Da Nang is a beautiful coastal city in central Vietnam, situated at the mouth of the Han River, overlooking the Son Tra peninsula and hugged by the Truong Son mountains. The Han River divides the city into two parts – the bustling, modern and busy city scene and the more quiet, laid back and relaxing beach side. Da Nang delivers the best of both worlds and is a great base for visiting the Ba Na Hills, Hoi An and My Son.

We spent a month here and compiled a list of our favorite things to do in Da Nang – check them out below! 🙂

Top 7 Things to Do in Da Nang, Vietnam

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Son Tra Peninsula

Just outside of the busy centre of Da Nang lies the beautiful Son Tra Peninsula. Home to the Son Tra Mountain, a trip to this peninsula will provide you with spectacular views over the sea and the cityscape.

There are many monuments and places to see around here, the most famous being Lady Buddha, the tallest female Buddha statue in the world. The statue is surrounded by beautiful gardens and temples and it’s easy to get to, as it’s situated on the lower parts of the peninsula.

Other places to visit on the peninsula are Ban Co peak, Nha Vong canh and the Radar Station, throusand-year-old banyan tree at Cay Da Ngan Nam, Boom Boom Rock and the South Beach.

The best way to get to and around Son Tra Peninsula is by renting a motorbike but be aware that you won’t be able to travel the entire loop if your motorbike is automatic. Automatic bike will get you around the lower parts of the peninsula, so you can easily plan a visit to Lady Buddha, but if you want to go more uphill, a manual bike is a must.

This peninsula is a monkey paradise, with numerous species (and some endangered!) taking daily strolls through the viewpoints and monuments or chilling right by the roads observing people go by.

Take some photos, have a look but please remember these are wild animals – don’t go around touching them and please, don’t be that person mindlessly feeding them with sugar sachets just so you can get a holiday selfie with a monkey (unfortunately, this is a common sight here). If you’re patient and move away from the crowded spaces,

I’m sure you’ll get epic photos of them in their natural habitat just like the ones Dan captured below – no sugar needed!

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Marble Mountains

Da Nang is a city with incredible nature around and within, including table mountains perched up in between its busy streets. The pretty awesome Marble Mountains are a great way to spend a day out and will keep you entertained for hours – the place is a true wonderland from the moment you get in.

Unless you’re a super hiker, I recommend getting the lift up to the top and conserving your energy for the exploration on your way down.

Apart from capturing the views from the clouds, your playground for the day includes numerous hiking paths, several caves, tunnels, temples, statues and of course, the views. Make sure to pack water and snacks.

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Dragon Bridge

Da Nang is home to a fire-spitting bridge – yeah, you read that right. The Dragon Bridge was constructed in 2013 to celebrate the rich history of Vietnam, with the dragon being a cultural symbol of prosperity.

The bridge runs over the Han River and connects the centre of the city with the more laid-back beach section. Every Saturday and Sunday at 9pm local time, the dragon puts on a little show for the spectators – think lights, water and fire-breathing mouth.

It’s a pretty cool sight!

If you’re heading to see the show, get down a little early and check out the Love Lock Bridge right next to the Dragon Bridge on the Son Tra side – hang your lock and watch the city from a distance while the many lanterns all around you light up in red. Love is all around.

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Ba Na Hills

Part of the Sun World Amusement Park Group, Ba Na Hills is a theme park located in the highlands of Da Nang district. Undoubtedly, the most famous attraction here is the Golden Bridge.

Two giant hands holding a bridge up in the sky on the edge of a mountain is not a sight you see every day. And you reach this bridge by riding the longest cable car in the world.

Excited yet?

Once up there, make sure you don’t just see the bridge – there’s an entire theme park to be discovered. Ba Na Hills is, by definition, a European-themed park, so my fellow Europeans might find it a little unusual (since we’re more used to the Wild Wild West or China towns), but it’s still worth checking out, especially the cute French village.

And for my non-Europeans, you get to have a taste of two worlds on your trip. I call that the ultimate package deal 😉

Tip: If you want to see just about anything from the bridge, make sure to check the weather before you go. The bridge is super high, and the clouds can get very thick up there – so thick that even when you’re standing right next to the hand, you can barely see it.

Make sure to check the conditions at Ba Na Hills specifically, not just the weather Da Nang – very often the city has no clouds, but the mountaintops do.

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Con Market

Who doesn’t love a good market spree?

Con Market is the biggest and busiest market in Da Nang with plenty of locals selling everything from foods to clothing to all types of handicrafts. It’s a great spot to pick up a bargain and watch the hustling life and trade of local people.

Con Market is also the best place to try local Vietnamese food. With a food court and an outdoor street food section, you’ll be sure to find something that you like.

Some of the all-time favorites are Banh mi sandwich, Pho noodle soup and Banh xeo pancakes.

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My Khe Beach

My Khe beach is a great spot to catch some sunshine and relax after a busy day of sightseeing. This stretch of white sand sits in between the Son Tra peninsula and the many skyscrapers that line the streets behind it (it’s a pretty cool contrasting view).

Many of those skyscrapers were lively hotels, but a lot of them have closed down and the buildings are now abandoned (I’m guessing we can thank Covid for that one). On the plus side, it does mean that the area is quieter, and the beach feels a lot further away from the city than it actually is.

The beach is clean and well equipped with wash-off areas and paddleboard rentals. There are lifeguards present at most times, and for good reason – the rip currents here can be very strong. Please be mindful when taking a dip. You might want to have some vinegar at hand for jellyfish stings too.

Foodie Tip: If you like smoothies and feel the need to cool-off from the sun, Roots café is only a stone throw away from the beach and serves a variety of incredibly delicious smoothie bowls – highly recommend trying them out! I’d tell you which one is best, but they’re all equally amazing, so any pick will be good 😉

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Den Tho Ngu Ong Phu Loc – Shrine boat

This one is quite an unusual one – we stumbled upon this shrine boat while driving around on a motorbike. It’s a very, very decorated boat classified as a cultural relic and place of worship situated on the Bai tam Lien Chieu beach (north of the city) – you can’t miss it, it really stands out. It’s like a temple built on a boat with the most incredible and detailed artwork. When you’re in the area, head to Bonjour Coffee to grab a drink and walk down to the beach to see the shrine boat, it’s just around the corner from the cafe.

When in Da Nang, don’t forget to simply go outside and walk the streets of the city. It’s all the tiny narrow backstreets that will give you the real outlook and feel of the Vietnamese life.

From local food eateries set up in someone’s front room to tiny cafes tucked into the corners of those alleyways, getting lost in this city is a great way to explore the authentic side of Vietnam.

It’s time to travel!

Vicky