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 Da
Nang is the third largest city in the country
and within a relatively short distance of
Hoi An (approx 25 minutes south) and
Hue (approx 3 hours north), which makes it a
practical place to visit for a short break
from the more traditional tourist areas.
It is located in central
Vietnam
and has developed over the years into a
well-organized urban area, with the Han River
flowing on one side and the striking beach front
villas on the other. One of the great
attractions includes the Museum of Cham which
makes it possible to witness a varied selection
of Cham artefacts. A visit to My Khe beach is
great for those wishing to get involved in
outdoor activities. Nearby are the Marble and
Monkey mountains that are visited for their
religious and historical symbols. For a break
from the heat, a visit to the Ba Na Hills may
well worth a visit.
A further quality of Da Nang is its authentic
local cuisines. There is a great street food
scene with stalls found along the Han River and
in the market; many vendors offer a serving of
Quang noodle (My Quang). For the more romantic
time, there is the option to book a slow and
relaxed cruise that goes down the Han River.
Plus, there are plenty of restaurants in the My
Khe Beach region with menus filled with fresh
seafood at the very attractive prices.
Plus, the places to stay in Da Nang are of a
high-standard with artistically designed villas
with world class service and offering private
beaches.
Climate
The climate in Da Nang is tropical monsoon with
two seasons: wet and typhoon. The dry season
runs from April to August, while the wet season
lasts from September to March. On average, the
temperate is quite high and in the region of
25.8 °C. Most of the rain comes in short bursts
so it helps to travel with an umbrella through
the wet season. Plus, the risk of natural
disasters like floods and typhoons are quite
rare occurrences. The highest temperature is
noticed between May and September where it can
reach 35° C.
How to get there
This city is easy to reach with a choice of a
daily train station service or domestic flights
from across the country. It is just over 945 km
from
Ho Chi Minh City and nearly 750 km from
Hanoi. On arrival, there are plenty of fine
guesthouses and hotels to stay, no matter the
preferred style or budget.
The local airport is Da Nang International
Airport (DAD) which is centrally located in
town, but quite small, so can have difficulty in
handling its travel volume. The airport has
plenty of metered taxis outside to help complete
the onward journey to the guesthouse or hotel
(costs approx $6.50). Plus, this airport has
useful services like booths selling SIM cards, a
few eateries, money exchange and ATMs.
Located on Hai Phong Street is the local Da Nang
train station, which is about 5 km from the city
centre. The best place to book the train tickets
is at the guesthouse or hotel which is subject
to a small commission charge.
The bus station in Da Nang is very busy (only
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have more foot
traffic). There are plenty of domestic routes
that pass through Da Nang which start running in
the morning until very late at night. Most
routes give the option to buy first or second
class tickets for the less crowded and more
comfortable ride.
Getting around
The most common travel option on arriving in Da
Nang is the xe om (motorbike taxi) which is
great for getting around town, with short trips
costing $1-$2. It is possible to walk around
many places in the local area, but this is quite
a big region, so for any distance travelling or
planning to visit a specific attraction, it
helps to go by regular taxi or xe om.
The metered taxi is the most preferable
(compared to negotiating later) and costs about
$0.65 per km.
Where to stay
Even though Da Nang doesn’t have the most in the
way of major attractions, it still has plenty of
guesthouses and hotels. This is a quite cheap
city to use as a base although a lot of the
hotels are targeted towards the domestic tourist
and business traveller. Most of the city-centre
hotels in Da Nang of a decent standard cost
about $25 (or less) per night.
Overall, the general standards in the hotels are
high with friendly and helpful staff. The most
appealing places to stay are those on the
river-facing Bach Dang which makes it easy to
reach the local attractions, eateries and
nightlife.
A stay at the Funtastic is great for the
sociable backpackers and is well-located close
to the bus and train stations. The hostels have
several dorms, which are clean and bright with
plenty of storage lockers. The bathroom consists
of a shared cubical shower room. It has a fun
atmosphere and serves a delicious breakfast to
get a great start to the day. Other services
offered include on-site cooking classes and food
tours. The cost per night is in the region of
$10.
The Bamboo Green Riverside has the
well-decorated, cheerful and clean rooms that
are maintained to a high-standard and include
features like cable TV, private bathroom, and
built-in furnishings. It is mid-range in price
with rooms costing about $20 to $50 per night.
Plus, it is centrally located in town which
means it gets a little noisy in the mornings on
the lower floors.
Eat and drink
The local eateries in Da Nang range from the
beachfront cafes, expat-owned eateries, to the
street markets, roadside stalls and luxurious
beach resorts. Vietnamese cuisine is perfect for
the tourist that wants to try something
different with is a great mix of fresh
vegetables, local herbs, farm-raised poultry and
wild caught seafood. Plus, the restaurants go
well beyond the local cuisine with a choice of
Chinese, American, Spanish, Thai, and Japanese
places. A great place to experience in Da Nang
is the beachfront restaurants that serve up the
delicious Vietnamese coffee, BBQ meats and fresh
seafood.
Shopping
Shopping in Da Nang gives a great opportunity to
learn more about the local culture in the
vibrant coastal town. Even though the shopping
scene is significantly less than cities like Ho
Chi Minh City, there are still a few local
markets and shopping malls in the city centre
that can easily take up several hours of your
time. A visit to the markets with the choice of
local handicrafts is certain to appeal to those
in search of gifts or souvenirs for family or
friends.
The majority of the shopping scene in Da Nang is
within a relatively compact area which means it
is possible to visit the different shops on
foot, while also being near to the major museums
and landmarks.
Things to see and do
The most appealing sightseeing tours in Da Nang
include a combination of verdant national parks,
tranquil beaches with crystal-clear waters,
French colonial buildings and centuries-old
pagodas. For those travellers that want to get a
break from the traditional tours, a visit to Da
Nang’s pristine beaches makes it possible to
experience a variety of sightseeing
opportunities and fun-filled activities. The
best time to visit the beaches is May to August
when the lifeguards are ready, the waters are
calm, and the sun is out all day.
Marble Mountains
Located approx 9 km south of Da Nang, a visit to
Marble Mountains makes it possible to explore a
region of marble and limestone hills. The
cluster of five stones have been given names
that relate to natural elements, such as Tho Son
(earth), Kim Son (metal), Hoa Son (fire), Moc
Son (wood), and Thuy Son (water). Other features
that appear across this mountain region are a
few 17th-century pagoda temples and Buddhist
sanctuaries, which are used by local to get
their fortunes told and to pray. A great thing
to do is to climb to steps that lead to the top
of Marble Mountains to get a birds-eye view of
the local beaches. Also, for those travellers
that aren’t up to climbing, there is a
convenient elevator service that costs in the
region of $1.50.
Son Tra (Monkey) Mountain
A stunning national park to explore in Da Nang
includes Son Tra (Monkey) Mountain (also called
Son Tra Peninsula) and stands at a height of 693
above sea level. This is a great destination for
the trekking enthusiast with its thick jungles,
while the roads that surround the mountain are
appreciated by motorcyclists looking for an
adventure tour. Nearby is the Linh Ung Pagoda
which is a further popular attraction and is
home to a large statue of the Goddess of Mercy.
Dragon Bridge
A tour of Da Nang that includes Dragon Bridge
makes it possible to see one of the longest
bridges in the country. It stretches for an
impressive 666 m and makes a popular destination
for taking photos. The design and structure of
the bridge is much like the shape of a golden
dragon and big enough to accept six-lanes.
Dragon Bridge is best appreciated in the evening
when it is lit up by colourful LEDs, while also
breathing fire and spitting out water from about
9 pm onwards. |
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