Discovering Da Nang – Essential Things to Know

Situated along the Han River, Da Nang extends eastward to the East Sea with its extensive and pristine beaches and the Son Tra Peninsula remaining remarkably untouched. To the north and west, it is embraced by towering mountain passes. The Hai Van Pass, with its challenging twists and turns, serves as the natural boundary between the city and Thua Thien-Hue province.

In addition to the natural blessings bestowed upon Da Nang, the city is surrounded by three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Hue, Hoi An, and My Son. A bit further away lies the world natural heritage site of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Thus, Da Nang is regarded as a crucial hub on the journey of Central Vietnam's tourism heritage.

1. Transportation to Da Nang

The North-South backbone railway runs through the city covering a total length of approximately 30 km. Currently, there are five railway stations within the city: Da Nang Station, Thanh Khe Station, Kim Lien Station, Hai Van Nam Station, and Hoa Chau Station. Da Nang Station is one of the major stations on the North-South railway route.

Due to Da Nang's central location between the North and the South, whether you are in Hanoi or Saigon, with some spare time, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 24 hours. Traveling by train is the best way to admire the beauty of Da Nang.

If you opt for air travel, make sure to plan early to snag affordable tickets; the journey takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Another choice is the sleeper buses provided by travel agencies.

2. Accommodation

With impeccable services and internationally acclaimed hospitality, the premium hotels in Da Nang have become familiar to both business professionals and travelers visiting the city.

3. Tourist Attractions

Da Nang is an ideal stopover. Visitors can relish wonderful moments atop mountains, in deep forests, along riverbanks, and beaches. They can also indulge in internationally acclaimed services while staying in the city's tourist areas, positioned as a central service hub for Central Vietnam, the entire country, and even extending internationally. Numerous tourist areas have been and are being developed, seamlessly blending with nature yet embracing modernity. From luxurious resorts like Furama, Sandy Beach, Son Tra Resort & Spa to ecotourism destinations like Suoi Luong, Ba Na, Son Tra, Non Nuoc...

Ngu Hanh Son (also known as Marble Mountains) – situated approximately 5 km southeast of the city center. Ngu Hanh Son comprises 6 mountains: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, symbolizing the five elements of the universe (Five Elements). Within the mountains, there are beautiful caves, home to numerous swallows, and various temples. At the foot of the mountains lies the famous Marble Handicraft Village. Adjacent is the relatively untouched Non Nuoc Beach.

– Ba Na Hills Resort – Mount Chua, located 40 km southwest of the city center. Often likened to the Dalat of Central Vietnam, Ba Na Hills Resort was initially developed as a retreat for French officials during the colonial era. After the French colonial period, the area was abandoned and heavily damaged by war and time. Recently, Da Nang has undertaken restoration efforts, hoping that Ba Na Hills Resort will once again become a high-end resort area in Da Nang's future.

– Son Tra Peninsula: also known as Monkey Mountain, where Da Nang extends furthest into the East Sea. It's a natural reserve with diverse and rare flora and fauna. At the foot of Son Tra Peninsula are attractions like Suoi Da and beautiful beaches for seaside tourism, including But Beach, Rang Beach, Bac Beach, and Nom Beach.

– Da Nang Beach renowned for its pristine golden sand beaches stretching for kilometers, with clear and warm water year-round. My Khe Beach in Da Nang was voted by Forbes magazine (USA) as one of the 6 most attractive beaches on the planet. Other beaches include Nam O Beach, Xuan Thieu Beach, Thanh Binh Beach, Bac My An Beach, Non Nuoc Beach, T20 Beach, But Beach Son Tra...

– Museum of Cham Sculpture (commonly known as Cham Museum) is the repository of a vibrant Cham culture with ancient sculptures and mythical creatures from the powerful Champa Kingdom. This museum is unique and the only one in the world dedicated to Cham culture.

– In addition, Da Nang hosts the Quan The Am Festival, held in the lunar January, one of the major religious festivals of the Buddhist community in Da Nang. The Quan The Am Festival takes place at the foot of Ngu Hanh Son.

4. Gastronomy

Da Nang boasts its two largest markets, Han Market and Con Market, both located in the city center. In recent years, significant new supermarkets have emerged, including Da Nang Supermarket, Metro Supermarket, BigC Supermarket, Intimex Supermarket, Rosa Bai Tho Supermarket, Nhat Linh Supermarket, Dai Duong Supermarket… These serve as the primary commercial hubs of Da Nang.

Da Nang offers a variety of local specialties such as Quang noodles, rolled pork rice paper, Vietnamese crepes, grilled beef, fish cake noodles, fermented fish noodle soup, sesame rice crackers, and Nam O fish sauce... perfect for bringing back as gifts.