Debay Wine Cellar is a historical site and must see attraction in Ba Na Hills, Da Nang Vietnam. Its history is linked with Ba Na Hills Station, a well-known mountain resort that existed in the 20th century (until 1945). French people and high-class Vietnamese people went here to relax, avoid the heat, and drink wine. All wine bottles would be preserved inside the Debay Wine Cellar. Today, tourists have the chance to taste wine and listen to stories about things that happened before from a local guide. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip company will provide all information about Debay Wine Cellar at Ba Na Hills.
You may also like: Ba Na Hills Brewery
• 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
Must Knows about Debay Wine Cellar (Ba Na Hills)
– Location/address: Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden, Sun World Ba Na Hills, An Son village, Hoa Ninh commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang Vietnam
– Name meaning: Debay is a French captain who discovered Ba Na Hills
– Other name(s): Debay Ancient Wine Cellar, Ba Na Hills Wine Cellar
– Year of construction: 1923 (over 100 years old)
– Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily
– Ticket price: 100,000 to 300,000 VND (including a glass of wine)
– How to get there: cable cars, walking, funicular
– Reason(s) to visit: the oldest wine cellar in Vietnam, the best preserved remains of French Ba Na hill station
– Best time to visit: early morning, late afternoon
– Time to spend: 15-60 mins
– Recognition(s): the oldest wine cellar in Vietnam
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/debay-wine-cellar-ba-na-hills
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: no
– Fact: Debay Wine Cellar is not used to preserve wine anymore
Debay Wine Cellar (Ba Na Hills) on Map
History & Architecture of Debay Wine Cellar
Debay Wine Cellar is one of the last remains surviving from French colonial time at Ba Na Hills today. This area served as a hill station and mountain resort in the 20th century until 1945. In the surrounding area of this cellar, many ruins of houses/villas where French people stayed, are still seen. Now, it’s transformed by beautiful flower gardens, stone statues and stepped streams.
Ba Na Hills’s Wine Cellar is named ‘Debay’ to commemorate Debay, a French captain who had duty to look for a hill station in central Vietnam (to replace Sapa in the north or Da Lat in the south) and he found Ba Na Mountain after that. One of the cable car stations is also named after him. The cable car from here carries the passenger to Morin Station in the French Village.
The wine cellar at Ba Na Hills was constructed in 1923 inside a small hill, by the money of 14 French men. They wanted to make use of low temperatures in the place to preserve grape wine (from 15 to 20oC at that time). Its entrance looks to Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Gardens. Stretching 100 meters, this wine cellar is like a tunnel but not straight. It’s designed to be zigzag, aiming to keep the cool air stay longer in it as well as to avoid stones because people dug it by hand with simple tools. Its vault is 2,5 meters high and 2 meters wide.
The largest space is in the middle of the Debay Ancient Wine Cellar. It’s used to place a bar for serving, tasting wine and drinking, a dancing floor, a dining room and a room to store common wine bottles. For locals, the maximum number of people here is 10. If more than 10 persons stay in it, the temperature will rise up and that’s not good for wine preservation. French people often invited Vietnamese people in the Nguyen royal family or high classes to come here and drink wine with them. This is the reason why the role of the place as a wine cellar stopped. During the day, there are hundreds of visitors staying in it to sightsee and learn about its history.
In the rest of Debay Wine Cellar, visitors can see arch caves carved into the mountain, including 5 big caves and 9 small caves. Each one of them belonged to one of 14 French men who sponsored the cellar construction. They were used to preserve private collections of wine bottles of their owners, with rare or expensive bottles brought from Europe. Two of 5 big caves were owned by Sir Morin who built the first hotel at Ba Na Hills station in 1919 (across Vietnam, ‘Morin hotels’ are still seen nowadays but do not belong to him anymore) and Sir Beison, a French lawyer and one of Morin’s best friends. Natural cold water running from the rocks is used to cool bottles of wine. Owner of other caves has not discovered yet. Back to history, in 1945, French people abandoned the wine cellar and all information about it was lost.
Inside a big cave near the end of Debay Wine Cellar, tools used to make Vietnamese traditional rice wine are exhibited. In the past, all wine bottles in Vietnam and Ba Na Hills must be imported from France because could not be produced in the country. After a long journey on the ship, there are lots of bottles lost due to storms and stolen by pirates, so remaining ones were very expensive. For that reason, wine was drunk by people from high classes only. To replace it, sometimes French people made rice wine to use as an alternative alcohol.
In the end of the wine cellar, there is a forest but today, landscaped gardens replace it. It’s named ‘Le Jardin d’Amour’ which means ‘Garden of Love’ in English.
During the Vietnam War, Ba Na Hills Wine Cellar was not used and still abandoned although the USA’s army was based here. Until 2011, it’s restored and added with oak barrels, bottles of wine, and other things to demonstrate what happened in the history. Nowadays, this place is one of the attractions not to miss in Sun World Ba Na Hills.
In 2022, nearly 100 years after Debay Wine Cellar was built, construction of another wine cellar started at Ba Na Hills. It’s located on another mountain, near the Lunar Castle. This modern and much larger cellar is designed by Marco Casamonti, a talented Italian architect who took Vietnamese traditional hat and brick building tradition at My Son Sanctuary into his own design. At an elevation of 1,427 meters, it will be the perfect place to preserve premium wine bottles, show and serve visitors coming from all over the world. The new wine cellar at Ba Na Hills has not been inaugurated yet. On the cable car between Golden Hands Bridge and the French Village, visitors can observe its construction. Below it, there is another cable car station.
Debay Wine Cellar Entrance Fee & Ticket
To enter Debay Wine Cellar, visitors need to pay an entrance fee. For adults and children above 1,4m in height, it’s 100,000 VND, 200,000 VND and 300,000 VND for Silver, Gold and Platinum classes respectively. It includes the entry to the wine cellar, an introduction about its history by a Vietnamese/English speaking guide, and a glass of wine (or soft drink or water). Children under 1,4m can visit for free, but do not have any beverage. If children under 18 years old, the bar won’t serve alcohol, according to Vietnamese law.
Complimentary wine options covered by entry fee are shown on the menu at Debay Bar, lying in the end of the cellar. After taking the favourite wine option, visitors can go outside, choose a table and then enjoy drinking with a view to pretty gardens in the below area, plus the back of the Giant Buddha. Seatings on the upper terrace bring a better scenery. Toilet is on this level. Downstairs, grilled meat barbecues with beef, chicken and ostrich choices (served with spicy kimchi, chilli/tomato sauce). Price of one skewer is from 100,000 VND.
Tickets are sold at the office to the right of Debay Wine Cellar’s entrance. Keep in mind to get the bill to show bartenders later the class/package you paid for. Your personal tour guide just can go if there are 5 or above persons buying tickets.
Importantly, the entry to Debay Wine Cellar is NOT included by Ba Na Hills tickets in 2024. If some places or people mention it’s still an inclusion, do not believe it!
The Bar at Debay Wine Cellar (Debay Bar)
The Debay Bar is at the end of the Debay Wine Cellar. It has another entrance opening to the Grape Garden of Le Jardin d’Amour Gardens, near the ticket office. Here, visitors will have the chance to taste different types of wine produced in Vietnam and many countries in the world. The wine is sold by glass or bottle at an inexpensive price. Bartenders or staff here don’t speak English well but understand basic words or get what tourists want to have (a lot of information are shown on the menu).
Debay Wine Cellar entry fee includes a glass of wine and ticket holders will need to come to Debay Bar to pick the favorite type of wine to drink.
Near the wine bar, grilled meat skewers are sold, with beef, ostrich, crocodile and chicken options, and without pork option, alongside with vegetables. The skewer will be served with kimchi (Korean spicy pickled cabbage) and chilli sauce/tomato sauce. Visitors can buy and bring it to nearby tables to try. Upstairs, there are more tables, including ones with a view of colorful gardens below, nearby forests and the back of a huge Buddha statue. Many of which look like a soak barrel. When it rains, the umbrella is available to keep drinkers dry. Toilets lie on this level too.
Additionally, grilled sausages made at Ba Na Hills by German technology, grilled sweet potato, sticky rice in bamboo,… can be found at the Debay wine bar.
If do not want to visit Debay Wine Cellar, visitors can go to Debay Bar to drink wine without walking through it. Ask the staff to know where the entrance is!
Tips to Debay Wine Cellar in Ba Na Hills
– A surcharge is required to visit Debay Wine Cellar in Ba Na Hills.
– In the dry season, from February to end of August, visitors should bring sun cream, sun glasses, hat/cap/umbrella, and bottles of water.
– In the rainy season, from September to January, visitors should bring rain poncho/jacket, umbrella, sandals or waterproof shoes. Remember to check the weather forecast before go.
– Debay Wine Cellar is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Ba Na Hills.
– No dress code regulation is required in Debay Wine Cellar.
– It’s better to visit Ba Na Hills with a local guide. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to book.
How to Get to Debay Wine Cellar in Ba Na Hills
Debay Wine Cellar is in Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden, Sun World Ba Na Hills, Hoa Ninh commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang Vietnam. It’s half way walking from Golden Hands Bridge to Linh Ung Ba Na Pagoda and vice versa.
From the nearest city to Ba Na Hills, Da Nang and Hoi An, visitors can take a car/minivan/bus or ride the motorbike. The distance from Da Nang is about 30 kilometers and from Hoi An is about 40 kilometers. If going by car, the drive is 40-45 minutes long from Da Nang and is over 1 hour long from Hoi An, depending on weather and traffic of the day. Those who ride the motorbike to Ba Na Hills, browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/ba-na-hills-by-motorbike for further details.
From Ba Na Hills entrance, the quickest way to reach Debay Wine Cellar is by taking the cable car at the Hoi An Station. After 15 mins, will land at Merseille Station. To get to the cellar, please walk across the Golden Hands Bridge, then past a French old house and past Le Jardin Funicular Station, and then downhill to Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Gardens. The entrance of the wine cellar is at the foot of the largest slope, to the left.
If the cable car at the Hoi An Station isn’t available, let’s go to Suoi Mo Station. It’s still needed to ride the cable car for 15 mins to Ba Na Station. To get to the cellar from here, take the funicular ride or climb the stairs. The first option is more popular because it’s easier. Firstly, visitors have to walk to the D’amour Station (underground) and then wait for a few minutes for the train. This transferring service is free of charge, and it takes 5 mins only to go up the hilltop. After arriving at Le Jardin Station, please walk downhill (no stairs) and the entrance of the wine cellar is at the foot of the second slope. If choose to walk, follow the car road and then climb stairs to Linh Ung Pagoda, then climb stairs again to the Big Buddha Statue and then walk uphill to Le Jardin D’amour Gardens.
If only cable cars at Thac Toc Tien Station or Champa Station are available, visitors will land at the French Village area first. From there, please find the quickest way to Louvre Station and ride the cable car to the next mountain. After landing, please walk downstairs, go through the Golden Hands Bridge and then go downhill through to Le Jardin D’amour Gardens.
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours and transfers in Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Itinerary to Visit Ba Na Hills for First Timer
Itinerary to explore Ba Na Hills depends on the schedule of the cable car on your day of travel and your arrival time. To have lunch or dinner, French Village, which has many restaurants and cafes, is the best place to go. Now, we suggest 4 itineraries corresponding four cable cars:
– From Hoi An Station: Marseille Station – Golden Bridge – Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden – Debay Wine Cellar – Big Buddha Statue – Linh Ung Pagoda – Bordeaux Station (near Golden Bridge) – Louvre Station – Eclipse Plaza, Atlas Statue, Lunar Castle – Dragon Den Station (inside Lunar Castle) – Mystery Well Station – French Village, Square du Dome, Fantasy Park (with Wax Museum, Jurassic Park, alpine coasters), Saint Denis Church, Helios Waterfall, Ba Na Hills Brewery – King Peak – L’Indochine Station or Taiga Station or the closest station that has been opened
– From Suoi Mo Station: Ba Na Station – Le d’Amour Station – Le Jardin Station – Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden – Debay Wine Cellar – Big Buddha Statue – Linh Ung Pagoda – Golden Bridge – Bordeaux Station (near Golden Bridge) – Louvre Station – Eclipse Plaza, Atlas Statue, Lunar Castle – Dragon Den Station (inside Lunar Castle) – Mystery Well Station – French Village, Square du Dome, Fantasy Park (with Wax Museum, Jurassic Park, alpine coasters), Saint Denis Church, Helios Waterfall, Ba Na Hills Brewery – King Peak – L’Indochine Station or Taiga Station or the closest station that has been opened
– From Thac Toc Tien Station: L’Indochine Station – French Village, Square du Dome, Fantasy Park (with Wax Museum, Jurassic Park, alpine coasters), Saint Denis Church, Helios Waterfall, Ba Na Hills Brewery – King Peak – Mystery Well Station (inside Arapang Restaurant) – Dragon Den Station (inside Lunar Castle) – Eclipse Plaza, Atlas Statue, Lunar Castle – Louvre Station – Golden Bridge – Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden – Debay Wine Cellar – Big Buddha Statue – Linh Ung Pagoda – Marseille Station (near Golden Bridge) or the closest station that has been opened
– From Champa Station: Taiga Station – French Village, Square du Dome, Fantasy Park (with Wax Museum, Jurassic Park, alpine coasters), Saint Denis Church, Helios Waterfall, Ba Na Hills Brewery – King Peak – Mystery Well Station (inside Arapang Restaurant) – Dragon Den Station (inside Lunar Castle) – Eclipse Plaza, Atlas Statue, Lunar Castle – Louvre Station – Golden Bridge – Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden – Debay Wine Cellar – Big Buddha Statue – Linh Ung Pagoda – Marseille Station (near Golden Bridge) or the closest station that has been opened
For more information and details, please browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/ba-na-hills-self-guided-tour
Places to Visit near Debay Wine Cellar in Ba Na Hills
Near Debay Wine Cellar, visitors can go to these places: Golden Hands Bridge (a must see/photograph place in Da Nang), French Village (a complex of majestic medieval style buildings), Saint Denis Church (a Gothic church with impressive height, architecture and decoration), King Peak (the highest point of the mountain, with its temples and pagodas), Fantasy Park (Vietnam’s first and largest indoor amusement park), Ba Na Hills Brewery (brew house where craft beers have been produced by German technology), Wax Museum (Vietnam’s first and largest wax statue museum with nearly 100 figures), Square du Dome (where amazing outdoor shows and performances occur), Jurassic Park (a small space showcasing animals and life in the era of dinosaurs), Eclipse Plaza (a magnificent combination of glass conical tower and grand collonnades), Lunar/Moon Castle (a massive stone-like castle with cinematic videos and shows), Atlas Statue (a giant sculpture which portrays Atlas god in Greek mythology), Debay Wine Cellar (a 100-years-old wine cellar built by French), Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden (a series of beautiful gardens with view to the city), Big Buddha Statue (27-meters-tall statue on the hilltop), Linh Ung Ba Na Pagoda (older than Linh Ung Pagoda at Son Tra Peninsula, younger than Linh Ung Pagoda at Marble Mountains).
In the park, the ride on funiculars, alpine coasters and world-record cable cars is also very interesting.
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours and transfers in Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Guided Tours to Ba Na Hills Da Nang Vietnam
Here are guided tours to Ba Na Hills Vietnam:
– Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Day Tour
– Ba Na Hills Private Tour with Golden Bridge & Lunch Buffet
– Ba Na Hills Early Morning Tour to Avoid the Crowds
– Ba Na Hills Sunset Tour with Golden Bridge & Dinner
– Ba Na Hills Night Tour with Golden Bridge Sunset & Dinner
– Ba Na Hills Muslim Tour with Halal Buffet & Prayer Room
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Marble Mountain Tour
– Ba Na Hills Day Tour with Chinese Speaking Guide
– Ba Na Hills Day Tour with Thai Speaking Guide
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Da Nang with Hoi An Drop Off
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Hoi An with Da Nang Drop Off
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Lady Buddha Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & My Son Sanctuary Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Hoi An Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Hoi An Pottery Village
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Hoi An Coconut Village
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour from Da Nang Cruise Port
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour from Chan May Cruise Port
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Lang Co
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours and transfers to Ba Na Hills from Da Nang/Hoi An/Hue. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Debay Wine Cellar in Ba Na Hills
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Debay Ancient Wine Cellar in Ba Na Hills:
