Da Nang’s slightly wacky cityscape, with its neon-lit skyscrapers, one broadcasting a 33-metre tall representation of Vietnam’s iconic gold-starred flag, just along the river from a giant dragon-shaped bridge that breathes fire twice a week, sometimes feels like the Vietnamese upstart cousin of Hong Kong.
But Da Nang is more manageable, and with its quirky approach to modernity and twin-face as a brilliant city break and a surprisingly good (and quickly growing) beach destination, it feels like Vietnam in miniature. It takes all the modernity of Saigon and blends it with Hanoi’s wonderful food and a generous sprinkle of the coastal regions’ epic beauty.
Dragons, Mountains & Banh Mi: A Guide to Vietnamese Da Nang
Travel Tip: while there are plenty of taxi options in Da Nang, get Grab (https://www.grab.com/vn/en/), which works like Uber and does away with any language barriers when traveling between sights.
What To See in Da Nang, Vietnam
Whether you’re looking for outdoor pursuits with sea views, riverside walks below neon-lit skyscrapers, or museums full of ancient sculpture, Da Nang is surprisingly eclectic.
The Marble Mountains and Lady Buddha (Ngu Hanh Son)
81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Hoà Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
The Marble Mountains are five limestone peaks 4 miles from downtown Da Nang, not unlike those at Halong Bay, but as these are on land, there are clusters of caves overrun with plants, Buddhist shrines, and towering pagodas, connected by rugged nature trails. Be sure to see the various Buddhist architecture, lotus ponds, and bonsai, as well as sights like Tang Chon Cave and the Xa Loi Tower, home to hundreds of Buddha statues. With such ease of access, the mountains get busy later in the day, so arrive early when the sun’s pleasant, and the sea breeze cools the hike.
From here, continue to the Son Tra peninsula to see the towering white Lady Buddha pagoda (Chùa Linh Ứng) and hike the Son Tra mountain for stunning views over Da Nang Bay.
Marble Mountains is open daily from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. The entrance fee is 40,000 VND ($1:50), and if you’d prefer to use the glass elevator to ascend the peaks, the cost is 15,000 VND ($0:59).
Museum of Cham Sculpture
Số 02 Đ. 2 Tháng 9, Bình Hiên, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam | https://chammuseum.vn/ (not currently working)
One of the first museums built by the French, this small but fascinating museum explores the culture of Central Vietnam’s Cham people through sandstone and terracotta relics from temples like the breathtaking My Son Sanctuary. Most of the works date from the 5th to 15th centuries and include things like altars, lingas (phalluses representing Shiva), apsaras (nymphs), and images of Gods and humans engaging in every act imaginable.
The museum is open daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Entrance is 60,000VND ($2:30). An audio guide costs 20,000VND ($0:79), and you’ll need to show ID.
Da Nang Beaches
My Khe, Võ Nguyên Giáp, Da Nang 550000 Vietnam
Go east of the Han River and the Son Tra Peninsula, and you’ll find one of several seafronts in Da Nang. My Khe Beach is a long, palm-fringed stretch of sandy beach flanked by international hotels in high rises, luxury chains, and beach bars with rentals for surfboards and loungers. But this changes quickly if you go over to the western side of the Son Tra Peninsula, where beaches like Nguyen Tat Thanh Beach are stuffed with locals in circle fishing boats, as well as budget hostels and restaurants. Grab a taxi to the Son Tra Peninsula for the beautiful Bãi Đá beach for a bit more seclusion.
My Khe Beach is free and open every day. If you’re in Da Nang for the beach, we find the period between June and August strikes the right balance between fewer crowds and good, predictable weather.
Walk to the Dragon Bridge
29 Cầu Rồng, An Hải Trung, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng 550000 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Bridge_(Da_Nang)
On this route along the eastern bank of the Han River from the Han River Swing Bridge to the Dragon Bridge, you’ll encounter the Vietnamese phenomenon of local kids taking part in a trend called tô tượng, which is essentially a gathering where you rent paints and a chair and buy a statue to paint in huge groups. Start from the swing bridge, and the walk takes you past Da Nang’s enchanting nighttime cityscapes, with makeshift seating set up to take advantage of the neon views, as well as benches directly on the riverside surrounded by flowers and local food and beer sellers. The crowds swell as you approach the Dragon Bridge (right next to Son Tra Night Market), which in the evening draws massive numbers for the spectacle of the dragon breathing out vast jets of fire and water to a suitably raspy gasp of surprise from the crowds.
The Dragon Bridge spits fire on the weekends, so if you want to see it, plan to be there at 9:00 pm on Saturday or Sunday.
Oani Spa
46 Phan Liem St, Da Nang, Vietnam | oanispa.com
This peaceful spa in the Western Quarter of Da Nang (My Khe beach) offers a chic setting that brings a little Bali style to Da Nang, with interiors in natural tones with Cham art. And each room has the scent of incense and herbs. Foot baths with local infusions are offered on arrival, and the treatments focus on relaxation with an international menu covering everything from Swedish healing and Thai massage to Vietnamese bamboo stick massages and herb-infused steam baths.
Prices start from 220.000 VND ($8:00).
Oani is open daily 9:00 am–11 : 00 pm
Where to Eat and Drink in Da Nang
Da Nang’s culinary scene isn’t quite as chic as Saigon or as renowned as Hanoi, but lively markets and regional versions of Vietnamese staples make it a delight, and the cocktail scene is flourishing.
Morning Coffee at: XLIII
422 Đ. Ng. Thì Sĩ, Bắc Mỹ An, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam | https://xliiicoffee.com/en/
XLIII is inside a huge contemporary glass building populated by long communal tables near a central bar flooded with natural light and has a changing roster of international coffees, prepared to your preference: as a shot, filter, or with a milk base. The clientele is mixed, but you’ll often share the space with just chic locals and Baristas who are uniformly dressed in custom overalls. Outside, there are charming booths sunken into a pond filled with koi. Prices range from 100000 VND to 200000 VND ($4:00-$8:00).
XLIII is open daily 6:00am–10 :30pm
Bánh mì Gà Cô Chi
48 Phan Đình Phùng, Hải Châu 1, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Banh mi is ubiquitous across Vietnam, hidden in back alleys and deconstructed in haute cuisine. But this one, served by a lady whose face is the logo above the restaurant, has risen through the ranks since 1989 from a typical yellow Banh Mi stand to a fully fledged counter-style restaurant.
She doesn’t serve a typical Banh Mi, but rather the Da Nang style chicken Banh Mi on bread rolls shaped more like burger buns. Her bread is fluffy on the inside and freshly grilled to an excellent crisp on the outside, just like a traditional Banh Mi. The stuffing is the fatty, succulent chicken floss so loved in Da Nang, with bursts of color from coriander, carrots, cucumber, and chilies, and the flavors are divine. At just 10.000 VND ($0.40), Gà Cô Ch’s Banh Mi is a steal.
Bánh mì Gà Cô Chi is open daily: 6:00–10 :00am, 2:30pm–7:00 pm
Helio Night Market (Khu Ẩm thực đêm Helio)
Đ. 2 Tháng 9, Hòa Cường, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng | https://helio.vn/
You either love or hate a good Asian night market, but this one is a unique, modern take on the theme. The market is popular with locals, though it does get its fair share of tourists, mostly well-traveled Korean foodies who fly direct from Seuol for weekend breaks. The food is a mish-mash of every Vietnamese staple (Banh Mi, fried Nems, etc.) as well as lesser-known treats like Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancakes), Mi Quang noodles (turmeric-colored rice noodles), Nem Lui (spiced pork eaten from bamboo) and deconstructed Banh Mi called Banh Mi Nuong Muoi Ot: grilled and sliced bread with meats and vegetables, flavored with chili oil and sauces. The market is at the back of the Helios Center, essentially an entertainment mall with rides and a buzzing arcade that makes a fun diversion from the regular tourist trail.
Prices vary but start from 5.000 VND ($0.20).
The Helio market is open five from 5:30 pm-10:30 pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Té: For Cocktails in Da Nang
39-41 Nguyen Thai Hoc 3rd Floor, Da Nang 550000 Vietnam | https://www.facebook.com/tecocktails
Entering Té is an experience. It’s a speakeasy, but rather than enter down dark alleyways and through apartment blocks like in Hanoi or under restaurants and warehouses like in London, you’ll walk through a closed Cong cafe, through a back door to a staircase that brings you to the bar. On entry, the smoke hits first, as Té is not a smoke-free zone. But then the bar, lit in amber and stacked with bottles, pulls the eye. The drinks are phenomenal, with black concoctions infused with garlic from Ly Son Island and green shrubs made from Vietnamese herbal infusions, as well as Pho cocktails served with chopsticks and optional extras like chilies and limes.
Cocktails start at 180,000 VND ($8)
Té is open daily from 7:30 pm-01:30 am Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Where to Stay in Da Nang – TOP Hotels
While not as much variety as in Saigon or Hanoi, there are budget hotel options throughout Da Nang and comparatively cheap five-star options in towers on the riverside.
In-Room Cityscapes: Meliá Vinpearl Danang Riverfront
Đ. Trần Hưng Đạo, An Hải Bắc, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam | https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/vietnam/da-nang/melia-vinpearl-danang-riverfront
With its incredible river and city views, the Meliá Vinpearl is easy to recommend. While modern, it is in the style of a vintage grand hotel. The rooms are spacious, but the glass-fronted Suite Panoramic River view has some of the best city views. Rooms with balconies are recommended for photographers hoping to capture the neon scenes unfolding across the river as well as daytime vistas of the lush Son Tra Peninsula. There’s an outdoor swimming pool, gym, and spa with a sauna, jacuzzi, and a broad menu of treatments and massages, and there are three restaurants and a chic rooftop bar, ideal for cocktails with a view.
Room prices at Meliá Vinpearl start at $93 per night.
Innercity Value: Minh Boutique Da Nang
05 Nguyen Cao Luyen, Da Nang, Vietnam | https://minh-boutique.danang-hotels.com/en/
This boutique hotel in downtown Da Nang feels like an inner city oasis with idyllic water features and interior gardens with trees that brush up against room windows. The large rooms are finished in natural woods and light fabrics, and there’s plenty of natural light. The spa offers basic massages and a rooftop pool with immersive views of the surrounding buildings. There’s no on-site restaurant, but breakfasts are served in an Indian restaurant 250 meters away.
Room prices at Minh Boutique Da Nang start at $20 per night.
A Countryside Spa: Four Seasons Nam Hai
The Four Seasons in Vietnam offers a private oasis perched on a white sand beach between Da Nang and Hoi An. It’s an all-villa property with villas spilling out onto a private beach. The villas are sublime, finished in dark woods and elegant fabrics, and the pool villas have an extremely generous pool set into tropical gardens, as well as a large bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower.
The spa, set on a lotus pond, offers wellness screenings, family and couples treatments, and a signature sound experience that culminates in an immersive sound bath. There are a variety of restaurants: Cafe Nam Hai specializes in Indian fine dining, Nayuu is a Japanese omakase, and La Sen serves Vietnamese cuisine in a beachside setting. Tours to the mysterious My Son Sanctuary and the Golden Hands Bridge in Ba Na Hills leave directly from the hotel.
Note that while there’s a free shuttle to Hoi An, you will need to travel to Da Nang via private car or taxi, which takes about 25 minutes.
Room prices at Four Seasons Nam Hai start at $800 per night.
