Hoi An Travel Guide
Getting from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An
By SmileJet Editorial Team · Updated May 2026
Hoi An has no airport. All international flights use Da Nang Airport (DAD), 30 km north of Hoi An's Ancient Town. The transfer is straightforward — 30–40 minutes by Grab or taxi, A$7–12 depending on option. This page explains every option.
Da Nang Airport → Hoi An: all options
| Option | Time | Cost (AUD approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab Car | 30–40 min | A$7–10 | Most recommended. Book inside the terminal on the Grab app. Select GrabCar (4-seat). Driver meets you at the ride-hail zone — not the taxi ranks. Works even on first arrival if you have mobile data or Vietnamese SIM. |
| Taxi (metered) | 30–40 min | A$10–14 | Mai Linh and Vinasun taxis are reputable. Ensure the meter is running. Available outside arrivals. Slightly more expensive than Grab but reliable. |
| Fixed-price hotel shuttle | 45–60 min | A$15–25 | Many Hoi An hotels offer airport pickups. Book in advance. May stop at multiple hotels. Convenient if you have a lot of luggage. |
| Pre-booked private transfer | 30–40 min | A$20–35 | SmileJet can arrange with the Da Nang partner clinic's coordination. Driver meets you at arrivals with a name board. Recommended for first-time arrivals or late-night flights. |
| Public bus (route 1) | 60–90 min | A$1–2 | Very cheap but slow and requires transfers. Not recommended with luggage. Operates from outside the terminal. |
Getting to the Da Nang partner clinic during your trip
Grab is the primary option
Grab is the standard way to travel between Hoi An and Da Nang partner clinics. The Hoi An → Da Nang clinic Grab fare is typically A$5–7 each way (VND 70,000–100,000). Book via the Grab app on your phone. A Vietnamese SIM card (available at the airport for ~A$10) gives you mobile data for the whole trip.
Travel time to clinic
Hoi An Ancient Town to the Da Nang partner clinic is 25–35 minutes depending on traffic. Morning rush (7–9am) can add 10–15 minutes. Book Grab 15 minutes before you need to leave — not 5 minutes. Allow 45 minutes buffer for early appointment times.
Vietnamese SIM card
Buy a Viettel or Vietnamobile SIM at Da Nang Airport arrivals immediately on landing. A$8–12 for 7–10 days of data. This enables Grab for both the airport transfer and all clinic commutes during your trip. Without data, you are reliant on hotel wifi for Grab bookings.
SmileJet clinic coordination
SmileJet-referred patients can request appointment times that avoid peak traffic. All clinic appointments are scheduled with travel time from Hoi An accounted for — early appointments are set no earlier than 9am to allow for a comfortable Grab departure.
Practical arrival tips for dental patients
Airport transfer FAQ — Hoi An
Can I use Grab straight from Da Nang Airport on arrival?
Yes — Grab works at Da Nang Airport. There is a designated ride-hail pickup zone at the arrivals level. Book in the app and walk to the zone. You need mobile data (Vietnamese SIM or a working roaming plan) to book. If you don't have a SIM yet, buy one in the terminal before calling a Grab.
How long is the journey from the airport to the Ancient Town?
Typically 30–40 minutes by Grab or taxi. Traffic on the coastal road (Nguyen Tat Thanh and Lac Long Quan) can slow things during the late afternoon (4–6pm). Morning arrivals generally clear the journey in 30 minutes. Evening arrivals may take 40–50 minutes.
Are there direct flights from Australia to Da Nang?
Bamboo Airways and VietJet operate seasonal direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne. Most Australian passengers connect through Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi (VietJet, Bamboo), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), or Bangkok (Thai Airways). Flight time from Sydney to Da Nang with a connection is approximately 10–12 hours total.
What about returning to Da Nang Airport at the end of the trip?
Grab from the Ancient Town to Da Nang Airport is A$7–10, approximately 30–40 minutes. Allow 90 minutes before departure — 40 minutes travel plus 45–50 minutes for check-in. International check-in at Da Nang Airport can be slow during peak departure slots (morning and afternoon).
Getting to your Da Nang clinic on appointment days
The Hoi An to Da Nang clinic commute is a routine part of every Hoi An dental trip. Here is how SmileJet-recommended patients manage it across a 7-day trip.
Grab from Ancient Town
Open the Grab app, set your destination to the clinic address (provided in your SmileJet brief in Vietnamese), and select GrabCar. The ride from most Ancient Town accommodations takes 25–35 minutes and costs A$5–8. Book in advance during busy periods (7:30–8:30am). You do not need to pre-schedule — Grab availability in this corridor is reliable during the day.
Timing your clinic days
SmileJet schedules appointment starts from 9am. Leaving your accommodation by 8:15am gives a comfortable buffer. Most patients are back in Hoi An Ancient Town by 1–2pm on clinic days, leaving the afternoon for Ancient Town exploration. On surgery days, allow for a longer clinic stay — your SmileJet brief specifies this.
Grab home after sedation
If you have IV sedation for a surgical procedure, you cannot operate a vehicle and should not Grab alone. Plan for a travel companion, or confirm with SmileJet that the clinic's own transfer service is available for your procedure day. This applies to All-on-4 surgery and any procedure involving sedation.
Across all appointment days
A standard 7-day Hoi An veneer trip involves 2–3 Grab trips to the clinic. A standard 10-day All-on-4 trip (Trip 1) involves 4–5 clinic days. Total Grab spend for all clinic transfers across a veneer trip: approximately A$30–48. Across an All-on-4 surgical trip: approximately A$50–70. Both amounts are negligible relative to treatment savings.
Da Nang Airport (DAD) to Hoi An: 4 transport options compared
Grab Car
Book inside the terminal on the Grab app before exiting arrivals. Select GrabCar (4-seat) or GrabCar XL if you have significant luggage. The ride-hail zone is at the ground level outside arrivals — not the taxi rank (which is adjacent but separate). Requires mobile data or airport WiFi to book. Buy a Vietnamese SIM first if this is your first Vietnam arrival.
Metered taxi (Mai Linh, Vinasun)
Reputable taxi companies Mai Linh (green) and Vinasun (white) operate from the arrivals taxi rank. Ensure the meter is running before departure. Avoid taxis that approach you inside the terminal — use the official rank. Slightly more expensive than Grab but no app or data required. Good option on first arrival before buying a SIM.
Hotel fixed-price shuttle
Pre-book with your Hoi An hotel. Most Ancient Town hotels offer airport pickups for a fixed fee. Driver meets you at arrivals with a name board. May stop at other hotels before yours. Convenient if you have large bags or are arriving very late when Grab is less reliable. Book 48 hours in advance.
Private car (pre-booked)
Pre-booked private car with a named driver meeting you at arrivals. SmileJet can arrange this through the Da Nang partner clinic's coordination for first-trip patients or late-night flights. Recommended if you are arriving after 10pm, travelling solo for the first time, or have complex luggage requirements.
Booking airport transfer for dental patients: timing tips
The Viettel and Vietnamobile SIM kiosks are in the Da Nang Airport arrivals hall, immediately after customs. Buy a 7-10 day data SIM (approximately A$10) before exiting arrivals. This SIM enables Grab for both the airport transfer and all clinic commutes during your trip. Without it, you rely on airport or hotel WiFi.
Open the Grab app in the terminal (airport WiFi works for this), enter your Hoi An hotel address as the destination, and confirm the booking before walking to the ride-hail zone. By the time you reach the zone, your driver is typically already assigned. This avoids the walk to the zone and then waiting.
Grab availability at Da Nang Airport after 9pm can be reduced. If you are arriving late, book a hotel pickup or pre-arranged private car rather than relying on Grab. Most Hoi An hotels offer airport pickups for a fixed fee — confirm this when booking accommodation.
Da Nang international arrivals can be slow during peak periods (morning arrivals from Singapore, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City). Allow 45-60 minutes from wheels-down to arrivals hall during peak hours. Your Da Nang clinic appointment is typically scheduled from Day 2 to allow for arrival-day rest — no need to rush from the airport.
Getting from Hoi An back to Da Nang Airport (DAD) for departure
The return journey from Hoi An Ancient Town to Da Nang Airport is a Grab or taxi. Allow more time than you think — the Ancient Town car-free zone requires a 2-5 minute walk to the Grab pickup point before the 30-40 minute journey to the airport.
Standard international departure
Grab from Hoi An to Da Nang Airport takes 30-40 minutes. International check-in at Da Nang Airport should allow 90 minutes before departure. Connections to Singapore, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City: most airlines require 120 minutes before departure for international check-in. Leave your Hoi An accommodation 100-110 minutes before scheduled departure.
Early morning departure (before 8am)
Early morning Grab availability from Hoi An can be limited before 6:30am. For very early flights, book a pre-arranged private car the evening before through your hotel. The hospital or resort concierge can arrange a car for departure at 4-5am if needed. Confirm the night before, not the morning of.
Post-final-appointment departure
If your final Da Nang clinic appointment is on the day of your departure flight, depart directly from the clinic to the airport. Your SmileJet brief will flag this day and confirm appointment timing so you reach the airport with adequate check-in time. Most final veneer or crown fitting appointments are 45-90 minutes — schedule no later than 12pm for an afternoon or evening departure.
Ready to plan your Hoi An dental trip?
SmileJet coordinates your Da Nang partner clinic appointment schedule with your Hoi An base. All logistics, from airport transfer to clinic appointment timing, are handled.