Da Nang: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Da Nang, on a deep bay of central Vietnam, was the port where the French landed in 1858 to begin their conquest, and where the first American combat troops came ashore in March 1965. Today it is the fastest-growing city of the coast, with bridges lit in colour every night. Two hours, ending after dark.

A short history of Da Nang

Da Nang Bay was already an important natural harbour in the days of the Champa kingdom. In 1858 French and Spanish ships attacked it, and this attack began the French conquest of Vietnam. The French called the city Tourane, and in 1915 a museum of Cham sculpture opened there. On 8 March 1965 US Marines landed on its beaches, the first American combat troops of the Vietnam War, and the city became a huge American base. In 1975 it was taken by the North Vietnamese army. Since the 2000s it has grown into one of the largest cities in Vietnam.

The ten best sights in Da Nang

1
Dragon Bridge
It breathes fire at nine on weekend nights
2
Han River Bridge
The swing bridge of the city centre
3
Carp into Dragon
A statue on the riverbank, lit at night
4
Museum of Cham Sculpture
The finest Cham sculpture in the world
5
Pink Cathedral
The rooster church of 1923
6
Da Nang Museum
The city’s history and the war
7
My Khe Beach
The long city beach; China Beach of the war
8
Non Nuoc Beach
Quieter sand below the Marble Mountains
9
Marble Mountains
Cave temples inside a limestone hill
10
Lady Buddha
A white statue sixty-seven metres high over the bay

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Da Nang →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Da Nang:

Free walking tours in Da Nang

The city on the Han

Museum of Cham Sculpture · Founded by French scholars in 1915, it holds the finest collection in the world of sculpture from the Cham kingdom, which ruled this coast for over a thousand years — dancing Shivas, Ganeshas and the lions and dragons of temple walls.
Pink Cathedral · A pink Gothic church built by the French in 1923. A weathervane in the shape of a rooster on its spire gave it its local name, the rooster church.
Han Market · The covered central market by the river, of dried fish, coffee, fruit and fabrics, with tailors on the upper floor who will make clothes in a day or two.
Han River Bridge · Opened in 2000, the first bridge built in Vietnam that swings open, built with money raised by the city’s own people. Its centre turns on a pivot to let tall ships pass along the river.
Carp into Dragon · A statue on the east bank of a carp turning into a dragon, from the legend of the carp that leapt the falls and was transformed — a symbol of effort rewarded, and a favourite photo spot facing the Dragon Bridge.
Dragon Bridge · Opened in 2013, a bridge whose steel arch is a golden dragon about six hundred and sixty metres long. On Saturday and Sunday nights at nine its head breathes fire and then sprays water over the crowds.

Marble Mountains and Son Tra

South of the city, five limestone hills hide cave temples; north, the jungle-covered Son Tra peninsula rises over the bay with a giant white Buddha. Half a day by taxi or scooter.

Marble Mountains · Five hills of marble and limestone named for the five elements — water, wood, fire, metal and earth. Steps climb Thuy Son, the water mountain, to pagodas and caves where light falls through holes in the roof onto Buddhas; in the war one cave held a hidden Viet Cong field hospital.
Non Nuoc Beach · The quieter end of the long beach below the Marble Mountains, near the village of stone carvers who have worked the marble for centuries — now mostly stone brought from elsewhere, since quarrying the hills was banned.
My Khe Beach · Kilometres of sand along the city. In the war American soldiers came here on leave and called it China Beach, the name of a television series set here. Locals swim at dawn before work.
Lady Buddha · At the Linh Ung pagoda on the Son Tra peninsula stands a white statue of Quan Am, the goddess of mercy, about sixty-seven metres high, facing the sea to protect the fishermen.
Son Tra Peninsula · A jungle-covered mountain beside the city, home to the red-shanked douc, a rare monkey with a painted face and red legs, called the queen of primates. A winding road climbs to viewpoints over the bay.
Con Market · Back in town, the market where the locals shop, whose food stalls serve mi quang, the turmeric noodles of the region, with shrimp, pork and rice crackers.

Ba Na Hills and the Hai Van Pass

West of Da Nang a cable car climbs to a French hill station and a bridge held by giant hands; north, the coast road climbs over the mountains to the old imperial capital. A full day.

Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills · The French built a cool hill station here in 1919 to escape the heat of the coast. Today a long cable car rises to a theme park, and the Golden Bridge, opened in 2018, a gold walkway held up by two giant moss-covered stone hands, became one of the most photographed sights in Asia.
Da Nang Station · The railway north to Hue runs along the cliffs of the Hai Van pass, above the sea — one of the most beautiful train rides in Vietnam, and an alternative to the road.
Hai Van Pass · The pass of the ocean clouds, a mountain spur that once divided the kingdoms of Champa and Dai Viet and still divides the climate of north and south. At the top stand old French and American bunkers; motorbike riders cross it on the way to Hue.
Museum of Cham Sculpture · If there is time, a second look at the Cham sculptures, best after visiting the temples of My Son near Hoi An, where many of them stood.
Da Nang Museum · The city museum tells the story of Da Nang from the Cham to the French landing of 1858 and the American war, when the airbase here was one of the busiest in the world.
Dragon Bridge · Back for the evening, when the bridges of the Han change colour and, at weekends, the dragon breathes fire.

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Getting to Da Nang and getting around

Da Nang Airport · Ten minutes from the centre
Da Nang Station · The Reunification railway, over the Hai Van pass to Hue

Cheap eats in Da Nang

Da Nang eats mi quang, wide turmeric rice noodles in a little rich broth with shrimp, pork, peanuts and a sesame rice cracker to crumble on top; banh xeo, crisp rice-flour pancakes rolled in rice paper with herbs; and seafood from the beach restaurants, chosen live from tanks. A bowl of mi quang costs about a dollar.

Con Market · Mi quang and banh xeo
My Khe Beach · Seafood from the tanks
Han Market · Coffee and dried fish
Dragon Bridge · Riverside night stalls

Museums in Da Nang

Da Nang’s museums hold the art of the Cham kingdom and the story of the wars.

Museum of Cham Sculpture · Cham sculpture
Da Nang Museum · The city and the war

Nature and day trips near Da Nang

A city between long beaches, jungle mountains and the cool heights of the Truong Son range.

Son Tra Peninsula · The douc monkeys
Hai Van Pass · The coast road
My Khe Beach · The city beach
Marble Mountains · The caves

Things to do in Da Nang with kids

With children: a fire-breathing dragon, a theme park in the clouds, caves and the beach.

Dragon Bridge · Fire and water on weekend nights
Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills · The cable car and the park
Marble Mountains · Caves to explore

Holy places in Da Nang

Buddhist cave shrines, a giant goddess of mercy and a pink French cathedral.

Lady Buddha · Quan Am over the bay
Marble Mountains · Cave pagodas
Pink Cathedral · The rooster church

Nightlife in Da Nang

Da Nang’s nights are the lit bridges of the Han, rooftop bars and the beach-road bars of My Khe.

Dragon Bridge · The weekend show
Han River Bridge · Riverside rooftops
My Khe Beach · Beach bars

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Frequently asked questions about Da Nang

What is there to see in Da Nang?

The top sights in Da Nang are Dragon Bridge, Han River Bridge and Carp into Dragon. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Da Nang?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Da Nang without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Da Nang?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Da Nang, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The city on the Han.

How do you get to Da Nang and get around?

The main ways are Da Nang Airport and Da Nang Station. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Da Nang, and for how much?

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