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Contributed By: Lauren ClarkPlanning a trip to South East Asia? Add Da Nang, Vietnam to the list with its huge beaches, great hikes, foodie adventures, reasonable prices and rich culture.
A one-month trip to Da Nang turned into three after being struck by what it has to offer. It’s not over run by tourists, still has a local feel, is super cheap and offers a great chance to experience Vietnamese culture. I stayed there from late March until June and the weather was perfect. It was beautiful and sunny on most days, so from my experience, that’s the best time to visit Da Nang.
Da Nang is the third largest city in Vietnam, nestled in between the ancient cities of Hoi An and Hue. Surrounded by stunning, world-class beaches on one side, a river in the middle and mountains on the other. This city has it all but is often overlooked for its more popular neighbour, Hoi An. If you’re planning a trip around South East Asia or just looking for a budget-friendly and interesting place to spend a holiday, then Da Nang should make it onto your list. Here’s why!
1. Award Winning Beaches
I’m not the only one with this city on their radar with My Khe Beach voted by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 6 most attractive beaches on the planet. The coast stretches for miles with beaches sprinkled with beach bars and small restaurants at one end and deserted natural splendour at the other. They’re never crowded, the water is warm and inviting with palm trees dotted along the edge of the sand. You’ll see locals taking their traditional fishing boats out during the day with their lights glistening like stars all across the water at night. There are plenty of secret beaches that hug the coastline along the peninsula too.
2. RICH CULTURAL & HISTORICAL HERITAGE
Da Nang has more to offer than just its beaches, with many interesting cultural sites within the city. The Dragon Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in Vietnam and is a must-visit activity over the weekend. The bridge takes the name from its unique dragon design, complete with a winding yellow body that flows all along the bridge ending with the giant dragon’s head. Make sure to visit the head of the Dragon on Friday, Sat or Sunday at 9pm for a fire breathing show, where the head bellows a few huge flames followed by a spray of water all over the crowd (some of which are unsuspecting tourists).
The Marble Mountains are a popular tourist spot that’s just a stone’s throw from Da Nang. Explore the 5 mountains made of marble and limestone, (like Ha Long Bay but without the water). It’s a well-known pilgrimage site featuring beautiful cave temples, winding stone stairs and a network of tunnels surrounded by marble stonemasons with stunning statues.
The famous Lady Buddha statue at Chùa Linh Ứng watches over Da Nang’s beaches and is a wonderful sunset spot and place to chill. If you’re lucky you’ll spot some monkeys up there too. On your way back to town, stop off at one of the local viewpoints and street stalls by the road and people-watch while sipping on a variety of mystery Vietnamese sugary drinks.
Learn about Cham Culture and discover ancient relics in the city at Da Nang’s Cham Museum. If you want to take your Cham knowledge to the next level, take a trip less than an hour away and you’ll find the ancient ruins of the My Son Sanctuary (think Anchor Wat but on a much smaller scale and minus the crowds).
3. IT'S CLOSE TO OTHER KEY CITIES
Da Nang is sandwiched between two UNSCO world heritage towns, Hue (the ancient Capital of Vietnam) and Hoi An, a well-preserved ancient port town and major tourist attraction.
The Imperial City of Hue was the old capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, it’s packed with ancient monuments, temples and tombs and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My favourite spots in Hue include the Hue Historic Citadel, the Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh and the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc (my favourite).
To get to Hue, I recommend taking the three-hour Reunification Express scenic train ride from Da Nang train station. This should cost you around $20. The train slowly winds along stunning coastlines, through mountains and lush jungle. It’s best to go to the train station beforehand or book online. I took the train at around 8 am and stayed overnight in Hue. I booked an Easy Rider motorbike for a full day to drive me back to Da Nang for around $60. This route is called the Hai Van Pass. According to Top Gear, it’s the world's ‘Greatest Coastal Road’. It was honestly one of the best travel experiences I’ve had in Asia so it’s not to be missed.
The Hai Van Pass is a stunning winding coastal road that connects Hue to Da Nang. It’s relatively traffic-free free with minimal large trucks and cars along the route and if you’re with an experienced rider it’s super safe. You can even ask your driver to take you the extra 45 minutes to Hoi An and finish the trip there instead.
The ancient city of Hoi An is also UNESCO World Heritage listed and is only 30 km South of Da Nang city. This postcard perfect town is just a 45 minutes drive on the back of a ‘Grab’ motorbike from Da Nang taxi for under $10 (make sure you download the Grab app to your mobile before your Asia trip). It’s an easy day trip away. Cruise along the scenic drive with the wind blowing through your hair and spend the day exploring the tourist sites, the ancient alleyways and the historical architecture of this unique spot.
4. Delicious Cuisine
Da Nang has a vibrant foodie scene with popular local delicacies like Mi Quang, Bun Cha Ca, and Banh Xeo. Here are a few of my favourite local spots for the best cheap and local food in Da Nang.
Best Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant In Da Nang
139/59/38, 139/59/38, Trần Quang Khải, Thọ Quang, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam
For a true foodie adventure, try and find this seafood restaurant. Hidden behind backstreets and local alleyways this is a truly epic local spot with the prices to match. The restaurant is usually packed and the food here should be on the Michelin Guide, it’s just insane! I recommend the snails cooked in butter and the spicy squid.
The Best My Quang in Da Nang
165 Núi Thành, Hoà Cường Bắc, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Mi Quang is a local speciality, that’s similar to pho, it’s made with flat yellow rice noodles, served in flavoured broth with a mixture of fresh herbs topped with crushed toasted peanuts and a rice cracker. This restaurant is on the other side of the river and serves up the best in the city (according to a local friend). They don’t really speak English so I’d recommend showing the below photo to get the good stuff!
Best Street Food In Da Nang
19 Hoàng Sa, Thọ Quang, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam
There’s great street food on every corner but this place takes the top spot. If you’re not afraid to try street food, this pig ear salad will knock your socks off. Grab a seat in a comfy deck chair next to the main beach road, order yourself a sugar cane drink and the pig ear salad (it just tastes like shredded ham but you can ask for a veggie version if you like. Be ready to use Google translate as reassuringly, nobody speaks any English).
Best Ban Xeo in Da Nang
28 Lê Độ, Chính Gián, Thanh Khê, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
For the best Ban Xeo I’ve ever had in Vietnam (big call I know but it’s my truth), check out this local restaurant. I stumbled in here when I was walking back from a karaoke beach bar one afternoon. It smelt great and was full of locals, which is usually a good sign. The menu is super confusing even with Google Translate so it’s best to point at some photos and pray.
Best Coffee Local Spot in Da Nang
04 An Cư 6, An Hải, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
This is a super cute and artsy coffee shop with delicious Egg Coffee and traditional Saigon style Vietnamese coffee. Grab a chess board and sit among the heavy green interior to escape the heat.
Best Banh Mi in Da Nang
6 Hà Chương, Phước Mỹ, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Enjoy a very chill coffee and a banh mi and watch the world go. It’s as if the staff are on tranquillisers here so don’t visit if you’re in a rush. It’s worth the wait for the best egg banh me I had while in Da Nang. They also do really great Saigon coffee. If you’re keen to try the famous Hue-style salted coffee, the coffee shop directly opposite (Duy quân coffee - Trầm Hương) with the red chairs - they do the best in town!
The Best Local Desserts in Da Nang
31 Đ. Lê Duẩn, Hải Châu 1, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Sit on stools in the city centre and chow down some local deserts at this bustling spot. I really enjoy the Vietnamese Red Bean and coconut milk dessert but they have a bunch of options. It’s best to show a photo or just point at someone else’s for a mystery sweet snack!
Best Vegan Food in Da Nang
56 Hoàng Bích Sơn, An Hải Bắc, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
This gorgeous restaurant is worth a visit for non-vegans alike. It’s home cooked vegan delights are extremely nourishing and tasty. I recommend the wood ear mushroom bao and any of their broth noodle soups!
Best Places for Drinks and Live Music:
66 Phan Tứ, Bắc Mỹ An, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
The Trip 66 has open mic night with a live band every Thursday night which is a really great vibe. It’s a super chill venue with a mix of locals, travellers and expats.
Section 30 - Craft Beer & Cocktail Pub
An Thượng 30, Bắc Mỹ Phú, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Section 30 serves up great western-style food and drinks with a variety of live music on most nights from classical trios to blues and everything in between. There’s a stack of board games and a great atmosphere too.
You can check out my Google Maps list of Da Nang for more.
5. REASONABLE PRICES
For those on a budget, Da Nang is a great destination as it has so much cheap quality accommodation, food and many free activities to keep you busy. A day at the beach and a walk along the river costs nothing. Vietnam in general is a really budget friendly and cheap place for Australians to travel. Although there are no current direct flights from major cities in Australia, you can easily hop on a plane to Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi and get a connecting flight with Air Asia.
Travel Essentials for visiting Da Nang, Vietnam
Here are a few travel items I’d be adding to my bag if I were to visit Vietnam again next year:
COTOPAXI BATAAN 3L HIP PACK - DEL DIA
The Cotopaxi Bataan is a versatile 3L waist bag, perfect for keeping your essentials on you while you’re sightseeing. Named after a city in the Philippines, it’s crafted from 100% repurposed fabric, making each bag one-of-a-kind. Lightweight and durable, it features an adjustable webbing strap and two internal mesh pockets for easy organisation. Wear it up front, on the side, or at the back in style. It’s part of Cotopaxi’s popular Del Día Collection which you can shop here.
Biolite Charge 40 PD USB-C Powerbank
The Biotite Charge 40 PD is a high-performance portable power bank. With a compact, durable design, it offers 2.5 smartphone charges on the go. Featuring USB-C Power Delivery and two USB-A Quick Charge 3.0 ports, it allows you to charge multiple devices simultaneously with up to 18W total output. Perfect for travel, it's FAA carry-on compliant and includes a battery life indicator. In the box: Charge 40 PD, USB A to USB C charge cable, and instructions. Stay connected wherever you are with the Charge 40 PD.
GOODR MACH G AVIATOR RUNNING SUNGLASSES - AMELIA EARHART GHOSTED ME
The Good MACH G sunglasses are classic aviator style designed for those who want to embody Top Gun style. With a smooth, sleek frame, they eliminate the need for uncomfortable nose pads, ensuring no unsightly imprints and feature non-reflective, polarised lenses with UV400 protection, blocking 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. They’re lightweight, durable and are perfect for running, biking, hiking and travel. Check out the full range of Goodr sunglasses here.
SEA TO SUMMIT TREK & TRAVEL POCKET LAUNDRY WASH - 50PK
The Sea To Summit Trek and Travel Pocket laundry wash strips are a convenient and eco-friendly solution for travel. Da Nang is super humid and these babies make it ultra easy to wash your clothes in the sink in between laundrette visits. They're biodegradable and phosphate-free, making them safe for the environment when used according to Leave No Trace principles.
KAVU FISHERMANS CHILLBA UNISEX BUCKET HAT
The Fisherman's Chillba by KAVU is the ultimate bucket hat whether it’s rain or shine, inspired by a kayaking trip in Okinawa. This reversible, foldable hat is perfect for travel. The Chillba features a durable stainless steel ring brim made locally at Ballard Sheet Metal. Whether you're out in the rain or under the sun, this hat keeps you protected and stylish.
In short, if you’re looking for a cheap and interesting place to visit. Da Nang, Vietnam is a great choice.
Not sure what gear you need for your adventure? Chat with our friendly team of Outdoor Gear Specialists in-store or online today and don’t forget to share your adventures with us on Instagram by tagging @wildearthaustralia and #mywildearth in your next post.
About the contributor:
Lauren Clark is the social media manager for Wild Earth. An obsessive gram counter who's always on the hunt for the lightest and most compact gear for hiking and travel. You'll find her overseas in one country or another attempting digital nomad life. When she's not working she's taking in as much culture as she can, eating all of the foods, hiking all of the trails and trying to find the secret spots. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
