Da Nang

Da Nang in brief

Da Nang is a port city on the South China Sea, roughly halfway between Hanoi and Saigon. Give it three days. It has a wide city beach, a river lined with bridges, and day trips to Hoi An, the Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills. The city airport is a short drive from the beach and about 40 to 60 minutes from Hoi An.

Since 1 July 2025 the official city is much bigger than the one most guides describe. Quang Nam province was merged into it, which puts Hoi An and My Son inside Da Nang city on paper. In practice, “Da Nang” to a traveller still means the coastal city and its beaches.

Where to stay in Da Nang

Da Nang’s hotels fall into three areas, and choosing between them matters more than choosing a hotel.

My Khe and My An

The strip along My Khe beach is where most visitors stay. It is the most developed area, with restaurants, bars and shops close to the sand and about 15 to 20 minutes from the airport. It is the practical choice for a first visit and for families.

Son Tra peninsula

North of My Khe, the Son Tra side has a quieter feel, with fewer crowds and the forested hill behind. Resorts here suit people who want a beach hotel and don’t mind a taxi ride to dinner.

City centre, by the Han River

Near the Dragon Bridge and along Tran Phu street, the centre suits short business-style stays and people who want to be near the river, the Cham Museum and the night market. The beach is a short ride away.

If you are on a tight budget, Hoi An has more guesthouses and homestays at lower rates than the Da Nang beach strip.

Things to do in Da Nang

My Khe beach

A long, wide strip of sand that runs for miles, with lifeguards and loungers at the busy end. Sunrise swims are popular, and the water is rougher in the wet season. This is what visitors once called China Beach, the name American servicemen gave it during the war, when they used it for rest and recuperation.

Dragon Bridge and the Han River

The Dragon Bridge breathes fire and water on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at about 9 pm, and the crowd gathers on the banks from about 8.30. Walk across the other Han River bridges after dark, when they are lit.

Marble Mountains

Five limestone and marble hills rise from the flat coast, 10 to 15 minutes south of My Khe. They are honeycombed with caves that have housed Buddhist shrines for centuries. Climb to a viewpoint for the coast and the city, and look at the walls of the temples, where some still show bullet marks from the war, when the Viet Cong ran a hospital in the caves. Entry is 40,000₫ for an adult, with a lift that costs extra (2026 listings), and it is open daily from about 7 am to 5 pm.

Son Tra peninsula and Lady Buddha

A forested peninsula north of the city, with viewpoints and the 67 m Lady Buddha statue at Linh Ung pagoda. Ride a scooter slowly: the road is steep and the coastal bends are tight.

Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge

Sun World Ba Na Hills sits at about 1,400 m in the hills west of the city. A long cable car takes you up, and the main attraction is the Golden Bridge, a walkway held up by two giant stone hands. Expect to pay about 1,000,000₫ per adult (Sun Holidays, September 2026), plan most of a day, and arrive when it opens to beat the tour groups. The French-style village at the top is a theme park, so go for the views and the bridge.

Cham Museum

Da Nang’s museum of Cham sculpture, in a French-era villa with courtyards, holds the finest collection of art from the Cham kingdom that ruled this coast from roughly the 4th century. Go before My Son, 70 km inland, if you plan to see both.

A short history

The Cham ruled the coast for centuries, and French colonial forces seized Da Nang in 1858. The French regarded it as one of Indochina’s five main cities. In the war that followed decades later, Da Nang air base was among the busiest in the world, and the beaches nearby became a rest-and-recreation stop for American troops.

Best time to go

February to May is dry, calm and the safest bet. June to August is hot and good for swimming. The wet season runs from roughly September to December, and rain can linger into January. The central coast was hit by severe storms and floods in late October and early November 2025, so in the wet months travel with flexible bookings and watch the weather forecast.

Getting to Da Nang and moving on

Da Nang International Airport is the third-largest in Vietnam and sits inside the city, with direct flights from Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Bangkok and other Asian cities. The railway station is on the main north-south line, and buses run to Hue and Hoi An.

• Hoi An is 40 to 60 minutes south by road. A taxi, hotel car or bus all work.
• Hue is about 2 to 3 hours north by road or train, passing over or under the Hai Van Pass.
• Hanoi is a flight of about an hour and a quarter, or roughly 15 to 17 hours by train.
• Saigon is about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes by air. If you’re flying on to Saigon, allow time for the airport at the other end.

For the rest of the country see the Vietnam destinations index.