Da Nang, Vietnam: travel guide
Long city beaches, the Dragon Bridge and a gateway to central Vietnam
Known as one of the most livable cities in Vietnam, Da Nang serves as a gateway to the central region. It pairs beautiful, sprawling beaches like My Khe with modern bridges and world-class resorts.
About Da Nang
Da Nang stretches along the central coast of Vietnam, with a long, wide sweep of sand at My Khe Beach and a skyline of bridges across the Han River. The most famous is the Dragon Bridge, a steel dragon that is lit up at night.
Beyond the beach, you can climb the Marble Mountains to cave temples and viewpoints, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture, ride up to the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, or head to the Lady Buddha on the Son Tra Peninsula. The Hai Van Pass coast road is a rewarding drive or ride towards Hue.
Da Nang suits beach-goers, families and anyone who wants a relaxed base within reach of Hoi An and Hue. The best time to visit Da Nang is usually from spring to early autumn, before the wetter late-year months.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Currency
- VND
- Time zone
- Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
- Nearest airport
- DAD
- Typical trip
- 3-4 days
Last updated
Top places to visit in Da Nang
Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng)
bridge · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A 666-metre bridge shaped like a golden dragon, opened 2013. Every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 the dragon's head breathes fire and water for 10 minutes — the most spectacular free show in Vietnam.
My Khe Beach
urban beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A pristine 30 km arc of white sand ranked among Asia's most beautiful urban beaches by Forbes. Lifeguards patrol May–September. Best visited early morning before midday crowds.
Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)
mountains · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Five marble-and-limestone peaks riddled with Buddhist and Hindu shrines, grottoes and viewpoints. Thuy Son is most visited — cave temples, war-era hiding spots and panoramic views of Da Nang and the sea. An elevator links base to summit.
Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge
theme-park · 4.4 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate
Mountain-top theme park reached by a record-breaking cable car, home to the giant-hands Golden Bridge and a French Village.
Son Tra Peninsula — Lady Buddha
peninsula · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
A 4,439-hectare nature reserve home to the critically endangered red-shanked douc langur. The 67-metre Linh Ung Pagoda features the largest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam with panoramic sea views from the summit.
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
art museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's largest collection of Cham artifacts — over 2,000 stone sculptures from the ancient Champa civilisation (2nd–17th centuries) in airy French colonial galleries.
Hai Van Pass
mountain-pass · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Spectacular 21 km mountain pass between Da Nang and Hue, made famous by Top Gear.
Linh Ung Pagoda Bai But
buddhist · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Hillside temple on Son Tra crowned by Vietnam's tallest Lady Buddha statue (67 m).
Sun World Danang Wonders (Asia Park)
theme-park · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
City amusement park with the Sun Wheel ferris wheel and zones themed on Asian cultures.
Love Bridge & Carp-Dragon Statue
waterfront · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverfront promenade with a love-lock bridge and a 7.5 m jade carp-turning-dragon statue.
Da Nang Downtown (Sun World riverside)
entertainment · 4.1 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverside entertainment complex with rides, a beer street and nightly shows by the Dragon Bridge.
APEC Sculpture Park
park · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverside park of international sculptures gifted at the 2017 APEC summit, beside the Dragon Bridge.
Things to do
- Marble Mountains Half-Day Hike & Cave Visit Heritage · 3 h · from VND 96,500 per person
- My Khe Beach Sunrise Surf Lesson Water Sports · 2 h · from VND 248,000 per person
- Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Day Trip Sightseeing · 9 h · from VND 965,000 per person
- Dragon Bridge Fire & Water Show Cultural · 1 h · from VND 138,000 per person
- Hai Van Pass & Lang Co Motorbike Tour Adventure · 5 h · from VND 772,000 per person
- Cham Islands Snorkelling Day Trip Nature · 8 h · from VND 827,000 per person
- Son Tra Peninsula & Lady Buddha Tour Sightseeing · 4 h · from VND 496,000 per person
- Da Nang Street Food Tour by Scooter Food · 3.5 h · from VND 551,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Ancient Town Day Trip 10 h · from VND 551,000
- Hai Van Pass Motorbike Tour: Da Nang to Hue 10 h · from VND 772,000
Where to stay in Da Nang
- My Khe Beach Strip about VND 2,500 per night
A 30 km beach strip consistently ranked among Asia's most beautiful. High-rise resort hotels line the beachfront; seafood restaurants are metres from the sand. The best zone for beach-first travellers.
- Han River / City Centre about VND 1,500 per night
The commercial and cultural heart — the Cham Museum, markets, local pho restaurants and the spectacular Dragon Bridge (fire/water Sat–Sun 21:00) all within walking distance. Better value than the beachfront.
Hotels
- Hyatt Regency Da Nang Resort & Spa 5-star · VND 5,000,000 to VND 25,000,000 per night
- InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort 5-star · VND 12,000,000 to VND 30,000,000 per night
- A La Carte Da Nang Beach 4-star · VND 1,500,000 to VND 6,000,000 per night
- Premier Village Danang Resort 5-star · VND 6,000,000 to VND 14,000,000 per night
- Naman Retreat 5-star · VND 6,000,000 to VND 13,000,000 per night
- TIA Wellness Resort 5-star · VND 7,000,000 to VND 14,000,000 per night
Where to eat
- Be Man Seafood Restaurant Vietnamese, Seafood · about VND 350,000 per person
- Mi Quang Thi Vietnamese · about VND 50,000 per person
- Madame Lan Vietnamese · about VND 250,000 per person
- Banh Xeo Ba Duong Vietnamese · about VND 120,000 per person
- Bun Cha Ca 109 Vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- Mi Quang 1A Vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- Com Ga A.Hai Vietnamese · about VND 70,000 per person
- Quan Com Hue Ngon Vietnamese · about VND 100,000 per person
Getting to Da Nang
Airport: Da Nang (DAD)
How visitors arrive in Da Nang
- Flight into Da Nang airport By air from Hanoi · common
Close to the centre; domestic flights mainly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, plus international links in Asia. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Reunification Express train By train from Hue · common
Da Nang station is on the north-south line. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Bus from Hue and other cities By road from Hue · possible
Sleeper and regular buses arrive from many parts of Vietnam, and from Laos. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Metered taxi from Da Nang airport
Metered taxis wait outside the terminal; Mai Linh, Taxi Xanh and Song Han are named as reliable. The airport is close to the centre. Source: vietnamairlines.com
- Grab from the marked pickup point
Cross the taxi lanes to the marked Grab pickup point. Grab is often easier than taxis because many drivers speak little English. Source: vietnamairlines.com
- City bus route 06
City bus route 06 serves the airport area; walk to the stop on Nguyen Van Linh or Duy Tan street. It heads toward Non Nuoc bus station. Buses can be slow at peak times. Source: vietnamairlines.com
- Shuttle to Hoi An unconfirmed
Shuttles run between the airport and Hoi An, in addition to taxis and Grab. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Motorbike Rental
Motorbikes can be rented in many places in Da Nang, especially around the backpacker area in Thanh Khe, with automatic scooters commonly offered.
- Ride Hail useful for some trips
Grab operates in Da Nang with car and motorbike rides, and is described as often more convenient and transparent than hailing a taxi.
- Taxi
Metered taxis operate in Da Nang, and the guide suggests sticking with an established company such as Mai Linh or Vinasun.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Unlicensed Taxi at Airport
Da Nang International Airport arrivals
Unofficial taxi drivers approach in arrivals, quoting low prices, but use tampered meters or demand 2–3× the correct fare.
How to avoid it: Use Grab app from the airport. Alternatively, arrange hotel pickup in advance. Official taxis are Vinasun or Mai Linh outside the terminal.
Restaurant Menu Price Switching
My Khe Beach area
Some beachfront restaurants present a menu with reasonable prices, then at checkout produce a different menu with higher prices or add unlisted charges.
How to avoid it: Photograph the menu when ordering. Ask for an itemised bill. Read reviews on Google Maps before entering.
Best time to visit Da Nang
- Jan 24°C
- Feb 25°C
- Mar 28°C
- Apr 30°C
- May 31°C
- Jun 32°C
- Jul 32°C
- Aug 32°C
- Sep 32°C
- Oct 30°C
- Nov 27°C
- Dec 25°C
More in Vietnam
Frequently asked questions about Da Nang
- How many days do you need in Da Nang?
- A typical trip to Da Nang is 3-4 days.
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Da Nang?
- The highest-rated places in our Da Nang guide are Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng), Son Tra Peninsula — Lady Buddha, Hai Van Pass, My Khe Beach, Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn).
- Where should I stay in Da Nang?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Da Nang: My Khe Beach Strip, Han River / City Centre.
- How do I get around Da Nang?
- Ways to get around Da Nang covered in our guide: Motorbike rental, Ride-hailing app, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Da Nang?
- Scams reported to us for Da Nang include Unlicensed Taxi at Airport; Restaurant Menu Price Switching. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Da Nang?
- Average daytime highs in Da Nang run from 24°C in Jan to 32°C in Jun.
- Which airport is nearest to Da Nang?
- The nearest airport to Da Nang has the code DAD.