If you are looking for a great vacation with your family or friends. Da Nang will be an ideal place you cannot miss when you come to Vietnam. Da Nang can give you the experiences you’re seeking. It’s a place with natural and beautiful sights that will make you hold your breath, from tranquil or boisterous beaches to interesting museums and fascinating styles in architecture.
As tourists, our time is limited, and we would want to make the most out of it. Here’s my checklist of the things to do you will do not want to miss in Da Nang.
Contents
- 1. Ba Na Hills – Heaven on Earth
- 2. Take a picture at The Golden Bridge
- 3. Visit Son Tra Peninsula
- 4. The famous Marble Mountains
- 5. Linh Ung Pagoda
- 6. My Khe Beach
- 7. Non-Nuoc Beach
- 8. Try the Water Sports
- 9. Discover My Son Sanctuary
- 10. Visit The Museum of Cham Sculpture
- 11. Discover Hue, the Imperial City
- 12. Dragon Bridge – a fire-breathing dragon
- 13. Han River Bridge
- 14. Da Nang Cathedral
- 15. Asia Park – The comprehensive amusement park
- 16. Da Nang Festival Season
- 17. Sightsee at Phap Lam Pagoda
- 18. Art In Paradise 3D Museum
- 19. Lady Buddha
- 20. Visit Hoi An Ancient Town
1. Ba Na Hills – Heaven on Earth
Ba Na hill seems to be the best tourist destination in Danang with beautiful scenery and a year around cool climate. From the top of Ba Na Hill, you can have a panoramic view of the majestic hills, the beautiful coastline is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Watching indifferent clouds, breathtaking waterfalls from the world’s highest cable car cabin is a truly unforgettable feeling. In addition, Ba Na Hill also has amazing entertainment with hundreds of interesting games for both children and adults. You can also go to the Wax Museum to see statues of celebrities and politicians. Or take great photos in the French village, enjoy the glass of wine in the Debay Wine Cellar …
Location: The Hills are located in Hoa Vang district, 40 kilometers from Da Nang.
Price: Avg. 1,100,000 VND
For more details, take a look at our detailed guide to all attractions in Ba Na Hills.
2. Take a picture at The Golden Bridge
You will definitely be impressed by its strange beauty. Golden Bridge has completely created a fever on all the world’s famous newspapers with its unique architectural beauty. With a railing frame plated with gold, the two arms are made of moss-covered stone, bringing an ancient mysterious beauty, making Golden Bridge a prominent destination for Danang tourism. Golden Bridge is located at an altitude of 1,400 meters above sea level with a length of about 150m located in Ba Na Hill entertainment complex.
3. Visit Son Tra Peninsula
Approximately 700 meters above the sea level, Son Tra Peninsula – or Son Tra Mountain, according to the locals – has ideal weather for outdoor activities.
The most popular object of attention here is Linh Ung Pagoda, known for the Buddha sculptures and the scenic views. Both locals and tourists love to visit the pagoda despite the long journey to the top. It’s definitely worth the efforts!
Another attraction of Son Tra is the red monkeys that have become one of the rare species you hardly find anywhere else in the world.
Location: Go north along My Khe beach about 15km. See on Map
Highlights: The road to the top seems to be a great experience for those who love hiking and motorbike riding
Price: Free
4. The famous Marble Mountains
Marble Mountains means a collection of 5 mountains made of natural marble and limestone. It is surprising to know that in the past, the Marble Mountains was actually a limestone coral island and a place where pirates ambush merchant ships moving through the island. Nowadays, the Marble Mountains has become a famous tourist attraction with its majestic natural beauty, mysterious caves, and temples that always attract curiosity to discover visitors when coming here.
Price: The entrance fee is around $1 (23.500 VND), and another $1 if you want to enter the caves.
Location: Hoa Hai, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang. See on Map
5. Linh Ung Pagoda
If you follow the lead of Buddhism or have some interest in the culture, you wouldn’t want to skip this spot. Linh Ung is the largest Pagoda in Da Nang. The most popular attraction is the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha (67 meters tall), coming right after it is the cluster of 21 Buddha and 18 Arhat statues. The 17-level building opens picturesque views of the lush hills and the primitive woods and inspires the aesthete in you.
Price: Free
Location: Son Tra Peninsula, Son Tra District, 10 kilometers from Hoang Sa Street to the North-east. See on Map
6. My Khe Beach
My Khe Beach with a beautiful white sand beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. Even in 2007 My Khe Beach also reached the Top 7 most beautiful beaches of the world according to the famous Forber magazine. This is a great entertainment place that is always attractive to local people or foreign tourists coming here to relax, swim, sunbathe or try thrills with water sports like PARA Sailing, WAKE Broading or Jet Skiing …
Best time to Visit: From May to October is best time to visit come here.
Price: No fee
Location: 20 minutes on a taxi from Da Nang International Airport (DIA) should be enough to take you to My Khe Beach . See on map
7. Non-Nuoc Beach
If you are looking for a pristine beauty without many tourists, Non-Nuoc Beach will definitely be a favorite place where you can relax and enjoy the sight of white sand and blue water. You can also rent benches and umbrellas from beachfront restaurants if the weather is a bit out of control.
Price: No fee
Location: 8km southeast of Danang city center. See on map
8. Try the Water Sports
The weather is ideal for games all year round but the interval from May to October is the optimal choice.
With about $5, you can hide several surfboards and take part in the fun activities of aquatic sports. My Khe Beach is an excellent location for those who seek adrenaline, both beginners and experts, due to its pristineness and weather conditions.
Location: 20 minutes on a taxi from Da Nang International Airport (DIA) should be enough to take you to My Khe Beach . See on map
9. Discover My Son Sanctuary
Living up to its name, My Son ignites a sense of admiration and sacredness in visitors with alluring sights and cultural values. UNESCO has accepted My Son on its World Heritage Site list.
So, what are the highlights here? It’s the remnants of Cham people in Vietnam, therefore, you will find the architectural style greatly different from what you have seen in other historical places in Vietnam. I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I called them glorious masterpieces. You can also enjoy the Cham’s traditional dance performed by real Champa dancers.
Location: Duy Phu, Duy Xuyen, Quang Nam Province See on map
Price: The plan for each tour varies, but you will easily get 5 hours drowning is glorious attractions at the price from $10 to $35
10. Visit The Museum of Cham Sculpture
For a profound look into the Cham lifestyle, you should consider a trip to the Museum of Cham Sculpture. The museum houses more than 300 works of terracotta and stone, which will provide you with more knowledge about the people’s daily life, the holy animals they worshipped, as well as the understanding of their architecture.
Location: 02, 2 Thang 9 Street, Da Nang.
Open time: It’s available from 7 AM to 5.30 PM
Price: The ticket price is 5,000 VND per student and 40,000 per adult.
11. Discover Hue, the Imperial City
It’s hard to ignore the Imperial City when you are already in Central Vietnam, especially if it’s somewhere between September to March. Absorbed in history and nostalgia, Hue easily attracts tourists and locals alike with its mysticism and artistic facets.
Some highlights to keep in mind are the Imperial Tombs where the kings rest in peace, the Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda. If you can ride a motorbike tour or hire a driver for yourself, you would love the experience of shopping at local markets and discovering beautiful streets around. Don’t forget to try the journey by ship along the gorgeous Huong River.
Location: 80 kilometers to the north-west from Da Nang. See on map
Price: Most places do not require any separate entry free in the Imperial city.
12. Dragon Bridge – a fire-breathing dragon
If you have never seen a dragon that can spit fire in real life, coming to Danang you can easily see it, even every week.
Dragon Bridge shaped to the form of a golden dragon, crosses the Han River with the length is 666 meters. It is lively from a far distance and ethereal up close, an adequate symbolization for the city’s nobility, wealth, and fortune. Travelers love to take photos from the Dragon Bridge, as they can capture the Han River and the city in the frames. However, I think the view is much more beautiful in the evening, for the effect of LED lights.
Weekends are always a special occasion for locals and international visitors alike because of their amazing fire-breathing performances. Every Saturday, Sunday nights, from ( 21:00 – 21:15 ), the Dragon Bridge will simultaneously spitfire and spray water ( spitfire first, spray water later). Including spitfire 2 times, each turns 9 times (a total of 18 times) and spray water 3 times, each turn 1 time.
Tip: There are many coffee shops and restaurants for you to explore, savoring a delicious treat while enjoying the surrounding sights. You should come early to get a good location to see the performance.
Location: You can easily to see it in the Da Nang city center See on map
Price: No fee
13. Han River Bridge
A bit different from the Dragon Bridge, Han River Bridge is the pride of Da Nang City, since it’s entirely built by the people here. The first swing bridge supported by cable, it is.
At night, the lights installed along its body will brighten the whole area up. That’s not everything. The bridge can rotate on its axis and give you a hypnotizing view to behold.
Location: You can easily to see it in the Da Nang city center across the Han River in Da Nang. See on map
Price: No fee
14. Da Nang Cathedral
It was built in 1923 and became a place for daily praying. With the pink color on the outside and the rooster atop the tower, the cathedral surely will pique tourists’ curiosity.
I would say the inside of the Cathedral was much more spacious and beautiful than I thought. It featured a style evidently Gothic, with windowpanes made of stained glass.
But, be mindful of the timing. If you are late, I doubt you will find a seat!
Location: It’s near Danang International Airport, only a few minutes if you go by vehicle. See on map
15. Asia Park – The comprehensive amusement park
After visiting tranquil places, perhaps you would want to hype yourself up, and there’s no better place than Asia Park. There are three sections: the Central Zone, the Cultural Park, and the Amusement Park. Right in the center of the area, you will see Sun Wheel, a giant clock tower standing at 115 meters in height and displaying numerous countries’ time zone. You can find all sorts of activities here: folk dancing, traditional performances, crafting, cuisine arts, featured in shows, eateries, events, and many more.
Price: It opens from 5 PM to 11 PM, with the ticket price of 200,000 VND and 150,000 VND respectively per adult and child.
Location: Sun World Danang Wonders Amusement Park See on map
16. Da Nang Festival Season
As Da Nang became an attraction for national and international tourists, the authorities have approved of many more festivals with a variety of traditional activities.
On weekends, it will be difficult for you to choose between a street carnival with live performances and a parade of street dancers, a Tuong play (a form of theatrical art in Vietnam) and an exhibition of fine street arts.
The most remarkable festival you can expect is the DIFF – Da Nang International Firework Festival. In 2020, it will be held in 29 nights of 29 weeks, starting from April 30th.
17. Sightsee at Phap Lam Pagoda
Even though it’s located in the heart of this bustling city, you will experience nothing less than calmness and serenity in Phap Lam Pagoda. Listening to the monks and the locals praying, trying out vegetarian food, and admiring the scenic gardens with admirable sculptures of Buddha – no wonder it attracts visitors with the pull of a magnet.
Price: No fee
Location: 574D Ong Ich Khiem Street, Da Nang. See on map
18. Art In Paradise 3D Museum
What if you are unlucky enough to catch a hot or rainy day? There’s no need to be upset! A refuge is never more interesting with the captivating 3D museum. You have 9 separate zones with exceptional art skills in entertaining and intricate pieces of work. It’s truly a paradise for art enthusiasts as well as a fun place to visit with your family.
Location: The opposite of 133 Tran Nhan Tong Street, Son Tra District, Da Nang. See on map
19. Lady Buddha
No matter where you look from, you can easily spot the marble statue standing at a height of 67 meters. Outside, it’s a statue of Bodhisattva of Mercy, made of one and only one piece of marble. Inside, it’s a structure with 17 floors, all with its own Avatar of Buddha. When you reach the highest floor, which is on the statue’s head, you can see the whole of the city from an ideal height, a glamorous and picturesque sight!
Location: Son Tra Peninsula. See on map
Now, you got to the end of my list of things to do in Da Nang. Have you had a preference already, or are you still overwhelmed with questions? You can always leave a comment or simply check on my other articles about traveling in Da Nang.
20. Visit Hoi An Ancient Town
If you traveled to Da Nang, Hoi An is a place you mustn’t miss out on!
On July 16, 2019, UNESCO officially recognized Hoi An Ancient Town as one of the world’s long-standing cultural heritages. This place used to be a busy international trading port for Vietnamese dynasties to trade with the world. The rows of buildings built with oriental style are still preserved to this day. You will be engrossed in the nostalgic feeling of the old days and free from the busy life as long as you are here.
Hoi An has no international airport so the road is the only way to get to Hoi An. The distance from Danang to Hoi An is about 150km, you can rent a private car to move from Danang to Hoi An. In addition, you can use the bus service to save money or explore the interesting route from Da Nang to Hoi An by motorbike.
From Da Nang to Hoi An, you can take multiple ways by various means of transport: bus, car, motorbike.
Price: No fee
Location: Quang Nam Province. See on map
