15 Best Things to Do in Da Nang, Vietnam for First-Time Visitors
I have traveled to Vietnam 5 times, and finally, on my 5th trip, I made it to Da Nang. I had questioned, “Is Da Nang worth visiting?” The answer is a resounding YES. It quickly became one of my favorite cities in the country, exceeding my expectations with its natural beauty, rich culture, and attractions.
Da Nang is a modern beach city along the central Vietnam coast, nestled between the historic cities of Hue and Hoi An. It’s popular among tourists for its blend of city and nature, surfing, its iconic landmarks, and affordability. Whether Da Nang is a stop along the way in a grand journey across Vietnam or your sole destination, you are sure to come away with beautiful memories and a desire to return.
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When to Visit Da Nang & How Many Days
Best Time of Year to Visit Da Nang
Da Nang is a year-round destination in Vietnam, with two seasons - wet and dry.
The dry season typically lasts from January to August. The temperatures are higher, and this is the busiest time of year for tourism (especially from June to August), but you’ll have more blue skies, making them perfect for beach days. Many notable Vietnamese holidays and events also fall during these months. See this list below!
The wet season is typically September to December, sometimes into January. There is more rain, but the temperatures will be cooler. Typhoon season usually occurs from June to the end of November, with the most active months being August to November.
I visited Da Nang for 2 weeks in November-December and personally prefer the cooler temperatures and rain over sweltering heat. It rained almost every day during that time, and light jackets were needed even during the day. Typhoon Kalmaegi had come through about 2 weeks prior.
How Many Days Should You Stay in Da Nang?
I recommend staying in Da Nang for 3-5 days. On the lower end of that, you should have enough time to squeeze in some of the most popular Da Nang sights and activities. For 5+ days, your visit can be more leisurely, and you can even fit in a day trip to the historic cities of Hoi An or Hue.
Vietnam Holidays & Festivals to Plan Your Trip Around
Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year): Typically falls in January or February
Quan The Am Festival: Held annually in Da Nang at Marble Mountains, typically from the 17th to the 19th day of the second lunar month (around March)
Hùng Kings' Festival: Held annually from the 1st to the 10th day of the third lunar month (around April)
Reunification Day: April 30 annually
Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF): June-July
Vietnam National Day: September 2 annually
Mid-Autumn Festival: Held annually on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar month (Hoi An is recommended for this festival)
Da Nang or Hội An?
Short answer…both if you have the time. Da Nang and Hoi An can’t really be compared, as they offer very different experiences, but travelers often ask which to prioritize given their proximity (about 30km apart).
Da Nang is a modern city with all the conveniences of a city set along wide stretches of beach perfect for surfing and lounging, comfortable lodging (including all your chain hotels), and better infrastructure.
Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with lantern-lit streets, bustling street vendors, and boutique hotels nestled between farmland and the Thu Bồn River.
Da Nang from the plane
How to Get to Da Nang
Da Nang is located on the central coast of Vietnam, along the South China Sea. There are several convenient ways to reach Da Nang, Vietnam, suitable for all budgets.
Fly into Da Nang International Airport
The easiest way to get to Da Nang is to fly into the Da Nang International Airport and order a Grab or taxi to your hotel. The airport is within a 20-30 minute drive of most hotels in Da Nang.
Train
Trains are a slower but rewarding way to get to Da Nang, traveling through the countryside and landscape you wouldn’t otherwise see if you flew. Reunification Express Train, operated by Vietnam Railways, is the most connected and well-known rail system in Vietnam. You can hop on in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or anywhere in between to get to Da Nang.
Here are a few more train options with routes to/from Da Nang:
Lotus Train Express - Hanoi to Da Nang
Violette Express Train - Hanoi to Da Nang
Laman Express Train - Hanoi to Da Nang
Halo Express Trail - Hanoi and Ninh Binh to Da Nang
Damitrans Express - Hanoi and Hue to Da Nang
The Vietage by Anantara - Luxury train Nha Trang and Quy Nhon to Da Nang
Train travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by train is approximately 17-18 hours.
Train travel time from Hanoi to Da Nang by train is approximately 15-16 hours.
Sleeper Bus
The sleeper bus system in Vietnam is the cheapest option for traveling around and popular amongst backpackers, but it is the least reliable and comfortable for most.
Here are a few popular bus companies to Da Nang:
Futa Bus- Most cities to Da Nang
The Sinh Tourist- Hue and Hoi An to Da Nang
Queen Bus - Hanoi to Da Nang
Train travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang by bus is approximately 19-21 hours.
Train travel time from Hanoi to Da Nang by bus is approximately 15-17 hours.
12Go is my favorite source for searching various modes of transportation and routes to get from one place to another, especially in Asia. I highly recommend browsing their app or website for car, bus, train, ferry, flights, and more routes across Asia and beyond!
Left: Motorbikes; Right: Walking around the streets of Da Nang
How to Get Around Da Nang
The best way to get around Da Nang is by the Grab app (essentially the Southeast Asia version of Uber). Just as with any rideshare app, choose the type of vehicle you need, pay through the app, and meet your driver at the selected pickup location. The city is well-connected via Grab, offering efficient, safe, and affordable transportation.
More ways to get around Da Nang
Walking
Da Nang is very walkable! Beach and river boardwalks, bustling neighborhood streets, and sidewalks make walking around the city enjoyable. Be sure to be careful crossing streets, as in Vietnam, traffic doesn’t stop for anyone. (Even pedestrians).
Taxi
Metered taxis can be flagged down all around Da Nang, although there is a mix of reviews and opinions from travelers regarding the legitimacy of the running meters. I have not personally taken a taxi here to have an opinion on the matter, but it is still a viable option for transportation!
Local Bus Route (Dana Bus)
For budget travelers in Vietnam, utilizing the local bus system is an affordable option for getting around Da Nang. Download the Dana Bus app for routes and rates.
Motorbike Rental
With caution! If you have experience on a motorbike, this is a fun and authentic way to get around. Companies like Tuan Motorbike Rental make this easy.
Left: Da Nang Marriott Resort & Spa; Right: Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa
Where to Stay in Da Nang
Da Nang offers hotels and resorts for all budgets. Whether you are traveling on a shoestring budget or are looking for beachfront luxury resorts to be pampered, you will find something suitable in Da Nang.
Budget
I recommend browsing Hostelworld for budget rooms! Refer to reviews from other likeminded travelers and find an affordable spot that suits your vibe. There are backpacker hotels for as low as $8 USD a night in Da Nang!
15 Best Things to Do in Da Nang
1. Vietnamese Coffee Making Class
Vietnam is renowned for its coffee scene. Attending a coffee-making class is a great way to learn about and enjoy these delicious Vietnamese drinks, including the condensed milk coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee!
Da Nang Home Cooking Class offers a fun, engaging, and educational Vietnamese coffee-making class. Follow the Viator link below to book the exact class I took and loved!
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
2. Con Market (Chợ Cồn)
Con Market is a sprawling local market in Da Nang with vendors selling produce, street food, souvenirs, and more. It caters to local shopping, making it an exciting, authentic spot to explore as a tourist.
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
3. Hàn River Promenade (Bạch Đằng Street)
The beautiful Hàn River runs through the city of Da Nang. Built along its banks in the city center are walking promenades.
My favorite section to walk along the river is on the Bạch Đằng Street side, between the Han River Bridge and the Dragon Bridge. To one side, you have bustling restaurants and bars, and to the other, boats pass you by on the calm river waters. Visit at night when the boats, streets, and bridges are colorfully lit up.
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
View of Lady Buddha & Son Tra Mountain from My Khe Beach
4. Lady Buddha & Son Tra Mountain (Monkey Mountain)
The Son Tra Peninsula is a beautiful, lush, undeveloped part of Da Nang featuring attractions such as the Lady Buddha statue, wildlife, scenic views, and fishing villages.
While you can get a taxi to Lady Buddha, the rest of the mountain/peninsula is best explored with a tour guide and on a motorbike or jeep. Check out some of these guided options below!
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
5. Da Nang Bike Tour with BeeBike Hub
Get out of the city to explore the Da Nang countryside by bike with BeeBike Hub. Local-led cycling tours guide you through rural Vietnam, along rice fields and scenic mountain passes, where you will learn about Vietnamese culture away from the tourism hubs, while also getting in a workout.
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
6. The Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)
One of the most popular Da Nang attractions is the Marble Mountains. Pagodas and shrines are built into natural caves and atop the marble peaks, and are deemed significant cultural and religious sites. Visitors can spend a couple of hours here exploring all the nooks and crannies.
TIPS for visiting Marble Mountains:
There are 3-4 tickets to purchase per person (some optional). The main entrance ticket, the elevator ticket (1 up and 1 back down), and the entrance ticket to the main cave - Am Phu Cave. I purchased the main entrance, Am Phu Cave, and elevator ticket up and took the stairs down.
Avoid visiting on rainy days if you can, or be extra cautious when stepping. The rocks, stairs, and caves get slick when wet. Take your time and wear shoes with good traction!
Purchase the extra tickets for the elevator to get to the top and back down. This avoids most of the stairs! (Which is a lot).
Bring plenty of water to drink and handheld fans to help keep you cool. Even on cooler days, the humidity can really get to you, and parts of the mountain block off any wind.
There are vendors in Marble Mountains along the paths selling coconuts, sodas, and water. Bring cash (Thai Baht)!
Dress appropriately. While Marble Mountains has become a popular tourist attraction, it is still a religious site, and shoulders and knees should be covered when entering temples and pagodas.
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
7. Da Nang Pink Cathedral
Similar to the Tân Định Catholic Church in Ho Chi Minh City, which is also pink in color, the Da Nang Pink Cathedral (or, Giáo Xứ Chính Toà Đà Nẵng) is an operating church built in 1923 during the French Colonial period. The interesting pink color and European architecture attract tourists to this landmark.
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
8. Night Boat Tour on the Hàn River
Watch the colorful city of Da Nang pass by on a night boat tour along the Han River. There are several tour companies to choose from, so I’ve provided some Viator booking options below!
Left: View from Love bridge area; Right: View from Bạch Đằng Street along the promenade
9. Fire & Water Show at the Dragon Bridge
The famous landmark Dragon Bridge in Da Nang comes alive every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9 pm, as fire and water burst from the dragon's mouth in an epic display.
The best spots to watch the fire show at the Dragon Bridge are on the Dragon Bridge itself (you may get wet!), nearby riverside rooftop bars and restaurants (reservations recommended), from the water on a Han River night cruise, or the Love bridge/plaza near the Dragon Carp Statue (where we watched from).
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
10. Dragon Carp Statue & Love Bridge
Similar to Singapore’s Merlion statue, the Dragon Carp Statue (Tượng Cá Chép Hóa Rồng) is an illuminated statue that spouts water from its mouth into the Hàn River. Just like in Singapore, this is a popular tourist attraction for photos.
You will find this statue along the Love Bridge, a bridge/pier lined with cute heart lanterns, where visitors can attach a locket to the fence to symbolize lasting love with their partners.
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
11. Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture
The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture presents a collection of ancient sculptures from the Cham people and is an extension of the artifacts found at the My Son Sanctuary.
More Museums in Da Nang
Nhà Trưng bày Hoàng Sa (historical/maritime museum)
Art in Paradise (3D Art Museum)
12. Beach Day at My Khe Beach
My Khe Beach is a popular white sand beach in Da Nang, lined with restaurants and beach loungers. Though this isn’t the only beach in Da Nang, it’s a favorite for many visitors!
I recommend walking along the beach promenade until you find available sunbed rentals or an open spot in the sand to lay down your beach towel for the day.
More Beaches to Visit in Da Nang, Vietnam:
My An Beach - Surf shops, beach bars, and sunbed rentals
Non Nuac Beach - Serene beach lined with 5-star beachfront hotels and resorts
Pham Van Dong Beach - Long stretch of northern beach, popular with locals and tourists alike
📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps
Left to right: Maia Beach Bar, Da Nang Beach monument, Lăng Bà Ngọc Lân, view of boardwalk looking South
13. Beach Boardwalk
Along the beaches of Da Nang (particularly My An and My Khe) is a well-maintained boardwalk, bustling with beach activities, restaurants, and landmarks, including the “Da Nang beach” monument, Lăng Bà Ngọc Lân temple, sunbeds, and my favorite bar - Maia Beach Bar.
This is an enjoyable location to stroll, popping in and out of beachfront establishments along the way.
14. Vietnamese Cooking Class
What better way to immerse oneself in the Vietnamese culture than through learning to cook the most popular, delicious dishes! Take your pick of one of the many hands-on cooking classes in Da Nang. Most include a trip to the local market for ingredients.
Viator has great classes available!
Left: Maia Beach Bar; Right: View from Da Nang Rooftop Craft Beer
15. Da Nang Nightlife & Rooftops
Enjoy the Da Nang city nightlife from rooftop restaurants and bars, many with views of the Dragon Bridge Fire Show, Han River, or ocean. Here are some options:
The Roof - Da Nang: Oceanfront cocktail bar with food and shisha (rooftop)
Da Nang Rooftop Craft Beer: Beer garden with views of Han bridge and river (rooftop)
Duy Tịnh Rooftop Bar Đà Nẵng: Casual restaurant and bar popular to watch the Dragon Bridge Fire Show from (rooftop)
M45 Rooftop Bar: Da Nang’s highest rooftop bar at Courtyard by Marriott Da Nang Han River (rooftop)
Kalà Kalà Beach Club: Beach club for people who enjoy music, drinks, and pool parties that go until midnight (beach club)
Maia Beach Bar: Chill spot on My Khe Beach with a DJ and great view
Day Trips from Da Nang
Da Nang city is perfectly located, central to a plethora of attractions that can be made into a day trip excursion from Da Nang. Here is a list of just a few of the day trip destinations to add to your Central Vietnam bucket list:
Imperial City of Huế (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Hội An Ancient Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Looking for a comprehensive list of day trip excursions from Da Nang?
Marble Mountains
Tips for Visiting Da Nang
You can get an eSIM card ahead of your arrival in Vietnam using the app Airalo. Get $3 off your first eSIM card with my referral code, ANNA5384
English is widely spoken in Da Nang city center, but I like to have Vietnamese downloaded on my Google Translate app just in case, especially when visiting more locally owned vendors, restaurants, etc!
Credit cards are accepted at most places in Da Nang, but I recommend carrying cash (Vietnamese Dong - VND) with you, especially when visiting more local establishments or venturing outside the main city area.
Hire a local Grab driver for the day! If you aren’t confident driving around on your own, hire a local driver who knows the area and can take you to all the places on your Da Nang bucket list. Many Grab drivers we got to take us on a single ride around the city would offer their business cards for hourly rates. Contact them via WhatsApp to schedule a date, hours, your destinations, and get their rate.
Timing is important when visiting popular tourist spots. Arrive at destinations as early in the morning as you can to avoid the mid-day crowds and weather.
Traffic in Vietnam typically doesn’t stop for pedestrians. When crossing the street, look both ways and use extreme caution. When you start to get the hang of it, it can be quite fun - like playing Frogger, lol!
As with the rest of Vietnam, do not drink tap water. Most hotels supply your room with bottled water. If not, you can order from restaurants or go to nearby convenience stores to grab some litres.
Dress respectfully, particularly when visiting sacred sites such as temples. Shoulders and knees should be covered.
Dress appropriately for the weather. Summers are very hot, winters are cold and rainy.
Map
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