My partner and I have generously allocated half of our travel adventures together (5 out of 10 trips so far) to this most livable city in Vietnam. After all, where you go isn't as important as who you go with, right? So after numerous visits here, I've gathered quite a bit of travel experience in Da Nang Hoi An for you to consider.

Da Nang - Hoi An makes for the perfect travel duo.
Some insights into traveling in Da Nang Hoi An.
Before writing this article, we pondered a lot because we realized that Da Nang is a very popular destination with countless reviews flooding the internet. However, after compiling our experiences from 5 trips together, we decided to produce the most comprehensive review under our perspective. So, get ready to read a travel experience review of Da Nang Hoi An with over five thousand words, we assure you that we won't disappoint you.
Note 1: We first visited Da Nang in December 2015, followed by trips in April 2016, August 2016, and most recently, two trips in April 2017 and June 2017. To ensure the most complete experience, we will review the trip in April 2017 with the longest itinerary (6 days 6 nights, including 1 night on the train).
Note 2: We prefer experiential travel, the more we travel, the better, so some of you might find this itinerary a bit intense. However, we still want to review in detail to provide more options. You can completely rely on our itinerary and create your own version that suits your style!

Let's take a look at my vivu itinerary in Da Nang - Hoi An with my loved one!
1. 6-day 5-night itinerary in Da Nang - Hoi An
Day 1: Check-in at the hotel in Hoi An, wander around the old town.
Enjoy a day wandering around the Old Town. @Nguyen Quynh Trang
When in Hoi An, take a stroll around the Old Quarter then head to An Bang Beach to catch the sunset.

Day 2: Explore the Hoi An night market.
Visit The DeckHouse at An Bang Beach.
In the morning, we had breakfast at the hotel then went to the Old Town for photos. Afterwards, we went shopping and had lunch. In the afternoon, we headed to An Bang Beach for swimming and relaxation. You can rent a lounge chair for 30,000 VND/chair (initially, we were quoted 50,000 VND/chair). In the evening, we strolled around the Old Quarter for shopping. It took us two nights to explore the entire night market.

Hoi An lights up beautifully at night, displaying vibrant colors.
Day 3: Explore the blue shores of My Khe Beach in Da Nang.
After lunch in the Old Town, we returned to Da Nang. On the way, we stopped by Cua Dai Beach for sightseeing. In the afternoon, we visited My Khe Beach for swimming and parasailing, priced at 800,000 VND for 2 people (or 500,000 VND for a single person). Each ride lasted about 10 minutes. If you want to take photos, make sure to stand at the front for an exhilarating experience. Follow the instructions of the parasailing operator at all times.

My Khe Beach shines under the afternoon sun.
Additionally, there's jet skiing available for around 450,000 VND/vehicle (if I remember correctly, as we didn't try this activity). In the evening, we explored the city and visited famous bridges including Dragon Bridge, Han River Swing Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, and Love Bridge.

Visited renowned bridges such as Dragon Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge,...
Day 4: Visiting Bana Hills - a miniature Europe.
Visiting Ba Na Hills. We purchased a comprehensive ticket for exploring the wax museum, wine cellar, and mountain climbing train for 800,000 VND (bought directly at the gate) to experience everything to the fullest. Visiting Ba Na Hills takes quite a bit of time (expect to spend the whole day) because there are many beautiful spots for taking photos as well as sightseeing. We brought some light snacks for lunch break, but if you prefer not to carry food, you can dine at the restaurants there.

The Cam Tu bridge in Bana Hills.

Taking the cable car up to the top of Ba Na Hill.

The Western street is stunningly beautiful, feeling like being in Europe.

We also enjoy the thrilling rides here.
Points to Note
Day 5: Exploring the Hai Van Pass and heading straight to Hue
Conquering the Hai Van Pass. We set off at 8 in the morning. Before heading out, make sure to bring plenty of water and apply sunscreen (my partner got sunburnt after our trip there). Also, remember to check the fuel if you're riding a motorbike.

Admiring the panoramic view of nature from the peak of the Hai Van Pass.
The Hai Van Pass isn't too dangerous, just drive with a firm grip and stay calm, go slow to handle situations in time. Initially, we were quite nervous about encountering robbers on the pass, but once we got there, we saw many people traveling like a festival procession. Along the way, there are many beautiful roads where you can stop for photos, but make sure to stay close to the edge to avoid causing accidents for vehicles behind.

Mesmerizing scenic routes embraced by countless adventure seekers.

Make sure to pull over to the side to capture some stunning nature shots!

From afar, you can still see the deep blue sea, winding along the mountain pass.
After arriving in Hue, we visited Dam Lap An, Lang Co Bay to take photos before returning to Da Nang. On the way back, we stopped at Hai Van Quan. From this spot, you can have a panoramic view of both Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue, which is very beautiful. Please note not to climb onto the platform for photos as one has already been damaged due to many people climbing on it.

Dam Lap An.

Lang Co Bay.

Hai Van Pass Point.
We returned to the hotel to rest, and around 16:00, we headed to Asia Park - Sun World Da Nang for some thrilling rides (as the park only opens from 15:00 onwards). The ticket price we purchased was 300,000 VND per person (the ticket price has increased this year), and with one ticket, you can enjoy all the rides without any additional fees. You can also consider buying tickets at a lower price from the group that we shared for buying Bana Hills tickets above.

Asia Park - Sun World Da Nang.
There are some photo-taking games here like at Bana Hills, priced at 40,000 VND per photo, and you can also download soft copies online. We tried all the thrilling adult games and concluded with a ride on the Sunwheel to admire the panoramic view of Da Nang city from above. The park also has ice cream and drink stalls for everyone to quench their thirst.

Sunwheel - You can enjoy a panoramic view of Da Nang city from up here.
Afterward, we had dinner, bought souvenirs, and strolled along the beach at night. My Khe Beach has many parking lots (5,000 VND per vehicle), where you can ride motorbikes to admire the night sea or relax and order drinks at the Holiday Beach hotel's Beach Library.
Day 6: Visit Linh Ung Pagoda before bidding farewell to Da Nang.
We also visited Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang to explore Linh Ung Pagoda and take photos at the Black Rock Beach. There is no parking fee at Linh Ung Pagoda; contributions are voluntary. Additionally, you can visit a hundred-year-old fig tree along the same route as Linh Ung Pagoda.

Linh Ung Pagoda.
2. Transportation
In our recent trip, we opted for the train - airplane option to save costs and spend an extra night together on the train.
Taking the train
The SE19 train from Hanoi to Da Nang departs between 8:00 PM and 8:10 PM and arrives between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM the next day, depending on road conditions. You can book tickets online or buy them directly at the station. Ticket prices vary depending on the type of seat (soft/hard, soft sleeper, hard sleeper, air-conditioned, etc.). It's advisable to book a soft sleeper berth for comfort as the journey from Hanoi to Da Nang is quite long.
Ticket prices range from around 800,000 VND for a hard sleeper berth on the first floor, 700,000 VND for a berth on the second floor, and 650,000 VND for a berth on the third floor. We chose second-floor berths, which are comfortable and offer good views. You can also bring food onboard to enjoy together, as the food available on the train is limited; we usually buy food from Burger King.
Important points to note
By plane
Getting around Hoi An - Da Nang
We always lean towards adventurous travel, so as soon as we got off the train, we rented a motorbike and packed our stuff without calling a taxi or using the hotel's shuttle service. To rent a motorbike, contact Le Truong motorbike rental at 0981.331.331.
Important Note
Other transportation expenses
Key Points to Note
3. Accommodation in Da Nang – Hoi An
Accommodation in Da Nang


Studio Art House.
The VIP room (which we booked from the beginning) offers a view overlooking the Han River for 1,000,000 VND per night. The room is beautifully decorated, matching the main color theme of Art Hotel.

Another corner of Studio Art House.
The hotel features the Art House coffee shop right next door, serving buffet-style breakfast for guests and various drinks for passersby. We weren't impressed with the food here as there were only a few simple dishes like fried rice, pillow bread, cold cuts... However, the decor and ambiance of the cafe are quite beautiful, perfect for some Instagram-worthy shots.

View from the VIP room at Art House.
The room service at Art Hotel is much better than the breakfast offerings. We ordered a combo from Art House which included 3 small burgers, 1 large fries, and 2 drinks of our choice for under 200,000 VND (we don't remember the exact price) and were completely satisfied.

Art House Combo.
The hotel staff are very courteous, from the receptionists to the security guards, always smiling and assisting guests. Additionally, the hotel has a parking garage in case you're traveling by motorbike. The only downside we can think of is that the hotel's wifi can be a bit unreliable at times.
Address: 305 Tran Hung Dao, An Hai Bac, Son Tra, Da Nang City. |
Hotel in Hoi An
Welcoming us in Hoi An is the Hoian Canal House - a small hotel near the Hoai River, 100 meters from Hoi An Ancient Town and 2 kilometers from An Bang Beach. We stayed in a Deluxe Double room for 335,000 VND per night. It's a bit disappointing that the view overlooks a partially constructed building next door. Next time, if we have the chance to return, we'll upgrade to a VIP room for a view of the Hoai River.

Breakfast at Hoian Canal House.
Note
ABOUT HOIAN CANAL HOUSE
Address: 30 Nguyen Du, Cam Pho, Cam Pho Ward, Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam Province. |
4. Dining and Shopping Places in Da Nang – Hoi An
Locations in Da Nang
HanCook
4th Floor, Vincom Da Nang: A Korean restaurant serving everything from cheese chicken hotpot to grilled dishes. We ordered a combo with a large cheese chicken hotpot served with noodles and tokbokki (if you can't handle spicy food, remember to inform the staff beforehand), salad, and a plate of fried cakes, totaling around 300,000 VND.

HanCook.
Tran's Pork Rice Paper Rolls - 4 Le Duan Street
This place is overpriced. We trusted online reviews and ended up spending over 300,000 VND on 2 plates of pork and beef rice paper rolls. The food didn't justify the price. You should try the pork rice paper rolls at Dai Loc – 97 Trung Nu Vuong Street, where the food is delicious and much more affordable.
Ba Hong Grilled Pork Vermicelli – 84 Le Do Street
Delicious food! In addition to 2 bowls of grilled pork vermicelli, we also ordered 10 grilled pork skewers, totaling 90,000 VND. The restaurant offers complimentary iced tea for guests.

Irresistibly delicious grilled pork vermicelli.
Banh Canh – Con Market
Offering various flavors like crab banh canh, squid banh canh, and banh canh with pork loaf. The most expensive is crab banh canh priced at around 60,000 VND per bowl.
Lyn’s Milk Tea – 28A Bach Dang
The shop also has a branch on the 4th floor of Vincom Da Nang, but we found the milk tea here not very tasty, a bit bland. If you want to drink milk tea, you can go to GongCha at 29 Nguyen Van Linh or order delivery. GongCha offers free delivery throughout Da Nang city.

Lyn's Milk Tea.
Quang Thi Noodles – 251 Hoang Dieu
A bowl of hearty noodles with additional free noodles priced at 18,000 VND per bowl. The broth is delicious, and the accompanying ram dish is quite special.

Quang noodles is a signature dish of Da Nang.
Danang Specialty Dai Loc Phat – 12 Hoang Hoa Tham
A reputable store with a variety of Danang specialties at affordable prices. You can also buy souvenirs like bags, bracelets, etc., here.
Location in Hoi An
Phuong Bread – 2B Phan Chau Trinh
This name is already familiar. Just a tip: order by number on the menu instead of reading the whole name of the bread. Prices range from 15,000 VND to 30,000 VND per loaf of bread.
North Central Restaurant – 87 Tran Phu
This restaurant has been around for over 100 years and serves delicious cao lau dishes. They also have other dishes, but we only focused on cao lau. Prices range from 20,000 VND to 50,000 VND per bowl.

Cao lau at Trung Bac restaurant.
Vuon Xua Restaurant – 33 Phan Chau Trinh
This restaurant is located in an alley with a diverse menu including dishes like cao lau, stir-fried Quang noodles, wontons, etc. Prices range from 35,000 VND to 50,000 VND on average. The restaurant has a cute yellow cat that loves to greet guests.

Stir-fried Quang Noodles at Vuon Xua Restaurant.
Ba Buoi Chicken Rice – 22 Phan Chau Trinh
The restaurant only opens until 2:00 PM and is usually crowded. We ordered 2 servings of chicken rice and 2 glasses of corn milk, but didn't find anything special or delicious as many reviews often praise. Since this dish left the least impression on us, we completely forgot its price.

Ba Buoi Chicken Rice.
Green Space Restaurant – 687 Hai Ba Trung
This restaurant is located in an alley, similar to Vuon Xua, offering dishes like grilled pork vermicelli, cao lau, grilled skewers, and Quang noodles priced between 35,000 VND and 45,000 VND.

Mót Hoi An.
Ba Le Well - 45/51 Tran Hung Dao
The restaurant operates on a self-service basis where you pick your own dishes including steamed rice cakes with grilled pork, grilled skewers, ram, and accompanying vegetables. You only pay for the number of skewers you've eaten. You can also order drinks and banh xeo (sizzling pancakes), but make sure to ask the restaurant to heat the banh xeo before serving. We had 3 servings of steamed rice cakes with grilled pork, ordered two drinks and two banh xeo, totaling 260,000 VND.

Dishes at Ba Le Well.
Boulevard Gelato & Coffee Shop – 2 Le Loi
Italian gelato is quite delicious, priced at 35,000 VND per scoop. The shop is small, so customers often choose takeout over dining in.

Boulevard Gelato & Coffee.
Ice Cream Rolls
There are several mobile ice cream roll vendors with each serving priced at 10,000 VND per roll. We personally didn't enjoy this much as it had a slightly salty taste.
Dessert Stall across from Banh Mi Phuong Bakery
We forgot to ask the vendor's name, but she always pushes her cart across from Banh Mi Phuong Bakery. Her yogurt with strawberries is always sold out very early. We tried to catch her for two consecutive days but still couldn't get any, so instead, we had the salted lemonade priced at 15,000 VND per glass.

The mixed dessert here is the best in the ancient town!
My 6-day travel experience in Da Nang and Hoi An has been meticulously detailed! If you're planning a trip to Da Nang this summer, don't miss out on the fun places I recommend.
Author: Vu Ngoc Minh Ha
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