Discover Da Nang
Da Nang is the fourth biggest and one of the fastest growing cities in Vietnam its the economic hub of Central Vietnam. It’s a beautiful port city at the mouth of the Han river, it has a deep history. It is popular with local and international tourists due to its stunning coastline, beautiful food and its many attractions including the breathtaking marble mountains and proximity to not one, or two but three UNESCO world heritage sites! So that is today we are going to look at why on your trip to Vietnam you absolutely must come to Da Nang!
Things To Do
There are so many things to do in Da Nang and it surrounding areas it’s not possible to fit them all in here but we will suggest what we think is the best to get you started!
Da Nang is close to two world famous mountain ranges. The first are the Marble mountains. Located only 7 km from Da Nang city centre. There are 5 mountains representing the five elements, metal, wood, water, fire and soil. These mountains are host to many caves and buddhist temples. Particularly spectacular is the Water mountain where at the top is a beautiful observatory spot called the River View Tower, from here you can get spectacular views of the Da Nang province. Likewise the Son Tra mountain aka the Monkey Mountain on account of the monkeys you will see as you traverse up it, and on a clear day you will have the most breathtaking views of the city and the sea. A must on your visit to Da Nang!
You can almost make a trip up to Ba Na Hills, take a cable car(the longest in the world) up the 1500 m to this model french village built in 1919. With the cooler climate you will forgive yourself for thinking you are walking around France with its town square, cathedral and beautiful french gardens. There is so much to do in Ba Na Hill from the Debay Ancient Wine Cellar to the modern Fantasy Park, a theme park inspired after the french novel 20,000 leagues under the sea, a great day out for all the family! There is even a wax work museum where you can see models of all your favorite celebrities.
Da Nang City
Da Nang city itself is a thriving modern city, if you have been in Hanoi or HCMC you note the more relaxed vibe - traffic and life is a little less chaotic here. It has many stunning beaches, its most famous running north to south along the city called My Khe Beach. This is just a stone's throw from the major tourist section of the city with many hotels along the beachfront. This beach has something for everyone whether you want to lazily spend the day reading a book, drinking a coconut milk or want to take the to the sea’s on a jetski. It’s up to you!
There are also many great restaurants and bars especially around the An Thuong district. The main expat area of the city.
Excursions
Another great reason to base your trip out of Da Nang is your ability to get to another of the two great cities of Vietnam, Hoi An and the imperial capital Hue. Hoi An is an fantastic location with some of the best food in all of Vietnam and famous the world over for its tailors. You can get lost days in its myriad of shops and markets. My top tip hire a bike from Da Nang and travel there. The drive is takes you along the coast, truly the best way to see Vietnam. Hue is a similarly impressive city and just two hours on bus that leave from Da Nang every day.
Are you a UK citizen and heading to Vietnam?
If you are from the UK and heading to Vietnam there are a number of options to obtaining a visa. If your stay is under 15 days you are exempt from getting a visa, simply show up with your passport and a flight ticket showing that you will be leaving in under 15 days and on you go.
If you are staying for longer you can either get a tourist visa or you may be coming to work and thus your choices are different.
