Da Nang
Discover Da Nang
Da Nang (Đà Nẵng) is Vietnam's fifth largest city. It's in Central Vietnam on the South China Sea coast, midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The city has neither the ambiance of Hanoi nor the hustle-bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, but has its share of sights. It is also close to the charms of Hoi An, the Cham ruins of My Son and the imperial capital of Hue, making it a popular vacation spot for those looking to explore the attractions of central Vietnam or soak up some sun while hanging out on the city's beaches.
What to Experience in Da Nang
Famous Beaches
Taste of Da Nang...
Although not a culinary capital like the ancient imperial capital Hue, Da Nang still has more than enough variety to keep you well fed throughout your stay. Seafood (hải sản) is popular, so you shouldn't be surprised to see plenty of fish (cá), shrimp (tôm), squid (mực), clams (nghêu), snails (ốc), the list goes on. There are many vegetarian restaurants which are listed as "Quán chay" ("vegetarian") or less frequently "Quán ăn chay" ("vegetarian restaurant"), and most are vegan. The vegetarian restaurants have a wide selection of dishes and are generally cleaner than places that are not vegetarian. Then there are regional specialities like mì Quảng, or Quang Nam-style noodles, featuring chicken, shrimp, quail eggs, peanuts and rice crackers in a turmeric-spiced broth; bún chả cá, or rice vermicelli with fish sausage; and bún mắm, or rice vermicelli served with a strong fish sauce that's not for the weak of palate. Central Vietnamese love their food to be spicy, so be warned that the chili peppers (ớt) can be strong even if small. The night markets (see Buy) are also a great place to feast on local food cheaply. Da Nang's favorite splurge is live seafood (hải sản) restaurants, dozens of which can be found around the My Khe seafront.
Climate
The hottest months of the year are Jun-Aug, when the temperature can go as high as 40 °C, and it is very humid. There are usually tropical storms from Oct-Nov. Many taxis are available outside of the station, but it's best to avoid the motorbike taxis as many times they are the same price or more than regular taxi. Da Nang is in the middle of the country, roughly speaking equidistant from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It's possible to rent a car and drive yourself, but as Vietnamese traffic in general is chaotic and dangerous, foreign visitors and locals usually rent a car with a driver. For public buses to and from Hoi An see Hoi An#By bus. Sleeper and regular buses (depending on the distance) depart from all major destinations in the country to Da Nang, including Quang Binh, Phong Nha, Pleiku, Phan Thiet, and Vung Tau. Booking is possible at the Da Nang Intercity Bus Station, with travel agencies and at your accommodation.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMany taxis are available outside of the station, but it's best to avoid the motorbike taxis as many times they are the same price or more than regular taxi. Da Nang is in the middle of the country, roughly speaking equidistant from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It's possible to rent a car and drive yourself, but as Vietnamese traffic in general is chaotic and dangerous, foreign visitors and locals usually rent a car with a driver. For public buses to and from Hoi An see Hoi An#By bus. Sleeper and regular buses (depending on the distance) depart from all major destinations in the country to Da Nang, including Quang Binh, Phong Nha, Pleiku, Phan Thiet, and Vung Tau. Booking is possible at the Da Nang Intercity Bus Station, with travel agencies and at your accommodation. From Hue the trip takes 3 hr with one refreshment stop on the way. But the bus uses the tunnel, so does not go over the spectacular pass between Da Nang and Hue....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The average cabbie speaks no English, so Grab is very useful for getting to your destination, it can even translate chat messages both ways. Rates are generally competitive with taxis, although the quality of cars or motorbikes can be a bit of a gamble. It may be worth paying the extra 10% to get a classier "Plus" vehicle. Motorbike taxis (xe ôm, literally hug-vehicle) are plentiful (get used to hearing "you want moto?" everywhere), cheap, and are generally quite safe. All riders are now required to wear helmets, a rule that is strongly enforced. Make sure the driver supplies you with a helmet. If he doesn't, find another one, as you'll be the one stung for the fine. Short hops around town shouldn't be more than 20,000 dong, if you go between districts this increases and all the way to the airport around 70,000 dong. Drivers are generally quite friendly and will go slower upon request. They are also not adverse to a bear hug if you are really struggling to hold on to the motorbike.
Where to Stay
Long gone are the days when backpacker lodges nestled by the palm trees at My Khe beach. Today virtually the entire 40 kilometer stretch down to Hoi An is covered in hotels, hotels and construction sites for yet more hotels, and this is where the vast majority of visitors to the city will end up. As a rule of thumb, hotels at the north end closer to the city are high-rise, set back from the ocean and often cramped, but offer easy access to the city and tons of eating options. The further south you go, the more spacious and resort-like they become, but getting anywhere at all will require a lengthy cab ride. Prices run the gamut, with Western brands charging a heavy premium for predictable dependability, while local hotels often cater more to local tour groups. There are many small hotels along the east side of the river (Tran Hung Dao St), which may be as cheap as 90,000 dong for a double room and have Wi-Fi, hot water, air-con, tv and fridge.
Money & Budget
Shops often operate from the ground floor of their homes, selling any number of things: coffee, bánh mì sandwiches, dry goods, clothing, SIM cards and more. Walk a little farther and you'll eventually come across a neighbourhood market where people sell fresh foods like fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, and fish. You can do a lot of shopping but be aware that, as a foreigner, you're likely to be overcharged unless you haggle. There are an increasing number of supermarkets appearing where prices are fixed. Night markets (chợ đêm) are a particularly popular choice for shopping and eating after the heat of the day has died down. Although not a culinary capital like the ancient imperial capital Hue, Da Nang still has more than enough variety to keep you well fed throughout your stay.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
In general, you'll find that Da Nang is a safer and far more laid back city compared to hectic Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. As the number of tourists rises, of course, things begin to change. That doesn't mean you'll have to walk down the street clutching your bag like you would in bigger cities. Still, it pays to observe some rules of thumb to avoid unnecessary hassles: Like other cities in Vietnam, crossing the road can be a challenge, since roads are wide and the traffic never stops. Walk at a predictable pace so motorbikes can swerve around you and try to cross together with locals until you get the hang of it. One thing to beware of is the standard taxi scam: When going on a long trip to Ba Na Hills, Hue, or elsewhere, an unscrupulous taxi driver may stop and agree to a very low price for a return journey. Once you reach your destination, he triples or quadruples the price, knowing you have no other options.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Da Nang
people walking on bridge during daytime
photo of high rise buildings
Merlion, Singapore
an aerial view of a beach and a city
people riding on boat on river during daytime
Night view of the dragon bridge
A bridge that has a bunch of rocks on it
Sun World Ba Na Hills is like stepping out of a fairy tale at sunset.
Linh Phong Zen Temple (also known as North Pagoda), a typical temple for pagoda architecture in the North, is built entirely of ironwood. Located in the southeast, Linh Phong Zen Temple consists of the Forecourt, harem and garden. The temple grounds are decorated with statues of Buddhas and 18 Arhats
bird's eye view of beach line
people walking on bridge during daytime
photo of high rise buildings
Merlion, Singapore