Dragon Bridge
Da Nang, Vietnam
Love Lock Bridge, Da Nang
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The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- 24 hours — it's an open pier with no gate or ticket booth; the city tourism portal lists 19:00–22:00 as evening hours
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 20 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Admission
- Free
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Time needed
- 15–20 minutes for the pier and statue; about an hour if you stay for the Dragon Bridge show
- Location
- East bank of the Han River on Trần Hưng Đạo, a 3–5 minute walk north of the Dragon Bridge's head
- Dragon Bridge show next door
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday and major holidays at 21:00
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Padlocks
- Sold by street vendors and shops by the pier, with engraving; roughly 50,000–250,000 VND (unofficial)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Vendors take cash in VND only; foreign Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and bigger restaurants, not at stalls
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Freeentry to the pier and the statue, no tickets
Sourcei
Da Nang tourism portal15–20 minenough to walk the pier and photograph the lanterns and statue
2 sourcesi
YesGo estimate from the pier's sizehoiandaytrip.comFri, Sat, Sun · 9 pmfire and water show at the Dragon Bridge next door
2 sourcesi
Da Nang tourism portalTuoi Tre News quoting the bridge operator7.5 mheight of the marble carp-turning-into-a-dragon statue
2 sourcesi
Da Nang tourism portalThanh Tra≈ 200 tweight of the statue, carved from five blocks of white marble
3 sourcesi
Da Nang tourism portalThanh Trahoiandaytrip.com2015the year the pier opened and the statue was installed
3 sourcesi
Dân trí (DTiNews)Thanh TraVietnam Airlines travel guide≈ 68 mlength of the curved pier, about 6 m wide
2 sourcesi
Dân trí (DTiNews)mia.vnNon Nuocthe stone-carving village by the Marble Mountains where the statue was carved in about three months
2 sourcesi
Thanh Trahoiandaytrip.com4.3 mheight of the stone plinth under the statue
2 sourcesi
Thanh Trahoiandaytrip.comThree modelsPont des Arts in Paris, N Seoul Tower and Ponte Milvio in Rome
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnam Airlines travel guideLove Lock Bridge hours and entry
The pier is free and open around the clock — there's no gate, ticket booth or closing time. Da Nang's official tourism portal lists evening hours of 19:00–22:00, which is effectively when it comes alive: the red heart-shaped lanterns are lit, the statue is floodlit and the Dragon Bridge's LEDs are on. In daytime it's just a pleasant jetty with a river view.
There's nothing to pay unless you want your own padlock. Vendors and small shops by the pier sell heart-shaped locks and engrave names while you wait; prices vary by seller — roughly 50,000–250,000 VND according to unofficial sources — so ask first and haggle a little. They take cash only. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and bigger restaurants, but street stalls here are cash in VND.
Is the Love Bridge worth visiting?
On its own, honestly, not really — it's a small pier, and if you're short on time in Da Nang there's no reason to make a special trip. As part of an evening by the river, yes. You'll be on the east bank anyway to watch the Dragon Bridge's head, and the pier and statue are a 3–5 minute walk away. The lanterns, the river and the lit-up skyline make a good 15 minutes.
It works best on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday: arrive around sunset, wait for the lanterns, then walk south for the 9 pm fire show. On weekdays there's no show, the bridge is just lit, and the pier is quiet. It's easy with kids — free, short, flat — but the water is right there, so keep small children close in the pre-show crowd.
Best time to visit: sunset, lanterns and the fire show
Come about half an hour before dark. The pier faces west across the river, so you get the sunset behind the city skyline on Bạch Đằng, then the heart lanterns switch on and their red glow reflects in the water. It photographs best after dark.
On show nights get there by 8:15–8:30 pm. At 9 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays the head of the Dragon Bridge breathes fire and then sprays water, for about 15 minutes in all. The east-bank promenade between the dragon's head and the Love Bridge is one of the best places to watch it head-on without getting soaked.
Weekend evenings are busy with couples, families, photographers and vendors, and Valentine's Day is the pier's big night. For empty shots, come early in the morning — though without the lanterns it loses most of its charm.
The Dragon Carp statue
At the entrance to the pier stands the carp-turning-into-a-dragon statue (Cá chép hóa rồng), the thing most people actually come to photograph. It's 7.5 metres tall and weighs about 200 tonnes, carved from five blocks of white marble and set on a 4.3-metre stone plinth. Craftsmen from Non Nuoc stone-carving village, at the foot of the Marble Mountains, spent about three months on it, and it was installed in 2015.
It tells a Vietnamese legend: a carp that swims upstream and leaps the Dragon Gate turns into a dragon — a symbol of perseverance and success. Water shoots from the dragon's mouth at times; there's no published schedule. At night the statue is lit, and the best frame puts it in the foreground with the Dragon Bridge behind. Climbing the plinth for photos isn't allowed.
How to get to the Love Bridge
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Dragon Bridge is about 16 min away on foot.
- Da Nang Cathedral is about 24 min away on foot.
- Museum of Cham Sculpture is about 17 min away on foot.
More tips
- From the city centre (Bạch Đằng riverside) — walk across the Dragon Bridge on the pavement (666 metres, about 10 minutes). At the dragon's head on the east bank turn left onto Trần Hưng Đạo and walk 3–5 minutes north; you'll see the statue straight away.
- By Grab or taxi from the centre — about 5 minutes. Ask for the "Cá chép hóa rồng" statue on Trần Hưng Đạo. On Friday to Sunday evenings the Dragon Bridge closes to traffic before the show, so walking is quicker.
- From My Khe Beach — about 2 km west along Võ Văn Kiệt: 5–10 minutes by Grab or taxi, or roughly half an hour on foot past cafés and restaurants.
- From Da Nang International Airport (DAD) — about 12 minutes by car, according to the city's tourism portal.
- Paying for Grab — cash, or an international card linked in the app.
- Leaving after the show — for about 20 minutes cars are scarce and Grab prices jump. Walk a couple of blocks inland before you book.
What to see at the Love Bridge
- The heart lanterns — clusters of red hearts along the curved rails, best right after dark.
- The padlocks — on the rails and the lamp posts around the pier; couples lock them and throw the key into the river.
- The Dragon Carp statue — 7.5 metres of white marble at the pier's entrance.
- The view west — the Bạch Đằng skyline across the river at sunset.
- The Dragon Bridge — its lit-up arch to the south, and the fire show on Friday to Sunday nights.
Love Bridge vs Dragon Bridge: planning the evening
| Love Bridgeyou are here | Pedestrian pier with lanterns and padlocks | Free | After sunset, when the lanterns are lit | 15–20 minutes | No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Bridge | Road bridge over the Han with a dragon arch | Free | Fri, Sat, Sun by 8:30 pm for the 9 pm show | 30 minutes, about an hour with the show | Yes, right under the head during the show |
They're a 3–5 minute walk apart, so see both in one evening.
Before your riverside evening
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You are ready for the visit
Son Tra by day, bridges by night
The Lady Buddha on the Son Tra peninsula in the daytime, My Khe Beach once the heat eases, the Love Bridge at sunset and the Dragon Bridge show at 9 pm on Friday to Sunday. Add them to your route and YesGo works out the timing and transfers.
- Lady Buddha1 h · Free
- 80 min walk from the previous stopMy Khe Beach2 h · Free entry, sunbeds extra
- 34 min walk from the previous stopLove Lock Bridgeyou are here20 min · Free
- 6 min walk from the previous stopDragon Bridge30 min · Free
4 places · about 5 h 50 min with walks · 120 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
Da Nang Cathedral
Da Nang, Vietnam
Museum of Cham Sculpture
Da Nang, Vietnam
My Khe Beach
Da Nang, Vietnam
How to do it right
- Arrive half an hour before dark: sunset over the city first, then the lanterns come on.
- On a Friday, Saturday or Sunday finish with the Dragon Bridge fire show at 9 pm — the dragon's head is a 3–5 minute walk away.
- The promenade between the pier and the dragon's head gives a head-on view of the show and keeps you dry.
- Engraved padlocks take a few minutes; agree the price before the vendor starts.
- Bring small VND notes — vendors don't take cards.
- For the classic shot, frame the carp statue in front with the Dragon Bridge behind it.
Questions
Where is the Love Bridge in Da Nang?
On the east bank of the Han River on Trần Hưng Đạo, a 3–5 minute walk north of the Dragon Bridge's head. Search maps for "Cầu tàu Tình Yêu" or the "Cá chép hóa rồng" statue.
What are the Love Lock Bridge's opening hours?
It's open 24 hours — an open pier with no gate. The lanterns are lit after dark, and the city's tourism portal lists 19:00–22:00 as its evening hours.
Is the Love Lock Bridge free?
Yes. There's no ticket. You only pay if you buy a padlock from a vendor, in cash.
Is the Love Bridge in Da Nang worth it?
As a quick stop before the Dragon Bridge show, yes. As a trip on its own, no — it's a small pier you'll see in 15–20 minutes.
How much is a padlock at the Love Bridge?
Prices vary by vendor — roughly 50,000–250,000 VND according to unofficial sources, engraving included or extra. Ask before you buy.
Can you see the Dragon Bridge fire show from the Love Bridge?
Yes, it's right next door. The show runs at 9 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for about 15 minutes; walk a couple of minutes towards the dragon's head for the best view.
What is the fish statue next to the Love Bridge?
The carp-turning-into-a-dragon statue: 7.5 metres of white marble weighing about 200 tonnes, carved in Non Nuoc village and installed in 2015.
Does the Love Bridge cross the river?
No. It's a curved pier about 68 metres long along the east bank. To cross the Han on foot, use the Dragon Bridge.
How do I get to the Love Bridge from My Khe Beach?
About 2 km west along Võ Văn Kiệt: 5–10 minutes by Grab or taxi, or about half an hour on foot.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Da Nang Department of Tourism portal (danangfantasticity.com): free entry, evening hours, the DHC Marina complex, the pier's models, statue height and weight, time from the airport
- Thanh Tra (newspaper of Vietnam's Government Inspectorate): installation of the statue, height, weight, five marble blocks, plinth, Non Nuoc craftsmen, DHC-Marina as investor
- Dân trí (DTiNews), mia.vn, Vietnam Airlines travel guide: opening year, pier length and width, padlocks
- hoiandaytrip.com, nashaplaneta.net: statue, water from the mouth, 24-hour access, time on site (unofficial)
- Da Nang tourism portal; Tuoi Tre News quoting the Dragon Bridge operator: fire and water show schedule
- OpenStreetMap: location of the statue and pier
- YesGo Vietnam notes: cash, cards and Grab
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