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The Best Things To Do In Da Nang And Hoi An

From colossal bridges to towering mountains and azure beaches, here are some of the best things to do in Da Nang and Hoi An

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By: Lakshmi Sharath Published: Jul 29, 2023 02:00 PM IST

The Best Things To Do In Da Nang And Hoi An
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Gazing upon the iconic Golden Bridge, cupped by two massive weathered hands you realise that Da Nang’s transformational story from a nondescript tropical beach retreat to a vibrant tourist magnet is the stuff of legends.

The erstwhile French port town is now emerging as the Tourism Capital of Central Vietnam with luxury resorts mushrooming along the beach strip and bars and restaurants bustling along the Han riverfront. Colossal bridges spanning mountains and rivers have become the iconic symbols of Da Nang, drawing throngs of intrepid travellers eager to explore limestone caves and hike across emerald-tinged mountains.

If neighbouring Hoi An with its ancient Old Town is a picture postcard of laid-back charm Da Nang is a melange of traditional and contemporary vibes. If you are planning a trip to Central Vietnam, here are the ten best things to do in Da Nang and Hoi An.

Best time to visit Da Nang

As in most places in Vietnam, the tropical monsoon weather in Da Nang is divided into two seasons — dry between January and July and wet from August to December. The best time to visit Da Nang is in the dry season from February to May, while the peak tourist season is from April to August. The rains can get very heavy between September and November.

Best things to do in Da Nang and Hoi An  

Watch the dragon spit fire

Best free things to do in Da Nang

It seems to be straight out of the sets of Game of Thrones but is modelled on the legendary dragons of the Ly Dynasty. The colour-changing golden dragon is more of a totem, representing power and good fortune as it headlines one of the longest bridges in Da Nang spanning 666 metres across the Han River. Watch one of the most dazzling fire and light shows as the larger-than-life metallic dragon spits fire and water every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm.

Join a culinary tour

Best fun things to do in Hoi An

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Experience local cuisine by joining one of the cooking classes in Hoi An. Soaked in local flavour, most of these tours include market tours, boat rides, and visits to organic farms and herb gardens as well. Some even offer foot massages. There are tours to suit different dietary needs including vegetarian and vegan.

Some of the popular ones include the half-day tours by Red Bridge Cooking School which offers an evening class in their sister restaurant, Hai Cafe. The Green Bamboo Cooking class by Ms Van. is more personalised. In my Grandma’s Home Cooking Class, you can visit a riverside village and learn more about rice paper.

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Explore the Old Town which is a UNESCO Heritage Site

Best cultural things to do in Hoi An

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The moment you step into the “Yellow Town” you are swept away into a fairy tale world of colourful facades and lanterns. The UNESCO Heritage Site is dotted with markets, temples, merchant houses, assembly halls and bridges. The entrance ticket allows you access to five monuments out of the 22 heritage sights.

Don’t miss the 400-year-old Japanese-covered bridge built across the Thu Bon River and guarded by statues of dogs and monkeys. You must also add the Quan Cong Temple and Quan Am Pagoda to your list.

There are several old merchant houses like the Phung Hung Old House and Duc An Ancient House that are part of the living heritage. Another gem is the Tan Ky House built two hundred years ago.

Book your stay at BAY RESORT HOI AN via Booking.com

Book your stay at BAY RESORT HOI AN via Agoda.com

Explore a world of fantasy and adventure

Best things to do in Da Nang for families and kids

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Step into a world of fantasy and adventure at the Sun World theme park located high up in the Ba Na Hills at 1500 metres above sea level. Perfect for families, the key attraction is the monumental 150-metre-long Golden Bridge with two gigantic hands holding it. But there are also daredevil rides, arcade games, cable cars and funicular rides to keep you enthralled.

Cable cars take you on a panoramic journey across the forests to the bridge. Don’t miss the 29-metre Tower Drop and the Alpine Coaster among the rides. There is a thrill section with video games, a 3D panoramic cinema, and mirror mazes for the adventurous. Explore the charming French village, go to the wax museum, spend time at the pagodas and enjoy the culinary fare before heading back to Da Nang.

Hike the Marble mountains

Best things to do in Da Nang for adventure and thrill seekers

Towering over the coasts of Da Nang are five craggy limestone hills called Ngu Hanh Son or Marble Mountains, named after the five natural elements, with a warren of caves that beckon intrepid travellers. The Water Mountain or Thuy Son is the largest while the others are Kim (metal), Moc (Wood), Hoa (Fire) and Tho (Earth). Channelise your inner Indiana Jones as you hike up the steep rock-cut steps of the karsts and discover the mystical rugged land of tunnels and temples.

Don’t miss the dark and dingy Hell Cave or Am Phu which represents the world of damnation. The largest grotto is the Huyen Khong Cave where light shines magically on the Buddha sculptures.

The Tam Thai Pagoda and Linh Ung Pagoda with breathtaking views of the Non Nuoc Beach and Xa Loi Tower with 200 Buddha statues should be on your bucket list.

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Chill on the shores of the pristine My Khe Beach

Best things to do in Da Nang for beach lovers

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Da Nang’s bragging rights as a tourist magnet include a 35 km rugged coastline with picturesque sandy beaches. And the vote for the most pristine palm-fringed beach with soft white sands and clear turquoise waters goes to the My Khe Beach which stretches from the Son Tra Peninsula to the Marble Mountains. Whether you are staying in Da Nang or Hoi An, My Khe Beach is easily accessible and is a haven for surfing, jet skiing, kayaking and other water sports.

Experience the verdant Son Tra Peninsula

Best things to do in Da Nang for nature lovers

Escape into the primaeval jungles of the Son Tra Peninsula and take in slowly the scenic views of rugged coves and cliffs along the way. Cross the fishing village of Man Thai and stop by the Linh Ung Pagoda, where Lady Buddha stands tall at 67 metres. Drive slowly along the steep roads as the cliffs open into mesmerising views of coves – there are six of them and you can snorkel along the coral reefs here.

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Continue driving into the heart of the natural reserve, surrounded by a dense canopy of endemic and endangered vegetation. Home to langurs and monkeys, look for the elusive red-shanked douc, an arboreal “Old World” Monkey species.

Get mesmerised by Cham Islands

Best things to do in Hoi An for couples

Get lost in a natural tapestry of beaches, forests and mountains in the remote and romantic archipelago of Cham Islands. Accessed only by boat from the shores of Hoi An’s Cua Dai Beach, it is virtually untouched by tourism. There are just two villages with a handful of homestays and restaurants.

The UNESCO Natural Biosphere Reserve also houses a marine park and is a cluster of eight smaller islands, of which Hon Lao is the largest with seven beaches. Ong Beach is the most popular located near the pier where you can find the market with local eateries.

But if you want to explore the secluded beaches lost in the lap of nature, then rent a scooter and head to Bac Beach with its natural caves.

Wake up and smell the coffee 

Best things to do in Hoi An in the rainy season

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When it rains, it pours in Hoi An and the best way to enjoy the monsoons is to wake up and smell the coffee in any of the atmospheric cafes in the Old Town. Vietnamese speciality coffee has several varieties like creamy coconut milk coffee and egg coffee, pink and black latte among others.

Start with the nostalgic Hoi An Roastery where you can smell the aroma of fresh roasted coffee. Faifo Coffee offers great views of Hoi An from its balcony. Mia Coffee with its lush environs and large verandas is another favourite. Other favourites include Rosie’s Cafe, Sound of Silence and Phin Café.

Lose yourself in the Night Markets

Best things to do in Hoi An at night

Every night is a surreal Lantern Festival in Hoi An. Join in the celebration and get enchanted by the streets of Old Town that are lit by vivid handmade lanterns. If the atmosphere is not intoxicating enough then take a cruise along the Hoai river on a traditional boat and light a small lantern and let it adrift on the waters. Stroll along the night market where there are 50 stalls selling everything from scarves to souvenirs.

Lit by thousands of lanterns that create an ethereal look, the market along the river banks is highly Instagrammable. Nightlife in Hoi An, especially during weekends stretches into the wee hours and there are plenty of lively bars to choose from. Recommendations include the atmospheric Dive Bar, the loud Before and Now Bar, the premium White Marble Wine Bar and Mango Mango.

Book your stay at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort via Booking.com

Book your stay at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort via Agoda.com

Hero image credit: Pete Walls/Unsplash; Feature image credit: Marek Okon/Unsplash

Related: The Most Picturesque Golf Resorts And Hotels In Vietnam

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Question: How to reach Da Nang?

Answer: Da Nang’s international airport is well connected with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat among others. The city centre is about 5 km and airport taxis are available.

Question: How to reach Hoi An from Da Nang?

Answer: Hoi An is about 30 km from Da Nang and airport taxis including Grab Taxi (Like Uber) are available from Da Nang Airport. There are also airport shuttles and public buses too.

Question: What are the best indoor experiences at Da Nang?

Answer: When it rains, you can experience some of the museums and entertainment centres in Da Nang. The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculptures and 3D Art Museum are recommended.

Question: What are the best outdoor activities to do at Da Nang and Hoi An?

Answer: At Da Nang, you can trek the Marble Mountains, visit the Sun World Theme Park at Ba Na Hills and go on a road trip to Son Tra Peninsula. You can also explore Hue and Hoi An from Da Nang through the Hai Van Mountain Pass. At Hoi An, explore the Old Town and head to Cham Islands for some adventure

Question: How many days do you need in Da Nang?

Answer: It’s recommended to spend at least five nights in Da Nang including a night’s stay at Hoi An.

Question: How far is Hanoi from Da Nang?

Answer: Hanoi is about 760 km from Da Nang and the best way to reach Da Nang is by flight.

Written By

Lakshmi Sharath

Lakshmi Sharath

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