Buzz
Discover every nook and cranny, every scenic road in the beautiful city of Da Nang, its pristine beaches, enchanting Ba Na Hills, and ancient Hoi An.
Da Nang is a coastal city, so the best time to visit is during the summer months when the beaches are at their finest. Visiting during the rainy season may not be ideal as the rain can make the beaches dirty and sightseeing difficult. Therefore, it's recommended to plan your trip to Da Nang between the following months for the best experience.
It's best to visit from June to August, as these months offer stunning coastal views and attract the most visitors to Da Nang.
1. Transportation Information
Transportation for Traveling to Da Nang
Any mode of transportation can take you to Da Nang. Besides the scenic beauty, the convenience of transportation is also a highlight of this city. You can travel by plane, train (railway), bus (open tour bus), yacht, motorcycle, and bicycle.
Flying to Da Nang If given the choice between flying, taking a bus, and a train, I would choose to fly. Airfare from Hanoi – Saigon to Da Nang starts from 550,000 to 2,200,000 VND (depending on the airline and class) – more expensive than buses or trains but saves a lot of time. In just 1h30', you'll arrive in Da Nang, regardless of where you are in the country. However, to get the cheapest fares, you should book about 1 month in advance. You can check for cheap fares at baynhe.vn Among the three airlines, JetStar, Vietnam Airlines, and VietJetAir, Vietnam Airlines is the most expensive, while the other two often have lower prices and promotions. Fares range from 500 – 1,200,000 VND/one way.
JetStar – Hotline: 19001550 – book online at: www.jetstar.com
Vietnam Airlines – book online at: www.vietnamairlines.com.vn
VietJetAir – Hotline: 1900 1886. Book online at: www.vietjetair.com
Taking the Train to Da Nang Taking the train from Hanoi or Saigon to Da Nang takes about 14 – 20 hours depending on whether it's a slow or fast train. It takes longer from Saigon because the distance is farther.
Ticket prices from Hanoi to Da Nang: 300 – 650,000 VND depending on seat types. (You can check details on the Hanoi station website)
Ticket prices from Saigon to Da Nang range from: 900 – 1,150,000 VND depending on seat types. (Check details on the Saigon station website)
Taking the Bus or Open Tour to Da Nang The buses to Da Nang are usually North-South sleeper buses. Ticket prices and quality do not differ much, but in terms of service quality, it is safest to choose Hoang Long and Mai Linh. There are also many other bus companies to choose from such as Hlink, Thuan Thao, Phuong Trang, Sinh Cafe…
In Hanoi, you can catch buses to Da Nang at Giap Bat bus station, Nuoc Ngam bus station. In Saigon, you can buy tickets at Mien Dong bus station.
Note: It's advisable to purchase tickets in advance or call the bus company beforehand to avoid sold-out situations or overcrowded buses. For more detailed information on ticket prices and bus stations, you can refer to the article: My Bus Trip to Da Nang. Other Means of Transportation Besides the three main modes of transport, there are also cruises, motorbikes, and bicycles. Riding a motorbike or bicycle from Hanoi or Saigon, you just need to head onto National Highway 1A and keep going straight. Along the way, you will encounter many beautiful sceneries and stopovers. However, this is only suitable for those with plenty of time, who enjoy exploring and challenging themselves. Riding a motorbike takes about 2-3 days (depending on resting time), while biking would likely take about a week (uncertain because I haven't tried).
Transportation in Da Nang
Most hotels offer motorbike rental services. If a hotel doesn't provide this service, you can ask the receptionist to help arrange one for you. Alternatively, you can contact some phone numbers below to rent a motorbike.
- Phone: 0969.822.844 (Mr. Dat) near My Khe Beach. This company offers motorbike rental services and delivers and picks up bikes at your hotel.
- Phone: 0988.007.001 (Mr. Truong) at 65 Chau Thuong Van Street, provides delivery and pickup service directly to hotels or the airport. - Phone: 0988.444.084 (Ms. Phuong) at 89 Thanh Mountain, offers delivery and pickup service directly to the airport or hotels.
+ Scooter rental price: 80,000 VND/scooter/day. (excluding fuel)
+ Motorbike rental price: 120,000 VND/day. (excluding fuel)
Additionally, if you're traveling with a large family, you can opt for shuttle services from the airport to the city. Car Shuttle Service in Da Nang If you need a shuttle service from the airport to downtown Da Nang, Hoi An (vice versa), and to tourist attractions, you can contact Mr. Chau, a local from Hoi An who provides shuttle services. Mr. Chau, being a local, can share insights into the culture of this new land with you.
Price for 4-seater car: 220,000 VND/way. 7-seater car: 270,000 VND. And 16-seater car: 320,000 VND.
Contact Mr. Chau at 0932.864.368 (note that Mr. Chau only provides shuttle services and does not offer rentals).
2. Accommodation Options in Da Nang
Zenta Hotel: A 2-star standard, beautifully furnished rooms with all amenities facing the beach near T20 beach, reasonably priced with breakfast included.
+Room rates: Standard double bed: 300,000 VND/room/2 persons/night (including breakfast),
VIP room double bed: 500,000 VND/room/2 persons/night (including breakfast)
+ Address: 54 An Thượng 1, Bac My An Beach, Da Nang.
+ Phone: 0511.3961.268
+ Room reservation: Call in advance or visit the website: https://www.agoda.com/ for cheaper rates. Simply type the hotel name in the search bar and proceed with booking.
SunSea Hotel : A 2-star standard, located opposite My Khe Beach, with clean rooms and full amenities, making it a suitable choice for budget travelers.
+ Room rates: Standard double bed: 190,000 VND/room/2 persons/night (including breakfast), although the food isn't great, this price is reasonable.
+ Address: 60 Lam Hoanh, My Khe Beach, Phuoc My Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang City, My Khe Beach, Da Nang, Vietnam.
+ Phone: 0511.3941.111
+ Room reservation: Visit https://www.agoda.com/ or call the hotel directly.
Atlantic Hotel : Although it's a 2-star standard, I found it very beautiful and comfortable, located opposite My Khe Beach. The hotel is newly clean, with spacious rooms and full amenities. I recommend choosing this hotel because it offers a very comfortable stay and attentive service.
+ Room rates: Standard double bed: 250,000 VND/room/2 persons/night (excluding breakfast, with self-service dining), room with 1 double bed and 1 single bed: 250,000 VND/room/3 persons/night (excluding breakfast).
+ Address: 151 Ho Nghinh, Son Tra District, Da Nang City, My Khe Beach, Da Nang, Vietnam
+ Phone: (84-511) 3968989 + Room reservation: Call the hotel directly or visit https://www.agoda.com/ to make a reservation.
Here are three hotels I recommend for you to choose from. When I traveled, I chose SunSea Hotel despite its mediocre food and less-than-luxurious rooms. However, it was quite adequate for a tired day, priced at only 190,000 VND per room for 2 persons with breakfast included, which saved money for the trip. It's also close to seafood restaurants and the beach, making it a good location for independent travelers. For those who prefer high-quality hotels with enthusiastic service, you can visit https://www.agoda.com/ to explore and choose a hotel that suits you.
3.Exploring Da Nang Itinerary
Commencing the 5-day 6-night journey from Saigon to Da Nang
Night 1: Departing from Saigon at the Eastern Bus Station, I purchased a Mai Linh bus ticket to Da Nang for 430,000 VND per ticket, inclusive of meals. The departure time was 6:00 PM, and the bus headed directly to Da Nang.
Day 1: The bus arrived at the central bus station in Da Nang at 2:00 PM after a 20-hour journey. Then, a Mai Linh shuttle took me to the SunSea Hotel, a high-quality hotel where I had pre-booked a room for 190,000 VND per room for 2 persons per night, including breakfast. After checking in, I refreshed myself and, feeling hungry, went out to find something to eat. Six of us hailed a taxi (taxi fares here, as in other cities, are around 10,000 VND per kilometer; the distance from the hotel to 308 Hoang Dieu restaurant is about 4km, passing by the Dragon Bridge) to 308 Hoang Dieu restaurant to enjoy specialties like Beef Slices, Bone Broth Noodles, and Rare Beef Noodles (this restaurant is quite famous for its delicious food, priced from 25,000 VND to 50,000 VND per dish depending on your choice). After dinner, we explored Da Nang at night, with numerous food stalls and seafood restaurants lining the streets. If you're hungry, you can indulge in fresh seafood at the sidewalk stalls. After sightseeing and eating until late at night, we returned to the hotel to rest.
The modern, youthful beauty of Da Nang
Day 2: We had breakfast at the hotel. Then, we rented motorbikes to explore Son Tra Peninsula (the motorbike rental price is 80,000 VND/day/bike + 50,000 VND for gas). Before heading out, we bought some food to take with us, such as sandwiches, packed meals, or whatever you like to eat on the mountain, as there are few food vendors there and the prices are quite high. Don't forget to bring water with you. From the hotel, we rode to Linh Ung Pagoda at But Beach, about a 15-minute ride along the coast to enjoy the beautiful morning seascape. Upon reaching Linh Ung Pagoda, we visited and worshiped the Buddha (the scenery at the pagoda is beautiful, resembling a fairyland). After exploring Linh Ung Pagoda, we continued along Hoang Sa Road to explore other highlights of Son Tra Peninsula: Son Tra Lighthouse, Millennium Banyan Tree, Fairy Chessboard, Former Helicopter Airport, and Panorama Watchtower. We stopped at Panorama Watchtower for lunch with pre-prepared dishes. Here, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the mountains and Da Nang City. On the mountain, there are rare and precious animals like the Red Shanked Douc Langur that you can take pictures of as souvenirs. The stunning scenery here is worth a visit and appreciation. After enjoying the scenery and food, we started riding back down the asphalt road. By this time, it was late afternoon, so we took the opportunity to return to My Khe Beach to swim and relax in the clear water, spending quite a long time playing on the beach. As evening approached, we looked for a specialty restaurant to enjoy dinner. There was a stall nearby selling rolled pork skin rice paper and Mi Quang (this dish, I heard, has only recently become available, and it's truly delicious). After dinner, we returned to the hotel, returned the motorbikes, and rested. In the evening, we enjoyed seafood at stalls along the sidewalk near the hotel, or you can buy some and take it down to the beach to eat, drink, and enjoy the beach at night. My Khe Beach is illuminated all night, offering plenty of fun and enjoyment.
Son Tra Peninsula with its pristine beauty
Day 3: After breakfast, we rented motorbikes again to explore Ba Na Hills. It's about 35km from the hotel to Ba Na Hills, taking about 1 hour to get there. Upon arrival, we bought cable car tickets for 500,000 VND round trip. Here, you can explore various attractions, enjoy the scenery, and play indoor games. The indoor game system is said to be the third largest in the world, with games ranging from light to extreme. The adventurous underground journeys are particularly exciting. There's also the Love Flower Garden, alpine slides, wine cellars, and more to explore all day long. There's a buffet restaurant where you can eat to your heart's content for about 120,000 VND per ticket. After a day of exploration at Ba Na Hills, we returned to Da Nang City to find the eateries listed in the guide for dining. Then, we returned to the hotel to rest and stroll on the beach at night.
Ba Na Hills - A paradise-like scenery
Day 4: After having breakfast at the hotel, we booked a tour to Hoi An and Marble Mountains for the day with a local travel company in Da Nang. The tour price was 500,000 VND per ticket (company address: 376 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hoa Thuan Tay Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City). The tour included visits to Hoi An, Marble Mountains, hotel pickup and drop-off, all within the day. We were taken to Marble Mountains to explore Non Nuoc handicraft village, then visited Thuy Son (Water Mountain) to explore its various structures from Lower, Middle, to Upper Pagodas, including famous sites like Xa Loi Tower, Linh Ung Pagoda 1, Tang Chon Cave, Van Thong Cave, Huyen Khong Cave, Vong Giang Tower, and Tam Thai Pagoda, before descending by road. The group then continued to Hoi An, where we visited the ancient town and 400-year-old houses, as well as the 17th-century Japanese Covered Bridge. The old town exudes a strong historical charm. We were taken to a restaurant for lunch, where we enjoyed Hoi An specialties such as Cao Lau Hoi An, Banh Bao, Banh Vac, and Wonton. After lunch, we visited other attractions like Quang Dong Assembly Hall, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky House, and Phung Hung House. We also stopped by souvenir shops for some shopping. Then, the group returned to Da Nang and arrived at the hotel around 8:00 PM. We had dinner at a seafood restaurant near the hotel and then rested. (If you don't want to stay in Da Nang, you can catch a bus back to Saigon around 10:00 PM. Remember, if you're leaving early, check out of the hotel in the morning before visiting Hoi An.) Returning to Saigon is quite exhausting, so it's advisable to stay overnight to rest and leave the next morning.
Day 5: After breakfast at the hotel, we were picked up by a Mai Linh taxi to go to the bus station for the return trip to Saigon. The bus departed at 10:00 AM. We took the opportunity to buy some essentials as gifts. We arrived in Saigon at 6:00 AM the next morning, concluding our trip to Da Nang.
And that concludes the 5-day, 6-night trip to Da Nang: 4 nights spent in hotels and 2 nights on the bus. If you want to save time, it's best to travel by plane, although it's more expensive.
Total expenses for the 5-day, 6-night trip to Da Nang:
- Coach ticket: 860,000 VND/round-trip ticket.
- Hotel: 760,000 VND/4 nights.
- Motorcycle rental: 130,000 VND/2 days (for a two-person scooter, rented for 2 days so each person only pays 130,000 VND/2 days including rental and fuel costs)
- Bà Nà Hills tourist area: 700,000 VND/person (cable car ticket price 500,000 VND/ticket, buffet ticket price 180,000 VND/ticket, 20,000 VND for snacks)
- Admission tickets for Hoi An, Marble Mountains: 500,000 VND/person
- Food and beverages: 300,000 VND/person (6 main meals at 50,000 VND each)
The total cost for the trip is 3,200,000 VND/person for the 5-day 6-night journey in Da Nang (this is a very affordable expense for a Da Nang trip).
Source: Shared by Pham Minh
