How to Get from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is billed as ‘Vietnam’s own Disneyland’ and is one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations. With picturesque views, distinctive gothic architecture and a world-renowned fantasy park, it is easy to see why. Despite being 45 kilometres apart, there are plenty of options for travelling from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills.  It is the perfect location for a day trip. However, Hidden knows there’s an overwhelming amount of information out there on this subject!  So we have put together a useful summary guide on how to get from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills.

The Ba Na Hills

Originally founded by the French in the early 1900s as a cool climate getaway resort almost 1,500 metres above sea level, the Ba Na Hills boast stunning views over Da Nang city. Despite its great elevation and surrounding forestry, you don’t need to put on your hiking boots to reach the Ba Na Hills. Instead the world’s longest and highest cable car takes you to the views up-top in under 20 minutes. 

There is plenty to do in Ba Na Hills from visiting the Golden Hand Bridge to dining at world-class restaurants.  Read our full article ‘Complete guide to visiting Ba Na Hills’ for all the details.

Transport from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills 

Mode	Journey Time	Price (VND)	Price (USD)
Public Bus (return journey)	1 to 1.5 hours for the bus journey to Danang Central Bus Station + 45 minutes from there to Ba Na Hills	50,000 for the bus journey to Danang Central Station + additional costs for transportation from there to Ba Na Hills	2
Shuttle Bus (return journey)	All day trip: 8.a.m - 5.p.m (including 1.5 hour journey each way)	350,000 (Adult) Free (Child under 1m tall)	15
Taxi/FastGo/Grab (one way)	1.5 hours	700,000 to 800,000	30 to 35
Private car (Return)	1.5 hour journey each way (driver waits at Ba Na Hills for a prearranged return time)	1,150,000 return trip for maximum 3 people 1,260,000 return trip for maximum 5 people 1,480,000 return trip for maximum 12 people	50 for 3 people 55 for 5 people 65 for 12 people
Motorbike	Approximately 1.5 hours	N/A	N/A
Easy Rider Tour	All day with multiple stops	1,150,000	50
Guided Tour	All day with multiple stops	690,000	30

Getting a Bus to Ba Na Hills from Hoi An

Public Bus

The public bus offers one of the most affordable ways of getting from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills. It’s a great option for those travelling on a tight budget. Despite the public buses being cheap, the journey is often more complicated and confusing than the other available transport options. Buses in Vietnam come with the expected complications associated with any public transport.  However, knowing where you need to be and when you need to be there, allows you to enjoy the ‘local’ way of getting to Ba Na Hills. 

The buses depart from Ben Xe Hoi An Bu Station, located a 15-minute walk from central Hoi An. From here Bus Number 1 travels to Da Nang and departs every 20 minutes from 5.30.a.m until 5.30.p.m, taking approximately one and a half hours. Please note that the public bus route only takes you to Da Nang Central Station.  Therefore you will need alternative transport to complete the journey to Ba Na Hills. For more information on getting from Da Nang to Ba Na Hills, please visit our article here. 

Hidden Hint: The public bus ticket price is often inflated for tourists, with tickets costing around 50,000 VND (2 USD).

Whilst using the public bus is an extremely affordable option, depending on the size of your group, taking other modes of transportation could be cheaper and more convenient. This is because this travel route takes approximately five hours in total to complete a return journey. Therefore making it very time-consuming and limiting the time you have to explore Ba Na Hills.  

Shuttle Buses

Language barriers and reliance on bus schedules can make public transport daunting and confusing for some. Therefore travelling to Ba Na Hills from Hoi An by a Shuttle Bus can be a great alternative. Whilst not only a more comfortable and convenient option, they are also fairly cheap, especially if you are travelling by yourself and a great way to meet other tourists. 

There are a limited amount of companies that offer a shuttle bus service from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills but one company that does is Hoi An Food Tour. Their shuttle buses depart at 8.a.m from your hotel and returns at 5.p.m. The journey takes approximately one and a half hours, which allows for a whole day of exploring all that Ba Na Hills offers. Booking: Book via the website

Getting a Taxi or FastGo/Grab from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills

Taxi

If you are looking for the most convenient way of travelling to Ba Na Hills, consider hiring a taxi. This is a great option, especially if you decide to spontaneously take the trip or are waiting on the weather. We understand the frustration of sometimes wanting to get somewhere as quickly as possible, without set pick-up times and itineraries. Whilst Hoi An taxis are almost always reliable and taxi scams are rare, there are a few things to be aware of before taking the journey by taxi. 

Despite taxis being readily available in Hoi An, we advise not to hail a taxi on the street. By doing this, you are likely to increase the cost of the journey significantly. Instead, we suggest negotiating a flat rate first.  Or alternatively, there are plenty of other ways to hire a taxi. If you are staying in a hotel or hostel, simply ask reception to call one for you. Alternatively, call them yourself. The main taxi company used in Hoi An is Mai Linh (0235 3929 292).

Hidden Hint: Remember to arrange a return journey,  not doing so could leave you in the sticky situation of being overcharged by a local taxi especially being located in a somewhat isolated tourist hotspot. 

FastGo/Grab

There is however an alternative, even more convenient way of hiring taxis in both Hoi An and the Ba Na Hills. Mobile ride-hailing apps such as FastGo and Grab offer cheaper prices than taxis.  They are available for hire wherever you are located, at a time that suits you. 

A FastGo or Grab 4-seater car from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills costs on average between 730,000 VND to 800,000 VND (31 to 35 USD) one-way. You can also rent a FastGo or Grab bike which are considerably cheaper. To do this, just download the FastGo or Grab app to your phone and start using it as soon as you wish to book a ride! 

Private Car from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills

If you want to avoid the hassle of booking or waiting around for taxis or buses, then hiring a private car to get from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills is an easy option. Similar to renting a taxi but considerably less expensive. A private car offers the convenience of picking and dropping off right outside your hotel. It also allows you the flexibility to decide how much time you wish to spend in Ba Na Hills. Meaning there is no frustration trying to sort a ride back at the end of the day.  Your driver will either be waiting for you in the carpark or will have arranged a time to pick you up. 

Renting a car provides additional comfort, convenience and flexibility benefits when travelling from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills. These benefits are likely to include a bottle of water for the journey, aircon and help purchasing tickets on arrival at Ba Na Hills. In Vietnam, renting a private car is exceptionally cheap, especially when travelling with a much larger group where the price can be split. However, depending on the company the prices vary. Renting a private car from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills should take approximately one to one and a half hours. One company that offers this service is Da Nang Transfer. 

Da Nang Transfer Private Car

Website – Price: 1,150,000 VND (50 USD) return trip for maximum 3 people, 1,260,000 VND (55 USD) return trip for maximum 5 people, 1,480,000 VND (65 USD) return trip for maximum 12 people (all including driver waiting time at Ba Na Hills) – Duration: Approximately 1 to 1.5 hours – Booking: Via the website

Getting from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills by Motorbike

Of all the ways to get around Vietnam, the most popular by far is motorbike. With over 58 million of them throughout Vietnam!  So no matter where you have been throughout the country, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the stream of bikes flying through the streets.  here in Hoi An it is no different. Especially when you take into account its coastal location and historical French and Chinese architecture. It’s easy to understand why driving around Hoi An on two wheels is so popular. 

Although it may not be the quickest route to get from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills, it is considered the most rewarding in terms of scenery and autonomy. But with such freedom comes planning! Routes to be mapped, bikes to be rented, fuel to be bought and parking to be sought. But don’t worry Hidden has you covered.

When driving from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills by motorbike there are various routes to take. Some are particularly time-consuming and difficult so Hidden recommends you take the following journey.

The Quickest Motorbike Route from Hoi An To Ba Na Hills

This route begins by taking you along the QL1A Highway, around 9 kilometres west of Hoi An. Depending on the time of day you’re driving, your map app may spit out different roads between Hoi An and the highway.  But they’re all pretty much the same. When you reach the QL1A Highway stay on it for about 15 kilometres and then go west along the QL14B Highway for 5 kilometres. Next, turn right and travel northwest along the AH1 Highway for 4 kilometres. Finally, turn left heading west along Ba Na Soui Mo for roughly 10 kilometres. It is a double three-lane highway built to reach the base of Ba Na. For the most part, the roads are in good condition and are free of obstructions. It’s a comfortable choice with relatively well-lit roads, making the drive stress-free.

Hidden Hint: On arrival at Sun World Ba Na Hills, staff direct you to parking depending upon your vehicle. They guide motorbikes to free sheltered parking only minutes from the ticket office.

Hiring a bike in Vietnam is mostly straightforward, with most rental companies extremely helpful in terms of assisting in getting started. In order to ensure you get the most out of your biking journey, Hidden recommends going with a reputable rental company.  They will often offer a 24/7 helpline, quality bikes and parts and on road repair costs cover.  If you need more information on riding or hiring a bike in Vietnam, read Hidden’s Introductory Guide to Motorbike Rental in Vietnam.

Guided Tour from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills has a great tourist infrastructure, with multilingual maps, signposts and helpful staff. However, if you would rather have a pre-planned itinerary with food and tickets included then a guided tour is a good option. There are multiple tour companies throughout Hoi An.  Plenty of travel agents also provide tours so there are lots of options. Most tours will provide similar itineraries with stops at notable popular areas.  Prices are likely to include pick up and drop off and an English speaking tour guide.  Some even include entrance tickets and lunch. 

Hidden Hint: Speak to your Hotel reception for advice on booking a tour to Ba Na Hills, some have special offers for their guests.

In our opinion, The Trip Guru offers good value tours from a reputable company with great reviews to match. However, there are of course many other companies who offer similar great tours.  

The Trip Guru Ba Na Hills Tour includes a stop at Golden Bridge and then the Linh Ung Pagoda. Here you can see the iconic 27 metre Buddha statue.  Followed by a visit to Debay Wine Cellar for some Vietnamese wine tasting.  Then there’s time to explore the Ba Na Hills Fantasy Park. Along with visiting the attractions at Ba Na Hills, a private tour guide and an air conditioned tour bus you also get both pick up and drop off in to your accommodation in Hoi An. 

The Trip Guru Guided Tour

Website – Price: 690,000 VND (30 USD) – Duration: 7.30.a.m to 4.30. p.m – Booking: Via the online booking system on their website.

Hidden’s Thoughts

Due to the huge popularity of the Ba Na Hills there are plenty of different transport options available from Hoi An.  They cover all needs and budgets. From riding along the coast and through mountainous national parks to guided tours with wine tasting and buffet lunches.  Whatever sort of journey you are looking for, it is available. 

If you are part of a larger group getting a private car is likely to be worthwhile in terms of cost and time. Especially when hotel pick up and drop off is also included. Solo travellers are likely best off making use of the public bus service or a guided tour (whether that is by bike or bus!) Each comes with its own unique perks. If you do not have time to book ahead getting a FastGo or Grab are reasonably priced options and almost instantly available.

Regardless of how you get there Hidden strongly recommends that you use a reputable company for your trip to the Ba Na Hills.  If you are unsure we are more than happy to assist, just get in touch! Ba Na Hills is more than worth making the journey for, so if you have the time whilst in Hoi An, make sure you get there.