Private Car Booking for the New Year's Eve Countdown Between Da Nang and Hoi An: Pick-Up Points and Late-Night Routes

New Year’s Eve is when thousands of residents and visitors head for the Han River centre in Da Nang or the Hoi An Ancient Town to join the big music festival and count down to the new year. After midnight, from about 00:30 to 02:00, demand for transport rises sharply, and it becomes difficult to find a taxi or get a ride through an app. Booking a private car with a driver in advance, and agreeing on a pick-up point outside the closed area, helps you return to your accommodation safely and calmly.

Why New Year’s Eve travel between Da Nang and Hoi An is busy

31 December is every year a cultural and entertainment event that draws large numbers of domestic and international visitors to central Vietnam. People move between Da Nang and Hoi An in both directions:

• Guests staying in Hoi An who head to Da Nang for the Countdown: Many groups of friends and families staying in the Ancient Town want to experience the large-scale open-air concert along the east bank of the Dragon Bridge or Bach Dang Street, then return to their Hoi An hotels the same night.
• Guests in Da Nang who travel to Hoi An to welcome the new year: The warm atmosphere of lanterns, costume parties and street performances at Song Hoai Square offers a nostalgic and romantic way to see the new year in.

Because the countdown events usually finish at about 00:15 to 00:30 on 1 January, thousands of people leave the central area at the same time, creating local traffic pressure late at night.

The problems with finding transport after midnight, and the benefits of booking ahead

Trying to find transport on the spot after the countdown often brings several inconveniences:

• Ride-hailing apps overloaded: Ride-hailing apps often have no driver accepting trips because the number of people calling for cars rises suddenly at the same moment. Fares on the apps can also be higher than on ordinary days.
• Hard to find a traditional taxi at the event area: Taxis around the event site are usually taken by passengers waiting from early in the evening, so you may stand waiting for a long time in the cool night air.
• Peace of mind with a pre-booked private car: When you book a car with Sun Travel in advance, the driver and vehicle are already ready to serve your group’s own schedule. You do not have to push through crowds, and you are taken right to the door of your hotel safely.

Arranging a flexible pick-up point to avoid the closed traffic zone

During the Countdown night, the authorities usually set up a pedestrian zone and ban cars from the main roads close to the stage, such as Bach Dang Street, Tran Phu Street and both ends of the Dragon Bridge:

• Walk a short distance out to the outer ring: To avoid getting stuck in the dense crowd, the best option is to walk a short distance out to nearby ring roads such as Le Duan Street, Nguyen Chi Thanh Street or Phan Chu Trinh Street.
• Agree a specific meeting point in advance: Before the countdown, the driver will contact you to share a location and suggest a clear landmark (such as the gate of a large hotel, a petrol station, or a quiet corner at a junction). When the event ends, you can stroll calmly to the meeting point so the car can collect you quickly.
• Pick-up point in Hoi An: If you are attending a party in the Hoi An Ancient Town, the most convenient meeting point is the car park on Ly Thuong Kiet Street or the area of Phan Chu Trinh Street, a few steps from the walking zone.

Safe routes for late-night travel between the two cities

Driving a car between 01:00 and 02:30 in the morning calls for a driver with long-distance experience and high concentration:

• Prefer the coastal boulevard: Vo Nguyen Giap Street, which links Truong Sa Street and Lac Long Quan Street, is a suitable route for night journeys. The road is wide, has public street lighting and few complicated junctions, which helps the car run steadily.
• Alert, calm drivers: Sun Travel assigns local drivers who are in good health, familiar with night-time driving, and keep a calm manner, observing the speed limits, to help passengers sleep well for the rest of the journey back.

Booking early and flexible arrangements for the pick-up time

To make your New Year’s night trip go smoothly and enjoyably, keep the following preparation steps in mind:

1. Book the car early: Contact us to book three to five days in advance, so the company can arrange the 4-, 7- or 16-seat car that best suits the number of people in your group.
2. Give us your pick-up point and a contact number: Keep your phone charged and the ringer on, so the driver can easily call you to guide you to the meeting point when the central area is crowded.
3. Change the pick-up time if needed: If the festival runs longer than expected, simply send the driver a message in advance so they can adjust the pick-up time later, giving them time to plan.

For more useful information, see private car from Da Nang to Hoi An, private car with a driver in central Vietnam and the Da Nang airport pick-up and drop-off service.