Da Nang

Why Da Nang works

Da Nang has transformed over the past two decades from a low-key coastal city into one of Vietnam's most polished beach destinations, anchored by My Khe Beach's long stretch of soft sand, once nicknamed China Beach by American soldiers during the Vietnam War and now lined with resorts and beach bars. The Dragon Bridge, spanning the Han River, breathes fire and water each weekend night in a choreographed show that draws crowds to the riverbank. The Marble Mountains, a cluster of five limestone and marble hills just south of the city, hold Buddhist sanctuaries, cave temples, and pagodas built directly into the rock, with Huyen Khong Cave's shaft of natural light illuminating an altar in dramatic fashion. Ba Na Hills, a French colonial-era hill station reached by one of the world's longest cable car rides, has been redeveloped around the Golden Bridge — a walkway held aloft by two giant stone hands that has become one of Vietnam's most-photographed structures. Da Nang's position roughly midway between Hue and Hoi An makes it a natural base for exploring central Vietnam's imperial and colonial history, while the Son Tra Peninsula's forested hills, home to a population of endangered red-shanked douc langurs, offer an easy nature escape within the city limits.

Trip Snapshot

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