How do you get from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary?

My Son is 50km west of Hoi An. Organised tours cost ₫200,000–400,000 ($8–16) and many combine the visit with a boat return along the Thu Bon River. Independent visits by motorbike hire (₫150,000–200,000 per day) are also straightforward.

Can you visit Da Nang as a day trip from Hoi An?

Da Nang is 30km north, reachable in 30–40 minutes by taxi (₫200,000–350,000 one way) or Grab. The standard day trip pairs My Khe Beach in the morning with the Marble Mountains in the afternoon.

How do you get to the Cham Islands from Hoi An?

Day trips by speedboat from Cua Dai pier cost ₫350,000–700,000 ($14–28) including transport, snorkelling equipment, guide, and lunch. The 45-minute crossing is best from April to August when seas are calm. Operators cancel during typhoon season (September–November).

Can you do Hue as a day trip from Hoi An?

Hue is 90km north and doable as a tight day trip. Take the 06:00 bus (2.5 hours), visit the Imperial Citadel in the morning, lunch on bun bo Hue, visit Khai Dinh tomb in the afternoon, and take the bus back by 19:30. An overnight stay is more rewarding.

Day Trips from Hoi An | The Vietnam Guides

Hoi An’s central position on the coast makes it a strong base for day excursions. The four main options cover ancient history, beaches, offshore islands, and the imperial capital.

My Son Hindu Sanctuary (50km west)

Vietnam’s most significant Hindu archaeological site - a complex of Cham towers built between the 4th and 14th centuries CE in a valley surrounded by mountains. UNESCO World Heritage listed.

The site was used as a military base and heavily bombed during the American War, damaging many towers. What remains is atmospheric. The oldest surviving towers (Group B, C, D area) give the best sense of original scale. The museum at the entrance has the best-preserved decorative pieces.

Getting there: Organised tour from Hoi An (₫200,000–400,000 / $8–16) or motorbike hire for independent visit. Many tours combine My Son with a boat return trip along the Thu Bon River.

Best time: Morning arrival before tour groups. The valley heats up significantly by midday.

Da Nang (30km north)

Hoi An travellers who want a city day - beach, Marble Mountains, Dragon Bridge, or just a different urban energy - regularly day trip to Da Nang. 30km by road, 30–40 minutes by taxi (₫200,000–350,000 / $8–14 one-way) or Grab.

Da Nang day options: My Khe Beach morning + Marble Mountains afternoon is the standard pairing. Alternatively, Marble Mountains morning + Museum of Cham Sculpture afternoon.

Cham Islands (Cu Lao Cham) - 15km offshore

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve cluster of eight islands 15km from Hoi An. Good snorkelling around the coral reefs. Day trips by speedboat from Hoi An’s Cua Dai pier: ₫350,000–700,000 ($14–28) including transport, snorkelling equipment, guide, and lunch.

Best time: April–August (calm sea season). Typhoon season (September–November) causes operators to cancel.

Marine life: Coral reefs, sea turtles, and varied fish species. The snorkelling quality is good by Vietnamese standards.

Hue (90km north)

The imperial capital is doable as a day trip but is significantly better as an overnight. If doing it in one day: take the 06:00 bus from Hoi An (2.5 hours), spend the morning at the Imperial Citadel, lunch on bun bo Hue, one tomb in the afternoon (Khai Dinh is the most efficient), bus back by 19:30.

The Hai Van Pass road (instead of the tunnel) makes the motorbike journey between Hoi An and Hue extraordinary - one of Vietnam’s best road rides.

Practical logistics from Hoi An

Destination	Distance	Transport	Best For
My Son	50km	Organised tour/motorbike	History interest
Da Nang	30km	Grab/taxi	Beach, Marble Mountains
Cham Islands	15km offshore	Organised speedboat	Snorkelling
Hue	90km	Bus or motorbike	Imperial history

Motorbike hire in Hoi An: ₫150,000–200,000 ($6–8) per day. Automatic scooters widely available. The road to My Son and the road north to Da Nang are both paved and straightforward.

Book a Day Trip from Hoi An

Here’s how the most popular day trips compare:

Tour	Duration	Price (from)	Group Size	Highlights
My Son Sanctuary Guided Day Trip from Hoi An	Half day	from $18/person	Group	UNESCO Cham ruins, sunrise option, boat trip on Thu Bon River option
Hue Imperial City Day Trip from Hoi An	Full day	from $38/person	Group	Hai Van Pass, Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, royal tombs, lunch
My Son + Hue Full Day via Hai Van Pass	Full day	from $55/person	Group	Morning Cham ruins, Hai Van Pass views, afternoon Hue Imperial City
Hoi An Basket Boat + Cooking Class Combo	Half day	from $30/person	Small group	Water coconut rowing, market visit, hands-on Vietnamese cooking class
Ba Na Hills Full Day from Hoi An	Full day	from $45/person	Group	Golden Bridge, cable car, Fantasy Park — 45-min transfer to Da Nang side

Browse all Hoi An day trips → GetYourGuide

More in Hoi An

Back to Hoi An Guide

Day Trips from Hoi An : My Son, Da Nang and the Cham Islands

Top-rated experiences in Hoi An