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 is where the cuisine of Quang Nam, Hue and the sea meet. Dishes are full-flavoured and usually come with fresh herbs, fish sauce or fermented anchovy sauce (mam nem). Most of the good food is found at Con Market, Han Market, Son Tra Night Market, the An Thuong area and the streets around the centre.
Dishes you must try in Da Nang
Mi Quang
The soul of Quang cuisine: thick rice noodles in a small amount of rich broth, topped with shrimp, pork, chicken or snakehead fish, roasted peanuts, sesame rice crackers and fresh herbs. A bowl costs only about 30,000 – 50,000 VND.
Rice paper rolls with boiled pork (banh trang cuon thit heo)
Thinly sliced boiled pork rolled in rice paper with wild greens and cucumber, dipped in seasoned mam nem – Da Nang's signature dish, best shared in a group.
Fish cake noodle soup (bun cha ca)
A light, sweet broth from fish bones and vegetables with fried and steamed fish cakes made from fresh sea fish – a favourite local breakfast.
Bun mam nem
Rice noodles, roast pork, pork roll and herbs tossed with pungent fermented anchovy sauce. Unforgettable – fans can't stop eating it, newcomers should try it once.
Nam O raw fish salad (goi ca Nam O)
Fresh herring, deboned and mixed with roasted rice powder, garlic and chilli, wrapped in rice paper with wild herbs and a special sauce. Best eaten in Nam O fishing village.
Fresh seafood
Crab, lobster, sweet snails, sun-dried squid, scallops… along Vo Nguyen Giap and Hoang Sa streets and in the Man Thai area. Choose places that display prices per kilo.
Other dishes to try
- Banh xeo and nem lui: crispy pancakes and lemongrass skewers with a distinctive liver dipping sauce.
- Banh canh: thick, chewy noodles in a rich broth, with crab or snakehead fish.
- Cau Mong roast veal: crispy-skinned veal rolled in rice paper with mam nem.
- Che (sweet soups): refreshing in summer.
- In Hoi An: cao lau, chicken rice, banh mi and white rose dumplings.
Where to eat
| Area | What to eat | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Con Market | Banh xeo, snails, banh canh, che, fresh rolls | Cheap snacks, full of locals |
| Son Tra and Helio night markets | Grilled seafood, snacks | Open evenings, near the Dragon Bridge |
| Man Thai – Vo Nguyen Giap beachfront | Live seafood picked from tanks | Ask the price per kg before ordering |
| Hoi An Ancient Town | Cao lau, chicken rice, banh mi | Eat your way along the streets |
What to buy as souvenirs
- Da Nang beef sausage (cha bo): crunchy and peppery, keeps a few days refrigerated.
- Nam O fish sauce: a craft village with centuries of tradition, pure anchovy sauce.
- Tamarind squid, sun-dried squid, dried filefish: on the ground floor of Han Market.
- Tre and nem chua: fermented pork specialities of the region.
- Sesame crackers, tea, dried seaweed: light and easy to fly with.
- Non Nuoc stone carvings, Hoi An lanterns: souvenirs with real local character.
Tip: at Han Market compare a few stalls first and ask sellers to vacuum-pack and box fish sauce or squid for flights. To combine sightseeing with a great food evening, join the Marble Mountains – Hoi An tour and have dinner in the old town.
Frequently asked questions
What food should I definitely try in Da Nang?
Mi Quang, rice paper rolls with boiled pork, fish cake noodle soup, bun mam nem, Nam O fish salad and fresh seafood. In Hoi An, add cao lau, chicken rice and banh mi.
What souvenirs should I buy in Da Nang?
Beef sausage, Nam O fish sauce, tamarind or sun-dried squid, dried filefish, tre, sesame crackers and Non Nuoc stone carvings are popular gifts.
Is seafood expensive in Da Nang?
Seafood is reasonable if you choose places that list prices per kilo in Man Thai or along the beach. Always confirm the price and weight before it is cooked.
Which market in Da Nang has the best food?
Con Market is the most famous for street food; Han Market is best for dried specialities; Son Tra and Helio night markets are great in the evening for grilled seafood.
