Da Nang Travel Experience | News | Tips

Da Nang is halfway between the capital Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh city in the south. It is the fourth largest city in Vietnam. Apart from some historical sites, the famous Hai Van Pass, the Son Tra peninsula and the beaches are the main reason for staying here. Everything you need to know in this Da Nang travel blog, including what to do and see, top hotels and restaurants, itineraries and more!

How to get to Vietnam’s Golden Bridge

Vietnam Golden Bridge is one of a must in any Vietnam Holiday Packages.It says a lot about the newly built Golden Bridge in Da Nang, that international tourists are travelling from far and wide to witness this perfect blend of ground-breaking architecture and resplendent nature. What was designed to be a small part of the Sun World Ba Na Hills Theme Park, just outside of Da Nang, has exploded in popularity, inspired by viral videos of the gorgeous bridge and the ultimate Instagram-friendly pictures that it creates. As soon as they arrive, visitors to Vietnam are asking how to get to the Golden Bridge, and put it high up on their list of priorities in the country.The Golden Bridge is a 150-metre curved walkway hovering over the top of the descending mountains in the Ba Na Hills. The bridge is coated in gold and has two large, faux-stone hands that seemingly support it from underneath, pulling it out of the adjacent hills and cradling it before a magnificent, cloud-flecked view. Da Nang’s Golden Bridge may not be the most cultural or spiritual things to do in Vietnam, but it has quickly become of the coolest. This guide will help you get from many of Vietnam’s major hubs to the Golden Bridge in a variety of ways.How to get to the Golden Bridge from Da NangDa Nang is one of the best destination when you join in any Vietnam Tours besides the most popular destination of Vietnam - Halong Bay for taking a Halong Bay Cruises.The first hurdle, once in Da Nang, is to get to the Ba Na Hills that lie just outside it. You can expect about a 1-hour journey to get to the Golden Bridge from Da Nang city centre, requiring a drive, a cable car and a walk. Here’s a little step-by-step guide on how to get from Da Nang to the Golden Bridge.Step 1 – Get to the Ba Na FoothillsOnce you’re ready to head out, there are a number of options for getting to the bottom of the Ba Na Hills from Da Nang. There are several cable car stations that service the enormous area of the Ba Na Hills; the one you need to aim for is the Hoi An Station, which takes you directly to the Golden Bridge. The following options all cover the 25km between Da Nang and the Ba Na Hills, and should get you there in under an hour.Option 1 – TaxiAll of the taxis in Da Nang are now legally set at the same price per kilometre (though actual application of this is not total). Taxis are the most convenient option as this is a personalised service and can go at any time, but the price increase reflects that. By comparison, motorbike taxis remain unregulated, meaning that some bargaining must happen and quite a bit of trust must be placed before jumping on the back.Of the most reliable companies, Mai Linh, Dichungtaxi and Vinasun Taxi are among the best. You will see many of these on the streets of Da Nang, so either flag one down or request your hotel reception to arrange one on your behalf. Getting from Da Nang to the Golden Bridge is much more of a breeze this way, with a slightly quicker travel time but a heavily increased price. Expect to pay 300,000 – 350,000 VND ($13 - $15 USD) each way from the city centre in a normal 4-seater taxi, or around 400,000 – 450,000 VND ($17.25 – $19.50 USD) for a 6-seater SUV. Taxis will wait for you at the bottom of the hill and return you to your hotel afterwards if you can negotiate a higher price for them to do so. Minibuses can be booked for bigger groups, but bookings must be made prior to the date of travel and costs can vary more.Option 2 – Private Car or Self-DriveFor the most freedom on your way from Da Nang to the Golden Bridge, you can contact one of Da Nang’s many car rental companies and arrive at the Ba Na foothills in style. Alternatively, if you feel like travelling the Vietnamese way, you can rent a motorbike within the city and take the scenic drive yourself. Motorbike rental companies like Da Nang Bikes and Hidden Land Travel abound in Da Nang because of the popularity of taking a hog along the Hai Van Pass, so options are plentiful and great deals can certainly be found.Option 3 – Join a tourThe comfort and convenience of an organised daytrip to the Ba Na Hills from Da Nang makes this option a great one for families. These sorts of tours cover everything involved in the return trip to the Golden Bridge from Da Nang, including transport from your hotel to the Ba Na Hills, entrance fee, lunch and a guided tour of some of the Ba Na Hills’ most sought-after attractions, before the return to your hotel in the afternoon.  The tour will cost about ($60 to $75) with added extras around Da Nang varying between different tour options. Step 2 – Board the Cable Car Once arrived at the bottom of the Ba Na Hills, proceed through the entrance to purchase a ticket for the park. Tickets are 750,000 VND ($33 USD) for an adult and 600,000 VND ($26.50 USD) for a child between 1m and 1.3m in height. Children taller than these specifications are charged the same as adults and children shorter cost nothing to enter. Walk through to the Hoi An Station, where the longest cable car in the world awaits.Queue for the pod and step in when it arrives. The cable car ride from Da Nang to the Golden Bridge is about 17 minutes and arrives at the ‘Marseilles Station’. Along the way, its passes above gorgeous verdant scenery and provides excellent views down below to Da Nang’s My Khe Beach and the urban expanse of the city. Also along the way, it shatters many of the previously held Guinness World Records for cable cars, such as the greatest elevation change from floor to top and the greatest distance between two cable pylons.Step 3 – Head out onto the Bridge From the circlular arrival room of the Marseilles Station, you can exit directly onto the Golden Bridge and begin your walk along its 150 metres of wooden walkways, flanked by lavender and coated from the bottom and the handrails in a royal gold. After getting your pictures of the fabulous bridge, its magnificent hands and the uncompromised view of Da Nang with its beach and mountains from high above, you can take in the rest of the Ba Na Hills at your leisure. There are a multitude of activities for you to enjoy before you take a cable car back from any of the stations to the entrance of the park, and onwards to Da Nang via your return transport.How to get to the Golden Bridge from Hoi AnDa Nang and its southern neighbour of Hoi An are very well connected and a drive between the two only takes about half an hour. This means that getting from Hoi An to the Golden Bridge is only a slightly longer journey than going from Da Nang. The drive will take about 70 minutes if going by car and slightly longer by motorbike. From the bottom of the Ba Na Hills, take the cable car up to reach the Golden Bridge. Here are some of the options if coming from Hoi An:Option 1 – Shuttle BusFewer shuttle buses operate this route, but you will still be able to find a great deal at the travel agents around Hoi An. The increased distances mean that the shuttle bus will not only follow a different schedule, but will cost a little more. Expect around 200,000 to 250,000 VND ($8.50 to $10.90 USD) per person for a return trip from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills.Option 2 – TaxiThe same reliable travel companies of Mai Linh, Dichungtaxi and Vinasun Taxi all operate from Hoi An as well as Da Nang. Prices are a little more expensive to reflect the extra mileage required in getting from the Ancient Town to the Ba Na Hills. Expect prices of about 575,000 to 725,000 VND ($22.80 to $31.50 USD) for a regular 4-seater that you can book through your hotel or by waving one down outside the pedestrianised Ancient Town.Option 3 – Private Car or Self-DriveAs in Da Nang, many car rental companies in Hoi An sell the services of their experienced drivers. Of these, Travelocity is one of the more trusted ones, while thrill-seekers looking to incorporate the beautiful coastal road connecting Hoi An and Da Nang can do so on a self-driven motorbike. Option 4 – Join a TourFor an all-inclusive and stress-free day trip from Hoi An to the Ba Na Hills, the premier option would be a guided tour. These are one-day tours that cover all transportation, entrance fees and meals, with a English language tour of all of the theme park’s attractions, including the Golden Bridge. From Hoi An, you can join our Vietnam Golden Bridge One Day Group Tour with the best-offered price.How to get to the Golden Bridge from HueThough they were segregated for thousands of years by the Truong Son mountains between them, modern engineering has now meant that crossing between Hue and Da Nang is an immensely popular thing to do and one of the top unmissable Vietnam experiences. This is entirely because of the beauty of the Hai Van Pass, a 21km road snaking through the mountains that livens up immensely any trip from Hue to the Golden Bridge in Da Nang.Option 1: Self-DriveMany Vietnam group tours feature the stunning drive of the Hai Van Pass in their itineraries, but taking the road under your own power is another experience altogether. This is one of the best ways to get to the Golden Bridge, as at least half an hour of the drive will be over the Hai Van Pass. Even before this, the road from Hue is flanked by many moments of beauty, created by lagoon-side roads and views of Bach Ma National Park and the Truong Son mountains.Given the beauty of the Hai Van Pass and the destinations that it leads to. On the way, a stop-off at the Golden Bridge is actively encouraged and helps to justify the 625,000 VND ($27.10 USD) price tag. Of course, there are various other sites between Hue and Hoi An, such as Bach Ma National Park, Tra Son Peninsula and the Marble Mountains, to make the trip worthwhile.Option 2: Private CarA professional and personal driver is another way to see both the beauty of the Hai Van Pass and the Golden Bridge. Car Rental companies provide the service for around 1,350,000 VND ($58.60 USD), meaning that you can sit back and enjoy the plethora of soaring mountains, hidden beaches, gushing waterfalls and the never-ending ocean on the way from Hue to the Golden Bridge.Option 3: TrainAt just 3.5 hours, a train trip between Hue and Da Nang is a perfectly viable option to visit Vietnam’s Golden Bridge. The Reunification Express runs five services daily for about $17 and all of which will cut across the beautiful Hai Van Pass, still affording you those fantastic views of Mother Nature at her best.How to get to the Golden Bridge from HanoiAlmost 800km separate Hanoi from Da Nang, meaning that anything other than a flight would be a fairly arduous journey. Flights between the two cities occur very frequently, which means that getting from Hanoi to the Golden Bridge can certainly be easier than Vietnam’s geography would suggest.Option 1: FlightEasily the most convenient and cheapest option to visit the Golden Bridge from Hanoi, flying via any of the budget airlines can see you land in Da Nang just one hour after leaving the capital. Jetstar and VietJet provide many daily services from Hanoi for as little as 700,000 VND ($30 USD), while flights on Vietnam Airlines can set you back about 1,380,000 VND (60 USD). Of course, prices vary a lot with flights so check them regularly, but they usually remain surprisingly low, meaning that you are never far from Vietnam’s Golden Bridge, anywhere in the country. A taxi from Da Nang airport will complete the journey in about half an hour.Option 2: Sleeper TrainThe Reunification Express service connects the entire country with a reasonably reliable network of trains. With a much longer travel time of around 16 hours, and a higher cost of about $62 for a soft bed in a 4-bed cabin, there aren’t many reasons to choose the train from Hanoi to the Golden Bridge over a flight, but some people enjoy the experience, not matter how long or pricey.How to get to the Golden Bridge from Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City is further away from Vietnam’s Golden Bridge than Hanoi, but the two are still well-connected, such is the impressive state of Vietnam’s cross-country transportation system. True thrill-seekers can take a bike up from Ho Chi Minh City to the Golden Bridge, but with an itinerary plan of a couple of weeks, you would be forgiven for wanting to get there with a bit less of the effort, time and money requirements.Option 1: FlightAgain, a no-brainer when it comes to going to the Golden Bridge from Ho Chi Minh City is via plane. Costs are not much different than from Hanoi despite the extra 800km of flying, and prices can easily be found for as cheap as 1000,000 VND ($45 USD) to Da Nang for budget airlines and about double for Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier. The journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to Da Nang airport, from where a 30-minute taxi ride will take you straight to the base of the Ba Na Hills.Option 2: Sleeper TrainThe Reunification Express from the capital of the south takes about 17.5 hours and covers about 950km to Da Nang Railway Station. From here, the 25km journey via taxi to the bottom of the Ba Na Hills will take the overall cost to about 1,850,000 VND ($80 USD).When you are in Vietnam you may wish to join in more tours. Check it out at Vietnam Group Tours.

Things to do in Da Nang

Attracting much reverence throughout the country and internationally, Da Nang city was once a bit of a backwater in the grand scheme of Vietnam. Up until a change in policy by Emperor Minh Mang in 1835, Da Nang had very little to boast, and after the French occupied the city, it had even less. Much of Da Nang was developed by the French over the course of their six decades in charge, and the city changed once more during the American War, when it became an important base for American and South Vietnamese troops. After being quite considerably through the mill, Da Nang emerged as Vietnam’s third-largest city, and now features one of the strongest marriages of nature, architecture and religion in the country. Da Nang Sightseeing Amongst many of the best things to do in Da Nang, there runs a theme of jaw-dropping nature, viewable from many of its internationally renowned sites such as the Marble Mountains, Son Tra, the Hai Van Pass and My Khe Beach. The city’s iconic Dragon Bridge has emerged not only as a symbol of the city, but one of the country as a whole, heralding a modern look to a city with ancient roots and a troublesome recent past. Many Vietnam tours rightly feature Da Nang in their itinerary, despite it being sandwiched between the two bigger attractions of Hue and Hoi An. With a view to ensuring Da Nang is not overlooked, we present our guide on the top things to do in Da Nang. Best Things to do in Da Nang Marble Mountains The Marble Mountains almost look like they have been dropped from above rather than risen from below, such is their unusual appearance amongst the flat land between Da Nang and Hoi An. The five outcrops are spread out from each other, but are connected by an elemental theme, as each one is named for an ancient force intrinsic to Buddhism: metal, water, wood, fire and earth. Once a great source of natural marble for the villages that hug their foothills, chipping away at the holy mountains is now forbidden as they are now an important religious and touristic site. The Marble MountainsThuy Son (The Water Mountain) is the most prominent mountain, with many religious buildings and viewpoints around its craggy surface making it one of the top things to do in Da Nang. The Water Mountain is an overland time capsule, with many pagodas dating back to around 400 years ago, and many more being built throughout the intervening years. The series of steps and paths that winds around the mountain also dips inside at points, into caves like Huyen Khong, a stunning cavern where natural light filters from above, illuminating the Trang Nghiem Tu Temple and the streaked marble walls that rise up around it.Thuy Son (the Water Mountain)Just outside, you will find the Tam Thai Pagoda; for photographers, probably one of the best things to see in Da Nang. The appeal of the instagram-friendly façade is created through colourful lanterns, extravagant roofing, a green sea of potted plants and the wisps of incense that snake up from the front of its white walls. Continue climbing for a great panoramic view of the area, including the other four mountains and the otherwise flat plateau between Da Nang and Hoi An.Tam Thai PagodaWalking around Son Tra Peninsula Because one (or five) mountains is never enough, Da Nang features another huge one just at the northern tip of its city, stretching out ambitiously into the ocean. This bloomed outcrop sits atop a thin stem of land connecting it to the city, and bursts into life on the weekends as the locals come to enjoy one of Danang’s top attractions. If life feels relaxed and simple in the city, try experiencing a daytrip from Da Nang to the Son Tra Peninsula, where stunning views from the ocean road and a gorgeous sunset will provide you with one of Vietnam’s unmissable experiences. The 639m-tall mountain won’t win any awards for height, but its wide base gives it an imposing figure and the perfect conditions for construction. This is why on any Vietnam group tour that visits Son Tra, you will find winding ocean roads and the Linh Ung Pagoda, a beautiful and modern temple dedicated to the Lady Buddha as the 67m-tall statue of her looks out to sea. The views atop the temple complex are magical, as you can see Da Nang’s ocean, curved coastline, urban sprawl and mountainous background all in one scene.  The forested face of Son Tra gives it an attractive and distinctly Vietnamese look. You can follow the snaking mountain roads between the trees via car or motorbike, looking out for the many monkeys who live here, along with deer, who are much rarer. Giant white standing lady Buddha statue in Linh Ung PagodaGet Educational with Cham Sculptures ‘Cham sculptures’ may be a term unfamiliar with most, but during the 9th century in particular, the region encompassing Da Nang, Hoi An and many areas north and south of what is now Central Vietnam was full of examples of grand Cham monuments. The Cham people were the subjects of the Cham Kingdom, an impressive civilisation between the 2nd and 15th centuries, eventually brought to an end from constant warring with the Vietnamese and Khmer. The Cham fled throughout Southeast Asia and experts nowadays have gone to great efforts to preserve their most impressive feats. One of the great preservers of Cham culture is the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang, where visitors can find the biggest collection of Cham sculptures in the world, devoted mainly to Hinduism but also featuring sculptures of the Buddhist and Islamic religions to which some of the Cham people converted. This central Da Nang attraction was built in 1915, therefore marrying ancient Cham artistry with colonial French architecture, as France was in full control of the city at the time. The museum’s expansion in 1936 has allowed the additions of some large, ornate and fantastically well-preserved sculptures, and now an entrance fee of just 40,000 VND ($1.90) can grant you access into one of the most interesting things to do in Da Nang. The Museum of Cham SculptureThe crowning achievement of the Cham civilisation lies nearby, just west of Hoi An. My Son Sanctuary is often referred to as ‘Vietnam’s Angkor Wat’ for its weather-and-war-eroded temples, which sit amongst a jungle environment that creates a beautifully eerie atmosphere around the complex. Day trips from Da Nang to My Son Sanctuary are certainly possible, though they are much more common from Hoi An.My Son Sanctuary - UNESCO World Heritage CentreRelax on My Khe Beach For a beach so close to a city to be in pristine condition is a highly commendable feat, particularly when this beach is located in a country not particularly known for its environmental concerns. My Khe Beach is often graced with two vast blue seas; one being the concave bay leading out to the East Vietnam Sea, and one being the deep blue sky that lies above. Running the entire length of Da Nang, My Khe offers relaxation through its white sands dotted with swaying palm trees, with a view of Da Nang’s impressive architecture on one side and the sights of beautiful nature across the bay and up to the Son Tra Mountain.  One of the best experiences in Da Nang starts from My Khe, and it starts very early in the morning. The entirety of the beach faces east, meaning sunrises are completely uninhibited and can be viewed from anywhere along the length of My Khe. Join the morning exercises here with the locals, or wait until later in the day to relax on the sands, swim, or join students for a game of da cau - foot badminton. My Khe BeachTour the Four Bridges over the Han River All credit to the Vietnamese, who could have constructed a few drab bridges over the Han River to connect the two halves of the city, but instead decided to create four architectural masterpieces that gave the city many landmarks and helped to put it on the map of Vietnam. Of the four, the indisputable king is Cau Rong, the Dragon Bridge, featuring on virtually every postcard sent from Da Nang. The long, rippling body of the golden dragon that runs up the middle of the bridge is an awe-inspiring sight, even more so when the dragon lights up and breathes fire and water every weekend evening. You can’t cross the bridge while the dragon is spouting its fury (surprising, considering Vietnam’s less-than-whole commitment to health and safety), but taking a trip along its length during the day is certainly one of the best things to do in Da Nang. It affords fantastic views of both sides of the Han River, as well as the other bridges that are certainly worth a look as well. Cau Song Han (the Han River Bridge), Cau Tran Thi Ly and Cau Thuan Phuoc are the other bridges spanning the wide-river, and taking a motorbike across their lengths is one of the essential Vietnam experiences. The Dragon BridgeCruise the Hai Van Pass The four hours in between Da Nang and the imperial city of Hue can either be extremely boring or extremely beautiful, depending on which route you take. While public buses plough through the efficient, but lacklustre Hai Van Tunnel, passengers on Vietnam tour packages and independent travellers opt for the longer, but much more thrilling Hai Van Pass, regularly voted amongst the best mountain roads in the world.  This 21km road winds along the northern reaches of Da Nang, around its forested mountain and sets visitors on their way towards Hue, with a perennial gorgeous backdrop of soaring mountains and the carpet of blue across the ocean. Along the way, drivers can make stops at viewpoints, waterfalls and beaches, following in the footpaths of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, who televised their crossing of the Hai Van Pass in 2008 for the BBC’s Top Gear. Hai Van PassRevisit Indochina at the Ba Na Hills Resort Amidst the forested surrounds of Central Vietnam lies the Ba Na Hills, one of the most unique things to see in Da Nang. Travelling to Europe is just a pipedream for many Vietnamese, so the Vietnamese megacorporation, Sun World, decided to bring that dream closer by completely renovating a French resort that had served French tourists from the 1920s. The small town that eventually sprung up became known as the Ba Na Hills Resort, nowadays featuring a record-breaking cable car, funicular railway, 500 hotel rooms, an amusement park, wax museum, French gardens, and a gigantic statue of Buddha, to remind visitors that they are still indeed in Vietnam. The Ba Na Hills Resort has found much appeal with locals and tourists alike, all of whom are eager to experience French food, culture and music on the top of a Vietnamese mountain. This wholesome Da Nang attraction is perfect for families, as kids will enjoy Fantasy Park and all of its thrilling rides, while adults can explore a replica French town and sit down to a cup of French-press coffee. The Golden Bridge - An artificial masterpiece in the midst of Da Nang nature