Comparison · Da Nang vs Phuket · Vietnam / Thailand
Da Nang vs Phuket
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Somerset999, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Da Nang for My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, lower day-to-day costs and a short break; choose Phuket for Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and a milder winter. Da Nang is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,401 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,401 km
- Less expensive
- Da Nang
- Best time for Da Nang
- February–May
- Best time for Phuket
- December–March
Side by side
| Da Nang | Phuket | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Thailand |
| Known for | My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains | Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi Islands day trips |
| Best time to visit | February–May | December–March |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$130 | $90–$200 |
| Cost level | Very affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | June, 34°C (93°F) | March, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 25°C (77°F) | September, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | My Khe Beach | Kata Beach |
| Airports | DAD | HKT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Da Nang for…
My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, lower day-to-day costs and a short break. Da Nang is central Vietnam's largest city, stretched between the Han River and a long sandy beach on the East Sea. Its airport sits only a few kilometres from the centre, which makes it the gateway to Hoi An, Hue and the Hai Van Pass. Visitors split their…
Choose Phuket for…
Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and a milder winter. Thailand's largest island, about 50 km long, lines its west coast with sandy bays from lively Patong to calmer Kata, Kamala and Nai Harn, all facing the Andaman Sea. Inland, rubber plantations and forested hills hide the Big Buddha and waterfalls, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Da Nang | Phuket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragon Bridge | Big Buddha |
| 2 | My Khe Beach | Old Phuket Town |
| 3 | Marble Mountains | Wat Chalong |
| 4 | Linh Ung Pagoda and the Lady Buddha | Promthep Cape |
| 5 | Son Tra Peninsula and Ban Co Peak | Karon Viewpoint |
Food compared
| Da Nang | Phuket |
|---|---|
| Quang-style noodles | Phuket Hokkien noodles |
| Pork in rice paper with fermented anchovy sauce | Moo hong |
| Fish-cake noodle soup | Khanom jeen |
| Vermicelli with fermented anchovy sauce | Phuket dim sum |
Which is cheaper?
Da Nang is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $60–$130 per person there, against $90–$200 in Phuket (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Da Nang on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,401 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 12 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Da Nang or Phuket cheaper?
Da Nang is usually less expensive: about $60–$130 a day mid-range against $90–$200 (estimates).
+Is Da Nang or Phuket better for a first trip?
Pick Da Nang for My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, lower day-to-day costs and a short break, or Phuket for Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and a milder winter.
+How far is Da Nang from Phuket?
About 1,401 km in a straight line.