Da Nang Travel Guide

General Information

As the fourth largest city in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong, Da Nang is the economic and political center of Central Vietnam. It is also a crucial port city of our country. Its population is nearly 1.5 million inhabitants in 2017. Da Nang is a one-of-a-kind destination which combines the aspects of our quaint Hanoi and bustling Ho Chi Minh City. Thanks to its strategic location which is near the UNESCO Heritage site Hoi An Old Town and the imperial capital Hue, Da Nang has become a must-see tourist destination in your tour to Central Vietnam.

Coming to Da Nang, you will have a chance to visit picturesque sites such as Ba Ha Hills, Marble Mountain, Hai Van Pass, Son Tra Peninsula, etc. If you fond of adventurous and outdoor activities, My Khe Beach should be on your bucket list. In Da Nang, an international fireworks competition is organized every year and you can see mesmerizing performances by numerous artists around the world which lighten up the romantic Han River.

Visiting this city on a Da Nang beach break tour, you can taste a lot of authentic local cuisines. From street vendors to luxury 5-star hotel restaurants, you can enjoy appetizing dishes that use fresh and succulent local products and are prepared by dedicated and experienced chefs. If you are looking for some night entertainment, it is easy to find some bars, clubs and pubs along the city beach.

Da Nang Weather

Located in Central Vietnam, there are 2 main seasons in Da Nang: the rainy season (August – December) and the dry season (January – July).

The hottest months of the year are from May to August when the temperature can reach 40 degrees Celsius and it is usually very dry. There are usually tropical storms in October and November. Rainfall level is the highest from September to November.

The best time to travel to Da Nang is from February to April. If possible, avoid the months from May to July when Da Nang is crowded with domestic travelers.

Getting to Da Nang

By plane

Danang International Airport (DAD) is about 3 km from the city center. You can fly from many major cities in Vietnam such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang.

• From / to Ho Chi Minh (SGN): 890 km – Duration: 1.5 hours
• From / to Hanoi (HAN): 780 km – Duration: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• From / to Nha Trang (CXR): 540 km – Duration: 1.25 hours
• From / to Dalat (DLI): 660 km – Duration: 1.5 hours

By car

To rent a private car with a driver in Vietnam, you can contact us. Price and quality of service will be fixed before departure.

• From / to Hoi An: 30km – Duration: 45 minutes
• From / to Hue: 95km – Duration: 2 hours
• From / to Kon Tum: 292km – Duration: 6 hours
• From / to Quy Nhon: 322km – Duration: 6 hours
• From / to Dong Hoi: 268km – Duration: 5 hours

By train

Prices can be modified according to the time of year or service quality.

• Nha Trang – Da Nang: 495km – Duration: 9 – 11 hours
• Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang: 880km – Duration: 15 – 19 hours
• Hue – Da Nang: 110km – Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours
• Hanoi – Da Nang: 880km – Duration: 15 – 17 hours

Getting around Da Nang

By taxi

Taxi is the most convenient way to discover the city. We recommend some reputable brands with their phone number:

• Mai Linh: 0511.3.56.56.56
• Vinasun: 0511.3.68.68.68
• Tien Sa: 0511.3.79.79.79
• Song Han: 0511.3.72.72.72

By bike

You can also rent a bike to explore the city. Many hotels and home stays provide this service.

Where to Stay in Da Nang

Since it is a popular tourist destination, it is easy to find an accommodation in the city center as well as in surrounding areas. Here are some recommendations for your trip:

• InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort (5-star)

Address: Tho Quang, Son Tra Peninsula

• Grand Mercure Da Nang (5-star)

Address: Lot A1, Green Island, Hoa Cuong Bac Ward

• Green Plaza (4-star)

Address: 238 Bach Dang Street, Hai Chau District

• Bamboo Green Riverside Hotel (3-star)

Address: 68 Bach Dang Street, Hai Chau District

• Nhat Linh Hotel (3-star)

Address: 194 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Hai Chau District

What to See in Da Nang

Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son)

7 kilometers to the southeast of Da Nang, Marble Mountains are a spectacular site for art and sculpture lovers. This complex consists of five mountains which represent five elements of the universe: Kim Son (Metal Mountain), Thuy Son (Water Mountain), Moc Son (Wood Mountain), Hoa Son (Fire Mountain) and Tho Son (Earth Mountain). On the mountains and in the caves, there are various temples and pagodas. This place is an opportunity for you to explore the caves, take some stunning photos, and climb to the top of the mountain to admire a magnificent view.

Museum of Cham Sculpture

It was built in 1919 by the French school of the Far East (L’École Francaise d’Extrême Orient). Inside, there are sculptures and architectural antiques from several sites in Central Vietnam where the Kingdom of Cham was built from the 4th to 13th centuries. These works of art are inspired by Buddhism and Hinduism. There are nearly 300 different works on display inside and outside the building.

Location: No. 2, 2^nd September Street, Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District

Beautiful Beaches

1. My Khe Beach

My Khe is one of the most popular beaches in this city. The locals and tourists come here to relax and enjoy a tranquil atmosphere. It extends over 900m from the base of Son Tra Peninsula to Marble Mountains. Before 1975, a part of this beach was used by the US Army and established as a retreat place with many luxurious resorts.

2. Da Den Beach (Black Rock Beach)

The reason why this beach has this name is that there are many black rocks here that are distinguished from the water of the turquoise blue sea. It is not safe to swim or dive here; however, you can climb over the rocks and take some group photos.

3. Thanh Binh Beach

Extending for only 1km, this small beach is calm and peaceful. Thanh Binh Beach is well-developed with many services such as water skiing, canoeing and boating.

4. Nam O Beach

Nam O Beach, 17 km north-west of the city center, offers you gentle waves and delicious seafood. You can go for a walk through the mountains and then swim in the turquoise water.

5. Non Nuoc Beach

Non Nuoc beach lies at the foot of the Marble Mountains and can be accessed from Da Nang or Hoi An within 20 minutes. This is a perfect spot for professional surfers or any amateurs who want to learn to use a stand-up paddle.

6. Bac My An Beach

Bac My An Beach is 7 km to the east of the city center. It is famous for being one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Buddhist pagodas

1. Phap Lam Pagoda

Phap Lam Pagoda is a two-storey Buddhist site with towering trees, rustic gardens and sophisticated sculptures. On the top floor, there is a giant golden Buddha statue.

Location: 574 Ong Ich Khiem Street, Nam Duong Ward, Hai Chau District

2. Pho Da Pagoda

Pho Da Pagoda was built by Venerable Thich Ton Thang in 1927. It has been restored several times and consists of a sanctum, a worshipping area and a lecture hall.

Location: 340 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Binh Thuan Ward, Hai Chau District

3. Linh Ung Pagoda

Linh Ung Pagoda is located in Bai But, Son Tra Peninsula. It is the most beautiful pagoda of Da Nang for its classic architecture and style. Linh Ung literally means ‘Miraculously fulfilled wishes’ in Vietnamese. In other words, if you pray for anything in this pagoda, your wishes will surely become true. According to the legends, under the reign of Minh Mang Emperor in the 19^th century, a Buddha statue was stranded at an embankment. The locals built a statue to worship the statue, and after that, the coastal village experienced a pleasant weather and fishermen caught plenty of fish.

At a 200-meter altitude, this 20-hectare pagoda offers a magnificent panorama of the sea and the city. The imposing Lady Buddha statue in this pagoda is considered as the tallest statue in Vietnam with the height of 67 meters. This statue can be seen from every corner of Da Nang. Today, Linh Ung – Bai But is a symbol of the development of Buddhism in Vietnam.

Cloud Pass (Hai Van Pass)

Ranging from Thua Thien – Hue Province to Da Nang City, Hai Van Pass is a challenge for every adventurous biker. It is the highest pass in Vietnam and is about 1500 km above the sea level. This 25-kilometer long pass can be translated as ‘the sea clouds pass’ and you can view Da Nang City, Tien Sa Port, and Son Tra Peninsula from the top of Hai Van.

Dragon Bridge (Cau Rong)

The dragon-shaped bridge is 670 m long and 40 m wide and was inaugurated in 2013. Crossing Han River, the bridge breathes fire and water evẻy Saturday and Sunday night at 9 pm.

Rooster Church

This church was built in 1923 for the French who settled down in the city. It is called Con Ga Church or Rooster Church because of the symbol of a gray rooster on top of the church.

Location: 156 Tran Phu Street, Hai Chau District

Han Market

Han Market is the most famous local market in the city. You can walk here to see local vendors and discover local products such as fruits, dry seafood and souvenirs.

Son Tra Peninsula

10km from the city center, Son Tra Peninsula is approximately 60 square meters wide. Recognized in 1997 as a nature reserve, Son Tra is the home to a variety of flora and fauna. Coming to this place, you will find long white-sand beaches which are still unspoiled by mass tourism.

My Son Sanctuary

My Son is the cluster of Hindu-themed ruins that belonged to the ancient Champa civilization from the 2^nd to 17^th century. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The best time to visit My Son is in the early morning before it gets too hot here.

Hoi An

A city tour around Hoi An is a cannot-miss part of your trip to this city. 30 kilometers from Da Nang, this small ancient town offers you a tranquil atmosphere, sophisticated traditional houses and delicious local specialties. Don’t forget to take stunning photos of mesmerizing lanterns during Hoi An Lantern Festival.

Ba Na Hills

42 km from the city center, Ba Na is the mountaintop resort complex which contains many luxury restaurants, world-class accommodations and entertainment. This place was found by the French colonists in 1919 and it is now praised as a ‘Da Lat of Da Nang City’. Taking a cable car to Ba Na, you can admire the magnificent view of misty mountains and escape from the heat of summers. You and your children can participate in an amusement ride or take a photo in French Village on your family holiday in Vietnam.

What to Eat in Da Nang

Da Nang is a heaven for food lovers thanks to its variety of culinary delicacies. The foods here are not spicy and do not have a strong flavor, so they are suitable for foreign visitors. Make sure you try Banh xeo and Nem lui when traveling to this city. It is said that if you do not try these two dishes, you do not visit Da Nang.

1. Banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes)

Do not miss the opportunity to taste Banh xeo in Da Nang. Banh xeo is made from rice flour, egg yolks, and turmeric mixed in a pan. Once the dough is cooked, shrimp, pork belly, and bean sprouts are added. This dish is served with a special sauce and other kinds of herbs.

To eat Banh xeo, you have to wrap it in a rice paper, add a lettuce leaf or mustard leaf and other herbs such as mint leaves, basil and fish leaf. Place a small piece of Banh xeo on the top and dip the roll into the sauce.

2. Nem lui (Sausage)

Nem lui is an amazingly delicious kind of sausage. Ground pork is marinated with many kinds of species and wrapped around a chopstick. After that, it is grilled on charcoal fire until the meat turns yellow and has an appealing smell. Nem Lui is eaten the same way as Banh xeo: wrap it in a rice paper with many types of vegetables and dip it into the sauce.

Some famous places to try Banh xeo and Nem lui:

Mrs Duong’s Banh xeo

• Address: 280/23 Hoang Dieu Street, Hai Chau District
• Opening hours: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Ms. Ba’s Banh xeo

• Address: 248 Trung Nu Vuong Street, Hai Chau District
• Opening hours: 9:30 am – 10:30 pm

Ms. Uyen’s Banh xeo

• Address: 103 Le Thanh Nghi Street, Hai Chau District
• Opening hours: 9:30 am – 10:30 pm

Ms Muoi’s Banh xeo

• Address: 23 Chau Thi Vinh Te Street, Marble Mountains
• Opening hours: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

3. Bun thit nuong (Rice vermicelli with grilled pork)

This food is usually served cold with delicious grilled pork, fresh vegetables, herbs and bean sprouts. Topped with roasted peanuts, carrots and green onions, bun thit nuong is totally a feast for your senses. You just need to mix all the ingredients together and enjoy it with a special sauce made from peanut. If you are into spicy flavor, add some chili sauce.

4. Banh trang thit heo (Sliced pork rolled in rice papers)

This is one of the favorite dishes of domestic and foreign travelers. For this dish, best pieces of a pig are chosen, normally the belly or shoulder. The dish is accompanied by many kinds of vegetables: lettuce, basil, mint leaves, etc. However, the dish will not be complete without a sauce made from peanuts.

5. Mi Quang (Quang Noodles)

This is the noodle that was originated from Quang Nam Province and has become a popular breakfast and lunch dish. To cook this dish, the locals use rice noodles, meat and herbs such as basil, cilantro, scallions, onion leaves and lettuce. You can choose one or more kinds of meat for your Mi Quang bowl: shrimp, pork, chicken and beef. This dish is served either with or without broth.

6. Seafood

Surrounded by beautiful beaches, it is obvious that Da Nang is the home to numerous dishes made from fresh seafood. Some recommended dishes when you travel to this city are Grilled mussels with green onions and peanuts, Steam clams, Grilled baby squid, Steamed crabs, etc. You can visit a local seafood market in the early morning to purchase live seafood and ask the restaurant to cook for you.