Da Nang Airport (IATA: DAD) sits 3 km from the city centre and about 5 km from the My Khe Beach strip. DAD is easy by Vietnam airport standards. The city is close, Grab works, and the taxi ranks are outside arrivals. The touts also hit the moment you exit. The gap between the right car and the wrong one is roughly ₫200,000 and your first hour of the trip. I would spend that hour on the beach, not in a negotiation.
Quick facts
- Grab from DAD to city/beach: ₫80,000–₫130,000, 10–20 minutes
- Grab from DAD to Hoi An: ₫250,000–₫350,000, 30–45 minutes
- Official taxi booth (inside arrivals): comparable to Grab, no negotiation required
- Private transfer (pre-booked): ₫350,000–₫500,000 to Hoi An, worth it for groups or early starts
- Shared shuttle to Hoi An: ₫150,000–₫250,000 per person, fixed departures
- Public bus to Hoi An: ₫30,000, 60–90 minutes, for the patient
- Avoid: airport touts outside the terminal and unmetered cabs without agreed prices
The airport: what to know first
Da Nang Airport has two passenger terminals. T1 handles domestic flights and T2 handles international arrivals. They are connected by a covered walkway, a 10-minute walk apart. International passengers arrive into T2. Baggage claim, immigration, customs, and the exit into the arrivals concourse happen in sequence, without a puzzle in the middle. Free WiFi covers the T2 arrivals hall. Connect before you start walking, not after a tout has already pitched you. If you want the phone awake before that WiFi has an opinion, install an eSIM at home. The best eSIM for Da Nang is the short version.
Grab operates from both terminals. In T2, the ride-hail pick-up zone is in front of the car park building outside the arrivals exit. Follow the signs to the taxi and rideshare waiting area. Expect a short wait in peak periods. The app shows the driver’s name, plate, and live location. Match the plate. Do not follow a stranger who says he is “your Grab”.
A currency exchange counter operates in the arrivals hall if you need dong before an ATM. Rates are not great. Use it for a small amount if you must, then stop. Airport ATMs (Techcombank, Vietcombank) sit after customs and give reasonable rates on international cards. I would take the ATM for anything more than a coffee.
Grab: the default for most arrivals
Grab is the right call for most passengers. The price is locked before you accept the ride, the cars are air-conditioned, and you do not need cash in hand. International Visa and Mastercard work in the app, or you can top up with cash from a convenience store if the card sulks.
How to get Grab at the airport:
- Connect to the airport’s free WiFi before you exit, or use mobile data if your SIM is already awake.
- Open Grab, set your destination, and choose GrabCar (standard 4-seater).
- Accept the fare. The app assigns a driver and shows their live position.
- Walk outside the terminal to the designated ride-hail pick-up zone.
- Match the plate number on the app to the car.
2026 Grab fares from Da Nang Airport:
| Destination | GrabCar | GrabBike |
|---|---|---|
| City centre (Bach Dang riverfront) | ₫80,000–₫130,000 | ₫40,000–₫65,000 |
| My Khe Beach | ₫90,000–₫140,000 | ₫45,000–₫70,000 |
| An Thuong area | ₫90,000–₫140,000 | ₫45,000–₫70,000 |
| Marble Mountains / Non Nuoc | ₫100,000–₫160,000 | ₫50,000–₫80,000 |
| Hoi An | ₫250,000–₫350,000 | Not practical |
These are 2026 estimates. Grab prices move with demand. Surge pricing applies during peak hours (6–9 am, 5–8 pm) and when it rains. Booking 10–15 minutes before you need the car cuts the worst of it. Rain in Da Nang is not a mood. It is a fare increase.
GrabBike is significantly cheaper, and it requires you to be comfortable on the back of a motorbike with your luggage. It is not practical if you have more than a day pack. A suitcase on a bike is a short film nobody asked for.
One practical note: Grab can be slow to confirm when a bank of flights lands and everyone books at once. If you wait more than five minutes for a match, try GrabCar 7 (larger vehicle). It often has lower demand, which is a polite way of saying fewer people thought of it.
Official airport taxi booths
Inside the arrivals hall, before you exit, there are official fixed-price taxi counters. The prices are posted. No negotiation, no meter theatre. For the main city routes, booth prices run ₫150,000–₫180,000 to the city centre or beach.
That is slightly more than a Grab, and it removes the need for a working phone and data. If you land without a local SIM and the WiFi will not behave, the official booth is the cleanest alternative. The cars are standard taxis from established companies (Vinasun, Mai Linh), and the drivers are vetted by the airport.
It is also the sensible option for a solo traveller arriving at night who would rather hold a receipt than manage an app while tired. Pride is optional. The booth is not.
Metered taxis: when Grab isn’t available
Metered taxis queue outside the terminal after the ride-hail zone. Established companies, Vinasun and Mai Linh, use meters and are generally trustworthy. The flag fall starts around ₫12,000–₫15,000. The fare to the city centre runs ₫100,000–₫180,000 depending on traffic.
Use these only if Grab is unavailable or the app will not cooperate. The meter must start at zero when you get in. Confirm that before the car moves. If the driver objects, get out. The objection is the information.
Avoid taxis without visible company markings, drivers quoting a fixed price at the kerb, and anyone who approaches you inside the terminal. These are almost always overchargers. If the price is not on a sign or in an app before you get in, it is a negotiation you will lose, and you will lose it politely.
Private transfers: worth it in specific situations
A pre-booked private transfer sends a driver to meet you in arrivals with a name sign. The vehicle is typically a minivan or sedan, air-conditioned, with a price agreed before you fly. I would book one for a late landing, a pile of luggage, or a child who has already had enough of airports.
2026 private transfer prices from Da Nang Airport:
| Destination | Standard car | 7-seater / group |
|---|---|---|
| Da Nang city / My Khe Beach | ₫300,000–₫450,000 | ₫400,000–₫600,000 |
| Hoi An | ₫350,000–₫500,000 | ₫500,000–₫700,000 |
Book a private transfer if you land late, travel with kids or bulky luggage, or need a predictable Hoi An pickup without juggling an app after a long flight.
Booking platforms like Klook and KKday list vetted providers with upfront pricing. Your hotel can often arrange a pickup at comparable rates. Ask when you book the room, not from the kerb.
Pre-booked cars: Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi, GetTransfer
Grab is still the cheap default once the phone works. A pre-booked car is the other job: a name board, a late flight, a child who is finished with airports, or a straight run to Hoi An when you do not want a conversation in the hall. I would book Welcome Pickups or Kiwitaxi for that. GetTransfer is the one I open when I want to compare drivers rather than take the first fixed fare.
| Option | Role | Price I could read | I would use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups | Main | Sedan from €10 to the city centre, up to 3 passengers. Minivan from €19, up to 8. | Late landing, kids, or you want someone holding your name. |
| Kiwitaxi | Main | A fixed fare for the route, shown before you pay. I am not printing a number. | The same job, including the Hoi An run. |
| GetTransfer | Secondary | No list price on the Da Nang Airport page. You see offers, then the fare is fixed once you accept. | You want to compare cars and drivers first. |
| Grab | On the day | ₫80,000–₫130,000 to the city or My Khe, from the ranges above. | The phone has data and you are one or two people. |
| Official taxi booth | On the day | ₫150,000–₫180,000 to the city or beach, from the ranges above. | No data, or the app will not match. |
| Shared shuttle / LK-02 bus | Budget | Shuttle ₫150,000–₫250,000 a person to Hoi An. Bus ₫15,000–₫35,000. | Light bags, daytime, and you are not in a hurry. |
Welcome Pickups also says the driver tracks the flight and meets you in arrivals, with English-speaking drivers and 24/7 support. That is their description of the product, read on their Da Nang airport page. GetTransfer’s Da Nang Airport page says the driver waits at arrivals and the price you book is the price you pay. It does not publish a sedan fare I can quote.
Read 27 Oct 2026: Welcome Pickups, welcomepickups.com/da-nang/airport-taxi/. GetTransfer, the Da Nang International Airport (DAD) page on gettransfer.com. Kiwitaxi’s booking page did not return a live fare I could quote that day, so the older figure stays off this table.
See Welcome Pickups fares See Kiwitaxi fares Compare GetTransfer offers
Which transfer should I book?
If the phone has data and you are heading to My Khe or the river with one or two people, book Grab. It is the cheaper car, and the price is locked before you get in. I would not pre-pay €10 for a ride the app does for ₫80,000–₫130,000 unless I want the name board.
Book Welcome Pickups or Kiwitaxi when the landing is late, the group has luggage, or the hotel is in Hoi An and you want the car decided before you fly. Welcome Pickups is the one whose city fare I could read: from €10 for a sedan, from €19 for a minivan. Kiwitaxi is the same kind of booking. The fare for your hotel is on their page, and I am leaving a number off until I can read a live one again. GetTransfer is the tab I open if the first two are awkward for the car size, or I want a look at the driver before I pay.
If you land with no data at all, skip the apps and use the official taxi booth inside arrivals. The eSIM guide is how you make Grab an option before the plane lands. T2 also has free WiFi, which is the backup, not the plan.
Book Welcome Pickups Check Kiwitaxi Compare GetTransfer
Da Nang Airport to Hoi An
Hoi An is about 30 km south of DAD. It is a simple road transfer, usually 40–45 minutes unless rain or peak traffic slows the coast road. The choice comes down to luggage, arrival time, and if you are going into Da Nang first or straight to Hoi An.
Grab to Hoi An
₫250,000–₫350,000 by GrabCar, 30–45 minutes. This is the most common option for solo travellers and couples. The price is fixed, the car comes to you, and you are dropped at the hotel door.
A group of four paying ₫350,000 splits to ₫87,500 each. At that point a private transfer is marginal on money, and still worth it for the meet-in-arrivals convenience. Do the division before you assume the private car is a luxury.
Grab exists in Hoi An, and driver supply is thinner than in Da Nang. The return trip from Hoi An to the airport is best booked 15–20 minutes before you need it. Do not count on an instant match for an early morning flight. Dawn is when the app goes quiet.
Shared shuttle
Shared minibuses run Da Nang Airport to Hoi An for ₫150,000–₫250,000 per person. The trade is fixed departure times, possible multi-hotel drop-offs, and pickup from a set point rather than the terminal door in some cases. Journey time is 45–75 minutes with stops.
Worth a look for a solo traveller when the timing works. For couples or small groups, Grab is usually cheaper per head, and you leave when you are ready rather than when the van is full.
Public bus (LK-02)
The LK-02 public bus connects Da Nang and Hoi An for ₫15,000–₫35,000 depending on your boarding point. It runs roughly every 15–30 minutes from around 5:45 am to 6 pm. There is no overnight service. The bus does not stop at the terminal itself. The closest stop needs a 10-minute walk or a short Grab to the stop on Nguyen Tat Thanh road. Confirm the current stop in Google Maps or the DanaBus app before you go. Journey time is 60–90 minutes with stops.
It works if you are travelling light and do not mind the extra transfer. With suitcases, skip it. The saving is real, and so is the sweat.
For what to do once you are in Hoi An, the Hoi An Old Town guide covers the essentials. If you are still choosing a base, the Da Nang vs Hoi An guide lays the choice out without the brochure voice.
Night arrivals: what’s different
Da Nang Airport handles international flights from across Asia, and several of them land late or in the small hours. Night arrivals are manageable. They are not the moment to improvise.
Touts are more persistent after dark. After 10 pm there are fewer passengers outside, so the touts have more time for you. Walk with purpose to the official taxi rank or the Grab zone. Skip the eye contact. If someone approaches you inside the terminal claiming to be a taxi driver, ignore them. Airport drivers wait outside. A name badge invented in the hallway is not a booking.
Grab still works at night, and driver supply drops after 11 pm. You may wait 5–10 minutes for a match. If nothing appears after 10 minutes, switch to GrabCar 7 or use the official taxi booth inside. Ten minutes is the limit I would give the app before I change plan.
The official taxi booth is open for significant arrivals, including late-night international flights. For a solo night arrival without a working SIM, it is the lowest-stress exit. Take it.
Night transfers to Hoi An: most pre-booked private transfer services run around the clock for flights, if you have sent the arrival time. Grab is available late, and Hoi An matches can be slower to appear. Keep the official taxi booth or a hotel-arranged transfer as backup. Expect fares near the upper end of the range after 10 pm. The night premium is not a surprise if you have already read this.
The return trip: airport pickup
Getting back to the airport is simpler, because you have time and a working phone. Use both.
From Da Nang: Grab from My Khe Beach or the city centre runs ₫80,000–₫140,000 and takes 10–20 minutes. Book the Grab 15 minutes before you need it. Do not schedule it the night before. Scheduled rides are not reliable in Vietnam, and a missed flight is an expensive lesson. For flights before 6 am, ask the hotel if they can call a reliable taxi as backup if Grab is slow.
From Hoi An: Grab from Hoi An to the airport runs ₫250,000–₫380,000. For early morning departures before 6 am, Grab supply in Hoi An can be thin. A pre-booked private transfer through the hotel is the safer option. Book it the evening before, when someone at the desk is still awake.
Allow at least 45 minutes from any Da Nang property to the airport, 60 minutes from Hoi An, and more during peak hours or monsoon-season rain. The coast road does not care about your boarding group.
Where you stay affects what you spend on transfers
A hotel near My Khe Beach keeps airport transfers under ₫140,000 and puts the sand within walking distance. The shore is wide enough for a short beach workout in the morning if that is how you start a day. The city centre, around the Bach Dang riverfront, adds a short Grab to the beach and puts you next to restaurants and the Han Market.
For a full breakdown by area and budget, the where to stay in Da Nang guide covers the main options. For transport inside the city after you have left the airport, see the getting around Da Nang guide.
FAQ
How much is a taxi from Da Nang Airport to the city centre?
A Grab costs ₫80,000–₫130,000 to the city centre or My Khe Beach and takes 10–15 minutes. The official fixed-price taxi booth inside arrivals charges ₫150,000–₫180,000 for the same routes. Skip unmetered taxis outside the terminal. The posted price, or the app price, is the one you want.
Is there a direct bus from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?
The LK-02 public bus connects Da Nang and Hoi An for ₫15,000–₫35,000 depending on boarding point, running every 15–30 minutes from 5:45 am to 6 pm. The bus does not stop at the terminal. Confirm the nearest stop in Google Maps on the day. Journey time is 60–90 minutes. A GrabCar direct from the airport to Hoi An costs ₫250,000–₫350,000 and takes 30–45 minutes.
Can I get Grab at Da Nang Airport?
Yes. Grab runs reliably at Da Nang Airport. Connect to the free airport WiFi before you exit, book in the app, and walk to the designated ride-hail pick-up zone outside the terminal. Match the plate before you get in.
How long does it take to get from Da Nang Airport to My Khe Beach?
10–15 minutes by car in normal traffic. The airport is 5 km from the main My Khe Beach hotel strip. Surge pricing in peak hours can push the Grab fare to ₫150,000. The journey time stays roughly the same. You pay more. You do not sit longer.
How much does it cost to get from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?
A Grab costs ₫250,000–₫350,000 and takes 30–45 minutes. A pre-booked private transfer runs ₫350,000–₫500,000. A shared shuttle is ₫150,000–₫250,000 per person, with fixed departure times and multiple stops.
What time does the last transfer from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An run?
Grab is available late, but Hoi An matches can be slower and more expensive after 10 pm. Keep the official taxi booth or a hotel transfer as backup. Pre-booked private transfers cover late-night arrivals if you arranged them in advance. The LK-02 public bus runs only until around 6 pm.
Is it safe to take a taxi at Da Nang Airport at night?
The official taxi booth inside arrivals and the established metered companies (Vinasun, Mai Linh) are safe at any hour. Avoid touts who approach inside the terminal, or who quote a fixed price at the kerb without a meter or a booking receipt. Night is when a receipt matters more, not less.
