Getting around Da Nang: Grab, motorbikes and trains in 2026
The airport is five minutes from the centre. A GrabBike across town is about 40,000 VND (~$1.60). The bus to Hoi An is 30,000 VND (~$1.20), and the train to Hue over the Hai Van Pass starts at 90,000 VND (~$3.60). Da Nang is more compact than most Vietnamese cities, so you can genuinely skip renting a bike if you mix the apps right.
Getting around Da Nang is simpler than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. There is almost no gridlock, distances are short, and the main catch is that buses run rarely and stop early. The playbook: Grab for short hops, a motorbike for freedom, and Bus No. 1 for Hoi An. Below are all the options with prices in VND and a rough USD conversion (~25,000 VND = $1), current as of July 2026.
Planning the trip itself? Start with the full Da Nang guide for the big picture on districts, neighbourhoods and costs, then come back here for the moving-around part.
💬 "Da Nang is a city built for drivers. Public transport is weak and distances are longer, but that is exactly why renting a motorbike is easier here and the traffic stays calm." — r/VietNam traveller consensus, 2025
- Da Nang Airport (Sân bay quốc tế Đà Nẵng): 3–5 km from the centre — Grab or taxi 10–15 min
- Train station (Ga Đà Nẵng): Trains to Hue from 90,000 VND (~$3.60) — 4 departures a day
- Bus station (Bến xe khách Đà Nẵng): Intercity buses — Bus No. 1 to Hoi An
- Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn): 8 km from the centre — Bus 8,000 VND, entry 40,000 VND
- Ba Na Hills (Bà Nà Hills): 35 km from Da Nang — Shuttle 130–170,000 VND — Cable car 950,000 VND
- Hoi An (Hội An): 30 km from Da Nang — Bus No. 1 — 30,000 VND, 1–1.5 h
Skip the airport queue in 5–10 min
In winter, immigration lines run 60–90 min. With Fast Track you’re met at the aircraft and taken through the priority lane. Arrange it before you fly.
Telegram managerFrom the airport to the city centre
Da Nang International Airport (Sân bay quốc tế Đà Nẵng, code DAD) sits just 3–5 km from the centre — you will not find an airport closer to a Vietnamese city. From wheels-down to a hotel on My Khe Beach is about 15 minutes.
| Option | Cost | Time | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metered taxi (Vinasun / Mai Linh) | 90,000–150,000 VND (~$3.60–6) | 10–15 min | Luggage, a group, late at night |
| Grab | 70,000–120,000 VND (~$2.80–4.80) + 30,000 VND fee | 10–15 min | Cheaper than taxi, fixed price |
| Green SM | 70,000–130,000 VND (~$2.80–5.20) | 10–15 min | Electric, quiet ride |
| GrabBike | 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1.20–2) | 10 min | No luggage, solo |
| City bus | 8,000 VND (~$0.30) | 20–30 min | Daytime only, infrequent |
| Pre-booked transfer | from 200,000 VND (~$8) | 10–15 min | Arranged via 12Go, Klook or your hotel |
The Grab pickup zone is separate from the taxi rank. In the international terminal look for Lane 1 or Lane 2 outside; in the domestic terminal it is near Food & Drinks, around pillars 2–3. Arriving at night you have two options — a taxi at the rank or a Grab. Buses do not run after 18:00.
Da Nang airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights, Terminal 2 for international. They are a 5-minute walk apart. If someone is meeting you, confirm the terminal number. Taxis and Grab work at both exits, but the pickup points differ.
Skip the currency counters inside — the rate is poor. Just draw 500,000 VND from an ATM by the exit (Vietcombank or BIDV give a fair rate for foreign cards) and go. Do your main exchange in town.
Grab and Green SM — two apps instead of ten
Grab is the Vietnamese Uber, and then some. One app hails a motorbike, a car and food delivery. The whole app runs in English: you set the pin, see a fixed price up front, and pay by linked card or cash. It is the single most useful thing to install before you land.
| Service | Price (5 km) | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| GrabBike | 20,000–35,000 VND (~$0.80–1.40) | Solo, no luggage, fast |
| GrabCar | 60,000–90,000 VND (~$2.40–3.60) | Couple, air-conditioned |
| GrabCar Plus | from 100,000 VND (~$4) | Comfort, newer car |
How to use Grab in Da Nang: download the app (free on the App Store or Google Play), sign up with a phone number, add a Visa/Mastercard or choose cash. Drop the pin, see the price, confirm — a driver usually arrives in 3–7 minutes. There is an in-app chat with auto-translation, handy when your driver does not speak English.
Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) is an electric taxi service running VinFast cars. By early 2026 it had taken 54.51% of Vietnam's ride-hailing market. The cars are silent, zero-emission and clean, with USB charging; drivers get separate training. It uses its own app (iOS and Android) and prices are on par with Grab, sometimes cheaper. Be is a third Vietnamese option — it works, but there are fewer drivers and longer waits.
💬 "For most travellers in 2026 the most effective strategy is Grab for city rides, and a motorbike or private car for Ba Na Hills or Hoi An." — dananglocals.com, 2025
Metered taxis — Vinasun and Mai Linh
Da Nang has two reliable taxi fleets: Vinasun (white with a green stripe) and Mai Linh (green). The meter starts automatically and there is no haggling.
| Item | Vinasun | Mai Linh |
|---|---|---|
| Flag drop (first 0.5–0.7 km) | 11,000–12,000 VND (~$0.45) | 12,000–15,000 VND (~$0.50–0.60) |
| Per km after | 14,000–17,000 VND (~$0.56–0.68) | 14,000–17,000 VND (~$0.56–0.68) |
| 7-seater | No | Yes (Toyota Innova) |
A typical 5 km ride is 70,000–100,000 VND (~$2.80–4). Since 1 January 2025 (Decree No. 158/2024/ND-CP) it is officially legal to agree a fixed fare with drivers, but in Da Nang the meter still works out cheaper.
When does a taxi beat Grab? When you are four people with two suitcases, or you need a car right now rather than after a 7-minute app wait. Late at night it is easier to grab one from a hotel rank than to wait for a driver in the app.
To spot a legit taxi: a logo on the door and a plate sticker on the windscreen. If the driver will not start the meter, get out. Scams are rare in Da Nang, but freelance "drivers" sometimes tout inflated fares near the airport.
Getting set up in Vietnam?
SIM, visas, transfers, tours — our manager sorts it out for you, in English.
Message the managerCity buses — DanaBus
Twenty routes, 730 stops, run by DanaBus. The buses have air-con and electronic displays. The one problem: they run rarely and stop early.
| Route type | Numbers | Fare | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidised | 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 | 8,000 VND (~$0.30) | 15–30 min |
| Non-subsidised | 02, 03, 09, 13, 14, 21 | 8,000–30,000 VND (~$0.30–1.20) | 20–30 min |
Buses run 5:00 to 21:00, but most routes wrap up by around 18:10. You pay the conductor in cash, and change is often short — keep small notes handy.
Three routes worth knowing:
- Bus No. 1 — Da Nang to Hoi An. 30,000 VND (~$1.20), every 20–30 min, 5:30 to 17:50.
- Buses No. 1, 2, 11, 16 — to the Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn). 8,000 VND.
- Airport buses — they exist, but run irregularly; do not count on them.
For navigation, the DanaBus app (free) shows routes and live bus positions; Google Maps also knows the timetable, and the site is danangbus.vn. Before a trip, open DanaBus, punch in your destination and it shows the route number, nearest stop and time to the next bus.
Between 2026 and 2030 the city plans five new routes, including one to the Son Tra tourist area. For now the network covers the centre and main directions, but the more distant beaches and outer districts are easier by bike or Grab.
Renting a motorbike
A bike is the most flexible way to move. Rent it in the morning and in one day you can loop the Marble Mountains, Non Nước beach and be back over the Dragon Bridge by dinner. Grab cannot do that.
| Type | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Manual (Honda Wave, Yamaha Sirius) | 100,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6) | 1.5–2M VND (~$60–80) |
| Maxi-scooter (Honda PCX, Honda SH) | 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) | 3–4M VND (~$120–160) |
| Electric bike | from 80,000 VND/day (~$3.20) | 1–1.5M VND (~$40–60) |
Where to rent: most shops cluster around My Khe beach — on Nguyen Van Thoai, Ha Bong and Ho Nghinh streets. Search Google Maps for "Motorbike for rent Da Nang" and message a shop on WhatsApp or Zalo to have a bike delivered to your hotel. Online platforms include BikesBooking and Localrent.
Traffic in Da Nang is calmer than in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. The roads are wide, there are lane markings and drivers behave predictably. If you have riding experience, Da Nang is a good place to do it. Total beginners should practise on empty streets first, or take an electric bike — slower and easier to handle.
Helmets are mandatory; riding without one is a 200,000–300,000 VND fine. Shops usually give a helmet for free, but check it is a full-size one, not a flimsy "shell."
Petrol is about 25,000 VND a litre and Petrolimex stations are all over the city. A full tank on a Honda Wave covers 150–200 km — enough for a couple of days around town.
Da Nang to Hoi An
30 km, anywhere from 30 minutes by car to an hour and a half by bus. Hội An is the top day trip out of Da Nang — the Old Town, the lanterns, An Bang beach — and getting there is easy.
| Option | Cost | Time | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus No. 1 | 30,000 VND (~$1.20) | 1–1.5 h | Cheap, every 20–30 min |
| Grab (car) | 250,000–400,000 VND (~$10–16) | 30–40 min | Fast, door to door |
| Tourist shuttle | 100,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6) | 40–50 min | Comfortable, air-con |
| Motorbike | ~50,000 VND fuel (~$2) | 30–40 min | Freedom, scenic road |
| Private transfer | from 400,000 VND (~$16) | 30 min | Easy with family, book ahead |
Bus No. 1 is the best budget option. It leaves from Da Nang bus station (Bến xe khách Đà Nẵng) and terminates at Hoi An bus station (67 Nguyen Tat Thanh). Pay the conductor in cash. Last departure is 17:50, so don't miss it.
You don't have to board at the bus station — the route crosses the whole city with stops on the main streets. DanaBus and Google Maps show every intermediate stop, so you can catch it from My Khe too; just find the nearest stop in the app.
By bike the road is a treat in itself. You ride along the coast past beaches, rice paddies and fishing villages. Take the coastal Trường Sa road rather than the expressway — it is about 40 minutes, but you will want to stop at every bend.
Want to head back to Da Nang in the evening after the last bus has gone? Grab works from Hoi An, but there are fewer cars and a 10–15 minute wait. Or just stay the night — Hoi An has plenty of places from around 300,000 VND (~$12) a night.
Da Nang to Hue
100 km over the Hải Vân Pass — one of the most beautiful mountain roads in Southeast Asia. Or 2 hours 48 minutes on the train, hugging the coast the whole way.
| Option | Cost | Time | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 90,000–250,000 VND (~$3.60–10) | 2h 48m | Comfy, scenic, no traffic |
| Bus | from 100,000 VND (~$4) | 2.5–3 h | Cheap |
| Grab / taxi | from 1,200,000 VND (~$48) | 1.5–2 h | Handy for a group |
| Motorbike | ~100,000 VND fuel (~$4) | 2–2.5 h | The pass is a must-ride |
The train is the sweet spot for most people. It leaves from Ga Đà Nẵng station in the city centre — 4 departures a day, earliest 01:59, latest 23:20. Operators are Vietnam Railways and Lotus Train. Classes run hard seat (~$7), soft seat (~$9) and sleeper (~$10). Book on 12go.asia or at the station counter.
Riding the Hai Van Pass yourself is a proper adventure. The switchbacks climb to 500 metres with ocean on one side and mountains on the other — Top Gear once called it one of the best roads in the world. The tarmac is good, but you need riding experience and you should never set off in the rain: visibility drops to nothing and the bends are sharp.
The route in short: leave Da Nang north on the QL1A; after 20 km the climb begins. At the top are a viewpoint and an old French fort; the descent drops to the town of Lang Co and its lovely lagoon, then it is highway to Hue. Budget 3–4 hours with photo stops.
Not keen to risk the bike? Buses cross the pass too, though most take the 6.3 km Hai Van Tunnel instead — faster, but no views.
If you are lining up a day out to Hue, it is one of the best trips from Da Nang: catch a morning train and come back on an evening one.
Getting to Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
Bà Nà Hillsis 35 km from Da Nang up in the mountains: the Golden Bridge (yes, the "Hands of God" one from Instagram), a French village and a cable car. You can get there on your own, with a few caveats.
| Option | Cost | Time | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle bus | 130,000–170,000 VND (~$5.20–7) return | 45–60 min | Budget, organised |
| Grab / taxi | 400,000–600,000 VND (~$16–24) one way | 45 min | Flexible timing |
| Private transfer | from 650,000 VND (~$26) return | 45 min | With family, no hassle |
| Organised tour | 1,200,000–2,000,000 VND (~$48–80) | Full day | All-inclusive |
| Motorbike | ~50,000 VND fuel (~$2) | 45–60 min | Experienced riders only, mountain switchbacks |
Shuttles leave central Da Nang around 7:30–8:00 and head back 15:30–16:00. Book through a tour desk or Klook.
The cable car up is 950,000 VND (~$38) for foreigners. That covers the ride up, the ride down and access to the main attractions.
By bike the road is interesting: the first 20 km are ordinary highway, then the mountain switchbacks begin. The tarmac is good but the corners are tight, and on a cloudy day visibility drops. Fine for experienced riders; if you only got on a bike last week, take the shuttle.
The whole Ba Na Hills complex takes 4–6 hours to see. Leave Da Nang no later than 8:00.
Getting to the Marble Mountains
Ngũ Hành Sơn (the Marble Mountains) is just 8 km from central Da Nang: five limestone hills with pagodas, caves and city views. It is the easiest of the lot to reach.
| Option | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bus No. 1, 2, 11 or 16 | 8,000 VND (~$0.30) | 20–30 min |
| Grab | 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.40) | 15 min |
| Motorbike | ~10,000 VND fuel (~$0.40) | 15 min |
Entry to the Marble Mountains is 40,000 VND (~$1.60) and the lift up is 15,000 VND (~$0.60). Start at Gate 2 — the climb is easier from there and the lift is nearby.
On the bus, get off at the Non Nuoc stop. Tell the conductor "Ngũ Hành Sơn" and they will understand. For the way back, a Grab is 2–3 minutes away with a stand right at the entrance.
Next to the mountains are a stone-carving village and Non Nuoc beach. On a bike you can do the caves, a swim and be back in half a day. Check the local weather first — in the rainy season (October–December) the climb gets slippery.
Common mistakes and what to know
Da Nang is mellower than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, but a couple of things still catch people out.
Fake taxis.Freelance "drivers" with no markings may approach you at the airport exit, and the fare comes out 3–4x higher. Head to the official taxi rank or order a Grab.
Buses give no change.The conductor won't break big notes. 5,000 and 10,000 VND notes are what you want; don't board with a 500,000.
Riding without a licence.Da Nang police check for an IDP on the road, and the fine starts at 800,000 VND. If your home licence has no motorcycle (A) category, don't rent a bike. Electric bikes under 50cc need no licence, but check the rental terms.
Grab at the airport.The Grab pickup zone is not at the taxi rank. International terminal: Lanes 1–2 outside. Can't find it? Ask staff, "Where is the Grab pick-up?"
Crossing the road.The classic Vietnam move: walk slowly and steadily, don't stop, don't run. The motorbikes will flow around you. It sounds insane, but it works.
The last bus. Most DanaBus routes finish by around 18:00. Plan for it if you have gone far from the centre.
Bike insurance.Rentals do not include insurance. Fall off and the repair and any treatment are on you. Standard travel insurance with motorbike cover — and it usually only pays out if you hold a valid IDP — is worth having; a scratch on someone else's bike can run 3–5M VND (~$120–200).
Parking. Bike parking is 5,000–10,000 VND. Malls and the main sightshave guarded lots: you hand over the bike, get a tag, and show it plus the fee on the way out. Don't lose the tag — no tag, no bike.
Fuel.Petrolimex stations have green signs with a red logo. A litre of A95 is about 25,000 VND. Some pumps are self-service, but usually an attendant fills up — say "đầy bình" (full tank) or point to the amount.
Handy Vietnamese phrases for getting around
| Phrase | Vietnamese | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| How much? | Bao nhiêu tiền? | bow nyew tien? |
| Full tank | Đầy bình | day binh |
| Stop here | Dừng ở đây | zung uh day |
| Let's go! | Đi thôi! | dee thoy! |
| Right / left | Rẽ phải / Rẽ trái | zeh fai / zeh chai |
FAQ
How much is a Grab from Da Nang airport to the city?
A GrabCar runs 70,000–120,000 VND (~$2.80–4.80), plus a 30,000 VND airport pickup fee paid in cash to the driver. A GrabBike with no luggage is 30,000–50,000 VND. Surge pricing in rain or in the evening pushes the fare up about 1.5x.
Do I need an international licence to rent a motorbike in Da Nang?
Yes. You need an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1968 Vienna Convention with the motorcycle (A) category, plus a valid home licence covering motorcycles. Da Nang police check regularly and fines start around 800,000 VND (~$32). Electric bikes under 50cc technically need no licence. Note that US-issued IDPs are 1949-Convention and not formally recognised in Vietnam.
How do I get from Da Nang to Hoi An?
It is about 30 km. The yellow Bus No. 1 is cheapest at 30,000 VND (~$1.20) and runs every 20–30 minutes. A Grab car is 250,000–400,000 VND door to door in 30–40 minutes, tourist shuttles are 100,000–150,000 VND, and a motorbike along the coast is the most scenic option. See the full Hoi An guide for what to do once you arrive.
How do I get from Da Nang to Hue?
It is 100 km over the Hai Van Pass. The scenic train takes about 2h48m for 90,000–250,000 VND (~$3.60–10). Buses cost from 100,000 VND, most going through the tunnel rather than the pass. Riding the pass yourself is one of the great rides in Southeast Asia. See the Hue guide for the imperial city itself.
Can I pay for a taxi in Da Nang with a card?
In-app services like Grab and Green SM accept Visa and Mastercard linked to your account. Street-hailed metered taxis (Vinasun, Mai Linh) are cash-first — keep small VND notes. ATMs at Vietcombank or BIDV give fair rates for foreign cards.
Is there Uber in Da Nang?
No. Uber left Vietnam in 2018 after selling its business to Grab. Use Grab, Green SM (electric) or Be instead — all of them work in English.
Which is best for getting to My Khe Beach from the centre?
My Khe Beach is only 2–3 km from the centre. A GrabBike is 15,000–25,000 VND (~$0.60–1) and takes about 5 minutes. If you are staying near the Dragon Bridge you can walk it in roughly 15 minutes.
Where can I check Da Nang train times?
The easiest place is 12go.asia — schedules, prices and online booking in English. You can also buy at the counter of Ga Đà Nẵng station (open 6:00–22:00). Vietnam Railways and Lotus Train run to Hue, Hanoi, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City.
Prices current as of July 2026. Fares and conditions can change — confirm with official sources before you travel.