3 days in Da Nang

Day by day

1. Day 1: Dragon Bridge and Love Bridge and Carp-Dragon statue

   Dragon Bridge, Love Bridge and Carp-Dragon statue and Son Tra Night Market, then Han River night cruise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Love Bridge and Carp-Dragon statue

      Combine it with the Dragon Bridge show and the Son Tra Night Market on the same evening.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Quang-style noodles

      Specialist mì Quảng shops throughout Hai Chau, mostly from breakfast to lunch.

   4. Afternoon

      Son Tra Night Market

      An evening market near the eastern end of the Dragon Bridge with stalls of grilled seafood, skewers, snails, desserts and inexpensive clothes and souvenirs, with plastic tables for eating.

   5. Evening

      Han River night cruise

      Choose a weekend cruise timed to pass the Dragon Bridge when it breathes fire.

2. Day 2: My Khe Beach and Marble Mountains

   My Khe Beach, Marble Mountains and Linh Ung Pagoda and the Lady Buddha, then An Thuong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      My Khe Beach

      Swim early in the morning with the locals, between the lifeguard flags, before the sun gets fierce.

   2. Late morning

      Marble Mountains

      Five limestone and marble outcrops, named after the five elements, rise from the plain about 9 km south of the centre.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pork in rice paper with fermented anchovy sauce

      Restaurants that specialise in this dish across the city, often busy with local families at lunch.

   4. Afternoon

      Linh Ung Pagoda and the Lady Buddha

      Visit late afternoon for the light on the statue and views of the city; dress modestly.

   5. Evening

      An Thuong

      Craft-beer bars, pubs and cocktail bars in the streets behind My Khe Beach.

3. Day 3: Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge and Son Tra Peninsula and Ban Co Peak

   Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, Son Tra Peninsula and Ban Co Peak and Museum of Cham Sculpture, then Bach Dang riverfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Son Tra Peninsula and Ban Co Peak

      Go early in the morning for the best chance of seeing langurs in the trees by the road; carry water, as there are few shops.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish-cake noodle soup

      Noodle shops in Hai Chau, especially in the morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of Cham Sculpture

      Founded in 1915 by French scholars, this museum displays sandstone sculptures from the Champa kingdoms that ruled central Vietnam for over a thousand years: dancing apsaras, Shiva lingas, Ganesh figures and temple pedestals from sites such as My Son and Tra Kieu.

   5. Evening

      Bach Dang riverfront

      River-view bars and rooftop terraces facing the bridges.

Before you go

• Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge: Weekends and Vietnamese holidays are very busy; buy tickets in advance and avoid public holidays if possible.

If it rains

• Swap in Han Market (Hai Chau riverfront): Buy dried squid, coffee and local snacks here to take home; agree prices before buying.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Hai Chau riverfront keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, My Khe beachfront ($$) suits beach, families and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 20–25 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.2 hours in December to 13.1 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Da Nang
• 2 days in Da Nang
• 5 days in Da Nang

Questions travellers ask