Da Nang

Understand

The regions surrounding Da Nang (My Son, Quang Nam) were founded by the Cham Hindus perhaps 3,000 years ago, serving as the capital city and centre of the Hindu Champa Dynasty. Vietnamese invasions into the region in the 17th century significantly halted Cham development. Given that Da Nang was the first point of colonial invasion, many vestiges of French architecture are present in the historic buildings. Da Nang was also where American combat troops first landed during the Vietnam War, and there are also many remnants of that era left over in Da Nang. During the war, many monuments and buildings were destroyed. On the way to My Khe Beach, the ruins of a military base remain in the form of helicopter hangars; however, these are now more easily spotted at the airport, which serves both civil and military flights. Since the early 1990s, the government has been enthusiastically pursuing foreign investment and infrastructure development, and a tourism boom exploded in the mid-2010s with rustic backpacker lodges giving way to highrise hotels. Initially driven by foreign visitors, particularly Koreans, the Vietnamese themselves have also discovered the city and during holiday periods the city gets packed. Da Nang has some of the best roads in the country. The coast road is at least four lanes from northern provincial boundary to southern provincial boundary. Compared to either Hanoi or HCMC, traffic in Da Nang is always relatively light, although huge trucks blast through every now and again and there are brief rush hours.

Orientation

Orienting yourself in Da Nang is straightforward. Gorgeous My Khe Beach (Bãi biển Mỹ Khê), the "China Beach" of Vietnam War fame, runs along the city's eastern edge and continues nearly 40 km south all the way to Hoi An. Tourism in the area has absolutely exploded since the 2010s and it's fast becoming a solid wall of blingy skyscraper hotels and apartments in the vein of Miami or Gold Coast. To the west of My Khe is the wide Han River (Sông Hàn), crossed by many bridges including the famous Dragon Bridge, and on the other side is the commercial center of the city including the airport. To the north is the lush green Sơn Trà Peninsula (aka Monkey Mountain), much of which is a dedicated nature reserve. Son Tra Peninsula is home to 60% of Vietnam's critically endangered and very distinct looking large red-shanked douc monkeys.

Da Nang City Tourism website

Climate

The hottest months of the year are Jun-Aug, when the temperature can go as high as 40 °C, and it is very humid. There are usually tropical storms from Oct-Nov.

Getting there

By plane

1 Da Nang International Airport (DAD IATA) (3 km southwest of the center of Da Nang, a 10-minute trip at most). There are frequent flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air and Pacific Airlines and domestic service between Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat, Haiphong, Nha Trang and Pleiku and internationally Guangzhou, Bangkok (both BKK and DMK), Seoul-Incheon, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai-Pudong, Siem Reap, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo-Narita. The shiny new international terminal has all the facilities you'd expect, but at (for Vietnam) outrageous prices. Unless you fancy paying US$15 for a bowl of pho, copy the locals and bring along some takeaway. Getting there and away:

Taxis can be found outside the terminal, with reliable companies like Mai Linh, Taxi Xanh and Song Han usually sticking to be meter (around 70,000 dong). If using Grab, head across the taxi lines to the well-marked dedicated pickup point. Regular shuttle buses to and from Hoi An cost 130,000 dong per person. The journey takes about 45 min. City Bus #6 and #10 go west towards the city centre, cross the Han river and continue towards My Khe Beach for 8,000 dong. Those traveling light could also simply walk from the airport to the city.

By train

2 Đà Nẵng Railway Station. The Reunification Express makes a stop in Da Nang and takes around 2½ hr to Hue. (updated Dec 2023) Many taxis are available outside of the station, but it's best to avoid the motorbike taxis as many times they are the same price or more than regular taxi.

By car

Da Nang is in the middle of the country, roughly speaking equidistant from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It's possible to rent a car and drive yourself, but as Vietnamese traffic in general is chaotic and dangerous, foreign visitors and locals usually rent a car with a driver.

By bus

3 Đà Nẵng Bus Station. It's a few kilometers out of the city but is served by local buses such as #2 which goes to the town centre and #1 to Hoi An. For public buses to and from Hoi An see Hoi An#By bus. Sleeper and regular buses (depending on the distance) depart from all major destinations in the country to Da Nang, including Quang Binh, Phong Nha, Pleiku, Phan Thiet, and Vung Tau. Booking is possible at the Da Nang Intercity Bus Station, with travel agencies and at your accommodation. From Hue the trip takes 3 hr with one refreshment stop on the way. But the bus uses the tunnel, so does not go over the spectacular pass between Da Nang and Hue. Also from Laos: Pakse, Vientiane, Champasak, Savannakhet (around 800,000 dong) (2015).

By

Getting around

By ride hailing The average cabbie speaks no English, so Grab is very useful for getting to your destination, it can even translate chat messages both ways. Rates are generally competitive with taxis, although the quality of cars or motorbikes can be a bit of a gamble. It may be worth paying the extra 10% to get a classier "Plus" vehicle. Motorbike taxis (xe ôm, literally hug-vehicle) are plentiful (get used to hearing "you want moto?" everywhere), cheap, and are generally quite safe. All riders are now required to wear helmets, a rule that is strongly enforced. Make sure the driver supplies you with a helmet. If he doesn't, find another one, as you'll be the one stung for the fine. Short hops around town shouldn't be more than 20,000 dong, if you go between districts this increases and all the way to the airport around 70,000 dong. Drivers are generally quite friendly and will go slower upon request. They are also not adverse to a bear hug if you are really struggling to hold on to the motorbike. Many of the moto drivers, especially in District 1, speak some English and like many Vietnamese will repay you in a flood of smiles, and probably point out all the sights, if you make a little effort to get to know them.

By taxi Taxi rates are very reasonable in Da Nang, and scams are less common than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, but you're better off going with a reputable company to avoid any hassle.

Mai Linh (mostly green with white lettering, though sometimes green or silver), ☏ +84 511 356 5656. Vinasun (white with green and red lettering), ☏ +84 511 368 6868. have large fleets in the city and are generally honest and reliable, with meters that start automatically after the taxis have moved about 5 m. At the airport, Mai Linh taxi wardens wear green shirts with green ties, and Vinasun wardens dark green shirts with maroon ties. These wardens can radio taxis for you. Some travellers have reported that Song Han's yellow taxis are also fairly reliable. The ride sharing app "Grab" is common and can be used to arrange for a taxi or other ride. Ride-hailing apps like Grab are widely available here. They are often more convenient and transparent regarding pricing than hailing regular taxis on the street.

By bus There are 19 local bus lines. Buses are new and all of them are air-conditioned. Ticket are usually a flat 8,000 VND inside city limits. In the DanaBus app (Android, iOS) you can put your starting point and destination. Then the app shows you the right bus line for your ride. Beware that there is a sleek-looking website danabus.vn which rank

See

For years, tourists have bypassed Da Nang on their travel itineraries, preferring to spend their time viewing the ancient imperial court at Hue or walking the streets of the old town in Hoi An. And yet, as those who call it home are aware, Da Nang has plenty of interesting and beautiful sights of its own. Nestled between the Annamite Range and the South China Sea on the banks of the Han River, Da Nang's natural beauty is hard to miss; a trip up into the mountains and down to the beach should be on your to-do list. Culturally, Da Nang once lay at the northernmost reaches of the Kingdom of Champa; the Museum of Cham Sculpture, located in the city centre, should be mandatory if you're planning on visiting the ruins at nearby My Son.

1 Ba Na Hill Station (Bà Nà) (about 40 km west), ☏ +84 236 3791 999. Ba Na is 1,487 m above sea level in the Truong Son Mountains. In the 1920s, it was a French resort that boasted 200 villas, restaurants, and clubs. It is known as the second Dalat or Sa Pa in central Vietnam. Its temperate climate, unspoiled forest, and spectacular views over the South China Sea and the Lao mountains made Ba Na a popular retreat for both the French and the wealthy Vietnamese. Today the area still attracts locals and tourists alike thanks to a cable car system that was opened in 2009 and set two Guinness World Records for its height and length. Great view from the top but it's really useless to stay overnight since the accommodation options are shabby and overpriced (US$80-150 per night). You need to get a taxi to Suoi Mo Station (US$25 one-way from Da Nang) then pay 550,000 dong per adult (250,000 dong for children between 1-1.3 m tall, free admission for children under 1 m tall) for the ticket to the cable car and the Fantasy Park. (updated Feb 2025)(Update 2024: The complete Area is an event park it called "Sunworld" and foreigner has to pay 900.000 VND now. It includes the cable cars (but not all are in use right now), the roaler coaster and another thing. For the rest, the wax museum for example, you have to pay extra. There is no other option to get to this mountain.) 2 Golden Bridge. A 150m long pedestrian bridge, used as viewpoint. A notable feature is the hands sculpture that support the bridge. 3 Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng). A 2013 bridge built in the shape of a dragon, breathing fire and water each Saturday and Sunday night at 21:00.

4 Han River Promenade, along Bach Dang Rd (between Dragon Bridge and Da Nang Port). The beauty of the Han River has inspired poets and composers throughout Da Nang's history, and any local will probably

Do

Beaches

Danang is justly famous for its beaches. My Khe Beach — known as China Beach during the Vietnam War, although the name is rarely if ever used locally — to the east is the top draw, gently curving nearly 40 km south towards Hoi An. While the beach is uninterrupted, it changes names several times along the way, becoming Non Nước near the Marble Mountains, Hà My beyond that, and finally An Bàng and Cửa Đại at the Hoi An end. To the northwest of the city is another long beach variously known as Nguyễn Tất Thành and Xuân Thiều (Red Beach), running all the way up towards the Hải Vân Pass.

1 My Khe Beach (Bãi biển Mỹ Khê), Hoang Sa Rd. Across the Han River from the city centre, My Khe Beach is a wide, sandy beach long known for its beauty. Locals will often gather here as early in the morning as 05:00 to enjoy the surf while the sun rises over the ocean. Tourists often arrive later on, when the locals have already started their day; you'll probably find that by 09:00 or 10:00 the beach is mostly deserted. An even larger local crowd gathers in the late afternoon, with folks wading, picnicking and strolling along the beach well into the night. The beach isn't steep, meaning that you can swim far out and still feel your feet touch the bottom. During busy times, lifeguards float around in coracle boats, whistling at those who venture too far out. While access to the beach itself is free, the public showers charge a token 2000 dong/person for entry (motorbike parking extra) and the beachfront cafes rent out beach chairs with a shade for around 40,000 dong. (updated Jun 2022) BanaHills Center — discount ticket reseller for Ba Na Hills (☎ +84 792 135 008, banahillscenter.com). Save 5–33% on Ba Na Hills entrance tickets, cable car, buffet and shuttle bus packages. Instant confirmation via WhatsApp.

Motorbike rides 2 Motorbike ride up Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Mountain) (follow Hoang Sa Rd. towards the mountain). If you feel like a ride with an amazing view, rent a motorbike and make your way up the side of Monkey Mountain (aka Son Tra Mountain), where an American army base used to be. Although access to the base is closed off, you can still follow Hoang Sa Rd. for a good distance and enjoy getting lost in the beautiful scenery on this road that hugs the mountainside while offering an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean. You can also stop off at Linh Ung Temple along the way, both to pay your respects to Quan The Am and to enjoy the wonderful view. 3 Ride a motorbike up the Hai Van Pass (Hai Van Pass) (follow the coast road N until you reach Rd 1A). Th

Buy

Shops often operate from the ground floor of their homes, selling any number of things: coffee, bánh mì sandwiches, dry goods, clothing, SIM cards and more. Walk a little farther and you'll eventually come across a neighbourhood market where people sell fresh foods like fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, and fish. You can do a lot of shopping but be aware that, as a foreigner, you're likely to be overcharged unless you haggle. There are an increasing number of supermarkets appearing where prices are fixed.

Markets and night markets

Night markets (chợ đêm) are a particularly popular choice for shopping and eating after the heat of the day has died down.

1 Son Tra Night Market (Chợ Đêm Sơn Trà). Riverside location near the Dragon Bridge, with about 150 stalls. Touristy but convenient. (updated Jun 2022) 2 Helio Night Market (Chợ đêm Helio). Located near the Danang Sports Hall, Helio is the largest and flashiest night market in town. Often has live music. (updated Jun 2022) 3 Han Market, 119 Tran Phu St (corner of Tran Phu & Hung Vuong). 06:00-21:00. A typical Vietnamese market, with vendors selling everything from shoes to silk and souvenirs, candles to coffee, and candied plums. The upper part of the building is mainly dedicated to clothing, accessories and silk, while the lower part is mainly dedicated to foodstuffs. There's an extensive fruit and vegetable market on the side that's closest to the river, from which you can access the Han River promenade. Be prepared to haggle for prices, like at any neighbourhood market.

Malls and supermarkets 4 Big C supermarket, 255 Hùng Vương (corner of Hung Vuong and Ong Ich Khiem). Large supermarket complex with a mall beneath it and food court above. There is also a CGV cinema on the top level. The Western-style supermarket is on the third floor. The parking entrance is on Ông Ích Khiêm. 5 Lotte Mart shopping centre. Large shopping complex with a cinema on the top level. (updated May 2015) 6 MM Mega Market, Cach Mang Thang Tam St (near Hoa Xuan bridge), ☏ +84 511 3644933. 06:00-22:30. Huge supermarket, formerly known as Metro, sells most of the things you'd expect to find in Western supermarkets: a variety of groceries (including fresh, fully refrigerated meat, if you're squeamish about buying meat at the open market), clothes, home and office supplies, electronics, and more. It's a little far from the city centre, but it's easily accessible by taxi, so you can stock up and carry all your bags home easily. 7 MoonMilk Supermarket. There are several outlets now with good value fixed prices. Sells a lot of

Eat

Although not a culinary capital like the ancient imperial capital Hue, Da Nang still has more than enough variety to keep you well fed throughout your stay. Seafood (hải sản) is popular, so you shouldn't be surprised to see plenty of fish (cá), shrimp (tôm), squid (mực), clams (nghêu), snails (ốc), the list goes on. There are many vegetarian restaurants which are listed as "Quán chay" ("vegetarian") or less frequently "Quán ăn chay" ("vegetarian restaurant"), and most are vegan. The vegetarian restaurants have a wide selection of dishes and are generally cleaner than places that are not vegetarian. Then there are regional specialities like mì Quảng, or Quang Nam-style noodles, featuring chicken, shrimp, quail eggs, peanuts and rice crackers in a turmeric-spiced broth; bún chả cá, or rice vermicelli with fish sausage; and bún mắm, or rice vermicelli served with a strong fish sauce that's not for the weak of palate. Central Vietnamese love their food to be spicy, so be warned that the chili peppers (ớt) can be strong even if small.

Budget

The night markets (see Buy) are also a great place to feast on local food cheaply.

Downtown (around the Han market Chợ Hàn) 1 Phở 29 - Phở Hà Nội, 1A Trần Quốc Toản, Hải Châu 1. Bun cha, banh xeo and the fried rice are nice. Huge portions and good staff with customer service. Nice ambient sidestreet seating and many drink choices. (updated Jan 2023) 2 Edo Sushi, 27 Thái Phiên, Phước Ninh, Hải Châu. Budget Japanese restaurant. The dishes are diverse. Most of the staff are students. (updated Jan 2023) 3 Cơm gà A.Hải, 100 Thái Phiên, Phước Ninh, Hải Châu. Typical basic Vietnamese restaurant. The chicken rice that the locals also enjoy is nice. Both the roast chicken and thinly steamed chicken rice are tasty. The chicken soup served first is also tasty. (updated Jan 2023) 4 Bánh Mì̀ Bà Lan, 62 Trưng Nữ Vương, Bình Hiên, Hải Châu, ☏ +84 93 564 62 86. 16:00-19:00. One of the most famous sandwich carts in the city. Try their bánh mì que which is a string baguette filled with a pork pâté. US$1 (Jan 2018). (updated Aug 2022) 5 Mi Quang 1A, 1 Hải Phòng, Hải Châu 1, Q. Hải Châu (take Lê Duẩn heading east, turn left onto Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, first right onto Hải Phòng; it's on the right), ☏ +84 236 3827 936. 06:30-21:00. Mi Quang 1A is one of the best known mì quảng restaurants in the area. While still good it has lost a bit of its luster over the years. Prices are higher than most places at 30,000 to 45,000 dong (Jan 2018). Make sure you are in Mi Quang 1A as there is a "copycat" place next door. Before going in grab a fresh

Drink & nightlife

Dac San Tra Tien (Da Nang Pineapple and Jasmine Tea), 46 Nhon Hoa 17, Hoa An, Cam Le, Da Nang (near Centre Bus Station of Da Nang city), ☏ +84 969431513. Whether you're a tea lover or just looking to try something new, Da Nang Pineapple and Jasmine Tea is a must-try beverage that will leave you feeling refreshed and satisfied. So, come to Da Nang and indulge in this delicious and unique tea experience. (updated May 2023)

Bars and discos 1 Bamboo Bar 2 (corner of Bach Dang and Thai Phien). Popular haunt for expats. Bamboo 2's owner speaks excellent English, there are always foreigners there. 2 Festival Disco (on the second corner going up river from Cau Song Han on Tran Hung Dao). The newest disco and the only one on the My Khe Beach side of the river. It's part of a complex with a restaurant and karaoke rooms. If you buy the staff a drink here (a normal thing to do in this kind of disco-night club) they can be very aggressive about drinking it fast and running up a big bill for you. 3 Golden Pine. This is a popular bar opposite Memory Lounge on the river side. Open till 04:00 or last customer, they play music on request from customers. Lots of regulars here and a casual vibe. (updated May 2015) 4 Green Town Bar, 50 Bach Dang St. One of relatively few bars open past the witching hour and most expats drop in there for either an early evening or late night drink. The view is excellent with an outdoor terrace and 2 big pool tables inside. The prices are very reasonable. Food is available until 22:00. 5 New Phuong Dong Disco, 20 Dong Da (near the mouth of the Han River). New Phuong Dong has a resident Ghanaian DJ and many visiting singers from Saigon and Hanoi. 6 Red Hot Bar, 179 Nguyen Van Linh (on Nguyen Van Linh St). A real late night place. ("Late night" is more flexible in Da Nang than in Hanoi. Most of the time discos and places like Red Hot, an approximations of a Thai girlie-bar, close at 01:00 or 01:30, but if the police decide to crack down, they may unexpectedly close at midnight or 00:30).

Coffee

Coffee is a large part of the Vietnamese culture and it's enjoyed differently from place to place. Coffee served in Da Nang and throughout Central Vietnam tends to be stronger than coffee served in the south. One of the most popular variations of coffee in the south is "cà phê sữa đá Sài Gòn" which is coffee prepared in a "phin" filter and served with sweetened condensed milk in a tall glass filled with small cubes of ice. When in doubt what type of coffee to get this is the one to order. In Da Nang and throughout central Vietnam they tend to

Sleep

Long gone are the days when backpacker lodges nestled by the palm trees at My Khe beach. Today virtually the entire 40 kilometer stretch down to Hoi An is covered in hotels, hotels and construction sites for yet more hotels, and this is where the vast majority of visitors to the city will end up. As a rule of thumb, hotels at the north end closer to the city are high-rise, set back from the ocean and often cramped, but offer easy access to the city and tons of eating options. The further south you go, the more spacious and resort-like they become, but getting anywhere at all will require a lengthy cab ride. Prices run the gamut, with Western brands charging a heavy premium for predictable dependability, while local hotels often cater more to local tour groups.

Budget There are many small hotels along the east side of the river (Tran Hung Dao St), which may be as cheap as 90,000 dong for a double room and have Wi-Fi, hot water, air-con, tv and fridge. Pham Phu Thu is a good street with many budget hotels in the center on the west side of the river.

1 Danang Backpackers Hostel, 106 Nguyen Chi Thanh, ☏ +84 915571505, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Cheap, clean and spacious hostel. Breakfast included, free playing billiards, free beer every night, fast Wi-Fi. Comfy beds, A/C, hot shower. English speaking staff 24/7. US$6. (updated Jun 2015) 2 Dang Viet Hotel, 11-12 Ho Nghinh (one minute to the beach), ☏ +84 5 1139 41445, [email protected]. Air-con, comfortable beds, fast Wi-Fi, hot showers, refrigerator and international cable TV. Staff speak English. From 300,000 dong. 3 Funtastic Hostel, 115 Hai Phong (500 m east of train station), [email protected]. Modern hostel with comfy beds, big lockers, good Wi-Fi and friendly English speaking staff. Breakfast on the rooftop, with some nice views, is included and the hostel offers a free daily shuttle to Hoi An and airport dropoff. Dorm: 150,000-180,000 dong, Double: 430,000 dong. (updated Jan 2017) 4 Funtastic Beach Hostel, 5 Hà Bổng, Phước Mỹ, Sơn Trà (East on Phạm Văn Đồng until end, right onto Võ Nguyên Giáp, first right at Đình Nghệ, first left at Hà Bổng and first right into the alley. Funtastic is the yellow building on the left.), ☏ +84 2363 928 789. Sister hostel to the Funtastic [City] Hostel on Hai Phong and very similar except it's a three minute walk to the beach. Excellent staff most of which speak English. Ask them about their local restaurant suggestions and their food tour. 160,000 dong. (updated Jan 2018) 5 Nhà Nghỉ Cát Tường (Nha Nghi 278

Go next

Cham Islands – 20 km across the bay from Da Nang Hue – The ancient capital and gateway to northern Vietnam, 2 hr by bus Hoi An – only 45 minutes away by bus or taxi Quy Nhon – If Da Nang is just too much for you, head to this inexpensive and tourist-free alternative, half way to Nha Trang — yet off many people's radar and still a tranquil and authentic, lively and pleasant city with a much (among the locals) hyped beach.