13 Things to Do in Da Nang, Vietnam

Oh, Da Nang. I just love that city. I was lucky enough to spend two months there over the summer and when it came time to leave I just didn’t want to.

Da Nang tends to get passed over by tourists in favor of the ultra-popular town of Hoi An, which is a short 30-minute drive from Da Nang. But now that I’ve spent so much time in Da Nang I’m surprised it doesn’t get more love from travelers. That being said, word is spreading fast…and there’s good reason.

It has the longest stretch of white sand beach I’ve ever seen, the riverside setting and all of the colorful bridges are a photographer’s dream and the winding roads are chock full of hidden gems. There really are all sorts of amazing things to do in Da Nang.

Here are a few of my top picks, but really this only scratches the surface!

Heading to Vietnam? You might also be interested in these posts: 

• My Favorite Vegetarian Restaurants in Da Nang
• 9 Fun Things To Do In Hoi An, Vietnam
• Exploring Hue’s Dystopian Abandoned Water Park
• An Expat’s Guide to Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
• Is Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island Worth Visiting?
• A Traveler’s Guide to the Con Dao Islands in Vietnam
• 8 Fun Things to Do In Nha Trang, Vietnam
• Cruising Through Vietnam’s Magical Bai Tu Long Bay

OK, let’s get to it!

13 Things to Do in Da Nang

1. Tour Da Nang’s Food Scene

In Vietnam, the cuisine varies wildly from region to region. Despite the fact that I’ve lived in Ho Chi Minh City for two years, I was completely baffled by menus in Da Nang, since the food is so different. The Central Vietnam region is famous for many dishes from crispy banh xeo pancakes to turmeric-infused mi quang noodles to saucy banh mi sandwiches.

I had two whole months to get to know Da Nang’s food scene. But if you’re like most visitors and only have a few days I highly suggest taking a food tour. That way you’ll be able to better navigate what is perhaps one of my favorite cities for eating on your own! Because I’m a vegetarian and veg-friendly food tours are hard to come by, I didn’t take a food tour. But if you’re looking for a good one this food tour by motorbike looks really fun and comes highly recommended.

And if you are a vegetarian like me, I wrote a whole post all about my favorite vegetarian restaurants in Da Nang.

2. Sip on a Craft Brew with a View

7 Bridges Brewery is located near the famous Dragon Bridge and it’s the perfect spot to grab a beer after a day of exploring. If you prefer having your drinks with a view, head to the rooftop on the 4^th floor, which overlooks the Han River and the Dragon Bridge. This is the perfect spot to watch the Dragon Bridge Fire show which takes place every weekend (but more on that below).

3. Snap a Selfie at the Pink Cathedral

Vietnam has a thing for pink churches. While the Da Nang Cathedral isn’t quite as highlighter pink as the one in Ho Chi Minh City, it’s pink enough to draw the attention of every Instagrammer in town. It’s located in the heart of the city, which means it’s well worth a small detour to check out the picturesque 100-year-old church. Plus, it’s kind of fun watching everyone pose for those picture-perfect shots.

4. Splash Around at My Khe Beach

Instead of staying in the city center, I spent most of my time in the My Khe Beach area. My Khe Beach is a 10-kilometer stretch of sand located a mere 10-minute drive from the city center. It is truly beautiful, which is why it’s one of Da Nang’s top attractions. But despite its popularity, the beach is surprisingly uncrowded during the day. That being said, the place is packed during sunrise and sunset!

5. Watch the Fire Show at Dragon Bridge

At 9 pm every Saturday and Sunday the dragon on the iconic Dragon Bridge lights up and breathes fire and water. Somehow, in the two months I stayed in Da Nang I never actually made it to the show, but I hear it’s pretty cool. Hundreds of people will gather along the Han River to catch the action. I imagine it’s a great opportunity to see the spectacle, do some people watching and snack on street food!

6. Cool Off at Ben Tre Coconut

Things can get brutally hot in Da Nang, especially in the summer months. Whereas I’m not usually one to order drinks at restaurants or cafes, I became dependent on them during my two months in Da Nang. Hydration is key! I stumbled upon Ben Tre Coconut on accident. I was lured in by the fresh coconut water, but after perusing the menu I learned that this spot is actually quite famous for all things coconut. They have it all from coconut ice cream to coconut jelly.

7. Explore the Son Tra Peninsula

Motorbiking around the Son Tra Peninsula was hands down my favorite thing I did in Da Nang. Just a few kilometers north of the city you’ll find beautiful temples, near-deserted beaches and seriously stunning vistas. Oh, you’ll spot plenty of monkeys too. Our goal was to make it to “the peak” of the mountain which offers unreal views of the ocean and city of Da Nang. We started going up the super steep hill and quickly realized our brakes were not equipped to handle the steep hills. We’ve had a few (very minor) scooter accidents in our time so our motto is definitely safety first. Despite not making it to the top we had a great time gawking at the gorgeous scenery, marveling at the 67-meter-tall Lady Buddha and swimming at the area’s seriously pretty beaches. Son Tra Peninsula is huge and there’s so much to see so definitely plan on allotting at least half a day to explore.

8. Visit the Cham Museum

I was an anthropology major in college and had dreams of becoming an archeologist. Clearly that didn’t happen, but my love of ancient things remains strong. Vietnam is full of history and ancient ruins. You can actually visit many ruins to this day but if you’re short on time you can peruse Vietnam’s largest collection of Cham art at the Cham Museum. The Cham populated what is now southern and central Vietnam from the 2nd to the 15th century and they produced some truly remarkable sculptures, artwork and temples along the way.

9. Catch the Sunrise at My Khe Beach

I woke up to watch the sunrise on my last day in Da Nang. I was actually seeking a very private, meditative moment but instead, I encountered mobs of people at the beach. I didn’t mink. I cherished the cultural experience so much more. It was 5:30 am and families were swimming in the ocean, soccer matches were being played on the beach, people were jogging and exercising. It was like the whole city came alive right before the sun came up. Hilariously, the beach was nearly deserted once the sun did rise. This picture doesn’t show the hordes of people at the beach. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

10. Amble Around the Marble Mountains

No visit to Da Nang is complete without visiting its famous Marble Mountains. Yes, it’s really touristy but it’s such a unique and beautiful spot. While there are five mountains, tourists are only permitted to visit one. You can easily spend a few hours exploring the mountain’s temples, caves and vistas. I highly recommend climbing to the top where you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of Da Nang and its endless beach. The caves are also a thing of beauty, especially the Buddha-studded Am Phu Cave.  

11. Seek Out Da Nang’s ‘Art Village’

Da Nang doesn’t have a huge street art scene but there are a few alleyways that are filled with murals by local artists. If you’re headed to Da Nang I highly recommend visiting the “Fresco Village.” Just look for the address in Google Maps and you’re good to go. It’s a relatively small area but I loved exploring the colorful winding roads. Plus, it’s right in the heart of downtown Da Nang so it’s a cinch to get to.

12. Dare to Drive the Hai Van Pass

The Hai Van Pass that leads from Da Nang to Hue is probably one of the most famous stretches of road in Vietnam. The views are epic. You’ll see uninhibited glimpses of the bright blue ocean, lush jungle mountains and insanely curvy roads. It’s pretty cool. I wanted to make the journey on motorbike but decided to err on the side of caution and booked a private car to take us to Hue via the Hai Van Pass (note that you have to specifically ask to take the route through Hai Van Pass, as there are two roads that lead to Hue). After doing some research I learned that the Hai Van Pass was once known as the “street without joy,” since it connected the war-torn cities of Hue and Da Nang during the Vietnam war. You’ll even pass by a bullet-riddled American outpost on the journey, which is where this photo was taken from.

13. Spend a Beach Day at Tien Sa Lodge

Located roughly 10 kilometers from downtown Da Nang is this beachside lodge. When we first drove up I figured the guard would just turn us away, since we weren’t staying there. But for a small parking fee you can actually access the resort’s stunning little beach. This place is super popular with local tourists but on the day of our visit, there were very few people (as you can see from this photo). It’s a super tranquil spot with stunning mountain views. There’s also a restaurant that serves up fresh juices and coconuts.

Where to Stay in Da Nang

Visitors usually stay in downtown Da Nang or near My Khe Beach. Both have their perks. Because I was craving some beach time, I opted for My Khe Beach. The beach itself is gorgeous, but the area is booming. There is construction everywhere, so you might want to inquire with your hotel about whether or not there is construction nearby. It’s hard to avoid it! I usually use Agoda to find my hotels and scour reviews for mentions of construction.

Downtown Da Nang is a great place to stay for sweeping river views, cool rooftop pools, endless dining options and a taste of authentic local culture. I do regret not spending a week or two being based there.

How to Get From Da Nang Airport to the City Center

Da Nang’s airport is super mellow and what makes things easy is that it’s a mere 2 kilometers from the city center and 5 kilometers from My Khe Beach. Easy peasy. One thing to know about Vietnam in general is that Grab (same concept at Uber) is used everywhere. One way to get to your hotel is to book a prepaid SIM card, which costs $5 and will be ready for pickup when you get to the airport. That way you can easily set book a Grab driver to pick you up at the airport. It’s super cheap. Alternately, you can book a car ahead of time for $9 and the driver will meet you out front with a sign. Personally, I prefer either of these options over haggling with drivers or worrying about getting ripped off by a taxi driver.

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Have you been to Da Nang? Do you have anything to add to this list?