Things to do in  Da Nang

One of Da Nang’s top attractions, the five outcrops that make up central Vietnam’s Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn) each are named after a different element: fire, wood, metal, water and earth. Visit the mountains to take in views of the landscape, to explore caves, Buddhist and Hindu grottoes, pagodas, and shrines, and even to shop.

Visit the ancient ruins of towers and temples on the emerald hills of Central Vietnam at the My Son Sanctuary (Mỹ Sơn), a unique cultural complex of brick and stone temples built by Hindu Cham kings between the 4th century and 13th century. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site makes an easy day trip from hotels in Hoi An or Da Nang.

Perched on the side of Son Tra Mountain (Monkey Mountain, the 220-foot (67-meter Lady Buddha statue is visible from anywhere in the city of Da Nang. Inside the statue—which sits beside the Linh Ung Pagoda—a flight of stairs leads up to 17 floors, each of which represent a different aspect of the Buddha.

One of the longest bridges in Vietnam, the 2,185-foot (666-meter) Dragon Bridge (Cau Rong) carries six lanes of traffic across the back of an undulating dragon. After sunset, the bridge is illuminated with hundreds of LED lights while on the weekend, fire and water spurt from the dragon’s mouth.

Winding over a mountainous stretch of highway just north of Da Nang, the Hai Van Pass (Đèo Hải Vân—literally “Sea Cloud Pass”) is one of Vietnam’s most scenic coast roads. It twists and turns over a spur of the Truong Son mountain range, delivering epic sea views from as high as 1,627 feet (495 meters).

Central Vietnam’s My Khe Beach, near the city of Da Nang, is often considered one of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches. With a wide sweep of white sand, calm and clear waters, coconut palms, and warm weather throughout much of the year, My Khe Beach is an ideal place to take a break from urban Vietnam.

Part theme park, part resort, part historic and natural wonder, Ba Na Hills is difficult to categorize. But one thing is certain—this spot is popular. It’s where you can cross the famous Golden Bridge, feel the thrill of roller coasters, see the enormous Lady Buddha at Linh Ung Pagoda, tour a French Village, and ride one of Asia’s longest cable cars.

While the grand Linh Ung Pagoda complex might look traditional at first glance, it in fact opened in 2010. The sprawling grounds atop a hill near Da Nang and Hoi An contain a dazzling white, 219-foot (67-meter high Lady Buddha, other white stone statues, a large main hall with a Sakyamuni Buddha statue, and other features.

Used as an observation base in the American-Vietnam war, Son Tra Mountain (Monkey Mountain) overlooks Son Tra Peninsula near the city of Da Nang. Midway up the 2,790-foot (850-meter) peak, you find Linh Ung Pagoda, home to the Lady Buddha statue. Expect to encounter troops of monkeys dwelling in its jungle-covered cliffs.

Cham sculpture is Indian-style sculpture that draws on religious and mythological themes, originating from the coast of central and south Vietnam between roughly 192 and 1697 C.E. At the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, housed in an attractive colonial-era building, visitors can learn about this art form and the civilization from which it stemmed.

Home to a colonial-era hill station, the monsoon forests of Bach Ma National Park center on Bach Ma, or White Horse Mountain, which rises 4,757 feet (1,450 meters). Waterfalls, crumbling villas, hiking trails, and a wealth of wildlife, including pheasants, langur monkeys, and muntjac deer, make a magnetic spot to spend a day—or longer.

The Da Nang city outpost of the popular Vietnamese theme-park group, Sun World Danang Wonders sprawls along the Han River. The theme park features rides such as roller coasters, carousels, drop towers, and a giant fairground wheel, while the cultural park highlights Asian architecture through scale models of famous buildings.

On nearly every list of beautiful beaches in Vietnam, Non Nuoc sits toward the top. Just a few miles from Da Nang, the white sand follows a gentle curve between the Son Tra Peninsula and the Marble Mountains, with piercing blue-green waters rolling off the coast. Stretching for miles, there’s always an open spot to appreciate Non Nuoc’s ethereal beauty.

For an authentic local dinner in Da Nang, check out the Son Tra Night Market. Here you can rub shoulders with locals, shop for souvenirs, and even get a head or foot massage. Don’t miss this market, whether you want to go wild with your culinary adventures in Vietnam—think snails or grilled stingray—or play it safer with noodle soup or fried rice.

With massive optical illusions and 3D artwork, visitors quite literally step into the artistic displays and murals at Art in Paradise 3D Museum in Da Nang. Perfect for families and selfie enthusiasts, the museum gives visitors the chance to enter worlds of dragons, undersea kingdoms, fairytale fantasies, and more.