Itineraries for Your Trip to Da Nang
2 Days in Da Nang for First Timers
When I arrived in Central Vietnam as a digital nomad exploring Southeast Asia, I planned to make Hoi An my base. While the tiny town is indisputably charming, I was more drawn to Da Nang, Hoi An’s often-overlooked neighbor. I spent weeks relaxing on its golden beach, driving my scooter to Buddha statues and ancient sites, and frequenting street-side joints serving the most delicious banh mi.
In Da Nang, you can glimpse a more authentic Vietnamese life while still being within easy reach of world-famous attractions such as the Hai Van Pass and Hue Citadel. If you’ve chosen to base yourself in Da Nang for two days, here’s how to best experience it.
If you only have time for one thing, make it to the Dragon Bridge to see it spew fire and water on a weekend evening.
Da Nang experiences suffocating humidity, so visit February-May or August-October for mild, fresh weather.
Begin your time in Da Nang by orienting yourself on an express sightseeing tour, which allows you to cover city highlights in just a few hours. Tours typically cover the Marble Mountains, My Son Sanctuary, and the Son Tra Mountain, home to two Buddhist shrines.
Now you’ve seen the city's modern side, spend the afternoon getting acquainted with the ancient at My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the fourth century. Beat the midday heat on a late afternoon tour that sticks around for sunset so you can see the Hindu Cham towers and temples bathed in golden light.
Tonight, feast your senses on Da Nang’s culinary scene on a food tour. Explore the neon-lit center and sample adventurous local specialties such as banh canh (tapioca noodles with snakehead fish) and banh xeo (pancakes stuffed with herbs and shrimp). Finish with coconut ice cream and visit the mighty Dragon Bridge, which looks ferocious when illuminated.
This morning, explore the mystical caves of the Marble Mountains, where rugged rocks harbor shrines and representations of Buddhist parables. Opt for a tour that combines the caverns with Son Tra Mountain, aka Monkey Mountain, where hundreds of monkeys frolic on its jungle-smothered slopes. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also go rock climbing in the mountains.
Now you’ve seen the best of Da Nang, spend the afternoon and evening exploring the postcard-perfect town of Hoi An, just 30 minutes away from Da Nang. Kick off with a spinning basket boat ride in the Bay Mau Coconut Forest before you head to the UNESCO-listed Hoi An Ancient Town, famous for the Japanese Covered Bridge and its lantern-lit streets.
Hoi An is renowned for its street food and looks particularly pretty after dark, so as you’re already here, feast your way through the town on a food-focused evening walking tour. Sample banh mi (baguettes stuffed with meat and veggies) and dishes unique to Hoi An, such as cao lau noodles (pork and spring green stir-fry) and white rose dumplings, while you soak up the illuminated splendor of the town.
