Da Nang Travel Guide
First-hand advice from the Annest Travel team living and working in Da Nang: itineraries, costs, things to do from Ba Na Hills and Son Tra to Hoi An, plus hidden corners.
Tips & itineraries
Da Nang Independent Travel Guide 2026: Everything A to Z
Da Nang is one of the easiest places in Vietnam to explore independently: the airport is minutes from the centre, the beach is inside the city, and Ba Na Hills, Son Tra and Hoi An are all within a short drive. This guide was put together by the Annest Travel team, who live and run tours in Da Nang.
Best Time to Visit Da Nang: Weather Month by Month
Da Nang has two clear seasons: a sunny dry season from roughly February to August and a rainy season from roughly September to December. Pick the right time and you'll get blue sea, clear skies and fair prices.
Da Nang Food Guide: What to Eat and What to Buy
Da Nang's food is bold, affordable and full of dishes that taste right only here. Below is a list of dishes to try and specialities to take home, recommended by locals.
Da Nang 3-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Three days and two nights is the most popular length for a Da Nang trip. This plan covers Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, My Khe Beach, Son Tra, the Marble Mountains and Hoi An without wearing you out.
Da Nang – Hoi An – Hue in 5 Days: The Complete Itinerary
With five days you can cover central Vietnam's "heritage road": the beach city of Da Nang, Hoi An Ancient Town and the imperial city of Hue. This plan splits your nights sensibly so you don't spend too long on the road.
Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Review 2026: Tickets, Hours, Tips
Sun World Ba Na Hills is Da Nang's most famous attraction, home to the Golden Bridge held by giant hands, the French Village and one of the world's most impressive cable car systems. Here is everything about tickets, timing and tips.
Hoi An from Da Nang: How to Get There, What to Do and Eat
Hoi An Ancient Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is just 30 km from central Da Nang. Here is everything you need for a perfect day (or night) in Hoi An.
Getting Around Da Nang: Motorbike, Car Rental and Taxis
Da Nang's roads are wide and traffic is light, so getting around is easy. Choosing the right transport saves both money and energy, especially for Ba Na, Hoi An or the Hai Van Pass.
Best Sea-View Hotels and Resorts in Da Nang
Da Nang has tens of kilometres of beach and every kind of stay, from 3-star hotels on My Khe to secluded resorts on the Son Tra Peninsula. This guide helps you pick the right area and the right type of stay.
Cham Islands Guide: Best Season, Speedboats and Snorkelling
The Cham Islands are an archipelago off Hoi An and a world biosphere reserve with crystal-clear water and beautiful coral reefs. Go in the right season, the right way, and you'll have the best sea day in central Vietnam.
Must-visit attractions
City centre
Dragon Bridge Da Nang: Fire and Water Show Times and Best Views
The Dragon Bridge is Da Nang's modern icon, famous for its weekend fire and water show. Know the time and where to stand and you'll get the full experience.
My Khe Beach Da Nang: Swimming, Seafood and Sunrise
My Khe is a beach right inside Da Nang city, with fine white sand, clear water and a gentle slope – where locals and visitors swim every early morning.
Han Market Da Nang: Local Specialities, Ao Dai Tailoring and Snacks
Han Market is the oldest and best-known market in central Da Nang, where visitors buy dried specialities and souvenirs and get an ao dai made in a day.
Con Market Da Nang: The Locals' Street-Food Paradise
If you want to eat like a Da Nang local, head to Con Market: dozens of stalls serving banh xeo, snails, banh canh, sweet soups and more, from just tens of thousands of dong.
Da Nang Cathedral (Pink Church): A Century-Old Rooster Church
With its striking pink colour and rooster weathervane on the bell tower, Da Nang Cathedral is one of the city's most beautiful French-era buildings.
Museum of Cham Sculpture Da Nang: Treasures of Champa Art
Over a century old, the Museum of Cham Sculpture is the place to visit before My Son to understand the Champa kingdom that once ruled central Vietnam.
Love Bridge and the Carp-Dragon Statue on the Han River
Right beside the Dragon Bridge, the Love Bridge and Carp-Dragon statue are the most romantic photo pair on the Han River, especially when lit up at night.
Sun World Danang Wonders (Asia Park): Sun Wheel and Rides
This riverside amusement park stands out for the Sun Wheel, over 100 m tall – the best place to watch Da Nang light up. Great for families and friends in the evening.
Son Tra – Hai Van
Linh Ung Pagoda Son Tra: The 67 m Lady Buddha Facing the Sea
Da Nang's largest pagoda sits on the slopes of the Son Tra Peninsula, with a 67 m Lady Buddha – the tallest in Vietnam – facing the sea as if protecting the fishermen.
Son Tra Peninsula and Ban Co Peak: Da Nang's Green Lung
Just over ten kilometres from the centre, the Son Tra Peninsula is a nature reserve with primary forest, rare langurs and breathtaking coastal roads.
Hai Van Pass: The "Most Majestic Pass" Between Da Nang and Hue
About 20 km long and winding between mountains and sea, the Hai Van Pass was once called "the most majestic pass under heaven" and is a dream road for riders.
Ba Na – West
Ba Na Hills – Golden Bridge: Da Nang's Road to the Clouds
At nearly 1,500 m, Ba Na Hills is famous for the Golden Bridge held by giant hands, a cool climate all year and its old-world French Village.
Than Tai Mountain Hot Springs Park: Mud Baths and Onsen in the Forest
At the foot of the Ba Na range, Than Tai Mountain offers hot mineral springs, mud baths and a water park in the forest – a great way for families to relax.
Marble Mountains – Hoi An
Marble Mountains: Caves, Pagodas and Views Near Da Nang
Five limestone-marble peaks named after the five elements – Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth – hide mysterious caves and ancient pagodas on the road from Da Nang to Hoi An.
Hoi An Ancient Town: A Lantern-Lit World Heritage Site
More than 400 years old, Hoi An Ancient Town charms visitors with yellow walls, moss-covered roofs and thousands of lanterns along the Hoai River.
Bay Mau Coconut Forest Hoi An: Basket Boats and Spinning Shows
Just 5 km from Hoi An Ancient Town, the Bay Mau water coconut forest is the place to ride a round basket boat, watch basket-spinning and discover river life in Quang Nam.
Cham Islands: A World Biosphere Reserve off Hoi An
Crystal-clear water, rich coral reefs and a peaceful fishing village – the Cham Islands are the most beautiful island escape near Da Nang.
My Son Sanctuary: World Heritage Cham Temple Complex
Hidden in a valley among the mountains, My Son was the religious centre of the Champa kingdom for centuries and is now a World Cultural Heritage Site.
Hidden gems only locals know
Nam O Fishing Village: Herring Salad, Fish Sauce and Green Moss Rocks
At Da Nang's northern gateway, Nam O is an old fishing village with a centuries-old fish sauce craft, a famous herring salad and rocks covered in bright green moss each spring.
The Thousand-Year Banyan Tree of Son Tra
Deep in the Son Tra forest stands an ancient banyan tree with a vast canopy and tangled roots, recognised as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree – a perfect stop for nature lovers.
Ghenh Bang, Son Tra: Wild Rocks and Near-Shore Coral
To reach Ghenh Bang you trek through the forest down to the sea – your reward is a wild rocky shore, clear blue water and coral right next to the rocks.
Suoi Luong: Where a Mountain Stream Meets the Sea Below Hai Van Pass
Few places let you soak in a cool stream and swim in the sea just steps apart like Suoi Luong – a favourite picnic spot for Da Nang locals.
Dien Hai Citadel: An Old Fortress in the Heart of Da Nang
Right on busy Tran Phu street, the old Dien Hai Citadel with its moat and moss-covered gate preserves memories of Da Nang's first resistance against the French.
Dong Xanh Lake, Hoa Bac: A Peaceful Escape on Da Nang's Edge
Less than an hour from the centre, Dong Xanh Lake in the Hoa Bac hills is where Da Nang locals go to camp, paddle and escape the city.
Ta Lang – Gian Bi Co Tu Villages: Community Tourism in the Mountains
Just over an hour from the beach city, you can sleep in a stilt house, eat bamboo-tube rice and hear mountain stories with the Co Tu people of Ta Lang and Gian Bi.
Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village: Over 200 Years of Craft
At the foot of the Marble Mountains, the sound of chisels rings out from workshops centuries old, where artisans turn raw stone into Buddhas, sacred animals and fine ornaments.
Tra Que Vegetable Village Hoi An: A Day as a Farmer
Tra Que herbs are famous because they're fertilised with river seaweed – and you can hoe the soil, water the beds and then cook a dish with the greens you've grown.
Thanh Ha Pottery Village Hoi An: 500 Years by the Thu Bon River
On the Thu Bon River, Thanh Ha has kept its pottery kilns burning for over 500 years. Drop in and you can sit at the wheel and shape a small vase to take home.