Photo by: Trung Quang
Da Nang is an increasingly popular tourist destination and was voted Travelers’ Choice Destination on the Rise (2015) by TripAdvisor users. The Han River divides the city into an east and west side and is crossed by a series of bridges, including the fire breathing Dragon Bridge.
The city center is on the west side of the river, where you can take a walk along Bach Dang Street, a great place to have a relaxing coffee break after visiting Da Nang’s museums and temples or shopping for souvenirs at the Han Market. Tall buildings, some with rooftop bars, line the Han River and provide spectacular nighttime views of the neon-lit city.
At night check out Bach Dang Street’s lively bars or head to the beach district on the east side for a quieter atmosphere. Live music can be found every night throughout the city.
On the east side of Da Nang a spectacular white sand beach stretches from Son Tra Peninsula to Hoi An. The beach is a popular spot for surfing, parasailing, jetskiing, banana boating, and playing beach volleyball. It is often quiet during the day as locals prefer to swim and play football in the late afternoon. On a clear day the Cham Islands are visible to the southeast, they are a cool spot for scuba diving, snorkelling, and overnight stays. Another island closer to Da Nang and also great for snorkeling, watersports, and fishing is Ngoc Island at north side of Son Tra Peninsula. Looking northeast, the bright white Lady Buddha overlooks the bay from the bottom of Son Tra Peninsula, which is home to several families of rare Red Shanked Douc monkeys.
Da Nang is home to several craft villages that are easily accessible from the city. They produce a variety of goods such a mats, marble sculptures, sesame cakes, and rice paper.
Da Nang makes a great base for day trips such as the winding Hai Van Pass with serene views of idyllic beaches just 32 km to the north and Marble Mountain just 5 km to the south, where you can visit Non Nuoc marble sculpture village, go rock climbing, and see multiple Buddhist shrines and temples.
Be sure to read the rest of the Vietnam Pocket Guide Da Nang to discover more about what to do and see in Da Nang.
