Da Nang is Vietnam’s laid-back coastal gem—a perfect middle ground between the buzz of Hanoi and the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. With its stunning beaches, epic mountains, and food that’ll make your taste buds throw a party, it’s no wonder more travelers are falling in love with this central Vietnamese city. Whether you’re a beach bum, an amusement park lover, or a street food fiend, Da Nang has something for you.
We spent one month in Vietnam so check out some of our other blogs about Hanoi, Sapa, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Phong Nha, Nha Trang, and Saigon (coming soon)!
Curious about other destinations on our journey? Check out our blogs on Laos, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand or the Philippines!
Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no additional cost to you.
TLDR 🫣
Da Nang is the chill middle child of Vietnam—less chaotic than Hanoi, more relaxed than Saigon, and blessed with beaches, mountains, and the most unexpectedly magical amusement park we’ve ever visited.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Chill laundry morning → My Khe Beach → Lady Buddha → Han Market → An Hoi Restaurant (BEST lunch!) → Da Nang Cathedral → Con Market
- Day 2: Ba Na Hills all day (Golden Hands Bridge, rides, zipline, buffet, sunset bridge encore)
Pro Tips:
- Fly in the night before so you can hit the ground running.
- Stay somewhere with a washer—clean clothes will make your soul happy.
- Use Grab for easy transport and no haggling.
- Double back to the Golden Hands bridge at sunset—no regrets.
- Always carry small cash for street food and markets.
Top Awards:
- Best Experience: Sunset stroll on the Golden Hands Bridge
- Best Eats: Lunch at An Hoi Restaurant – $12 CAD and an actual flavor explosion
- Best e-SIM: Airalo (You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase).
How to Get to Da Nang
Located smack dab in the middle of Vietnam, Da Nang is super easy to reach—especially if you’re doing a north-to-south (or vice versa) trip. We flew from Hanoi to Da Nang late in the evening, and flights are cheap and frequent. If you’re a planner, you can snag a great deal in advance. If you’re more of a “let’s see how we feel” kind of traveler—same. Just note that it will be more expensive if you book the night before. It cost us $116 CAD per person!
Pro Tip: Book a window seat for stunning aerial views of Vietnam’s coast!
Where to Stay in Da Nang
We stayed at an Airbnb in the city center, just a short stroll from the night market—a great spot to grab snacks and people-watch. Our place had a washer (ensuite, thank you very much), which meant: it was laundry day. After all the adventures in the Northern mountains, clean clothes felt like a five-star luxury.
Pro Tip: If you’re traveling light (which we recommend), look for accommodations with laundry so you can pack less and stay fresh.
How to Get Around Da Nang
Download Grab. Trust us. It’s basically Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber, and it works beautifully in Da Nang. Affordable, reliable, and no language barriers. You’ll be zipping from beach to market to monkey temple with ease.
ITINERARY
🗓️ Day 1: Beach Vibes, Temples & The BEST Lunch We’ve Had in Vietnam
Morning: Laundry & First Impressions
Start your morning slow—like Da Nang itself. We did some laundry (which honestly felt amazing), grabbed a Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá), and just soaked in the relaxed coastal vibe. First impressions: seafood everywhere, more open space than Hanoi or Saigon, and a peaceful pace of life that made us instantly go, “Okay… we get the hype.” Then, start exploring!
My Khe Beach – This long stretch of soft sand is chill central. Grab a coconut coffee from a beachfront café, kick off your shoes, and enjoy the sea breeze.
Lady Buddha (Linh Ung Pagoda) – Perched on Son Tra Peninsula, this massive white statue overlooks the city like a benevolent guardian. We can’t believe this is free to visit. The views are stunning, the temple is serene, and oh—there are monkeys. Guard your snacks, they’re bold.
Pro Tip: Visit in the late morning or early afternoon. Fewer tour groups = more zen.
Afternoon: City Center Crawl
Time to explore the heart of Da Nang!
Han Market – Great for souvenirs, snacks, and the freshest dragon fruit you’ll ever eat.
An Hoi Restaurant – Hands down the BEST meal we had on our entire Vietnam trip. Total cost for two? $12 CAD. Yes, for real. Get the grilled fish with rice paper rolls and thank us later.
Da Nang Cathedral – A.k.a. the Pink Church. Super cute and super Insta-friendly.
Con Market – Local vibes and crazy good street food.
Pro Tip: Bring small bills and your appetite. And maybe some wet wipes. This market gets real.
🗓️ Day 2: Ba Na Hills – The Mountaintop Wonderland
What is Ba Na Hills?
Imagine a French village meets Disneyland—on top of a mountain. That’s Ba Na Hills.
You take a cable car (the longest non-stop cable car in the world, no big deal) up through the clouds to an amusement park with castles, gardens, roller coasters, and the famous Golden Hands Bridge.
Morning: Beat the Crowds, Touch the Sky
We got to Ba Na Hills early, and that’s key. First thing we did? Beelined for the Golden Hands Bridge—that iconic structure where two giant stone hands lift a golden pathway through the mist. It was a bit cloudy when we arrived, but that actually made it feel otherworldly.
Pro Tip: Arrive right when the park opens to get those epic no-tourist photos. Trust us, by 10 a.m. it’s a selfie-stick battleground.
Afternoon: Rides, Zipline & Food Adventures
Ziplining – Yep, we did it. Flying through the treetops like jungle squirrels. Worth it.
Children’s Rides – Look, no judgment. The carousel was delightful.
Fantasy Park – Think: bumper cars, arcade games, and random dinosaur animatronics. We didn’t ask questions. We just enjoyed.
Gardens and Temples – It felt like Rome x Vietnam in one place
Vietnamese Donut Balls – These were a revelation. Only 50,000 VND (a little over $2 CAD), and they were warm, chewy, and perfect.
Lunch Buffet at Tokyo Restaurant – Was the sushi authentic? Not exactly. Was it edible and filling? Absolutely. It cost us $38 CAD for two, and we left full and ready to conquer more rides.
Pro Tip: Don’t expect Michelin stars—just embrace the kitsch and carb-load.
Evening: Golden Bridge, Part II – Sunset Edition
As we were getting ready to leave, we realized all the tour buses were gone. So we made a bold move: back to the bridge. And wow. With the setting sun, the sky turned pastel, the crowds had disappeared, and it felt like we had the whole mountaintop to ourselves.
Pro Tip: If you’ve got energy, double back to the Golden Hands Bridge at sunset. It’s 1000x more magical the second time around.
TOTAL COST for 3 Nights in Da Nang (Approximate CAD for 2 people):
Activities: $98
Accommodations (3 nights): $94
Food: $76
Transportation (Grabs, Internal flight): $294
TOTAL: $562 (Roughly $94 per person, per night)
Final Thoughts
Da Nang is proof that you don’t need a packed itinerary to have an unforgettable time. With just 2 days, we got a taste of beach life, temple peace, culinary bliss, and mountaintop magic. Whether you’re a slow traveler or just passing through, make sure you stop, sip a coffee, and savor the coastal calm that is Da Nang.
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