Hoi An Transportation

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For the un-initiated, this is our take on the over-night, open bus system. This was our first, and last experience. Wouldn't do it again.
We booked Nha Trang to Hoi An for the overnight trip. I can't remember the cost, probably around US$10. We used Brothers Bus Company.
We left Nha Trang at 6pm. After storing our luggage underneath, we boarded the bus, had to take our shoes off & carry them on the bus, no problem. The lay-out of the bus is 3 rows - one on each side with windows, and a middle row. You have a little alcove whereby you are supposed to be able to lie down & sleep. Well this may be well & good for shorties (I was able to lie down, but I am only 5 foot tall). For taller people, you have to sort of, lie sideways and curl your legs up (difficult, because so narrow), or lay on your back with your legs bent up. I had a spot in the middle row, with a TV set right in front of my face. They were playing Bruce Lee movies but we asked them to turn it off. I had my seatbelt on the entire journey as I kept picturing my face going thru the TV screen if we were in an accident. By the time we did all the pick-ups, and left Nha Trang, the bus was full. Even the extra special (extra long) bed for the alternate driver was sold. He had to sling up a hammock over the rear door where the toilet was. And mentioning the toilet, we didn't realise when we left Nha Trang, but when someone needed it - guess what - the toilet didn't work. Shame for the Italian man at the back of the bus who brought like a case of beer to drink for the journey. So the man in question (who was scary) had to demand that the bus stop whenever he needed to go.
For the rest of us, we managed to hold on for the rest stop at around mid-night. We were able to get snacks & coffee as well. And there was a local at the stop with a pet chicken that liked to be patted. Cute. We were delayed at some point through the night by a traffic accident. We were held up for a few hours, the bus turned the engines off, and then back on again as it was so hot so we had some aircon. This went on for 2 hrs. The 12 hour trip turned into 14 hours and to make matters worse, we were dropped off outside Hoi An as the bus could not take us right into the centre. We had to drag our bags around town looking for a hotel.
We found out later that the Hahn bus company was the better option.

I booked my open bus ticket from Hue to Hoi An with Sinh Café. You can check out their website at http://www.sinhcafevn.com. As you would have heard before, there are many fake Sinf Café in Vietnam so make sure you go the right one. In the website you can find the address of all their branches around Vietnam

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Caught the open bus from my hotel in Hue. They have a luggage department underneath the bus, so you don't have to worry if you have a large case. Is costs approx $3.50us, and takes 41/2hours, with a 40minute stop at Marble mountain. They drop you off at a hotel at hoi an, then you have to find you own way to yours. Cheap travel, good scenery.

There are 3 taxi companies at the car park outside the Danang Airport terminal building. They run by meter. Trip cost us about 298,000 VND (US$16) in an MPV taxi. Trip takes about 35 min.
From Hoi An to airport, we made arrangements with one of the taxi drivers who was taking us from town back to hotel. He spoke good English and seemed reliable (our instinct was right). He turned up punctually at the agreed time. [His name is Quy (pronounced Oui); hp no. 0905-337431] This time the metered fare was 260,000 VND.

it 's easy to book a private car for your trip from Da Nang airport to Hoi An at Huy Hai Travel Online Booking Service, it 's cost about USD 15.00 for a private car 4 seats and USD 18.00 for a 16 seats van.

Rent a moto and explore Hoi An and the surrounding area on your own. Go to the beach. Go to My Son and visit the Champa ruins, a great 1/2 day trip. We paid $3USD/day for new semi automatic moto rental. Gas was about 75 cents/litre.

Hoi An is not only the old "touristic" town: there are other places that are Hoi An... large islands on the river that can be accessed by a few bridges (not always easy to find) or by small local ferries, like the one in the picture. My advice is: let yourself be surprised, hop on one, squeeze in among locals and their motorbikes, and lsee where it will take you.

You'll discover quite a world apart, only a few minutes away from the tourist scene. Very well worth the few dongs you will have to pay.

Arranging car pick up at Danang to Hoi An costs around USD12 one way. The return trip is a bit cheaper at USD10. However, if you take the bus, it's just VDN20,000 (or around USD1.25). You'd have to take a cab to the bus station though. I asked my hotel to pick me up from Danang airport but flying out, I grabbed a moto to take me to the Hoi An bus stop (which is basically on the road) and paid him VDN5,000. The bus costs VDN15,000. The person who gets your payment however would try to get you to pay more. You just have to be determined not to get scammed. Another tip to get the exact price to pay on the bus from Hoi An to Danang would be to ask the locals (e.g. sales assistants in shops where you have your clothes made) as they would probably tell you the correct amount coz they've got nothing to lose or gain.