Da Nang, Vietnam: travel guide
Known as one of the most livable cities in Vietnam, Da Nang serves as a gateway to the central region. It pairs beautiful, sprawling beaches like My Khe with modern bridges and world-class resorts.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Currency
- VND
- Time zone
- Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
- Nearest airport
- DAD
Top places to visit in Da Nang
Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng)
Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h
A 666-metre bridge shaped like a golden dragon, opened 2013. Every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 the dragon's head breathes fire and water for 10 minutes — the most spectacular free show in Vietnam.
My Khe Beach
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
A pristine 30 km arc of white sand ranked among Asia's most beautiful urban beaches by Forbes. Lifeguards patrol May–September. Best visited early morning before midday crowds.
Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry VND 40,000
Five marble-and-limestone peaks riddled with Buddhist and Hindu shrines, grottoes and viewpoints. Thuy Son is most visited — cave temples, war-era hiding spots and panoramic views of Da Nang and the sea. An elevator links base to summit.
Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge
Activity · 4.4 rating · about 5 h · entry VND 950,000
Mountain-top theme park reached by a record-breaking cable car, home to the giant-hands Golden Bridge and a French Village.
Son Tra Peninsula — Lady Buddha
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 3 h
A 4,439-hectare nature reserve home to the critically endangered red-shanked douc langur. The 67-metre Linh Ung Pagoda features the largest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam with panoramic sea views from the summit.
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · entry VND 60,000
The world's largest collection of Cham artifacts — over 2,000 stone sculptures from the ancient Champa civilisation (2nd–17th centuries) in airy French colonial galleries.
Hai Van Pass
Viewpoint · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
Spectacular 21 km mountain pass between Da Nang and Hue, made famous by Top Gear.
Linh Ung Pagoda Bai But
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
Hillside temple on Son Tra crowned by Vietnam's tallest Lady Buddha statue (67 m).
Sun World Danang Wonders (Asia Park)
Activity · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · entry VND 300,000
City amusement park with the Sun Wheel ferris wheel and zones themed on Asian cultures.
Love Bridge & Carp-Dragon Statue
Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h
Riverfront promenade with a love-lock bridge and a 7.5 m jade carp-turning-dragon statue.
Da Nang Downtown (Sun World riverside)
Activity · 4.1 rating · about 2 h
Riverside entertainment complex with rides, a beer street and nightly shows by the Dragon Bridge.
APEC Sculpture Park
Cultural · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h
Riverside park of international sculptures gifted at the 2017 APEC summit, beside the Dragon Bridge.
Things to do
- Marble Mountains Half-Day Hike & Cave Visit Heritage · 3 h · from VND 96,500 per person
- My Khe Beach Sunrise Surf Lesson Water Sports · 2 h · from VND 248,000 per person
- Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Day Trip Sightseeing · 9 h · from VND 965,000 per person
- Dragon Bridge Fire & Water Show Cultural · 1 h · from VND 138,000 per person
- Hai Van Pass & Lang Co Motorbike Tour Adventure · 5 h · from VND 772,000 per person
- Cham Islands Snorkelling Day Trip Nature · 8 h · from VND 827,000 per person
- Son Tra Peninsula & Lady Buddha Tour Sightseeing · 4 h · from VND 496,000 per person
- Da Nang Street Food Tour by Scooter Food · 3.5 h · from VND 551,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Ancient Town Day Trip 10 h · from VND 551,000
- Hai Van Pass Motorbike Tour: Da Nang to Hue 10 h · from VND 772,000
Where to stay in Da Nang
- My Khe Beach Strip about VND 2,500 per night
A 30 km beach strip consistently ranked among Asia's most beautiful. High-rise resort hotels line the beachfront; seafood restaurants are metres from the sand. The best zone for beach-first travellers.
- Han River / City Centre about VND 1,500 per night
The commercial and cultural heart — the Cham Museum, markets, local pho restaurants and the spectacular Dragon Bridge (fire/water Sat–Sun 21:00) all within walking distance. Better value than the beachfront.
Hotels
- Hyatt Regency Da Nang Resort & Spa 5-star · VND 5,000,000 to VND 25,000,000 per night
- InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort 5-star · VND 12,000,000 to VND 30,000,000 per night
- A La Carte Da Nang Beach 4-star · VND 1,500,000 to VND 6,000,000 per night
- Premier Village Danang Resort 5-star · VND 6,000,000 to VND 14,000,000 per night
- Naman Retreat 5-star · VND 6,000,000 to VND 13,000,000 per night
- TIA Wellness Resort 5-star · VND 7,000,000 to VND 14,000,000 per night
Where to eat
- Be Man Seafood Restaurant Vietnamese, Seafood · about VND 350,000 per person
- Mi Quang Thi Vietnamese · about VND 50,000 per person
- Madame Lan Vietnamese · about VND 250,000 per person
- Banh Xeo Ba Duong Vietnamese · about VND 120,000 per person
- Bun Cha Ca 109 Vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- Mi Quang 1A Vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- Com Ga A.Hai Vietnamese · about VND 70,000 per person
- Quan Com Hue Ngon Vietnamese · about VND 100,000 per person
Getting around
- Motorbike Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Unlicensed Taxi at Airport
Da Nang International Airport arrivals
Unofficial taxi drivers approach in arrivals, quoting low prices, but use tampered meters or demand 2–3× the correct fare.
How to avoid it: Use Grab app from the airport. Alternatively, arrange hotel pickup in advance. Official taxis are Vinasun or Mai Linh outside the terminal.
Restaurant Menu Price Switching
My Khe Beach area
Some beachfront restaurants present a menu with reasonable prices, then at checkout produce a different menu with higher prices or add unlisted charges.
How to avoid it: Photograph the menu when ordering. Ask for an itemised bill. Read reviews on Google Maps before entering.
Best time to visit Da Nang
- Sep 32°C · QCVN 02:2022/BXD, Table A.25 average rainfall for September: 350.7 mm (station Da Nang).
- Oct 30°C · QCVN 02:2022/BXD, Table A.25 average rainfall for October: 628.0 mm (station Da Nang).
- Nov 27°C · QCVN 02:2022/BXD, Table A.25 average rainfall for November: 448.2 mm (station Da Nang).
- Dec 25°C · QCVN 02:2022/BXD, Table A.25 average rainfall for December: 218.4 mm (station Da Nang).