GETTING THERE & AWAY
Getting to Danang
Danang is 108km from Hue, 130km from Quang Ngai, 759km from
Hanoi, and 965km from Ho Chi Minh City.
Air - The Airport is 2.5km south-west of the city. Daily
flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Pleiku. Flights to Haiphong
two times a week, Nha Trang four times a week, Buon Ma Thuot three
time a week.
Train - The station is at 122 Hai Phong St. Express
trains stop in Danang.
Road - The long distance bus station is at 35 Dien Bien
Phu St. Buses to Vinh, Hue, Haiphong, Quang Ngai, Hanoi, Buon Ma
Thuot, Dalat and Nha Trang.
Getting to Hoi An
Bus - There are two main bus stations in Hoi An. One
kilometer west of Hoi An town stands the Hoi An Bus station which
offer bus ser vices to Dai Loc (Ai Nghia), Danang, Quang Ngai, Que
Son, Tam Ky, and Tra My. The other is the northern bus station on
Le Hong Phong, providing more frequent bus services to Danang.
Minibus - Minibus services serve on Hoi An-Nha Trang and
Hoi-An Hue routes. Most minibuses leave from the cafes on the
corner of Phan Dinh Phung and Nhi Trung at around 8 a.m. The
tickets are available at every hotel in Hoi An.
Car & Motorbike - Cars or motorbike taxis are
available for rent; the nearest and the best starting point is
from Danang, 30 kilometers away. Two routes from Danang to Hoi An
can be made. The shorter ways is via the Marble Mountains (11
kilometers) and continue southwards for another 19 kilometers.
Alternatively, use the National Highway 1 and, at the signposted
intersection 27 kilometers from the city, turn left, and Hoi An is
10 kilometers to the east.
Boats - There are ferry services leaving Hoi An for
neighboring districts and Cham Island from the landing at the end
of Hoang Van Thu. There are daily boats to Cham Island, leaving
between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.; though, depending on the weather
condition. Foreigners to the Cham Island are required to have
permits to make a trip on the public boat.
Getting to Thua Thien - Hue
Vietnam Airlines, the national air-carrier, provides
several daily flights connecting Hue and HCMC and Hanoi.
Alternatively, you may take land transportation to enjoy the
scenery along the routes. There are three main bus stations in
Hue: An Cuu Bus Station from which public buses leave for HCMC,
for Dalat, and for Danang everyday, An Hoa Bus Station which
serves several northern destinations, and Dong Ba Bus Station, a
good place for short-haul bus trips.
GETTING
AROUND
Getting Around Danang
Cyclos and motorbike taxis are the common transports in Danang
that can be easily found everywhere. Note that a hard negotiation
on fares should be done before setting off. Taxis are also readily
available. Chartered boat trips in the area can made as well.
Getting Around Hoi An
Hoi An is small that you can reach anywhere within town by
foot. To go to further destinations, renting bike or motorbike is
a good idea. Rental shops are all over town. Local bus service is
also recommended.
Getting Around Thua Thien - Hue
Besides the popular means of transportation in town like
bicycle, cyclo, and motorbike, you can also take bus, taxi (Gili,
Hue ATC, etc) or rent a car, at travel agencies or car rental
companies.
There is also a domestic airport in Hue, Phu Bai Airport which
was once an important US air base, which is 14 km south of the
city center. Taxi fares between city and airport are typically
around US$8 but share-taxis to the airport cost much cheaper at
US$2 (inquire the hotel to find these vehicles). Plus, there are
also Vietnam Airlines' minibuses that run from its office to
airport a couple hours before flight times (20,000d).
A boat ride down the Perfume River is also recommended. Tours
typically take in the tombs of Tu Duc, Thieu Tri, Minh Mang and
Thien Mu Pagoda (bookings can be made at any hotel or travelers'
café). The journey takes about six hours, usually runs from 8am
to 2pm and includes lunch. Many sights in the vicinity of Hue,
including Thuan An Beach, Thien Mu Pagoda and several of the Royal
Tombs, can be reached by river. |
