Travel guide · Vietnam
Da Nang travel guide
City beaches, river bridges and mountains on Vietnam's central coast
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Somerset999, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
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 time between My Khe Beach, the Marble Mountains and the Son Tra Peninsula, the riverfront with the fire-breathing Dragon Bridge, and day trips to the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills and the Cham ruins of My Son. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are February–May.
Key facts
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best time to visit
- February–May
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- DAD
- Mid-range daily budget
- $60–$130 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, Marble Mountains and Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills
Why visit Da Nang
- My Khe Beach runs for kilometres along the city, with lifeguards, seafood restaurants and sunrise swims a short ride from the centre.
- Hoi An, My Son and the Hai Van Pass are all within about an hour's drive, and Hue is reachable by a scenic coastal train.
- Central Vietnamese food is distinctive: mì Quảng noodles, pork rolled in rice paper with mắm nêm and fish-cake noodle soup.
- The Museum of Cham Sculpture holds the most important collection of sandstone carvings from the ancient Champa kingdoms.
- The airport is about 10 minutes from the city centre, so arrival days are not wasted.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 14 things to do.
Landmark · An Hai (east bank by Dragon Bridge)
Dragon Bridge
Opened in 2013, this 666-metre bridge across the Han River is shaped like a golden dragon and lit with changing colours at night.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- Photo spot
Beach · My Khe beachfront
My Khe Beach
A long, wide sandy beach running south from the Son Tra Peninsula, with lifeguard towers, showers, beach chairs and seafood restaurants across the road.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Nature · Non Nuoc and the southern resort strip
Marble Mountains
Five limestone and marble outcrops, named after the five elements, rise from the plain about 9 km south of the centre.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Kids
- Active
Religious site · Son Tra Peninsula
Linh Ung Pagoda and the Lady Buddha
On the Son Tra Peninsula's southern slopes, the Linh Ung Pagoda is watched over by a white statue of the Bodhisattva Quan Am about 67 metres tall, looking out over the bay and the city.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
Theme park · Ba Na Hills (about 25 km west)
Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
A former French hill station at about 1,400 metres, reached by a very long cable car, now developed into a resort park with a replica French village, gardens, an indoor amusement park and the Golden Bridge, a 150-metre walkway held up by two giant stone-look hands.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- Photo spot
Nature · Son Tra Peninsula
Son Tra Peninsula and Ban Co Peak
A forested nature reserve rising to about 700 metres, with winding roads to viewpoints such as Ban Co Peak, quiet coves and a population of endangered red-shanked douc langurs.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
Where to stay
Hai Chau riverfront is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, budget and shopping
Hai Chau riverfront
City-centre hotels along the Han River near Han Market and the cathedral
$$ · Best for beach, families and first-timers
My Khe beachfront
High-rise hotels and seafood restaurants along the beach road
$$ · Best for solo travellers, nightlife, budget and food lovers
An Thuong
Grid of small streets behind My Khe with cafés, bars and boutique hotels
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Son Tra Peninsula
Forested headland with secluded luxury resorts and quiet coves
What to eat
- Quang-style noodles — Wide turmeric-tinted rice noodles with just a ladle of rich broth, topped with pork, shrimp, chicken or fish, quail eggs, peanuts, herbs and a sesame rice cracker to break over the top.
- Pork in rice paper with fermented anchovy sauce — Boiled pork belly sliced thinly and rolled at the table in rice paper with herbs, cucumber and green banana, dipped in mắm nêm, a pungent fermented anchovy sauce with pineapple and chilli.
- Fish-cake noodle soup — Rice vermicelli in a light broth sweetened with pumpkin and pineapple, topped with slices of fried and steamed fish cake and fresh herbs.
- Vermicelli with fermented anchovy sauce — Cold rice noodles with roast pork, pork rolls, herbs and peanuts, dressed with mắm nêm; a bold, salty favourite of central Vietnam.
- Crispy pancakes — Small, crisp rice-flour pancakes filled with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, wrapped in rice paper with herbs and dipped in sauce.
- Seafood — Clams, scallops grilled with spring onion oil, crab, prawns and squid are cooked to order, priced by weight from the tanks.
When to go
The best time to visit Da Nang is February to May, when it is dry, warm and the sea calms down, with comfortable temperatures for sightseeing. June to August is hot and busy with domestic holidaymakers but ideal for the beach. Avoid October and November, the heart of the rainy and typhoon season, when flooding is common.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry spring | February–May | Warm, sunny and calm, with comfortable temperatures and the sea warming from about April. |
| Hot summer | June–August | Very hot days, warm sea and busy beaches with Vietnamese families; fireworks festival in early summer. |
| Rainy season | September–November | Heavy rain, tropical storms and flood risk, peaking in October and November; low prices. |
| Cool season | December–January | Mild temperatures, overcast skies, drizzle and rough sea; fine for sightseeing, less so for the beach. |
Getting there and around
Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is about 3 km from the riverfront: around 10 minutes by ride-hailing car to the centre, 15–20 minutes to My Khe Beach and about 45 minutes to Hoi An. Taxis and ride-hailing pickups are outside arrivals.
Da Nang is spread out between the river and the beach, so most visitors use ride-hailing cars and motorbikes, which are cheap and plentiful. The centre and riverfront are walkable, and a short bridge crossing links the city with the beach.
Plan your days
Two days covers the beach, the Marble Mountains, Son Tra and the riverfront at night. Four days adds Ba Na Hills and a day in Hoi An or My Son; a week lets you include Hue and the Hai Van Pass.
Practical information
- Currency
- VND
- Language
- Vietnamese
- Plugs
- Type A, C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water. Ice in restaurants is usually factory-made.
- Emergency number
- 113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in local eateries, but leaving small change or about 5–10% in restaurants catering to visitors, and tipping guides and drivers, is appreciated.
Da Nang is calm for a Vietnamese city, but traffic is the main hazard, and rip currents at My Khe can be dangerous from autumn to early spring, so swim near lifeguards. Check forecasts during the September–December storm season, and confirm seafood prices before ordering to avoid disputes.
Flights to Da Nang
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Da Nang?
Two days covers the beach, the Marble Mountains, Son Tra and the riverfront at night. Four days adds Ba Na Hills and a day in Hoi An or My Son; a week lets you include Hue and the Hai Van Pass. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Da Nang?
The best time to visit Da Nang is February to May, when it is dry, warm and the sea calms down, with comfortable temperatures for sightseeing. June to August is hot and busy with domestic holidaymakers but ideal for the beach. Avoid October and November, the heart of the rainy and typhoon season, when flooding is common.
+What is Da Nang known for?
My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, Marble Mountains, Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, Lady Buddha on Son Tra, Mì Quảng and Seafood. My Khe Beach runs for kilometres along the city, with lifeguards, seafood restaurants and sunrise swims a short ride from the centre.
+Is Da Nang expensive?
Da Nang is very affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $60–$130 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Da Nang?
No. Ride-hailing covers the city and nearby sights, and private cars with drivers are easy to book for Hoi An, My Son, Ba Na Hills and Hue.