Da Nang is a famous tourist city in Vietnam. Here, there are many stunning things to see and do as well as delicious local food to try. If just have/plan two days in this city, it’s still enough to explore some highlights amongst them. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company recommends a 2-day itinerary in Da Nang (without Hoi An). If possible, we recommend spending more nights in Da Nang.
You may also like: Da Nang 1 Day Itinerary, Da Nang 3 Day Itinerary
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Is 2 Days Enough in Da Nang?
Two days are enough to know some highlights of Da Nang because this city is not big. If possible, we recommend spending more nights here to explore more and have more experiences. Read Da Nang Vietnam Travel Guide
The next city to go definitely should be Hoi An (about 30 km to the south) or Hue (about 100 km to the north) if do not fly. These cities have some world heritage sites due to their long history and rich local culture.
The best areas to stay for 1 night in Da Nang are the area stretching along Han River (Hai Chau or Son Tra district) and My Khe Beach area. Non Nuoc Beach area provides many luxury resorts, hotels and residences also. However, if just spend 1 night here, visitors need to consider the distance to nightlife spots in city downtown, such as Dragon Bridge fire show, night markets, sky bars.
Day 1: West Side & City Center of Da Nang
Morning: Golden Bridge & Ba Na Hills
The first morning in Da Nang should be a 1/2 day trip to Ba Na Hills with its Golden Hands Bridge, around 1 hour drive from Hoi An. This place is a huge complex of attractions, amusement park, restaurants, and hotels that mostly sit atop a high mountain. Its elevation is 1,400 meters. To get there, visitors will ride one of the longest cable cars of the world (average length is 5km) across a national park and through the cloud. Ba Na Hills cable car experience alone is an awesome experience. See more information & details
The most famous place in Ba Na Hills by foreign visitors today is Golden Bridge. It’s a 150-meters-long walking bridge with golden handrail, supported by two massive stone-like hands symbolizing hands of the mountain god. This bridge is just perfect for taking pictures (dozens of thousands of posts now about it on social media!). See more information & details
Additionally, Ba Na Hills also boasts of beautiful Le Jardin D’amour Flower Garden, 100-years-old Debay Wine Cellar, Giant Buddha Statue (27 meters tall), holy Linh Ung Ba Na Pagoda, Lunar/Moon Castle, Atlas Statue, Eclipse Plaza, French Village with Saint Denis Church, Helios Waterfall, the Medieval Fair, King Peak (top of Ba Na Hills), Fantasty Park, Ba Na Brew House, Wax Museum,…
Recommended tour:
Golden Hands Bridge Half Day Tour (early morning pick up available)
Golden Bridge & Marble Mountain Day Tour (having lunch at Ba Na Hills)
Lunch at Ba Na Hills
For lunch, visitors can think about an international buffet (costing 350,000 VND/person, 2024) or fast foods at street stalls or restaurants with different styles (Vietnamese, French, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Russian, Japanese, Indian) in Ba Na Hills. See more information & details
Evening: Dragon Bridge, Son Tra Night Market
In the evening, Son Tra Night Market is one of the best places in Da Nang to go for local food, shopping and atmosphere. Here, visitors can find many delicious dishes such as seafood barbecues as well as lots of things to buy. See more information & details
Next to Son Tra Night Market is the Dragon Bridge, the most special bridge across the Han River. It carries one massive yellow steel dragon whose weight is up to 9,000 tons. Recently, this building was honored to be one of 16 most unique bridges worldwide. At night, it’s lit by about 500,000 lamps which change color every couple of minutes, making it lightful and attractive. From the bridge, visitors can see a beautiful riverscape with many bridges, cruises, and enjoy the cool air. See more information & details
The most famous thing about the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang is its fire and water show occuring in the weekend. In this show, the dragon will breathe fire and then water from its mouth, to bring peacefulness and prosperity to the city. Although simply, huge crowds of tourists are still here to wait and witness. See more information & details
Other activities in Da Nang at night:
– Enjoy a boat trip along Han River for 1 hour by a cruise with the best view to Han River Bridge, Dragon Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, APEC Park, Bach Dang Street, so on. During the weekend, have the chance to watch the Dragon Bridge spitting the fire and water. See more information & details
– Sky bars along My Khe Beach, the most beautiful beach of the city or along Han River waterfronts, with a view to impressive bridges.
– Stroll along Bach Dang Night Walking Street to see the riverscape with bridges and lightful river cruises, have a drink and enjoy the peaceful ambience.
– Visit a spa and enjoy a massage.
– Go to An Thuong Tourist Street to see the night market, western-style bars and pubs to be social, and go shopping.
– Watch amazing fireworks performances in Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, a signature festivity in the city every summer.
See more information in https://hoiandaytrip.com/best-things-to-do-in-da-nang-at-night
Day 2: East Side & City Center of Da Nang
Morning: The Marble Mountains
In the afternoon, visitors can go to the Marble Mountains (just 15-20 mins drive from Da Nang city centre and 1 hour drive from Ba Na Hills). It’s easy to get there by car/taxi or motorbike. First timers often spend 2-3 hours to see, shop and photograph at Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, Am Phu Cave, and then climb to the top of the Water Mountain (the only accessible mountain in the Marble Mountains). Please remember to bring good shoes & wear long clothes. Main sights on the top of that mountain are Linh Ung Pagoda (aka Non Nuoc Pagoda), Tam Thai Pagoda, Huyen Khong Cave (famous for amazing beams of light), Tang Chon Cave, Van Thong Cave, Heaven Gate, Thuong Thai Peak, Linh Nham Cave. Elevator is available here, but it just takes visitors to Linh Ung Pagoda. The rest of the mountain still needs to be done by climbing stairs or hiking.
Recommended tours:
Marble Mountain & Am Phu Cave Tour
Golden Bridge & Marble Mountain Day Tour (having lunch at Ba Na Hills)
Lunch with Local Specialty Food
If want to try local food, we recommend Mi Quang Noodles. This noodle dish originates from the region and have spread to different countries in the world. A bowl of traditional Mi Quang contains rice noodle, savory broth, pork belly, shrimp, quail egg, rice cracker and roasted peanuts. Raw vegetables are served as a side dish. Visitors can go to food courts at local markets (such as Con Market, Han Market) or local restaurants to eat it. Recently, some places in the city had Michelin-star.
Besides Mi Quang noodle, Da Nang city has other specialty foods such as Banh Xeo (crispy rice pancake wrapped by rice paper and raw vegetables, peanut/fish sauce as dipping sauce), rice paper pork rolls with anchovy sauce, Nem Lui (grilled lemongrass pork skewer) or even seafood. See more information & details
Afternoon: Lady Buddha, Cham Museum, Han Market, Pink Church
In Son Tra Peninsula, northeast of Da Nang city centre, the Lady Buddha is the tallest standing buddha statue in Vietnam (67 meters in height). It’s constructed from 2004 to 2010, as part of Linh Ung Son Tra Pagoda construction project. Atop the hill by the ocean, this Goddess of Mercy overlooks the city, to protect it from natural disasters and bless citizens/fishermen. Additionally, the view from here is also breath-taking and great to take photos. Within here, there are temples dedicated to worship of Buddhas in the Mahayana Buddhism. See more information & details
Around the city centre of Da Nang, Museum of Cham Sculpture, Han Market, and Da Nang Cathedral are must see attractions. The museum was built in 1919 by French people and has preserved the world’s largest collection of Champa sculptures (not My Son Sanctuary!). The owners of these sculptures are Cham people who had their own state from 2nd to 19th centuries. Their culture is influenced by Hindu and Indian cultures. Not far away, Han Market is one of the biggest local markets in Da Nang downtown. By the river, it has two levels where a plenty of products (food, fashion items, souvenirs, etc) are sold at an affordable price. Da Nang Cathedral or Pink Church is the oldest church in Da Nang’s downtown, famous for its pink color. Today, this place is one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city.
Evening: Banh Xeo Pancake, Han River Cruise
On the second night at Da Nang, besides seafood, we recommend trying Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crispy pancake). This fried cake is made with rice, shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. To eat, people wrap it with rice paper, with raw vegetables and herbs, and dip the roll into sweet-sour-spicy fish sauce. See more information & details
In the same restaurant, visitors may find Nem Lui (grilled lemongrass pork skewers wrapped by rice paper, raw vegetables), Bun Thit Nuong (grilled pork noodle), Bo Nuong La Lot (grilled beef in betel leaf).
Going on a cruise boat on the Han River is a popular thing to do in Da Nang at night. This river runs through its city centre, and is decorated with many bridges, iconic buildings and parks. From the port, visitors will watch a traditional Cham dance first and then see landmarks of the city, including Thuan Phuoc Bridge, Han River Bridge, Dragon Bridge, Love Lock Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Carp Dragon, Cham Museum, Former City Hall – Da Nang Museum, APEC Park, Giant Ferris Wheel, etc. On the weekend, these cruises stop and provide one of the best spots to see/photograph the dragon spitting fire and water OR amazing fireworks performances in the sky. See more information & details
Recommended tours:
Da Nang Night Tour with Han River Cruise
Da Nang Evening Walking Food Tour
