Is Da Nang worth visiting? It may be one of the lesser-known of Vietnam’s many tourist destinations, but this gleaming cosmopolitan beach city is a must-visit to experience life in Vietnam outside of the tourist hubs. Three days in Da Nang would be the ideal amount of time to explore, although in my own whistle-stop tour of the country we had a mere 24 hours.
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I arrived at Da Nang airport one April afternoon, and stood in the immigration line at border control wondering if I really didn’t need a visa for my stay in Vietnam. (The internet, in this instance, didn’t lie; I really did not need a visa.) This was the first time I’d ever stepped foot on Asian soil, and despite feeling mildly traumatised from seven days at sea- followed immediately by four flights to get me to Vietnam- I was pretty darn tootin’ excited.
Passport successfully and ceremoniously stamped, I headed outside into the tropical heat of the airport forecourt and looked for the taxi I’d pre-booked. The driver smiled and waved from behind the A4 sheet of paper with my name on it, and loaded my case into the back of the car. Da Nang doesn’t see as many western visitors as other parts of the country, so it’s understandable that finding English speakers here is rare. In the case of this smiley taxi driver, I was secretly glad that having a conversation was near enough impossible. I was absolutely exhausted.
I turned my attention out of the window to the road passing by, and the infinite swarms of motorbikes, buzzing pathways through the cars in the dazzling sunshine. Da Nang- this part of Da Nang, at least- was bright, and modern, full of shiny buildings and sparkly bridges. We drove parallel with the beach, which reminded me instantly of the Caribbean beaches I’d only left one week before; with its glossy modern hotels and rows of palm trees, Da Nang could easily have actually been Aruba.
Am I actually in Aruba after all? I was dazed and confused. My eyelids began to droop and I nodded off as we were passing a row of what looked like garden centres selling giant white statues of dragons and buddhas and turtles.
A very brief introduction to Da Nang
I had no idea what to expect from Da Nang, in fact I was only really passing through because of its proximity to other places. Firstly, it’s a bit of a transport hub, very conveniently placed for me to fly into Da Nang airport and then leave the city with my pals on the sleeper train to Hanoi. Secondly, we wanted to visit Hoi An, the pretty UNESCO town which is about an hour away by road.
Is Da Nang worth visiting? My honest opinion is that if you’re the type of traveller who likes to stick to the ‘must-see’ tourist destinations, Da Nang might not be for you. But if like me you’re a bit of a wanderer and a people-watcher, this city is a great place to experience life in Vietnam.
Da Nang is the fifth most populous city in Vietnam, and it’s also an important economic and educational hub, as well as being home to a big old sea port which is considered one of the country’s most important. The city is super-urban, and at night time the river comes to life with twinkling lights on futuristic bridges and skyscrapers reflected in the water’s surface. The consistently tropical climate and sweeping white sandy beaches also make this a great destination for holiday-makers from elsewhere in Vietnam and the rest of Asia to come and get some beach time in. (And there are luxury resorts springing up left, right, and centre.)
How to get from Da Nang airport to the city
Da Nang airport is only about ten minutes by road from the centre of the city, and the easiest way to travel between the two is by taxi. There are always plenty of taxis waiting outside the airport, or you can order one using Grab. However, if you’d rather have the comfort of knowing there’s someone waiting for you, here’s a private transfer you can pre-book.
Where to stay in Da Nang
If your budget is tight, check out Benzen Boutique Stays, which is in a great location right next to the Dragon Bridge and within walking distance of the Night Market. Rooms here are fairly basic, but clean and super affordable.
Another option for a hotel and hostel by the river is the Seahorse Tropical Da Nang. This colourful hotel has plenty of studio rooms, some of which have balconies, but there are also dorm rooms available. It’s no wonder the Seahorse is highly rated; aside from the decor, they serve a delicious breakfast, and there’s a rooftop pool on site.
For a more traditional hotel experience in Da Nang, i.e. no dorm rooms or studio kitchens here, look at Wink Hotel. This is another riverfront spot, and the high rise hotel has rooms with stunning views across the city, for very affordable prices.
If you want to be closer to the beach, check out the Minh Boutique Hotel. This small hotel is very close to My Khe Beach; it’s beautifully decorated with wood panelled rooms and tropical plants everywhere; it also has a gorgeous rooftop pool.
Finally, for a five star experience by the beach in Da Nang, head to the Rosamia Hotel. The staff here are fantastic, the ocean view rooms are stunning, and there’s a spa available to use daily. It’s also mere footsteps from the beach.
How to get around Da Nang
Whilst in Da Nang, we mostly got around on foot. We didn’t have long in the city, and so we stuck to a fairly concentrated area to explore. (Which was brilliant, as we stumbled across things we otherwise wouldn’t have realised were there, like an expanse of bonsai trees on display near the river, for example. I’m not sure if they were for sale or just for a look, but it was glorious all the same.)
However, if you want to cover more ground, or don’t fancy stomping the city streets in tropical heat, the best way to get around is using the Grab app. Grab is basically South East Asia’s answer to Uber, and it works an absolute treat. You can order taxis through the app, or if you’d rather, get yourself a motorbike lift instead. It’s also incredibly affordable.
When in Vietnam, I highly recommend.
Of course, to use the Grab app, you’ll need data. I hate the hassle of finding and installing local sim cards in each new country, so instead I always use eSims from Airalo. You download the Airalo app, buy yourself an eSim for the country or region you’ll be travelling through, and the data is then put onto your phone. I’m telling you now- this app is a godsend, and the data packages for Vietnam are also brilliant value for money.
The best things to do in Da Nang
Check out the Dragon Bridge
There are several bridges stretching across the width of the Hàn River which flows through Da Nang, but the most famous of them all is the Dragon Bridge. This glorious metal monster slithers across the river, with the yellow ridges on its back towering over the six lanes of traffic (mostly consisting of motorbikes, obviously), beneath it. At one end is the dragon’s head, which spouts fire and water every Saturday and Sunday at 9pm.
Alas, it was a weekday when we visited Da Nang, so we missed the fire, but I loved seeing this big old beast all the same.
Enjoy the street food at a Da Nang night market
Night markets are an integral part of life in Vietnam, and although there are several in Da Nang, perhaps the most easily locatable is the Son Tra market right next to the Dragon Bridge.
One of the most important things for me to do when I visit anywhere is to eat the local food, and the first point of call for this should always be on the street. (I don’t mean sifting through the bins; street food is what I’m getting at here.) At a night market you can eat cheaply and well, and try a lot of new weird and wonderful and delicious things. The hubbub of organised chaos stirred in with smoke and smells is an experience in itself.
Sit down on one of the tiny plastic stools and tuck in with your chopsticks to some of the most tastiest, freshest food you ever did eat. A lot of people have asked me whether I ever got an upset stomach from eating the food during my trip to Asia, but I can unequivocally say that I felt healthier here than I did during the entire six months prior that I’d spent living on a cruise ship.
Try this popular Da Nang evening food tour to get the full foodie experience.
Have a beach day
If relaxing at the beach is your kind of thing, then you’re in luck in Da Nang.
My Khe Beach stretches for around 10km between the Son Tra Peninsula and the Marble Mountains, and it’s largely considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. The white sand and calm clear waters dotted with palm trees are stunning, and with the forested mountains providing a stunning backdrop- this is basically paradise.
There are plenty of restaurants and bars along the seafront, and if you do eat at the beach be sure to sample the seafood, because it is fresh as a blooming daisy.
Check out this stunning Da Nang coffee shop
The people of Vietnam take their coffee super seriously. In fact, so seriously that as well as serving up some exquisite beverages, it’s generally quite rare that a coffee shop in Vietnam will sell much more than just, well, coffee. Occasionally you’ll find a couple of cakes or a cookie on offer, but normally coffee shops are just for drinking in.
Noi Cafe is undoubtedly one of my favourite coffee shops that I visited not just in Da Nang, but in the whole of Vietnam. This peaceful spot is hidden down a little alleyway, away from the noise and traffic on the busier streets nearby. The coffee shop actually comprises of two locations almost opposite each other: one on the corner, and then a larger coffee house with an open courtyard filled with plants. The vintage theme meant that there was plenty to look at, and the egg coffee was downright divine.
No. 113/18 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City
Take a riverfront walk
Da Nang is known as the City of Bridges, after all, and a walk along the Hàn River whilst in Da Nang is a must-do in my opinion. Preferably once during the day, and once at night, just to witness the change of atmosphere.
The lights of the city skyline at night are stunning (honestly, these lights are built to entertain, they are glorious), and there are some lovely restaurants and bars along the river to head in to as well.
And another answer to the question ‘is Da Nang worth visiting?’ Because there is so much more to do in this city than just the classic ‘city’ things!
I love hiking and more outdoorsy activities, and we were going to get plenty of that later on in our trip when we trekked through Sa Pa and kayaked around Ha Long Bay. But I hadn’t realised there was so much nature to discover right on the outskirts of Da Nang itself. We only managed to see these next two spots on the list from a distance, which is why next time I need more time to explore. I’m including them because they’re top of my list for when I return.
Explore the Son Tra Peninsula
Although the peninsula is only about 10km from the city centre, its forested mountain slopes are worlds apart from the urban jungle of Da Nang; it’s the perfect place to explore if you’re a fan of the great outdoors.
The luscious green mountain is incredibly biodiverse, and is home to some rare species like the Red-shanked Douc Langur. There are about 350 of these very shy little monkeys living on the Son Tra Peninsula, although if you spot one it’ll probably be through a pair of binoculars; they’re apparently not fans of humans.
Aside from monkey-spotting, there’s plenty to see and do here. Take a hike to Ban Co Peak, which at 700 metres above sea level is the ideal spot to get a great view of Da Nang city. And head to Linh Ung Pagoda to learn more about Vietnamese culture and beliefs. The temple is beautiful, and is also home to the tallest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam (at the height of an approximately 30 storey building.)
There are also several beaches dotted around the peninsula, which have completely different vibes to the city beach of My Khe. These beaches are much wilder, and there’s tonnes of coral and other marine life to see under the surface of the crystal-clear water.
See the Marble Mountains
You can’t fail to spot the Marble Mountains. These five gargantuan limestone mountains are named after the five elements: water, fire, earth, wood, and metal, and amongst the vines and flowers that cascade down over the karsts are ethereal caves, pagodas and statues. The Marble Mountains are open from 7am till 5.30pm daily, and there’s an entry charge oof 40,000VND (about US $1.65).
We didn’t make it to the Marble Mountains, but this sunset tour of the mountains looks fantastic, and has a local guide who can explain the significance of the temples, caves and tunnels in the area. If you’re visiting without a guide, you’ll still need several hours to properly explore the area; and remember this is a sacred spot, so dress modestly!
Best places to visit near Da Nang
Of course the whole point of my post is to answer the question is Da Nang worth visiting, but aside from what’s within the city itself, there is so much to see nearby.
Hoi An Ancient Town
The ancient town of Hoi An is an absolute stunner of a place. Enchanting, magical, and classically Vietnamese, this old port town is filled with pretty architecture which was built mostly between the 1800s and the 1930s. At night time the boats on the river light their colourful paper lanterns and the whole place takes on the atmosphere of a scene from Tangled.
You can only reach Hoi An by road, and there’s no longer a public bus running between Hoi An and Da Nang. So if you don’t have transport of your own, your best bet is to either book a taxi with Grab, or book yourself onto a tour. This is one of the best-rated trips I’ve found, and includes a stop at the Marble Mountains before heading on to Hoi An for the afternoon and into the evening. (Trust me, sunset on the river here is stunning.)
How to get from Da Nang to Hoi An.
Golden Bridge and the Ba Na Hills
If you’re on Instagram, and you follow lots of travel accounts, you’ll probably recognise the image of the Golden Bridge. The bridge curves around a forest-covered limestone mountain, and is held securely in place by two giant hands designed to look like stone.
Although the bridge might appear to be an ancient structure from a distance (or through a screen), it was actually built in 2018 and is part of the Ba Na Hills resort. The resort is part amusement park complete with rollercoasters, and part model French village. There’s also a 19,000 ft cable car on site, to get a really great view of the area.
Public transport takes a long old time from Da Nang to Ba Na Hills, so if time is of the essence, here’s a tour.
Cham Island
Holy moly does this place look incredible, and it’s another place that’s high on my list to visit when I have more time in Da Nang. The Cham Islands were first settled by the Cham people over 3,000 years ago (in fact, they lived all around this area on the mainland as well), and the sea around the islands are home to some stunning marine life.
This tour is brilliantly rated, and includes pick up from Da Nang, a seafood lunch, beach time, snorkelling and if you fancy it, a spot of underwater walking as well. (You know, old-school bubble-helmet style?) What a laugh!
Intriguingly, and controversially, as well as fishing and farming, the harvesting of swifts’ nests is a big industry on these islands. The Chinese dish of Birds Nest Soup is, it turns out, not just an expensive delicacy, but is also made of actual edible birds nests. The swiftlets, which are an endangered species, construct their nests out of saliva, and the annual swallows’ nest harvest here weighs in at over 1.4 tons. Naively, I always thought that Birds Nest Soup was just a name, in the same way that Toad in the Hole doesn’t involve actual toads at all. The more ya know.
Hai Van Pass
The Hai Van Pass is perhaps one of the most famous roads in Vietnam, thanks to its incredible scenic ocean views and winding mountain routes. Rainforests, waterfalls and the turquoise blue of the South China Sea, make this a truly spectacular road trip route. And we all know I love a road trip. (Check out this Big Sur road trip, or this one across the south of England.)
The pass (which roughly translates to Ocean Cloud Pass), connects Da Nang to Hoi An and Hué, and it goes without saying that ideally you should see it by driving the route yourself. Although the total length of the route is longer, the pass itself is only 21km long, so it’s very achievable in a day.
If you don’t have a motorbike, then it’s also possible to book onto a tour to see the Hai Van Pass. Join a guided scooter tour with several stops here, and if you want to self-drive you can request it when you make the booking.
So pals, even if the modern architecture and very non-touristic streets of this city don’t appeal to you, is Da Nang worth visiting? I think it completely, definitely, is. The city is worth exploring, at least for a couple of days, and its proximity to so many other wonderful places make it a great base from where to see Central Vietnam. One day I will be back for sure, because there is so much more to see.