Da Nang International Airport is one of the easiest arrivals in Vietnam: small, modern, and unusually close to the city. This guide covers the practical stuff for the hour after you land, getting online, getting into town, getting to Hoi An, and the one thing the airport quietly does not offer.
The short answer
Code
DAD
To city centre
~2-3 km, ~10 min
Grab to town
from ~80,000 VND
To My Khe beach
~6 km, ~15 min
To Hoi An
~30 km, 30-45 min
Terminals
T1 domestic, T2 international
Da Nang Airport at a glance
DAD is central Vietnam's main airport, serving Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, and the wider region. It has two terminals, T1 for domestic flights and T2 for international, within an easy covered walk of each other. The T2 international terminal opened in 2017 and holds a 5-star Skytrax rating; it has grown far past its original design, handling nearly 7 million international passengers a year, with an expansion underway.
The best thing about it is the location. The terminals sit only about 2 to 3 km from the city centre, one of the shortest airport-to-downtown distances of any big airport in Asia, so getting into town is quick and cheap no matter where you are staying.
Landing at DAD: the arrival steps
The order on arrival at T2 is simple: disembark, clear passport control, collect your bags, pass customs, and step out into the landside arrivals hall, where the SIM booths, ATMs, and taxi rank are. The airport is modern and rarely as crowded as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, so it usually moves quickly.
One thing to sort before you fly: whether you can actually leave the airport depends on your visa or visa-free status, and the e-visa has to be approved in advance. We cover the full entry rule (who can leave, and the visa-free list) in the Da Nang layover guide, so it is not repeated here.
Getting online: SIM card vs eSIM
You will want data before you leave the hall, since Grab and maps need it. Two easy options:
| Where | Price | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM (before you fly) | Online | from ~US$4-5 | Airalo/Saily/Holafly; activates on landing, no queue |
| Viettel SIM | T2 arrivals booth | ~150,000-300,000 VND | Widest national coverage; passport required |
| Vinaphone SIM | T2 arrivals booth | ~150,000-300,000 VND | Strong in the city and along the coast |
| Mobifone SIM | Mostly city shops | ~90,000-250,000 VND | Budget pick; weaker in the mountains (Ba Na) |
Airport SIM prices carry a small premium over city shops (roughly US$3 to US$5), and plan prices move with promotions, so treat these as approximate ranges.
Da Nang airport to the city center
It is about 3 km and a 10-minute ride. A Grab starts around 80,000 VND; metered taxis (Mai Linh, Vinasun) wait at the rank, so use the meter and ignore anyone quoting an inflated flat fare inside the hall. Two tips that save money and hassle: in rain or the 5pm to 7pm peak, Grab surges 1.5x to 2x, and waiting about 15 minutes usually settles it; and pin your Grab pickup to the taxi rank near Door 3, because a pin dropped inside the terminal can't be reached by drivers. For the full picture on Grab, taxis, and motorbikes once you're in town, see Getting Around Da Nang.
Da Nang airport to My Khe beach
The My Khe and An Thuong beach strip, where most visitors stay, is about 6 km and 15 minutes from the airport. A GrabCar runs about 90,000 to 150,000 VND (US$4 to US$6), and a metered taxi is a little more. If you land before the 2pm hotel check-in, this is exactly the moment to leave your bags somewhere and hit the beach first (more on that below).
Da Nang airport to Hoi An
Hoi An is about 30 km south, 30 to 45 minutes by car. Here is the quick comparison; the full breakdown is in our Da Nang to Hoi An guide.
| Cost | Time | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab car | ~250,000-350,000 VND | 30-45 min | Value and comfort, on demand |
| Private transfer | ~350,000-500,000 VND | 30-45 min | A named driver meeting you |
| Hotel shuttle | Free to ~300,000 VND | 30-45 min | Booked with your stay |
| LK02 public bus | ~8,000-35,000 VND | 60-90 min | Budget, light luggage (does not enter the airport) |
The public bus is now the LK02 (it replaced the old “route 01”), and it does not come into the airport, so you walk to a nearby road stop or take a short Grab to reach it.
Facilities and lounges
Most of the comfort at DAD is airside, for departing passengers past security in T2: the CIP Orchid Lounge (showers, day beds, massage chairs), the Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge, and the pay-in Vanda Lounge (about US$29 for three hours). Both terminals have massage chairs, and T2 has charging workstations near the gates.
The catch for arrivals: there is no arrivals lounge. Once you clear immigration you are in a landside hall with ATMs, SIM booths, cafes, and the taxi rank, but nowhere to wait out an early hotel check-in. That is what makes the luggage question below matter.
Left luggage at Da Nang airport: the reality
DAD has no official left-luggage counter. Storage is run by third-party desks near the terminals, at roughly 60,000 to 100,000 VND per bag per day, open only about 9am to 11pm with nothing overnight. That is awkward for three common situations: you land before your hotel check-in, you have a long layover, or you are about to jump on the Hoi An bus and do not want a big case on it.
Where your bag goes
No airport counter overnight, and it adds up by the bag.
From the airport
~10 min
By the hour
15,000 VND/hr
Full day
60,000 VND (up to 24h)
New to Stow? See how luggage storage in Da Nang works.
First-timer tips at DAD
- Use the metered taxi rank or Grab pinned to Door 3; ignore drivers who approach you in the hall with a flat fare.
- Have an eSIM ready or buy a SIM before you leave arrivals, since Grab and maps need data.
- Carry small VND notes; not every taxi or booth makes easy change for large bills.
- If your check-in is hours away or you are connecting, decide where your bag goes before you leave the airport.
- In rain or the evening peak, wait out the Grab surge for 15 minutes rather than paying 2x.
Questions people ask
How far is Da Nang airport from the city center?
About 2 to 3 km, roughly a 10-minute drive. It is one of the shortest airport-to-downtown hops in Vietnam, so wherever you are staying, you are not far from the plane.
How much is a Grab or taxi from Da Nang airport to the city?
A Grab into the city centre starts around 80,000 VND (about US$3). Expect a surge of 1.5x to 2x in rain or during the 5pm to 7pm peak. Pin your pickup to the taxi rank near Door 3, because a pin dropped inside the terminal can't be reached by drivers.
Can I buy a SIM card at Da Nang airport?
Yes. Viettel and Vinaphone have staffed booths in the T2 arrivals hall. You pay a small premium over city shops (roughly US$3 to US$5), but you walk out connected in under 10 minutes with English-speaking staff. Bring your passport; all SIMs must be registered to it.
Should I buy an eSIM or a physical SIM for Da Nang?
If your phone supports eSIM, buy one before you fly (Airalo, Saily, or Holafly) so it activates the moment you land and you skip the queue. A physical SIM from the arrivals booth is the easy fallback if your phone isn't eSIM-capable.
How do I get from Da Nang airport to My Khe beach?
It is about 6 km and 15 minutes. A GrabCar is roughly 90,000 to 150,000 VND (about US$4 to US$6), and a metered taxi is a little more.
How do I get from Da Nang airport to Hoi An?
It is about 30 km. A Grab car is around 250,000 to 350,000 VND and takes 30 to 45 minutes; a private transfer or hotel shuttle costs more but meets you at arrivals. The public LK02 bus is cheapest (about 35,000 VND) but does not enter the airport and takes 60 to 90 minutes, so it suits light-luggage budget travelers.
Is there luggage storage at Da Nang airport?
There is no official airport left-luggage counter. Storage is run by third-party desks near the terminals, at roughly 60,000 to 100,000 VND per bag per day, open only about 9am to 11pm with nothing overnight. Early arrivals and long layovers often drop bags at a shop in town instead.
Does Da Nang airport have lounges and showers?
Yes, for departing passengers past security in T2: the CIP Orchid Lounge (showers, day beds, massage chairs), the Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge, and the pay-in Vanda Lounge (about US$29 for three hours). There is no arrivals lounge, so you can't wait out an early hotel check-in airside.
How many terminals does Da Nang airport have?
Two: T1 for domestic flights and T2 for international, connected by a short covered walkway. T2 opened in 2017 and holds a 5-star Skytrax rating.
Do I need to book an airport transfer to Hoi An in advance?
Not usually. Grab and metered taxis are on demand at the rank. Pre-booking a private transfer or hotel shuttle only helps if you want a named driver waiting or you land very late.
Sources
- 1.Wikipedia: Da Nang International Airport · terminal history, the 2017 T2 opening, and passenger figures
- 2.Vietnam Airlines: Da Nang airport to the city · the airport-to-city distance and time
- 3.VietnameSIM: Da Nang SIM card guide · the airport SIM booths, carrier coverage, and the airport premium
- 4.Da Nang Hotel Guide: Grab guide · Grab surge times and the Door 3 pickup pin
- 5.hoianitinerary.com: airport to Hoi An · 2026 airport-to-Hoi-An fares and times by mode
- 6.hoianit.com: Da Nang to Hoi An by bus · the LK02 bus fares and the fact it does not enter the airport
- 7.hoiandaytrip.com: Da Nang airport luggage storage · the third-party storage desk hours and per-bag pricing
- 8.fasttrack-vietnam.com: Da Nang airport lounges · the lounge list, Skytrax rating, and airside amenities
Fares, SIM prices, lounge rates, and storage details change, and US dollar figures are approximate. This guide reflects the situation at the time of writing; check anything you are planning tightly around before you fly.