With kids · Da Nang · Vietnam
Da Nang with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Viethavvh at vi.wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
Da Nang is one of Vietnam's easiest cities for families: wide beaches with lifeguards, big resorts with pools, the Marble Mountains caves and Ba Na Hills' cable car and amusement park. Distances are short and the airport is close. Top picks: My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains. Families usually base themselves in Non Nuoc and the southern resort strip.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Non Nuoc and the southern resort strip
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- July
Best things to do with kids
Beach · My Khe beachfront
1.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. The sea is usually calm from about April to August, while waves and currents build in the autumn and winter.
Swim early in the morning with the locals, between the lifeguard flags, before the sun gets fierce.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Landmark · An Hai (east bank by Dragon Bridge)
2.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. On weekend evenings the dragon's head breathes fire and then sprays water, drawing big crowds to the riverbanks.
Stand on the east bank near the head for the fire show, but expect to get splashed during the water section.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- Photo spot
Nature · Non Nuoc and the southern resort strip
3.Marble Mountains
Five limestone and marble outcrops, named after the five elements, rise from the plain about 9 km south of the centre. The largest, Thuy Son, is riddled with caves containing Buddhist and Hindu shrines, pagodas and viewpoints, and a lift saves the first climb. Stone-carving workshops line the road below in Non Nuoc village.
Go early, take the lift up and walk down, and allow extra time for Huyen Khong Cave, where light shafts fall through the roof.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Kids
- Active
Theme park · Ba Na Hills (about 25 km west)
4.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. Temperatures are several degrees cooler than the coast.
Arrive at opening and go to the Golden Bridge first; by late morning it is packed and cloud often rolls in.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Weekends and Vietnamese holidays are very busy; buy tickets in advance and avoid public holidays if possible.
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- Photo spot
Experience · Hai Chau riverfront
5.Han River night cruise
Boats leave from the Bach Dang riverfront in the evening for an hour on the Han River, passing under the illuminated Dragon Bridge, the Han River swing bridge and the cable-stayed Tran Thi Ly Bridge.
Choose a weekend cruise timed to pass the Dragon Bridge when it breathes fire.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
Market · An Hai (east bank by Dragon Bridge)
6.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.
Head here for dinner after the Dragon Bridge show; compare seafood prices before ordering.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Shopping
- Kids
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and beach
Non Nuoc and the southern resort strip
South of the Marble Mountains, the coast road towards Hoi An is lined with large resorts with direct beach access, pools and kids' clubs, as well as golf courses. It is a good compromise for visitors who want both Da Nang and Hoi An within about 20–30 minutes.
- Good
- Resort facilities and wide beaches; Between Da Nang and Hoi An
- Watch out
- Little within walking distance; Car needed for everything
- Nearby
- Marble Mountains, Non Nuoc Beach, Hoi An
Family travel tips
- Swim only between lifeguard flags; currents can be strong outside the April–August season.
- Ba Na Hills is cool and cloudy; bring layers and go early.
- Ride-hailing cars with space for luggage are easy to book; child seats are rare, so bring your own if needed.
- The weekend Dragon Bridge show is loud and crowded; hold small children's hands.
- Plan outings for mornings and late afternoons in the hot months.
Day trips for families
- Hoi An (About 45 minutes by car) — The lantern-lit UNESCO-listed old trading port, with its Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese assembly halls and merchants' houses.
- Cham Islands (About 1.5 hours by road and speedboat) — A cluster of small islands in a marine protected area off Hoi An, with snorkelling over coral, quiet beaches and a fishing village.
When to go with children
The best months overall are February–May. July is the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Da Nang good for kids?
Da Nang is one of Vietnam's easiest cities for families: wide beaches with lifeguards, big resorts with pools, the Marble Mountains caves and Ba Na Hills' cable car and amusement park. Distances are short and the airport is close.
+What can kids do in Da Nang?
My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge and Han River night cruise.
+Where should families stay in Da Nang?
Non Nuoc and the southern resort strip: Large beach resorts and golf courses between the Marble Mountains and Hoi An.