Chronicles of Backpacking in Hue - Hoi An - Da Nang for 3 days and 2 nights

The recent journey through Hue - Hoi An - Da Nang still resonates with various emotions within me. For those who appreciate vibrancy, you might initially think this isn't the right place for you. But don't rush, listen to my backpacking adventure through Hue - Hoi An - Da Nang below, and you might reconsider, perhaps even planning a travel escapade in the upcoming long holidays.

With only 3 days and 2 nights to explore these cities, we meticulously planned each part, saving every second of our journey.

These lands hold many unique wonders waiting for you to discover. @Mytour Golocal

Chapter 1: Da Nang, Here We Come!

The backpacking journey through Hue - Hoi An - Da Nang is an adventure I've been planning for a long time. Due to the lack of time and finding a reliable companion, the plan was always in limbo.

This time, seizing the opportunity with a reliable companion and super affordable Da Nang flight tickets (Saigon - Da Nang in the evening), we collectively decided to 'escape' to these three beautiful cities. If you're interested in my travelogue, you can read it right below.

1. Setting Foot in Da Nang

We chose this city as our first destination due to its long-standing reputation for its exquisite beauty and vibrant lifestyle. Arriving at the airport around 8:30 in the morning, we navigated our way to a hotel in Da Nang to store our luggage and prepare for the exploration of this new land.

For convenient transportation in Da Nang, we rented a daily motorbike from Huu Long motorbike rental service. The bikes here are quite new and can handle any uphill or downhill challenges. The prices are reasonable, ranging from 80,000 VND to 120,000 VND per day. Importantly, the owner delivers the bike right to our hotel, saving us the time to pick it up. This service is located on Nguyen Van Thoai Street, near My Khe Beach. You can contact them at 0905304050 to rent a bike. The owner is helpful and even provided us with essentials like raincoats and a map.

After renting the motorbike, you're free to roam around the beautiful sights in the city. @Mytour Golocal

Quang Ba Mua noodles

2. Exploring in Da Nang

Ba Na Hills

Not to mention, Ba Na Hills also boasts many fascinating photo spots, such as the wax statue exhibition - the only one in Vietnam, the Love Garden, the vintage Debay Wine Cellar...

Ba Na Hills with countless picturesque corners. @Mytour Golocal

Travel Guide to Da Nang – Bà Nà Hills From A to Z, Latest Update

Hi Xoi eatery

In the afternoon, we drove to visit Linh Ung Pagoda and Marble Mountains - 5 mountains named Kim Son, Moc Son, Thuy Son, Hoa Son, and Tho Son, located about 8 km south of Da Nang. Throughout the journey to the pagoda, we felt the tranquility and enchantment of the space. Occasionally, the sound of the pagoda bell echoed softly, creating indescribable emotions. All we knew was that we felt lighter with every step towards the pagoda.

Linh Ung Pagoda. @Mytour Golocal

In a cave at Marble Mountains. @Flickr

'30 Must-Try Dishes in Da Nang'

You can drop by any eatery because the prices are relatively similar, around 5,000 VND per chicken foot and 10,000 VND - 15,000 VND per chicken wing.

3. Da Nang - The City of Bridges

Da Nang transforms into a vibrant and cheerful city at night, adorned with various colors. It seems as if all the daytime worries have made way for the dazzling spectacle of the night.

A sparkling Da Nang at night. @Flickr

Rong Bridge

Dragon Bridge truly lives up to its reputation as one of the 30 most beautiful bridges in the world, with every detail designed uniquely and meticulously. @Mytour Golocal

In addition to the lanes for vehicles, there are also two lanes for pedestrians, allowing you to comfortably capture memorable photos with the bridge. Furthermore, we visited the Love Bridge nearby, admiring the secure love locks and imagining happy couples who have come here with eternal faith in love.

Tran Thi Ly Bridge is also a fantastic photo spot at night. @Mytour Golocal

We knew Da Nang would be enjoyable, but we didn't anticipate just how much – from the food to the scenery, every aspect pleasantly surprised and delighted us. If we had the chance to revisit Da Nang, we would spend even more time exploring this city.

Around 11 PM, we returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for the upcoming days in Hoi An and Hue.

If you have more time than us, you can explore additional captivating spots in the city through the article '30 Must-Visit Places in Da Nang Still Trending in 2018'. Surely, you'll discover many more interesting things. Additionally, the sacred Da Nang travel guide is a must-have.

Chapter 2: Beloved Ancient Hoi An

We woke up at 5:00 AM to move from Da Nang to Hoi An, partly to avoid the heat, partly because we wanted to spend more time in Hoi An, and partly to admire Hoi An in the early morning. Da Nang and Hoi An are only 30 km apart, so we estimated that by 7 AM, we would be at the Ancient Town.

1. Da Nang - Hoi An - an interesting route

With our trusty motorbike, we were determined to reach Hoi An as planned. To get to Hoi An by motorbike, there are two routes: one from National Highway 1 heading south and the other from the center of Da Nang across the Han River Bridge. We chose the second option because it is closer and has fewer large vehicles than the national highway.

On the road to the ancient Hoi An. @Mytour Golocal

If you don't want to ride a motorbike, you can take a bus to Hoi An. The bus will move from Da Nang bus station to Hoi An bus station. Every 20 minutes, there is a bus running from 5:30 to 17:50, so you can choose to travel at any time. The specific route is as follows:

Da Nang - Hoi An Journey:

Hoi An - Da Nang Journey:

2. Set foot in the Ancient Town

Upon stepping into Hoi An, the ancient charm of this place captivated us from the very first glance. In stark contrast to the bustling and lively Da Nang, Hoi An is small, ancient, yet extraordinarily beautiful. The small houses bearing the marks of time with moss-covered walls and red tiles stand closely together along the streets. The beauty of Hoi An is accentuated in the early morning sun when everything is still waking up; it is truly worth our early wake-up effort.

In stark contrast to the bustling and lively Da Nang, Hoi An is small, ancient, yet extraordinarily beautiful. The small houses bear the marks of time with moss-covered walls and red tiles standing closely together along the streets. @Mytour Golocal

Phuong Bread

Hoi An bread always carries a distinctive flavor. @raucau1412

3. Explore the beauty of Hoi An streets

Around 9:00 in the morning, we embarked on the journey to explore this small yet incredibly fascinating city. After strolling through the ancient streets of Hoi An with its Japanese bridges, Ong Pagoda, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, and Lantern Street, we drifted on the Thu Bon River to reach Kim Bong Carpentry Village.

Strolling through the ancient streets of Hoi An with its Japanese bridges, Ong Pagoda, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Lantern Street. @dinhletuanphong

Kim Bong Carpentry Village. @Mytour Golocal

No need to say how much we enjoyed witnessing the beauty of Hoi An, from the ancient charm of the old houses to the modern aesthetics of decorated cafes and Hoi An's hotels.

Cocobox Coffee. @nineating

Hoi An Roastery. @safoodguru

In addition, we also visited the Precious Heritage Museum by Réhahn - a private museum showcasing portraits captured by French photographer Réhahn during his Vietnam exploration; along with the Cotic Art Exhibition Space - a place preserving the cultural and artistic values of Vietnamese traditional tuong (classical drama).

Precious Heritage Museum by Réhahn. @dailypichu

We thought we had seen all the beauty of Hoi An after hours of exploration. However, that perception completely changed as the night fell and the lights came on. The street transformed, becoming more charming and graceful than the serene and silent daytime.

As the night descended, the street underwent a magical transformation, becoming more charming and graceful than the serene and silent daytime. @tran_phong_h

The vibrant colors of lanterns are something every traveler remembers. @Mytour Golocal

Besides the ancient beauty, Hoi An's cuisine has long been famous, so coming here without tasting it would be a missed opportunity. I can recommend you some great places to eat when you get the chance.

Hoi An Chicken Rice: A culinary delight that captures the essence of Hoi An's flavors. @Mytour Golocal

Cao Lau Hoi An: A unique noodle dish with distinctive flavors, a must-try in Hoi An. @Mytour Golocal

Banh Dap - Clam Stir-fry - Corn Sweet Soup: A delightful trio of dishes showcasing Hoi An's diverse culinary offerings. @Mytour Golocal

Mi Quang: Savory and flavorful noodle dish, a local favorite in Hoi An. @Mytour Golocal

Apart from the famous Cao Lau, don't miss trying Mi Quang in Hoi An. @luongvantrongnghia

Chapter 3: Beloved Hue!

Returning to Da Nang for rest, we prepare our belongings for the dreamy land of Hue on the third day.

1. Journey from Da Nang to Hue

The stretch from Da Nang to Hue is relatively short, only about 100 km, so we opted for the convenience and cost-effectiveness of traveling by motorbike.

There are two routes to Hue from Da Nang, either via the mountain pass or the Hai Van Tunnel. We chose the scenic route through the Hai Van Pass to admire the natural beauty on both sides of the pass.

We set out at 9:00 after having breakfast in Da Nang. This timing is reasonable as we want to avoid unfavorable conditions on the mountain pass like fog and potential incidents.

If you wish to go through the tunnel, you can park your vehicle at the management office of the Hai Van Pass tunnel after reaching the base. A shuttle will transport you to the other side of the tunnel, and you retrieve your vehicle. The cost for both passengers and the vehicle through the Hai Van Pass tunnel is 45,000 VND/2 people/vehicle. Alternatively, you can take a bus or train from Da Nang to Hue to fully appreciate the beauty of the Truong Son range across the Hai Van Pass.

Scenic view from the Hai Van Pass. @Mytour Golocal

Khai Dinh Tomb

Khai Dinh Tomb. @caracat

Next, we visited the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial City of Hue. The more we explored, the more our understanding expanded about the architecture and culture of the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam.

Thien Mu Pagoda. @krystal.thanh

Imperial City of Hue. @Mytour Golocal

2. Hue Cuisine

Perhaps, the immense love for cuisine is undeniable for our gang. After a long day of exploration, we all returned to the most enticing subject of all time - food. Hue has many delicious dishes, but I'll only mention the snacks we tasted here. Despite being called snacks, they were quite filling.

Banh beo, banh nam, and banh loc are specialties of Hue and Central Vietnam. @chao_ba

Chè Hue:

Chè stand in front of Phu Xuan Bookstore - Hue. @maizung1209