Things to do in Da Nang: top sights and where to go
Da Nang runs between the Han River and My Khe Beach: in the centre the Dragon Bridge crosses the river beside the Love Lock Bridge, the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the pink cathedral; the cave temples of the Marble Mountains are 9 km south and the 67-metre Lady Buddha stands on the Son Tra Peninsula 10 km north-east. Give the first day to the city, the beach, the Marble Mountains and Lady Buddha; keep a second for Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge (25–30 km west, by cable car) or the Hai Van Pass.
Sights
Da Nang itineraries
Da Nang travel guide
Before you go: My Khe beach, Dragon Bridge, the Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, nearby Hoi An, the airport, weather.
Da Nang on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 4–6 days: beach, hills, Hoi An
- When to go
- March–August: dry, warm sea
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — visa-free or e-visa
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Vietnamese dong (VND); cash for markets
- Airport
- Da Nang (DAD) ≈ 3 km from the centre — Grab 10–15 min
- Beach
- My Khe — long, sandy, with lifeguards
- Hoi An
- ≈ 30 km, ≈ 45 min by Grab
- Rainy season
- September–December: downpours and storms
- Dragon Bridge
- Fire and water show Fri–Sun at 9 pm
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Dragon Bridge (Da Nang)”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Golden Bridge (Vietnam)”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Ba Na Hills”Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, Nos. 948 and 949Things to do in Da Nang
The top things to do in Da Nang are My Khe beach, Dragon Bridge and its fire show, Love Bridge, the Pink Cathedral, the Museum of Cham Sculpture, the caves and pagodas of the Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha on the Son Tra peninsula and the Hai Van Pass. Ba Na Hills with the Golden Bridge takes a full day. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Han River | Dragon Bridge, Love Bridge | evening |
|---|---|---|
| Centre | Cathedral, Cham Museum | 2 h |
| Beach | My Khe | ½ day |
| Son Tra | Lady Buddha | 1.5 h |
| South | Marble Mountains | 2 h |
| North | Hai Van Pass | ½ day |
| Ba Na Hills | Ba Na Hills, Golden Bridge | 1 day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Where to stay in Da Nang
Where to stay in Da Nang: by My Khe beach for the sea, cafés and hotels at every price; on the west bank of the Han River for the centre, markets and bridge views; or south towards the Marble Mountains for big resorts on a quiet beach closer to Hoi An.
| My Khe | Beach, cafés, first visit | High-rises along the sea |
|---|---|---|
| Centre, Han River | Bridges, markets, evenings | ≈ 10 min to the beach |
| Non Nuoc | Resorts, quiet | ≈ 20 min to the centre |
| Son Tra | Villas near nature | Far from cafés |
Da Nang airport to the city
Da Nang International (DAD) is one of Vietnam’s closest airports to town, ≈ 3 km from the centre. A Grab takes 10–15 minutes to the Han River, 10–20 minutes to My Khe beach and about 45 minutes to Hoi An.
| Grab | Centre | ≈ 10–15 min |
|---|---|---|
| Grab | My Khe beach | ≈ 10–20 min |
| Transfer | Hoi An | ≈ 45 min |
Skip the touts at arrivals — an app taxi is cheaper.
Da Nang weather by month
The best time to visit Da Nang is March to August: dry, ≈ 28–34 °C by day, with the sea at 25–30 °C. September to December is the rainy season, with downpours, storms and typhoons — swimming can be dangerous. Winter days are ≈ 25 °C with a cooler sea.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 25° | 26° | 28° | 31° | 33° | 34° | 34° | 34° | 32° | 29° | 27° | 25° |
| Night | 19° | 20° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 23° | 22° | 20° |
| Sea | 24° | 24° | 25° | 27° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 26° | 25° |
| Rain | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: March–August
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 19°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 10 days
About 25°, rains easing. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 20°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 6 days
About 26°, sea ≈ 24°. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 4 days
About 28° — the season opens. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 4 days
Dry, sea ≈ 27°. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 7 days
About 33° — a great time. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 7 days
Hot, warm sea. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 7 days
About 34°, dry. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 9 days
Hot, some storms. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 13 days
Rainy season begins. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 18 days
Downpours and typhoons. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 26°
- rain 19 days
The wettest month. Warm for swimming, water — about 26°.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 20°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 16 days
Rain, cooler. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
Ba Na Hills is 8–10° cooler than the coast — bring a layer.
What to eat in Da Nang
Central Vietnamese food is spicier than the south’s. In Da Nang try mi quang noodles, banh xeo crispy pancakes, banh trang pork rolls and seafood at the beachfront restaurants.
- Mi quang — wide rice noodles with a little rich broth.
- Banh trang cuon thit heo — rice paper with pork and herbs.
- Seafood — pick from the tanks at beach restaurants.
- Han Market — fruit, coffee and dried seafood to take home.
Da Nang ticket prices
My Khe beach, Dragon Bridge and its show, Love Bridge and Lady Buddha are free. You pay for the Marble Mountains (the lift is extra), the Museum of Cham Sculpture and Ba Na Hills — about 1,000,000 VND including the cable car.
| Museum of Cham Sculpture | 38 | 1 h | 60,000 VND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bridge | 36 | 45 min | 1,000,000 VND (Ba Na Hills ticket) |
| Hai Van Pass | 28 | 1 h 30 min | Road free; Hai Van Gate 70,000 VND |
| Marble Mountains | 27 | 2 h | 40,000 VND + lift 15,000 VND |
| Ba Na Hills | 21 | 4 h | 1,000,000 VND; kids 800,000 VND |
Free — 5 places: Dragon Bridge, Love Lock Bridge, Da Nang Cathedral, My Khe Beach, Lady Buddha.
Tips
- Watch Dragon Bridge’s fire show from the east bank by the dragon’s head.
- Reach Ba Na Hills at opening — by midday the cable-car queue and Golden Bridge crowds build up.
- Swim only at lifeguarded sections — My Khe can have rip currents.
FAQ
Is Da Nang worth visiting?
Yes, for a long sandy beach, the Marble Mountains and Ba Na Hills, with Hoi An and My Son close by.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your passport: some nationalities are visa-free for a set number of days, others apply for a 90-day e-visa online. Check the official rules for your passport.
When is the best time to visit Da Nang?
March to August: dry with a warm, calm sea.
What is the weather like in Da Nang in November?
Rainy season: about 27 °C by day with frequent downpours and rough seas.
How do I get to the Golden Bridge?
By Grab or shuttle to the Ba Na Hills cable-car station (≈ 40–45 minutes), then up by cable car; the bridge is inside the park.
How far is Hoi An from Da Nang?
About 30 km — 40–45 minutes by Grab or taxi.
When is the Dragon Bridge fire show?
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 9 pm, for about 15 minutes.
What to do in Da Nang in one day?
The Marble Mountains in the morning, Lady Buddha and My Khe at midday, and Dragon and Love bridges in the evening.
Where to stay in Da Nang?
By My Khe for the beach and cafés, or south near Non Nuoc for quiet resorts closer to Hoi An.
What to eat in Da Nang?
Mi quang, banh xeo, banh trang pork rolls and fresh seafood.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, Nos. 948 and 949
- Wikipedia, “Da Nang”; “Dragon Bridge (Da Nang)”; “Ba Na Hills”; Da Nang climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Da Nang Department of Tourism — danangfantasticity.com
- Sun World Ba Na Hills — official website
Day trips from Da Nang
- Hoi An · 23 km
- Nha Trang · 438 km
- Da Lat · 459 km
- Phan Thiet · 571 km
- Hanoi · 606 km
- Ho Chi Minh City · 610 km
- Phu Quoc · 797 km