How to get from Hoi An to Bana Hills | Bus, Private Car & Scooter
Number 1 Amusement Park in Da Nang
Today, I’ll explain the best ways to travel from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills.
Ba Na Hills is often called “the Disneyland of Vietnam” (honestly, it’s far from that, let’s be real) and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country, especially known for its French village, its French-style gardens, and above all, the Golden Bridge, a suspension bridge held up by two giant hands that took Instagram by storm when it opened.
Located 55 kilometers from Hoi An (about a 1.5-hour drive), there are plenty of options to travel from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills. It’s the ideal spot for a day trip. However, I know there’s an overwhelming amount of information on this topic, often not up to date.
I’ve put together a summary guide on 3 transportation options to get from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills.
Ba Na Hills in Brief
Originally founded by the French in the early 1900s as a cool-climate resort nearly 1,500 meters above sea level, Ba Na Hills offers breathtaking views of Da Nang city.
Despite the high altitude and surrounding forest, you don’t need to put on your hiking boots to reach Ba Na Hills. Instead, the Ba Na Hills cable car — the longest and highest in the world—takes you to the top in under 20 minutes.
What time to leave Hoi An to arrive at Ba Na Hills opening?
If you’re going by private car or scooter, the trip from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills takes about 1.5 hours.
Since Ba Na Hills opens at 8:00 a.m., you’ll need to leave Hoi An by 6:00 a.m. to arrive right when the park opens.
Arriving at 7:30 a.m. allows you to wait comfortably until 8:00 a.m. and avoid the tourist buses that arrive later.
Taking a Bus from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills
There is no direct bus from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills. The best option is to take bus number 2 from Hoi An to Da Nang bus station. From there, you’ll need to reach Ba Na Hills by taxi, private car, or a shuttle like the one offered by Da Nang Green (https://dananggreen.com/en/daily-tour/shuttle-bus-from-da-nang-to-ba-na-hills.html). The shuttle costs 140,000 VND per adult (round trip).
While the public bus is an extremely affordable option, depending on your group size, it’s relatively slow, the vehicle change can be cumbersome, and schedules are fixed.
This journey takes around 4 hours in total (bus + shuttle) for a round trip. As a result, it’s quite time-consuming and limits the amount of time you’ll have to explore Ba Na Hills.
Private Car from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills
Renting a private car with a driver to get from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills is a hassle-free and relatively affordable option. It’s similar to hiring a taxi, but much cheaper.
The advantage of a private car is that the driver will pick you up directly from your hotel and drop you off there upon return. This option also lets you decide your departure time and how long you’d like to spend at Ba Na Hills. Your driver will either wait for you in the parking lot or arrange a pickup time.
2 Things to Know
- Drivers drop you off at the park entrance, but the catch is they aren’t allowed to pick you up directly there for the return. You’ll need to take the park’s free shuttle, which takes you to the parking area where the drivers are stationed.
- Prices may vary depending on the length of your visit. Some drivers offer lower rates but limit waiting time to 1 or 2 hours and charge extra for additional wait time. This is usually too short for a proper visit to Ba Na Hills and can end up costing more.
Round-trip Prices for Hoi An to Ba Na Hills by Private Car
| 4-seater car | 7-seater car | |
| Hoi – Bana Hills – Hoi An | 1.100.000 VND | 1.200.000 VND |
My Recommendation
One of the private car services with a driver that I love the most is Hoi An Transport Service ( 177 reviews on Trip Advisor ). The benefits are numerous: a 6-hour visit time at Ba Na Hills, fixed prices, and responses in both English and French.
Getting from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills by Scooter
Among all the ways to get around in Vietnam, by far the most popular is the scooter, with over 58 million vehicles across the country. No matter where you’ve been, you’ve surely noticed the flow of scooters in the streets. If you’ve passed through Hanoi or Saigon, you know what I’m talking about.
While it may not be the fastest route from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills, I consider it the most rewarding in terms of scenery and freedom. But with such freedom comes planning! Which routes to take, where to rent a scooter, fuel to buy, and parking to find. But don’t worry, I’ll explain everything.
When riding from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills by scooter, there are different routes you can take. Some are particularly long and challenging, so I recommend following the route below.
Top Companies in Hoi An that I recommend:
- Style Motorbikes (scooter at $10 per day for the cheapest option)
- Hoianit (scooter at $8 per day for the cheapest option)
They are slightly more expensive than the scooters your hotel might rent you, but they often offer 24/7 phone support, quality scooters and parts, and roadside repair coverage.
The Fastest Route by Scooter from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills
This route starts by taking you along the QL1A highway, about 9 kilometers west of Hoi An. Depending on the time of day, Google Maps may show different routes between Hoi An and the highway, but they’re all roughly the same. Once you reach the QL1A highway, stay on it for about 15 kilometers, then head west along the QL14B highway for 5 kilometers.
Next, turn right and drive northwest along the AH1 highway for 4 kilometers. Finally, turn left to head west along Ba Na Suoi Mo for about 10 kilometers. This is a six-lane, divided highway built to reach the base of Ba Na. For the most part, the roads are in good condition and are not too crowded. It’s a comfortable choice with relatively well-lit roads, making for a stress-free drive.
