I checked Google Maps before my first Da Nang to Hoi An trip. It said 45 minutes. I got on the bus at 9 AM and arrived at 10:25. Ninety minutes. Google doesn’t count the 15 stops, the traffic around Marble Mountains, and the five minutes the driver spent arguing with a lady about her luggage.

Here’s what actually happens on this route.

The bus: LK-02

The old Bus 1 got rebranded to LK-02 in 2025. Same route, new name, slightly newer buses.

Where to catch it: Easiest spot is in front of Da Nang Cathedral (the pink church on Tran Phu street). There’s a DanaBus stop sign. You can also board at Da Nang Central Bus Station if you want a guaranteed seat.

Where it goes: Da Nang → Highway 1A → past Marble Mountains → Hoi An Bus Station at 187 Ly Thuong Kiet.

Heads up: Since April 2025, the route goes inland — not along the beach road anymore. If your hotel is on My Khe beach, you’ll need to walk or grab a bike to the main road first.

Price and schedule

The ticket is 20,000 VND. That’s $0.80. Not a typo.

Buses run every 15-30 minutes from 5:30 AM to 5:50 PM. About 76 trips a day. After 6 PM — nothing. I learned this the hard way when I stayed for dinner in Hoi An and had to Grab back for 300k.

If you have a big bag, there’s a luggage surcharge of 8,000 VND. The driver will point at your suitcase and hold up fingers. Just pay it, it’s 30 cents.

What it’s actually like

The bus is clean enough. AC works. Seats are plastic but fine for 90 minutes. There’s no luggage rack, so your backpack goes on your lap or in the aisle. Big suitcases cause friction — locals will give you looks.

The DanaBus app shows real-time bus positions, but the interface is in Vietnamese. I just stand at the stop and wave — the bus comes every 15-20 minutes anyway.

The ride itself is not bad. You pass through some interesting neighborhoods, see the Marble Mountains from the highway, and watch Da Nang turn into countryside. The last 20 minutes into Hoi An are pretty — rice paddies and small villages.

Grab vs bus — honest comparison

Bus LK-02: 20,000 VND ($0.80), 70-90 minutes, every 15 min, stops at 6 PM.

Grab/taxi: 250,000-350,000 VND ($11-15), 40-50 minutes, anytime, door to door.

I take the bus when I’m alone and not in a rush. I take Grab when I have bags, it’s late, or I’m with people (split 4 ways it’s like $3 each).

For groups of 3+, Grab is almost the same price per person and way more convenient. For solo travelers on a budget — the bus is unbeatable at 80 cents.

Tips I wish someone told me

  • Don’t count on the last bus. The 5:50 PM departure is the last one. If you want to see Hoi An at night (and you should — the lanterns are incredible), plan to Grab back or stay over.

  • Sit on the right side. Better views of the mountains on the way there.

  • Marble Mountains stop. If you want to visit, tell the driver “Non Nuoc” — it’s about 40 minutes into the ride. Catch the next bus to continue to Hoi An.

  • Coming back is the same. Same bus, same price, same route — just in reverse. Catch it at 187 Ly Thuong Kiet in Hoi An.

If you’re planning more routes around Central Vietnam — like Hue, Phong Nha, or a visa run to Laos — write ROUTE and I’ll help you figure out the best way: