Things to Do in Da Nang: Beaches, Mountains and Day Trips

The best things to do in Da Nang mix a city beach with mountains on every side: My Khe beach and the Son Tra Peninsula, the Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills, the Dragon Bridge after dark and the Hai Van Pass. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog covers each, the best months, whether to stay in Da Nang or Hoi An, and arriving at the airport.

Da Nang's airport sits a few minutes from the city center and takes international flights, so this Da Nang travel guide starts where most visitors land. If you need a visa, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online and choose Da Nang as your entry point.

Da Nang at a glance:

Things to do in Da Nang by the sea

Da Nang's coast is the reason most people come: a long city beach, a forested peninsula and seafood restaurants along the sand. Spend your mornings by the water, when locals swim and exercise before the heat.

My Khe beach runs for kilometers south from the Son Tra Peninsula, with clean sand and lifeguard posts. Drive or ride around Son Tra for coves, a large Lady Buddha statue at Linh Ung Pagoda and, with luck, rare red-shanked douc langurs in the trees, as Vietnam's national tourism site notes. In the evening, eat grilled seafood at the beachfront restaurants.

Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills

The Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills are Da Nang's two inland trips: one a cluster of caves and pagodas, the other a hilltop resort reached by cable car.

The Marble Mountains are five limestone hills between Da Nang and Hoi An, with caves, shrines and viewpoints reached by stairs or an elevator. Allow two hours and wear good shoes. Ba Na Hills, about 45 minutes west of the city, is a theme park and French-style village at altitude, home to the Golden Bridge held up by giant stone hands. It is busy and commercial, but the cable car views are memorable. Go early on a clear day.

Da Nang nightlife and the Dragon Bridge

Da Nang nightlife centers on the Han River, where bridges light up after dark and riverside bars and rooftop terraces open late. The Dragon Bridge is the main show.

On weekend evenings, the dragon's head on the Dragon Bridge breathes fire and sprays water for a few minutes; check the current schedule locally, as times can change around holidays. Han Market and the night markets near the river are good for street food such as mi Quang, the turmeric noodle dish of the region.

Hai Van Pass

The Hai Van Pass is the mountain road between Da Nang and Hue, with sea views, an old fortress at the top and Lang Co beach on the north side. Drive it by car or join a motorbike tour on the way to Hue.

Most traffic uses the tunnel below, so the pass road is quiet. Start in the morning, when clouds are less likely to cover the top. Our Hue travel guide covers the city at the other end.

Best time to visit Da Nang

March to May and September to October are the best months to visit Da Nang, with warm, sunny days for the beach and the Hai Van Pass. June to August is hot but still good for swimming.

November to February brings long showers and rough seas, and storms can hit the central coast from late September. In those months, plan indoor sights and keep beach days flexible.

Da Nang or Hoi An as your base

Stay in Da Nang if you want a modern beach city with high-rise hotels and nightlife; stay in Hoi An if you want old streets, lanterns and village life. Many visitors split their nights between the two.

Our Hoi An travel guide covers the other side of the choice. Two practical points come next: the visa for landing at Da Nang, and the ride to your hotel.

Arriving in Da Nang

Da Nang airport is one of the easiest arrival points in Vietnam: it is close to the city and accepts both main types of tourist visa. Here is what to know.

Visa at Da Nang airport

Da Nang International Airport accepts both the Vietnam e-visa and a visa on arrival letter, as one of four airports where visa on arrival can be used. Evening queues can build when several flights land together, and airport fast track takes you through a priority lane.

From the airport to your hotel

The airport is only a short drive from the Han River and My Khe beach, so Grab and taxis are quick and cheap. For Hoi An, a pre-booked airport transfer at a fixed price per car saves negotiating late at night.

VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you would like your details checked before submission, start your application with us.