Transport Guide
Hoi An to Da Lat: Fly, Night Bus or Split in Nha Trang
From the lantern town to the cool highlands: which way to go, how long each takes, and how to get from the plane or the bus to your bed. Updated November 2026.
The short answer
Fly if you can: Da Nang (DAD) to Lien Khuong (DLI) is about 1 hour 20 minutes, and with the 45-minute ride from Hoi An to the airport and 45–60 minutes from Lien Khuong into town it is about 4 hours door to door. On a budget, the overnight sleeper bus takes about 12 hours and saves you a night's bed. With two days to spare, split the trip in Nha Trang and ride the last 4 hours up the mountain in daylight. Whichever you choose, message us on WhatsApp with your arrival time: we tell you the fastest way to the hostel and can book your onward bus out of Da Lat.
✈️
~1 h 20
DAD → DLI flight
🚌
~12 hours
Sleeper bus
🛬
45–60 min
Airport → Da Lat
🌡️
10–12°C
Da Lat nights (Nov–Dec)
Fly, night bus or split: which one?
Pick by days, budget and how well you sleep on a bus.
| Option | Time | Cost | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Fly Da Nang → Lien Khuong | ~1 h 20 flight; about 4 h door to door | Airfare (varies by date) + 2 transfers | Short trips, anyone who sleeps badly on buses |
| 🚌 Overnight sleeper bus | ~12 hours, evening to early morning | Cheapest; saves a night's bed | Tight budgets, good sleepers |
| 🏖️ Split in Nha Trang | Overnight down the coast, then ~4 h up to Da Lat | Two tickets + a night by the sea | Travellers with 2+ spare days who want the beach too |
Why we usually say fly:the bus runs the whole length of the central coast and then climbs into the highlands, so 12 hours is the good case. You save a night's bed but lose most of the next morning to tiredness. The flight costs more, yet you can leave Hoi An after breakfast and be in Da Lat for the afternoon.
When the bus wins: you are on a tight budget, you sleep anywhere, and you want to arrive with a full day ahead. Pick a 2-row cabin if you can: going the other way, our partner companies charge 580,000 VND for the 3-row 34-seat sleeper and 700,000–750,000 VND for the 2-row cabins (as of November 2026), and the extra width matters on a 12-hour night. See the cabins on the Da Lat to Hoi An bus page.
When to split: if Nha Trang or the beach is on your list anyway, go down the coast first, then take the bus up the Khanh Le pass: about 4 hours for 135–140 km, with the climb in daylight. Our Nha Trang to Da Lat guide covers that leg step by step.
The trip on a map
Four places decide how your day goes. Tap a pin for the detail.
Pin 1: Hoi An · 2: Da Nang airport · 3: Nha Trang · 4: Lien Khuong airport · house: Mooka's Home, Da Lat.
- 1
Hoi An
No airport and no mainline station. Every option starts with a road: about 45 minutes to Da Nang airport, or a sleeper bus that picks up in town.
- 2
Da Nang airport (DAD)
Flights to Lien Khuong (DLI) take about 1 hour 20 minutes. Check current airlines and schedules for your date: weekends and Vietnamese holidays fill first.
- 3
Nha Trang (if you split)
Go down the coast first, sleep by the sea, then ride about 4 hours up the Khanh Le pass to Da Lat in daylight.
- 4
Lien Khuong airport (DLI)
About 30 km south of Da Lat. Allow 45–60 minutes into town by airport shuttle bus, taxi or Grab.
Pack a warm layer in your day bag: Da Lat sits at about 1,500 m. In the dry season (November–April) days are sunny and about 20–21°C in November and December, but nights drop to 10–12°C, and the night bus air conditioning runs cold too. See the Da Lat weather guide for your month.
Arriving in Da Lat: from the plane or bus to your bed
What travellers coming down from Hoi An ask us most.
Before you leave Hoi An
Message us on WhatsApp with your flight number or bus company and your arrival time. We tell you the quickest way from the airport or your drop-off point to the hostel.
Show the driver this address
02 Cổ Loa, Phường Xuân Hương, Đà Lạt. Grab works in Da Lat; the hostel is about 2 km from the centre, 15 minutes on foot from Xuan Huong Lake.
Reception hours
Reception is open 07:30–22:00. Check-in is from 13:30 (check-out by 11:30). Landing on a late flight after 22:00? Tell us in advance so we can plan your check-in.
Night bus, early arrival?
Leave your bags at reception, get breakfast nearby and start the day; if you need the bed at dawn, book the night before.
Mooka's Home is a family-run backpacker hostel in Da Lat with capsule dorm beds and private rooms. Booking direct means the best available rate, no booking fees, pay at check-in and WhatsApp support from the people who will welcome you. Coming in on the night bus? Read arriving in Da Lat early for what to do before check-in.
Your first days in Da Lat
What fits after a flight or a night bus, booked at our reception.
Flew in at midday? The Discover Da Lat (afternoon) tour runs 13:00 – 17:00 (680,000 VND): flower highlands, Tuyen Lam Lake and Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Or walk 15 minutes to Xuan Huong Lake and spend the evening at the Da Lat night market.
Off the night bus at dawn? Keep day one easy and save the early starts (Sunrise Cloud Hunting Tour, 04:00 – 10:00 (6 h)) for later. Day two: Canyoning at Datanla Waterfall (1,500,000 VND, pickup 07:30 · back ~15:30), our number-one pick, or the Easy Rider Motorbike Tour (From 30 USD), riding pillion through the countryside with a local guide.
Coming from Hoi An, most people stay two or three nights. Our Da Lat itinerary (1–4 days) and things to do in Da Lat help you fill them.
Where next
- 🚌 Onward leg south: Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City (overnight or by day) or down to the beach on the Da Lat to Mui Ne bus, with pickup from the hostel.
- 🧭 Overland instead? Nha Trang to Da Lat by bus: the last 4 hours of the split trip.
- 🗓️ How long to stay: the Da Lat itinerary for 1–4 days.
Onward buses from Da Lat
Hoi An to Da Lat FAQ
What is the best way to get from Hoi An to Da Lat?
For most travellers, fly from Da Nang (DAD) to Lien Khuong (DLI): about 1 hour 20 minutes in the air, plus about 45 minutes from Hoi An to Da Nang airport and 45–60 minutes from Lien Khuong into Da Lat. The overnight sleeper bus (about 12 hours) is the budget choice, and splitting the trip in Nha Trang is the best overland option if you have the days.
How long is the bus from Hoi An to Da Lat?
About 12 hours on the overnight sleeper bus. Buses leave in the evening and reach Da Lat in the early morning, often before our reception opens at 07:30. Day buses on the Da Nang side of the route take about 14 hours.
How much is the bus from Hoi An to Da Lat?
It depends on the company and the cabin. For comparison, the same trip from Da Lat to Hoi An with our partner companies costs 580,000 VND (34-seat sleeper, 3 rows), 700,000 VND (24-seat, 2 rows) or 750,000 VND (22-seat, 2 rows with toilet), as of November 2026. Message us on WhatsApp with your date and we tell you the price before you pay.
Is there a direct flight from Da Nang to Da Lat?
Yes, Da Nang (DAD) to Lien Khuong (DLI) is a direct route of about 1 hour 20 minutes. Airlines and the number of flights per day change with the season, so check current schedules before you plan around one.
Is there a train from Hoi An to Da Lat?
No. Da Lat is not on the north–south railway. You can take the train down the coast from Da Nang to Nha Trang and then the bus up to Da Lat (about 4 hours), which is the split-trip option on this page.
What if the night bus arrives before check-in?
It usually does. Reception at Mooka's Home opens at 07:30 and check-in is from 13:30; leave your bags at reception and head out for breakfast, or book the night before if you want the bed the moment you arrive.
How do I get from the bus drop-off or the airport to Mooka's Home?
Take a Grab or taxi and show the driver the address: 02 Cổ Loa, Phường Xuân Hương, Đà Lạt. From Lien Khuong airport the drive takes 45–60 minutes; from most bus drop-off points in town it is a short ride. Message us your bus company or flight and we tell you the fastest way.
Read next
Staying in Da Lat? Book direct for our best price
Booking direct means our best available rate with no booking fees — you pay at check-in, can change plans by messaging us, and every dong goes to the hostel instead of a booking site. Capsule dorms from 150,000 VND, private en-suite rooms from 350,000 VND — a 15-minute walk from Xuan Huong Lake, tours and bus tickets booked at reception.
- Our best available rate, no booking fees
- Pay at check-in — nothing charged upfront
- WhatsApp us anytime, before and during your stay