How To Get From Hoi An to Quy Nhon (and Vice Versa)
Looking for a relatively undiscovered, peaceful seaside destination in Southern Vietnam, don´t look any further. Think Hoi An to Quy Nhon. This coastal city not only offers attractive promenades, picturesque landscapes and sun-kissed beaches, we also fell in love with its many tasty, local seafood creations (trying the Quy Nhon fish cake noodles is definitely a must).
However, Quy Nhon is often used as the main gateway to Bai Xep which is only 10 kilometres or a 15-minute bike ride away. So it’s located halfway between Da Nang and Nha Trang, being almost a six-hour car-ride away from each.
Overall, it is a perfect stop for those who like to chill on a beach, but don’t like over-touristic cities like Nha Trang or Mui Ne. But you better make plans to go here soon, it won´t be relatively untouched for long.
In this article, Hidden explores the various ways to get from Hoi An to Quy Nhon (and vice-versa). With choices ranging from a six-hour car drive to a two-day coastal motorbike trip through mountain passes and small villages.
Contents
About Quy Nhon
The city of Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh province is nestled in a serene little bay, 300 kilometres south of Hoi An, surrounded by lush green mountains. However even though Quy Nhon is three times bigger in population than Hoi An (roughly 450.000 people compared to 150.000), it still feels quite small. This is due to the lack of heavy industry, with agriculture and fisheries being the main sources of income. Furthermore, traffic in Quy Nhon is light. Yes, there is the occasional sighting of a car, truck or motorbike, but overall it is very relaxed. And did we mention all that fresh, clean air swept in by the seaport?
Hidden Hint: Go to the port early and check out the fishermen bringing in their daily catch
Quy Nhon’s Promenade
The best way to orientate yourself in Quy Nhon is via the promenade. However in this city, you’ll never be too far from the sea. The city of Quy Nhon stretches along the coast with most of its restaurants, bars and hotels situated along the waterfront promenade.
The supermarkets and markets are located just a few blocks inland, along with other small shops and cafes.
Quick Guide – Hoi An to Quy Nhon
| Mode | Duration | Price |
| Train | 5-7 hours | 150,000 – 350,000 VND (6.5 – 14 USD) Check train tickets from Hoi An to Quy Nhon |
| Bus | 5-8 hours | 120,000 – 220,000 VND (5 – 9.5 USD) Check bus tickets from Hoi An to Quy Nhon |
| Private Car | Minimum 5 hours | 4,200,000 – 5,200,000 VND (180 – 220 USD) |
| Motorbike | Highway: 8 hours – Coastal Route: 2 day ride | |
Train from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
With no train station in Hoi An, your journey begins with a trip to Da Nang train station. There are multiple ways to get here, the cheapest costing as little as 18,000 VND (0.8 USD). Check out Hidden’s article on getting to and from Da Nang for all the details.
A ticket from Da Nang to Quy Nhon costs 150,000 – 250,000 VND (6.5 – 11 USD). This scenic route is part of Vietnam’s Reunification Express and Vietnam Railways operates approximately seven trains daily with a travel time of five to seven hours.
Quy Nhon’s train station, Dieu Tri Station, is located 13km northwest of the city. So, it is advisable you plan your transfer in advance. But many hotels in Quy Nhon offer a pick-up from the station. This is especially useful if you arrive late at night or are staying in a more remote area like Bai Xep.
A 120,000-175,000 VND (5 – 8 USD) taxi ride gets you from the station to Quy Nhon city centre. Alternatively, the local bus runs hourly for a mere 5,000 VND (0.2 USD) dropping you off at a Co-Op Mart on Le Duan St.
Tickets can be booked online with 12Go. You receive your e-ticket via email which you present upon boarding, either by printed copy or via e-copy on your cell phone/tablet. Find Train times and tickets From Da Nang to Quy Nhon
Da Nang Train Station to Dieu Tri Station Timetable
| SE9 | 08:02-14:15 | 6h 13m | 205,000 VND (9 USD) |
| SE21 | 09:31-15:43 | 6h 12m | 190,000 VND (8 USD) |
| SE3 | 11:28-17:18 | 5h 50m | 225,000 VND (9.50 USD) |
| SE1 | 13:42-18:38 | 4h 56m | 255,000 VND (11 USD) |
Bus from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
The trip to from Hoi An to Quy Nhon by bus is a popular choice. The buses are modern and tend to take between seven and nine hours to complete the journey. They leave either early in the morning or late in the evening, i.e night buses. Click here for bus times and prices From Hoi An to Quy Nhon
Overnight buses tend to be faster and more reliable than their daytime counterpart. Prices range from 120,000 – 200,000 VND (5 – 9 USD) with services offered by multiple companies. These include Hoang Long, Phuong Trang and Phuc Thuan Tao. Phuong Trang (Futa) being one of the better bus companies. They have modern buses with comfortable seats, Wi-Fi and bottled water.
Hidden Hint: Don’t be disheartened when arriving at Quy Nhon’s bus station, Bến Xe Quy Nhơn. Located in an industrial area, this station provides good highway access for the bus. But doesn’t give the city of Quy Nhon the first impression it deserves!
The Quy Nhon bus station is located in the south of the city, next to the Metro bulk supermarket. The city bus station is right next door, so take the bus to the city centre from here for 5,000 VND (0.2 USD). A bus leaves the station every 30 minutes.
Private Car from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
The drive from Hoi An to Quy Nhon takes five to six hours. A private car is the most relaxing way to make the journey. It leaves you free to enjoy the road trip with friends or family in your own private space, in your own good time. In addition, this choice has the advantages of a hotel pickup and direct drop off at your desired location in Quy Nhon. So no lugging bags around! However the biggest advantage of this mode is the possibility of stopping along the route to check out all the attractions along the way, there’s no reliance on other people’s schedules.
| Private car | Price |
| 4 seat car | 4,200,000 VND (180 USD) |
| 7 seat car | 4,600,000 VND (195 USD) |
| 16 seat car | 5,200,000 VND (220 USD) |
The price for a private car includes petrol, toll roads and parking fees but excludes lunches and entrance fees to any attractions you stop at along the way.
Plane from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon has one domestic airport called Phu Cat (UIH), built in 1966 on an old American airbase. Vietnam Airlines operate daily flights from Quy Nhon to Ho Chi Minh City and three flights a week to Hanoi.
However, travelling between Quy Nhon and Hoi An by plane is not advisable as Hoi An’s nearest airport, Da Nang has no direct flights to Quy Nhon. Therefore any flights from Hoi An to Quy Nhon would mean such a large detour that it makes it somewhat impractical.
But if you do arrive at Quy Nhon by plane, expect a taxi from the airport to Quy Nhon to cost around 250,000 VND (11 USD).
Motorbike from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
To see all the attractions en route from Hoi An to Quy Nhon more freely, take a motorbike. The slow and light traffic, along with free parking around the city, makes this mode of transport ideal in this region. Above all it’s so idyllic, that most streets in Quy Nhon don’t have (or need) traffic lights. Because many of Quy Nhon’s best beaches and most interesting sights are actually quite difficult to access, this is where your own transport becomes most useful.
Taking a motorbike, there is one big choice to make – which road to take: highway or coastal?
Highway Route from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
The trip along Highway 1 takes a full day or driving. However the route along the QL1A (or Highway 1) is incredibly easy to follow and well signposted in either direction. Therefore this is a great route to choose if you want to get from Hoi An to Quy Nhon quickly and the destination is more important to you than the journey. But keep in mind though it will still be a five to eight-hour drive on a highway filled with trucks, bikes and speeding cars. So the 300km distance and heavy traffic should not be taken lightly, read our article ‘Introduction to Motorbike Rental in Vietnam’ for some pointers.
Hidden Hint: Be sure to have phone data for the route and search for ‘Petrol Stations’ to judge distances between refueling stops.
Coastal Route from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
The coastal route is longer, taking around two days to complete. But, it has the added advantage of being framed with wild nature, blue lagoons and scenic mountain passes. However you can’t avoid the highway completely as sections of this route also wind into it. But, the route runs mostly along the coast winding in an out of small villages.
Hidden Hint: The coastal route tends to be a two-day trip so stay a night in Quảng Ngãi. A good midway point to stop. But be aware there aren’t many hotels in town so plan in advance.
Beginning the Journey from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
The journey from Hoi An begins with the majestic Cua Dai bridge, Hoi An’s latest engineering marvel. Head south over the bridge and follow Duong 129 past Vinpearlland to Tam Ky. This leg of the journey also offers an additional detour along Thanh Nien Road through Tam Thanh Painted Village. After that, from Tam Ky, join the QL1A past San Bay Chu Lai Airport before turning left onto the QL24B (Nguyen Tu Tan Street) at the small town of Chau O.
Here the real adventure starts as you wind through small towns to the coast and on past the Chau Sa Citadel into Quang Ngai. Quang Nai to Quy Nhon involves hopping on and off the highway as you slowly move south. After that, road DT627B takes you along a wild stretch of coast complete with miles of shrimp farms. The DT639 provides the main coastal detour, follow this south through villages, across endless bridges and over a mountain pass to Lo Dieu Beach. The DT639 joins the DT632 and then DT640 which eventually enters Quy Nhon through an area of new city development.
Hidden Hint: The coast road is connected to Highway 1 at regular intervals, rejoining the faster road is a good option if you run short of time (or energy).
Attractions En Route from Hoi An to Quy Nhon
Above all, part of the fun of travelling from Hoi An to Quy Nhon is the journey. So don’t miss some of the beautiful attractions along this route.
Chien Dan Cham Temples
The Chien Dan Cham Temples, near the city of Tam Ky, were built in the 10th and 11th century. This region was once part of the Champa Empire, almost 900 years ago.
The three towers, all with doors facing east, have the feeling of a lost ancient city. They’re also an engineering wonder with innovative structural techniques. But the Cham people did not use mortar for their structures, instead, they used a method involving interlocking terracotta bricks.
However although many of the statues have been moved into the small museum nearby, there is still plenty to take in. For instance, two of the towers have already lost their roofs over the years and crumbling bricks can be found all around the once, grand entrances. But this too is the charm of the Chien Dan Cham Temples. Lying 9km North of Tam Ky, you can see the towers as you travel from Hoi An to Quy Nhon, alongside Highway QL1A.
My Lai Historical Site
This historical site lies in the small village of My Lai, 14 km east of central Quang Ngai. Primarily the My Lai historical site tells the harrowing story of the 1968 killing of over 500 Vietnamese people. Take a walk around the memorial grounds and the small museum nearby, mostly composed of household remnants of this massacred village. The memorial itself lists the names of the 504 people killed, with ages ranging from one to eighty-two years.
The American soldiers at the time killed unarmed civilians, including women, children, and the elderly all in under five hours. So, understandably, this tragedy still haunts many of the locals living in My Lai today. Therefore take your time strolling around, reading the plaques in front of the old abandoned huts and learn more about the history and it affects on the small village of My Lai.
The My Lai (Son My) Memorial is a two and a half hour non-stop drive from Highway 1 in Quang Ngai Province, about 130km from Hoi An on your way to Quy Nhon. Admission to the site is 15,000 VND (0.65 USD) including a 5,000 VND (0.2 USD) parking fee. Opening times are from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and expect to spend around two hours at the site.
Tam Thanh Mural Village
A quiet coastal fishing village, completely transformed by artists, who have worked their magic on the sides of 100 actual residential homes. In other words, the village has been brought to life by the paintings. So the entire town is now a breathtaking walk-through gallery just waiting to be explored.
Similarly, the murals that adorn it capture the life and soul of the village, from young children playing, to fishermen in the ocean. Above all you can see some of the residents standing in front of their own portraits! In addition, mixed in are a good number of fantasy pieces offering great backdrops for photos. Hidden’s written a full article on this idyllic village – read it here.
Dang Thuy Tram Memorial
Halfway between Quan Ngai and Quy Nhon you pass the Dang Thuy Tram Polyclinic. This medical clinic was turned in to a memorial to the female doctor and war diarist Dang Thuy Tram. Her diary reflects the aspiration, youthfulness, and ideology of the young Vietnamese generation during the war.
The clinic itself is a beautiful two storey building enclosed on both sides by a goldfish pond. In the garden, a stone statue of Thuy Tram shows her stepping out of the background stone with one foot, her medical bag slung over her shoulder. In addition, all around the outside are benches bearing the names of people or groups who have donated them in her memory.
Hidden’s Thoughts
In conclusion, if you’re travelling solo or as a couple, and confident on the road, taking a motorcycle from Hoi An to Quy Nhon is our preferred choice. For instance, it grants you the freedom to explore this route the best and all at your own pace. However ensure you have sufficient data on your phone for map information and emergencies as places with WiFi are scarce. Most importantly take note of all the petrol stops available to you on the way. Therefore plan in advance where and how often you will need to refuel, as petrol ports can be far apart.
Private car is a great option if you’re travelling as a group or family. For instance, again you have the flexibility of travelling at your own pace, stopping off along the way. This also can be quite an economical choice if you split the overall cost amongst fellow passengers.
However, if you’re looking for a commute that is an experience in itself, look no further than the train. It is affordable, safe and the journey between Hoi An and Quy Nhon is a great scenic route.
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