Da Nang is the 3rd largest city in Vietnam with a population of 1.1 million it is calmer than Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh. It is a coastal city in central Vietnam with many km of pristine beaches. It is a brilliant base due to its close proximity to the UNESCO town of Hoi An, the majestic Ba Na Hills, the Marble Mountains and is an ideal getaway for water sports lovers. There are plenty of accommodation options from high-end resorts to budget rooms.
There is a thriving “digital nomad” community, especially around the area of My Khe beach, it is often voted as the most liveable city in Vietnam. It is a touristy place with an international selection of food along with high-quality traditional Vietnamese fare.
Getting to Da Nang
Flights
Da Nang’s airport Da Nang International Airport is the third busiest airport in Vietnam. Many major Asian airlines operate here such as Vietnam Airlines, Qatar, VietJet Air, Korean Air, Cambodia Air and Bangkok Airways.
Read my review of Vietnam Airlines and VietJet
You cannot fly directly from Europe or America you will have to transfer, the most common airports to transfer are Hanoi, Saigon, Bangkok or Seoul.
Da Nang International Airport is approximately 2km from Da Nang city centre. The easiest way to get the city centre is by prebooking a taxi. I used Klook.com for airport transfers during my time in Vietnam. There will be many drivers approaching you outside the airport but I advise against getting a taxi from them, sadly many scams can occur this way.
Trains + Buses
Vietnam has a fantastic rail network that covers 1,726 kilometers of the country from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. It is a single track railway and therefore there can be delays while waiting for other trains to pass. Carriages are modern but the trains are slow, they are not high speed. The trains offer different classes, from basic hard seats to more comfortable sleeper cabins.
I did the journey from Hanoi to Dan Nang on an overnight train in a Laman Express cabin. It was a long journey but made a bit easier with a private cabin. I highly recommend booking a private carriage for long journeys.
From Hanoi – approximately 17 hours. Prebook on 12goAsia.
From Hue – approximately 3 hours. Prebook on 12goAsia.
From Nha Trang – approximately 10hrs. Prebook on 12goAsia.
From Saigon – approx 22hrs. Prebook on 12goAsia.
Overnight sleeper buses are a popular and budget friendly way to explore Vietnam. They actually work out around the take journey time as the trains. It is worth noting that although this is a good option it can sometimes be dangerous with drivers falling asleep at the wheel and crashing. Therefore, check out reviews for bus companies before booking. Again, I recommend 12goAsia for this.
Best time to visit Da Nang?
For dry weather, the best time to visit is between April and August. However, I was there mid February to mid March and the weather was hot and dry. The hottest month tends to be May with averages of over 30 C. Monsoon season is from September to March and is considered to be the off-peak season. Rain tends to come in bursts, arriving quickly and ending just as fast. If you do not mind some rainy days then you can save on accommodation costs and experience a quieter Da Nang.
Is Da Nang worth visiting?
I enjoyed my month in Da Nang and would recommend it for a beach holiday, surfers and people on an extended stay working remotely (there is a large digital nomad community here). I also think if you are doing a complete tour of Vietnam it is a fantastic place to unwind for a few days on the beach before ging further north or south.
Da Nang or Nha Trang?
They both have their appeal but Da Nang is a better all-rounder, you can take day trips to Ba Na hills and Hoi An, the beaches are livelier and there are better food options. You also have a better choice of restaurants. Nha Trang has a gorgeous beach and is hotter but there is not that much to do and pubs/restaurants are not of the same quality.
Where to stay in Da Nang?
Accommodation in Da Nang is very affordable, you can get a fantastic room for about 520,000VND a night. The quality of the hotels is exceptional, many offer a pool and gym with a view of one of the beaches.
Please note that these prices fluctuate depending on the dates you book, the prices below are just a guide.
TUTI Hostel – located in Da Nang city centre, the hostel features a shared kitchen and pool table. Rooms are cosy and modern with air conditioning. Prices start at €8 a night for a bed in a same sex dorm, private rooms are available.
Seahorse Signature – city centre hotel with an outdoor swimming pool and terrace. Some rooms feature a kitchen with a fridge, a microwave and a minibar. There are a range of different rooms from mixed dorms, to studio and loft-style apartments. Prices start at €8 and go up to €68 per night depending on the room.
Valencia Beach Hotel – only 200m from the popular My An Beach. Rooms are large and modern with either a view of the city or a beach. Prices start at €12 a night..
Seaforest Hotel – beautifully designed rooms with either a balcony or a view of a small tropical garden. Some rooms have a stand-alone bath. It is located 900m from the beach. Prices start at €20 a night.
PAMA Boutique Hotel – 4 star hotel located 500 metres from My Khe Beach. Facilities include spa and sauna, the hotel also offers complimentary bikes. Rooms are vibrant and cosy, the king suite offers stunning views of the sea. Prices start at €23 a night
10 Best Things To Do In Da Nang
1. Dragon Bridge
Every Saturday and Sunday at 9pm the bridge. closes to vehicles and bellows fire and water from its mouth for 10 minutes. I personally was not expecting much from this show and prepared myself to be underwhelmed because a fire breathing bridge sounds very gimmicky. The moment I arrived I realised I was very wrong.
Hundreds (possibly thousands) of people gathered on the bridge, street venders were patrolling the streets selling food, drink and balloons. Once the first round of fire roared out of the dragons mouth I was amazed, it was really spectacular seeing huge clouds of fire disappear into the night sky. It only lasts 10 minutes and ends with the dragon spraying out water.
When visiting you should check out Cho Dêm Son Trà Market that is right beside it. This leads me to number 2!
2. Cho Dêm Son Trà Market
Do not visit the Dragon Bridge without checking out this market! The atmosphere is very lively in this market, at the entrance is a kids play area and then you are at the beginning of the food area. The aroma of grilled meat really fills the air (to me that is a good thing) and I would strongly recommend trying the pork skewers and Bánh Xèo (crispy Vietnamese pancake). I did have bamboo rice but it had no flavour so would suggest staying away from that, the multi-coloured rice will probably catch your attention but do not be fooled!
There is also a large market area with vendors selling just about everything but the majority of stalls are selling clothes and dried fruit. It can be very busy and the paths are narrow so can feel a bit like the line for communion in mass.
3. The Marble Mountains
Only a 15-minute drive away from Da Nang are the Marble Mountains. They are made up of 5 mountains but only one can be accessed – Mount Thuy. Do not worry, there is a lot to see on this one mountain, caves, Hindu & Buddhist grottos, pagodas and a panoramic viewpoint. To get to the summit of the viewpoint you will need to climb about 100 steep steps but it is not a difficult climb.
Tickets cost 60,000 VND, If you have mobility issues there is a lift to where all the pagodas are and will cost you an extra 11,000 VND.
Tip: Be aware of some scammers, the minute we got out of the taxi a lady was shouting at us and following us trying to get us to follow here to the ticket desk. We ignored her but she was extremely pushy, I think she would have demanded money from us if she took us to the ticket desk. Just politely decline, keep walking and ignore.
4. Helio Night Market
A small but lively food market to try lots of different food. There are a variety of food options, not all Vietnamese and sometimes there is a live band. If you like photos then you will also find lots of pretty installations to take the perfect picture. If you have a chance make sure to stop by.
Food wise there are Vietnamese street food, Korean and a lot of meat.
5. Lady Buddha
Towering over the Son Tra Peninsula at 67 metres tall the Lady Buddha can be spotted from the beaches of Da Nang. The statue is 17 floors and made of a single piece of marble. The surrounding grounds are just as spectacular with pagodas and temples. Surprisingly there is no entrance fee.
To get there you will have to drive but it is a fun journey along the winding road with views of Da Nang, also keep an eye out for some monkeys as they regularly make an appearance.
6. Visit the local beaches
There are plenty to choose from from quiet and serene to lively you will find one to suit your needs. My favourites are below.
The main beach is My Khe Beach, which is 32 miles long and boasts white sandy beaches dotted with bars and food trucks. Forbes also named My Khe Beach as one of the six most beautiful beaches in the world. Its proximity to the city makes it a popular place among locals and foreigners. It is also a very popular spot for surfing.
Bac My An Beach is close to a number of resorts and luxury hotels that reserve areas of the beach, however, there are also parts accessible to the public.
Non Nuoc beach is another beach that the resorts claim parts of so you might be asked to move to a different section if you settle down in the wrong place. However, this is just a mild inconvenience to rest on this pretty beach.
7. Walk across Han River Bridge at night
Walk across this bridge at night to see it light up in a kaleidoscope of colour, you will also see Da Nang skyline and the Dragon Bridge. The bridge often has people eating al fresco and just hanging out.
It is a nice and safe place to enjoy a walk and take a few photos of the skyline
8. Go Surfing
Da Nang is a surfing gem, My Khe beach, in particular, was the beach with the most surfing activity due to its consistent surf. If you are visiting to surf then October is the best time with 50% of the waves clean and 47% blown out.
The Surf Shack offers surf lessons for beginners, guides are English-speaking and prices start at 1,174,750 VND, check out options here.
If you are more experienced you can rent a surfboard and wetsuit from Surf Shack with prices starting at 234,950 VND for an hour,.
9. Ba Na Hills
Ba Na Hills is a popular theme park/resort made up of rides, restaurants and cable cars. One tip, thoroughly check the weather before booking because we went on an extremely wet and foggy day and had to miss a lot of the attractions. Read about our experience here. We had a fun day but I would not recommend visiting in the rain, it is just not worth it.
The main things to do/see are the 3 cable car routes, the majestic hand bridge, the alpine coaster, fantasy park arcade games, gardens and the French village.
I booked my ticket through Klook, which also included a bus transfer and a meal voucher for the buffet. I did not realise there were plenty of restaurants throughout the park, the buffet had a lot of choices but the food did not taste good. You can check ticket availability here.
10. Hoi An
It takes only 40 minutes to reach the ancient town of Hoi An from Da Nang, it is a very touristy place but is beautiful and should not be missed.
When you are there I highly recommend a cycle through the rice fields, a ride on a coconut boat and trying some local cuisine such as Cao Lou & Bánh Bao Bánh Voc.
Where to eat in Da Nang
There are plenty of amazing restaurants in Da Nang, they have a range of cuisine from traditional Vietnamese to Indian and Western food.