“I hated you at first. Then I started liking you a bit. Today I am in love with you more than ever”. These few words signify our relationship with Vietnam. Our journey in Vietnam spanning almost a month took us from Ho Chi Minh to Da Lat, Da Nang and Hoi An. When we reached Da Nang after a 15 hour bus ride from Da Lat, we were already at the point where we started to like Vietnam. Our initial impression of Da Nang was not very appealing as we felt too much commercialization has happened to this coastal city and that might still be a drawback to people who are into more authentic cultural travel. The tall luxury hotels just along the coast was sort of sore sight we felt. Gradually, whatever we did explore of Da Nang though, eventually we ended up liking this place more than we had expected as we experienced the beautiful aspects of what Da Nang had to offer. Here is a list of six best things to do in Da Nang.
Beaches of Da Nang
The coastline of Da Nang was a pleasant surprise to us as we did not expect the beaches here to be as beautiful as they were. Da Nang has a really beautiful coastline with white sandy beaches and lovely blue waters. My Khe beach located in the southern part of the coast is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Clean white sandy shores, warm waters and relatively calm seas make this beach a popular one among travelers. However towards the northern part the beach has a more natural rustic charm to it and it is mostly frequented by local fishermen. Numerous fishing boats parked along the beach and in the waters give this idyllic beach a much laid back vibe. We even got a glimpse of the fresh seafood being sold by the fishermen and women right off the returning fishing boats. The entire coastline of Da Nang is also perfect to witness some really amazing sunsets. With a 10 km stretch from the Son Tra peninsula in the north to the Marble Mountains in the south, this is among the longest coastlines in Asia and a truly beautiful one.
Son Tra Peninsula
We have heard stories about travelers having some epic road trips along the Hai Van pass just outside of Da Nang. Although we could not take that road trip this time but we did have a similar experience when we rode off to the Son Tra peninsula in the north. It is a beautiful region where the scenery changes from white sandy beaches to forest covered mountains. Riding on our motorbike on the mountain roads – which were in really good condition – we witnessed some spectacular views of several cliffs, lagoons and the vast ocean. It was a mini road trip of sorts with quite a few random stops at some amazing viewpoints along the hills. The place quite relatively void of tourists and we could stop anywhere along the roads to admire the scenic views. It is a perfect place to enjoy some moments of peace and of course to get some beautiful photos. The best part of that trip was the beautiful weather up in the hills that kept changing from misty to windy and occasionally sunny. To anybody traveling to Da Nang, we definitely recommend visiting this place for its natural charm and beauty and also what comes next.
Linh Ung Pagoda and Lady Buddha
Located within the mountains of Son Tra peninsula is the Linh Ung Pagoda which by far is one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples we’ve seen anywhere. This pagoda is the largest Buddhist temple in central Vietnam as is surrounded by the beautiful mountains and lush green forests. There are quite a few monuments to explore here as this pagoda was spread across quite a vast area. The beautiful architecture and intricate design of each of these places was something to be amazed by. Here too, there are quite a few viewpoints at different locations from where you can get a panoramic view of Da Nang. Within the pagoda compounds is another architectural marvel, the Lady Buddha, the tallest Buddha statue in Vietnam. This is a 220 feet high statue that is visible from anywhere in Da Nang and is indeed magnificent in stature. We did feel quite tiny standing in front of this monument. Inside the statue itself there are multiple levels going all the way to the top representing different forms of Buddha. The place was quite crowded with tourists and we had to really struggle to get some uninterrupted shots of the statue. Yet, it was quite a fantastic sight of the huge white statue with the beautiful lush green mountains around it. This place along with the entire pagoda is one of the most beautiful places we have been to in Vietnam.
Marble Mountains
The Marble Mountains located just outside of Da Nang was definitely one of the most unique places we’ve been to. This group of five mountain peaks named after the five elements – Water, Fire, Earth, Metal and Wood, is an important pilgrimage site for the Vietnamese people. The mountains are made up of limestone and actual marble. A lot of ancient artefacts and stone carvings can be found across different locations in these mountains. There are quite a few beautiful pagodas located in the mountains with gives the entire place a calm and spiritual aura. It was quite fun hiking the mountains through several caves and labyrinths. We did climb up through to one of the peaks and the views of the coast and city from up there were just spectacular. It would take a good 4-5 hours to explore the entire place and we recommend you hike the mountains on foot rather than taking the elevator up to the top. You would definitely explore and discover a lot more.
Dragon Bridge Light and Fire Show
Built across the Han River is the magnificent Dragon Bridge which connects Da Nang city to the coastal peninsula. This bridge is a quirky and unique one as it is designed to look exactly like a dragon. Driving or walking along this bridge might not be an extraordinary experience but there is a feeling of intrigue in doing that. The best part about this bridge however is the light show every evening when the entire dragon structure illuminates with different shades. On weekends, the show goes a step further with a fire show where actual flames breathe out of the “mouth” of the dragon structure. We might not be admirers of such structures but the light show does look quite beautiful from a distance. The fire show is definitely one of the most popular events among tourists and locals in Da Nang.
Day Trip To Hoi An
First things first, if you are traveling to Hoi An and are not short on time, we strongly recommend to stay there for at least three days. There is so much to explore and experience in this small charming town that you will need more than a day. However, a day trip to Hoi An is what a lot of travelers in Da Nang do mostly in group or package tours. If you are short on traveling days, you could drive off to Hoi An for a day and explore the beautiful ancient town which is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The lantern adorned old town and the several yellow coloured heritage houses is definitely the biggest highlight of Hoi An. The evenings however are just magical here when the entire town lights up with the glowing colouful lanterns. Just a 40-60 minute drive from Da Nang, Hoi An is among the most visited places in the world. This is one place you should not miss while you are in Da Nang.
There are quite a few activities to do and places to explore in and around Da Nang such as the Ba Na Hills, My Son sanctuary ruins, Cham islands and the Hai Van pass road trip. However, we ourselves could not experience these on our last trip hence we did not include these places here.
We spent some time there but we missed the huge statue of Guan Yin (which is sad because she followed us everywhere in asia!) We wrote about her in case you are interested
https://thishumantribe.com/experiences/guan-yin-statue/
Enjoy your post Tamshuk and appreciate you introduced me to a new part of Vietnam. Usually you hear from the same regions and cities, but have not heard of Da Nang yet. I can totally understand why this city made you fall in love more with Vietnam. The coastline and beach is beautiful and I can imagine a very long, relaxing stroll here. The Marbled Mountains would intrigue me, too as I’m always up for a pilgrimage and learning about spirituality in other cultures.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
I never made it to Vietnam back in the days when I was still based in Asia where everthing seems closer. I am regretting it now. I was told about the motorcycles and the heat, but I guess that’s all part of the whole experience. I am sure that I’d enjoy very much the food and the easy make-me-this-kind-of-shirt delivered the next day 😉
Jan – https://flyingbaguette.com/
I would love to visit Vietnam, I’m hoping to do that in 2024. These are some beautiful spots that I will make sure to see, and definitely will be spending a few days in Hoi An.
Vietnam is on my list and this post is really helpful. I will definitely make sure to spend more time in Hoi An than a day trip will allow. I was not aware of the Marble Mountains and have made a note to hike the peaks when I finally get there.
I would love to go back to Vietnam and spend more time in Da Nang, I was there only for transition from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An. I loved how you listed the beautiful places to check out in Da Nang itself. Marble Mountains have intrigued me much among others. However, Hoi An also must be done in more than a day, it is too pretty too.
I was hardly for a day in Da Nang (I spent two days in Hoi An) and that too, I spent the first half on the Ba Na Hills so didn’t quite have much time to explore Da Nang itself. I did visit My Khe beach but unfortunately the weather on that day was extremely cold and rainy so it was a bit pointless. I couldn’t get the chance to visit the Marble Mountains though.
I always like learning more about other non-Chinese Asian destinations. It reminds me of my culture with subtle differences. Nature wise, I liked the feel of Hai Van Pass – it seems like a road that was risen right up from the ocean. The Marble Mountains are a place I’d like to see too; the buildings are noticeably Chinese like and it sounds like a great hiking spot too. I have to admit, the more modern cities like Hoi An don’t interest me as much, but nonetheless these were still nice cities you traveled to.
Shame that I haven’t visited Da Nang before pandemic happened. Lots of beautiful places to explore in Da Nang. It is truly a very charming place, one of the jewels of Asia 🙂
I only spent two nights in Da Nang when traveling through Vietnam, and like you, I didn’t really like it at first. It is a modern city, without the historic charm of cities like Hue and Hoi An. But it does offer the chance to experience this other, modern side of Vietnamese culture. It is a popular city for expats rather than tourists as it is very liveable but doesn’t offer as many big tourist attractions. A nice place to hang out for a couple of days though, I think.