Welcome to Da Nang, a vibrant coastal city nestled along the central coast of Vietnam, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern charm.
Join us on an unforgettable journey as we delve into the heart of this dynamic destination, uncovering its hidden treasures, savouring its delectable cuisine, and navigating its bustling streets.
From stunning beaches to cultural landmarks and culinary delights, Da Nang offers a wealth of experiences waiting to be explored.
Da Nang is the halfway point between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang is the fourth largest city in Vietnam.
This city has a lot to offer to you such as mesmerising mountains, UNESCO world heritage sites, amusement parks, verdant national parks, French colonial ports, and white sand beaches.
Da Nang’s coastline stretches 30 kilometres, renowned for calm, cool waters, fishing, surfing, water skiing, diving, and yachting. The Golden Bridge is also a must-visit spot.
Things to do in Da Nang:
1. The Marble Mountains, Da Nang:
The Marble Mountains are a cluster of five hills made from limestone. It is a well-known pilgrimage, where you can enjoy the peaks, and explore the caves, tunnels, and temples.
According to ancient folklore, a dragon emerged from the water and laid an egg on the Non-Nuoc Beach. A thousand days later the egg hatched and a beautiful girl stepped out.
The fragments of the shell were left on the beach and grew into five mystical Marble Mountains.
You must climb the Marble Mountain and from the top, you can enjoy the spectacular views across the Non-Nuoc, also known as My Khe Beach.
It will take you about 5 hours to explore all the four hills. On your way to the top, you will find some children selling souvenirs. The timings to visit these hills are from 7 in the morning to 6 in the evening. You have to pay VND 400 to get entry.
2. Asia Park- Sun World da Nang Wonders, Da Nang:
The first thing you will see when you enter Asia Park is the huge Ferris Wheel, also known as the Sun Wheel. During the daytime, you might find it boring and unattractive, but at night it becomes something irresistible.
The whole facade is illuminated by neon lights which adds more colors to this fascinating city. The Sun Wheel is 115 meters high, which makes it one of the highest Ferris in the world, from the top, you can have an amazing view of Da Nang city.
The Sun Wheel does not stop to let the passengers get in but it turns slowly enough for people to walk in the small carriages.
Each carriage can carry about 4 passengers and is very secure to sit in. Apart from the Sun Wheel, you can also enjoy the love lock, monorail, rollercoasters, and a boat that sways both sides and makes your stomach turn.
If you feel hungry while enjoying then you can have drinks and food from the small shops in Asia Park. The park opens at 4 in the morning and closes at 11 in the night. You can enjoy all the rides on a ticket that costs 150,000 VND.
3. My Kae beach, Da Nang:
My Kae Beach is considered to be Vietnam’s most picturesque beach. This white sand beach is a 20-mile stretch. This beach is very famous among the local surfers. You will also find plenty of high-end resorts.
At My Kae, you can enjoy sunbathing, surfing, and several water sports. My Kae Beach benefits from being perfectly located at the heart of World Heritage Sites such as the ancient port of Hoi An, the mysterious Phing Nga Caves, the home of the Champa population, and the imperial city of Hue.
The best time to visit My Kae Beach is between May and October.
4. Golden Bridge, Da Nang:
This is a perfect spot for photographers. The bridge stands at a height of 1,400m above sea level and spans approximately 150 meters in length.
The name “Golden Bridge” comes from its gilded railing frame. You can take amazing photos at this bridge and you will find this bridge as majestic as a scene in “Game of Thrones” or “The Lords of Rings”. Two enormous hands support this bridge.
According to belief, the hands are those of the Mountain God, lifting the bridge as if it were a shining golden silk strip, reaching towards the high sky.
The Golden Bridge opens at 8 in the morning and closes at 6:30 in the evening. The most crowded hours are 9-5 because watching the sunrise and sunset is just amazing from such a height.
Bana Hills does not only have the Golden Bridge to visit, moreover, you can visit Fantasy Park, French Village, flower gardens, Ling Ung Pagoda, and Cafe and restaurants of various styles.
5. The World Cultural Heritage- My Son:
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in a small valley in Duy Tay Commune, which is about 70 km away from the Da Nang. This site is a great sample of ancient Champa civilization located in the southern part of Vietnam.
Here you can see many Hindu-themed ruins featuring many beautiful stone sculptures, temples, and towers in tropical jungle surroundings. Out of 68, only 20 structures survived the battle with time and wars. This site remains open all year round.
Food to try in Da Nang:
1. Mi Quang:
These are traditional Vietnamese Turmeric Noodles. They make the noodles from rice, tinting them yellow with turmeric and bone broth, and then seasoning them with fish sauce, black pepper, shallot, and garlic.
They top this dish with river shrimp, boiled quail eggs, and roasted pork. Finally, they garnish it with an array of fresh herbs, such as basil, peanuts, coriander, lettuce, sliced banana flowers, and sesame rice crackers.
2. Com Chien:
These fried rice dishes have a Vietnamese touch. It is a simple dish of steamed rice and various ingredients that are stir-fried in a sizzling work.
It is then fried in garlic-infused oil and an array of meat. Seafood, and fresh vegetables. The dish is then garnished with fried shallots, parsley, and coriander leaves. It is served with a side nuoc cham dipping sauce.
How to reach Da Nang:
1. By flight:
Da Nang has its own airport, so you can directly land there and get a cab or taxi from outside the airport to get to your hotel. Da Nang domestic airport is connected to Hanoi, Vinh, Can Tho, Da Lat, and many more.
2. By train:
Da Nang railway is located at Hai Phong which is 5 km away from the city centre. Travelling at short distances by train is cheaper than bus or hiring a taxi.
5 trains run daily on the route from Chi Minh to Da Nang including SE2, SE4, SE6, SE8, and SE22. To reach Da Nang from Hanoi you have to catch a train running on routes SE4, SE6, SE8, SE20.
3. By bus:
Kon Tum, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Vinh, Hue, and Hanoi are a few cities from where you can get a bus to reach Da Nang. Da Nang Bus Station is one of the busiest in Vietnam.
There is no direct bus to Da Nang from Hanoi and Chi Minh. There is no direct bus from Chi Minh to Da Nang. You have to catch a bus on route number 14 from Pasteur which is 19 minutes away from Ho Chi Minh Mien Dong bus station.
If you want to reach Da Nang from Hanoi then you will get a bus from Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station. Buses depart 3 times a day.
How to get around:
The public transport in Da Nang is very budget-friendly. To get to the breathtaking mountains, pristine beaches, and memorial sites hiring a motorcycle taxi or a private car is the best.
Taxis are available everywhere in Da Nang particularly nearby hotels, tourist spots, and shopping malls. The taxi drivers also have a pretty good command of their English, so you can deal with them with ease.
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