Da Nang Old Town – Location, Things to Do, Map & Tours

Da Nang is the 4th biggest city in Vietnam by population. It’s plays the role to be capital of central Vietnam region. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will provide all information about the Old Town of Da Nang, including things to do in/around it.

You may also like: Linh Ung Pagoda in Da Nang Vietnam

• 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 There An Old Town in Da Nang Vietnam?

In Da Nang, there is no a specific designated area called ‘Old Town’ like Hoi An or Hanoi capital.

The Old Town of Da Nang is often believed to be the area on the West bank of the Han River, around governmental offices and city’s oldest buildings, lying within Hai Chau district. This area is featured by a grid plan, firstly designed by French colonists (20th century) and then Americans during the Vietnam War (1960s-1970s). It includes a north-south riverside road (Bach Dang Street) and wide roads running parallel to it (Tran Phu Street, Phan Chu Trinh Street).

In the Old Town of Da Nang, visitors will see a mixture of colonial and modern architectures. Next to towers, hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops, there are old fortresses, French monuments, churches and temples, markets,…

Things to Do in Da Nang Old Town Vietnam

Museum of Cham Sculpture

– Location/address: 2 Hai Thang Chin street, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city, Vietnam

– Opening hours: 7:30 am to 5 pm everyday

– Reason(s) to visit: a unique museum in the world, Da Nang’s best museum, fine art sculptures

– Entrance fee: 60,000 VND for adult, 10,000 VND for children

– Reason(s) to visit: the most unique museum in Vietnam, the oldest museum in Da Nang, a must see attraction in Da Nang

– Best time to visit: anytime during the day

– Time to spend: 30-60 mins

– Recognitions: Class I museum in Vietnam, historical site of Da Nang city (11st January 2021)

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/da-nang-museum-of-cham-sculpture

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Food & drink: not available

– Shopping: not available

– Parking lot: available

– Fact: Da Nang city plans to build Museum of Cham Sculpture II at Phong Le tower archaeological site, Hoa Tho Dong ward, Cam Le district

Near the crossroad at the West end of the Dragon Bridge, the Museum of Cham Sculpture is the oldest museum in Da Nang city. It’s established by French archaeologists in the first half of the 20th century, to preserve a large number of stone sculptures and carvings that they discovered in ancient temples of Champa kingdom. This Hindu kingdom ever existed along the coastal areas of central Vietnam until the 19th century. Currently, the Cham Museum at Da Nang is home to a dozen of national treasures. See more information & details

Han Market

– Location/address: 119 Tran Phu street, Hai Chau 1 ward, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city, Vietnam

– Name meaning: Cho means ‘market’ and Han means ‘welding’ (see more detail)

– Other name(s): Han River Market, Cho Han

– Opening hour(s): 5 AM to 6 PM everyday

– Ticket price: free

– Year of construction: 1848

– Type: day market, souvenir market, traditional market

– Reason(s) to visit: one of the largest traditional markets in Da Nang, lots of things to buy

– Time to spend: 30-60 mins

– Best time to visit: noon to evening

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/han-market-da-nang-vietnam

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Food & drink: yes available

– Shopping: yes available

– Fact: Han Market is the oldest local market in Da Nang city downtown

Between Tran Phu Road and the Han River, the Han Market is the oldest and the biggest local market in the Old Town of Da Nang Vietnam. It has two levels and some hundreds of kiosks. On the ground level, whatever to eat is sold, including food souvenirs and fresh tropical fruits. Upstairs, visitors can find fashion items for both men and women, which have a variety of model, size and price. Currently, Han Market is the best market to go shopping in the city for tourists. See more information & details

Da Nang Cathedral (Pink Church)

– Location: 156 Tran Phu Street, Hai Chau ward, Hai Chau district, Da Nang, Vietnam

– Vietnamese name: Nha Tho Chinh Toa Da Nang, Nha Tho Con Ga

– Other name(s): Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral (official name), Da Nang Rooster Church (by Vietnamese locals), Da Nang Parish Church, Tourane Church (French time)

– Opening hours: 8 to 11:30 am and 1:30 to 4:30 pm from Monday to Saturday, closed on Sunday

– Ticket price: free

– Reason(s) to visit: the parish church of Da Nang, a famous instagrammable spot

– Time to spend: 20-30 mins

– Best time to visit: morning

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/da-nang-cathedral-pink-church

– Food & drink: no

– Shopping: no

– Fact:

Located in the heart of Da Nang Old Town, near the Han Market, the Da Nang Cathedral is only Catholic church constructed by French people in the area during their long colonial period. It’s also known as the Rooster Church because of a metal rooster on its top, or the Pink Church because of its pinky exterior. See more information & details

Dien Hai Citadel

– Location/address: Tran Phu Street, Thach Thang ward, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city (near Da Nang Administrative Center Building)

– Vietnamese name:

– Other name(s):

– Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm everyday

– Ticket price: free

– Year of construction: 1923

– Reason(s) to visit: one of the most important historical sites in Da Nang

– Best time to visit: anytime during the day

– Time to spend: 30-45 mins

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/dien-hai-citadel

– Recognition(s):

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Parking lot: free

– Food & drink:

– Shopping:

– Fact:

Dien Hai Citadel is one of the most important historical remains in Da Nang. It’s built in the 19th century to defend the city from attacks by the sea. Later, this place is associated with the first war ever between French/Spanish and Vietnamese, a turning point in history of Vietnam. Today, visitors will see a Vauban-styled brick fortress surrounded by deep moats as well as a collection of bronze cannons used in the past wars on the site. See more information & details

Da Nang Museum (former Da Nang City Hall)

– Location/address: 31 Tran Phu Street or 42-44 Bach Dang Street, Thach Thang ward, Hai Chau district, Da Nang city, Vietnam (main entrance: 31 Tran Phu Street)

– Other name(s): Da Nang History Museum, Da Nang City Museum

– Opening hours: 8:00 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM from Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday

– Ticket price: free (until 31/12/2025)

– Reason(s) to visit: the largest museum in Da Nang, a historical colonial building by Han River

– Best time to visit: anytime during the day

– Time to spend: 30-60 mins

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/da-nang-museum

– Recognition(s):

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Reviews: Google, TripAdvisor

– Food & drink: only drinks available for sale

– Shopping: not available

– Fact: The former Da Nang Museum is located at 24 Tran Phu Street, within Dien Hai Citadel

Near Dien Hai Citadel where it’s located before, the new Da Nang Museum is opened in March 2025. It comprises the former city hall building that was use by French and Americans during past centuries. This is the largest museum of the city for now, telling visitors about all aspects of Da Nang through 3,000 artifacts and photos. See more information & details

The Han River Bridge

– Location/address: Hai Chau ward, Hai Chau district (west side) and An Hai Bac ward, Son Tra district (east side)

– Name’s meaning: Han River may mean ‘welding river’ in Vietnamese language

– Other name(s): Da Nang Swing Bridge, Da Nang Rotating Bridge, Song Han Bridge Da Nang

– Type: cable-stayed bridge, swing bridge

– Length: 487,7 meters (approx 1,600 ft)

– End(s): Le Duan St, Hai Chau ward, Hai Chau district (west), Pham Van Dong St, An Hai Bac ward, Son Tra district (east)

– Height:

– Width: 12,9 meters

– Clearance below: 25 meters (82 ft)

– Years of construction: 1998 to 2000

– Total cost: 95 billion VND

– Reason(s) to visit: the first bridge spanning Han River in Da Nang city, beautiful riverscape seen from its top, colorful at night

– Best time to visit: morning, late afternoon to evening

– Time to spend: 20-30 mins

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/han-river-bridge-da-nang

– Recognition(s): the only swing bridge that still rotates in Vietnam (a Vietnam record)

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Foods & drinks: no

– Shopping: no

– Fact: visitors are often confused about the Han River Bridge in Da Nang and Seoul (South Korea’s capital)

The Han River Bridge is the first bridge cross the Han River in Da Nang after the Vietnam War. It’s also the only surviving swing bridge in the country right now. At midnight every weekend day, it will rotate to allow boats to go further inland and vice versa. With the Marble Mountains, this building is chosen to featured on the official logo of the city. See more information & details

Han River Promenade

– Location/address: Hai Chau district, Da Nang city, Vietnam

– Other name(s): Bach Dang Promenade, Riverside Park Da Nang

– Opening hours: 24hrs a day, 7 days a week

– Ticket price: free

– Length: about 5 kilometer

– Reason(s) to visit: beautiful paved walking path with a view to bridges and Han River

– Best time(s) to visit: sunny day, early morning, sunset, evening

– Time to spend: 30-45 mins

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/han-river-promenade-da-nang/

– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)

– Food & drink: yes available

– Shopping: yes available

– Fact:

The Han River Promenade is the most beautiful public riverside walk in Da Nang. The best part of it stretches along the West bank of the Han River, the river running through city downtown, between the Dragon Bridge and the Han River Bridge. Everyday, there are lots of local residents coming here to cool off, do exercise or take photos. The best view to the Dragon Bridge is seen from here. See more information & details

A Self Guided Walking Tour in Da Nang Old Town

The best self guided walking tour in Da Nang is in its Old Town. We recommend starting your itinerary from Han Market. From anywhere in the city, it’s easy to come here by car, bus or motorbike.

5 mins walk from Han Market, the Da Nang Cathedral is another must see attraction. If not a Catholic, you can go to this place to take pictures. It’s widely known as the Pink Church because of its pinky exterior.

After that, walk along the Han River Promenade, the most beautiful riverside path of the city. From here, the view to the Dragon Bridge and then Han River Bridge, two iconic bridges of Da Nang, is stunning.

In the end of the promenade, that’s Museum of Cham Sculpture, the most unique museum in Da Nang. It houses the largest collection of Champa kingdom’s stone sculptures and carvings in the world.

Not far away, do not miss APEC Park, a tree-filled park with a big white metal structure.

Next, walk across the Dragon Bridge. On the other side of the Han River, visitors can see Statue of Carp Dragon and Love Lock Bridge.

At night, near the Dragon Bridge, Son Tra Night Market, the biggest night market in Da Nang, is a must see for trying street foods and shopping. From Friday to Sunday, at 9:00 PM, the Fire and Water show at the bridge will take place.

See full details in https://hoiandaytrip.com/da-nang-self-guided-walking-tour/

Guided Tours to Da Nang Old Town

Here are guided tours to Da Nang Old Town:

– Da Nang Walking Tour to Most Famous Landmarks in City Center