The coastal city of Da Nang is situated at the mouth of the Han River, on the western coast of the South China Sea, also known as the Western Pacific Ocean, in Vietnam.

The city is a perfect blend of the new and the old, existing in harmony, with beaches and nightlife, modern structures like the Dragon Bridge, ancient temples and caves, the famous Marble Mountain, the Statue of Lady Buddha, and the not-to-be-missed attraction: a day trip to Sun World at Ba Na Hills.

The ancient town of Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are also some of the must-see attractions around Da Nang.

Before I go on to discuss our itinerary in detail, here are a few handy tips for your trip to Da Nang

• Allow at least 3 full days to explore this beautiful city, including a day trip to Ba Na Hills. Include a weekend, if possible, since the prime attraction, the Water and Fire Show on the Dragon Bridge, can be seen only on the weekends.

  
  

• As a tourist, the good news is that Da Nang is more or less equidistant from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, both popular tourist destinations and a choice of entry point into Vietnam. So, you can visit Da Nang easily from either of these cities.

  
  

• The best areas to stay in Da Nang are the Hai Chau District and the area around My Khe Beach.

  Hai Chau District is close to the Han River and the Dragon Bridge. There are many good hotels here, and the area is vibrant, crowded and fun. If you prefer a quiet neighbourhood, then you could explore the area around My Khe Beach. It's more expensive but very close to the beach. Wherever you stay, both these areas are clean and safe, each with a different vibe and lots of eateries.

  
  

• Being a coastal town, Da Nang has a tropical climate; the best times to visit are from February to May and from September to November. These months see very little rainfall; it's a good time to hit the beaches. Avoid the summer months when the heat can be scorching.

  
  

• Da Nang is touristy, and credit cards are accepted everywhere, but it's still a good idea to carry some cash for shopping for trinkets in local markets.

  
  

• The best way to get around Da Nang is by cabs that one can book easily through the Grab App. Cabs are cheap, efficient and safe. It's a good idea to buy a local SIM Card for easy access to data.

  
  

• All temples and pagodas expect visitors to dress up modestly, so be mindful of the local customs.

  
  

Top Attractions in Da Nang and our 3-day itinerary...

Day One - Day trip to Ba Na Hills

One of the top-rated attractions in Da Nang is a day trip to the famous Ba Na Hills.

Read more about our adventure to this wonderland by clicking here

https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/day-trip-to-ba-na-hills-from-da-nang

Day One - Evening - Charming Da Nang

In the evening, we saw the spectacular show called Charming Da Nang at Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theatre, a performing arts theatre in Da Nang.

The one-hour live performance is accompanied by state-of-the-art special effects with both contemporary and traditional music in the backdrop of amazing acrobatics and theatrical stunts.

The one-hour performance is divided into four distinct parts:

Mysterious Champa, displaying the golden era of Champa Civilisation.

Ao Dai Show, which showcases the traditional dress of Vietnam, a flowing silk tunic worn with pants by both men and women, is displayed with a riot of colour and flair.

Lotus Dance is an ode to the lotus flower, considered to be a symbol of Vietnamese spirituality.

Spring Dance Festival, with performers donning palm leaf conical hats, typical to Vietnam, dance and swing to foot-tapping music.

The highlight of the show was an acrobatic performance, executed to perfection, by a couple of acrobats.

What made the overall experience very special was the warm engagement of the ushers and artists with the patrons.

The venue is decorated with colourful lanterns and there is a festive spirit in the air, as busloads of tourists throng as the time of the performance gets closer.

Photography inside the auditorium is strictly prohibited during the show. This video was taken at the end of the show.

My Tip - Must keep an evening spare to watch the show. We had to reach the venue directly from Ba Na Hills, but the hustle was worth it!

Day Two

We had planned two main attractions for Day Two, Lady Buddha and Marble Mountains.

In the afternoon, we had plans to go directly to Hoi An for an overnight stay, which is about a 30-minute drive from Marble Mountains.

Lady Buddha

Lady Buddha, the patron saint of fishermen, is a pristine white 67-metre-high statue and a must-see attraction on your Da Nang itinerary.

Also known as The Goddess of Mercy, this imposing statue is built in the Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula in the Monkey Mountains of Da Nang.

My Tip - It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the statue site by road. You will see stunning vistas of the city of Da Nang from here. Entry to the statue and parking are free. There is a temple located on the lower floor of the statue, and you will see many locals who come to pray at the pagoda. Please dress modestly.

Marble Mountains

There's a lot to talk about the famous Marble Mountains, their many stunning caves and enthralling passages!

I've written a separate blog post for it. Please click on the link below to read more about Marble Mountains

https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/exploring-the-majestic-marble-mountains-of-vietnam

Overnight at Hoi An, the lantern town of Vietnam

The beautiful town of Hoi An is a sensory overload of colours, music and lighting. But that is not the only reason why we planned to stay overnight.

Find out why staying in Hoi An is a must-do by clicking on the link below

https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/hoi-an-the-lantern-city-in-vietnam

Day Three

After an overnight stay at Hoi An, we came back to Da Nang to spend our third day in Da Nang, which also happened to be the weekend, so that we could see the much-talked-about Fire and Water show at Dragon Bridge, which takes place only on weekends at 9:00 pm and is free to watch from many points around the bridge.

We were staying in the Hai Chau District, which is closer to the Han River. The vibe and views in this part of the city are very different from those at My Khe Beach.

We were quite disappointed to learn that two days of national mourning had been declared in the entire Vietnam owing to the demise of a senior leader in Laos, so the dragon show was cancelled as a mark of respect to him.

Huge crowds surged around the Dragon Bridge to watch this spectacular show. Even though the show got cancelled, there was a lot of activity on the river and along the riverfront, making it a memorable evening...