Is Ba Na Hills Worth It? Reasons Why You Should & Shouldn’t Visit

Sun World Ba Na Hills is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Da Nang & Hoi An. Its history started from French colonial time when it served as a mountain resort. After being abandoned, this place is revived and becomes a big draw for visitors who come from Vietnam and the rest of the world. Every year, millions of people come here on their holiday. Why is it so famous? Now let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company tell you reasons why Ba Na Hills are worth visiting (and also not worth visiting!).

You may also like: Is Golden Hands Bridge Worth Visiting?

• 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 Ba Na Hills in Da Nang

– Location/address: An Son village, Hoa Ninh commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city, Vietnam

– Entrance address: in the end of Ba Na – Suoi Mo Road (from the city)

– Name pronunciation:

– Other name(s): Ba Na Suoi Mo Tourist Area, Ba Na Hills Mountain Resort, Ba Na Hill Station, Disneyland of Vietnam, Ba Na Nui Chua Nature Reserve

– Elevation/altitude: 1,400 to 1,487 meters (around 4,800 ft)

– Opening hour(s): 8 AM to 10 PM everyday

– Ticket price: 850,000 to 1,250,000 VND for adults, 750,000 to 950,000 VND for children (2024)

– Discovery: 1901 by French people

– Establishment day: 25th March 2009

– Getting there: cable car, car/van, motorbike

– Reason(s) to visit: world-record cable cars, Golden Hands Bridge, cool and fresh atmosphere, breath-taking sceneries, many attractions and exciting activities, lots of photo opportunities, more

– Best time to visit: dry season (February to September), sunny days

– Time to spend: at least 1/2 day

– Emblem: bell-shaped cherry blossom which blooms in every spring

– Owner: Sun Group (Vietnam)

– Recognition(s): Asia’s leading theme park by World Travel Awards, Vietnam’s leading tourist attraction by Vietnam National Authortity of Tourism

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/ba-na-hills-travel-guide

– Food & drink: yes available

– Shopping: yes available

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

– Official website: https://banahills.sunworld.vn

– Fact: Ba Na Hills is established by French people in 1900s with purposse to escape the heat in Da Nang

Top 15+ Reasons to Visit Ba Na Hills Vietnam

Golden Hands Bridge at Ba Na Hills

Golden Hands Bridge is a world-famous attraction in Ba Na Hills. It’s widely known for a unique and inspirational architecture. This 150-meters-long walking bridge is supported by two giant hands that are stone-like, rough, and mossy. The design portrays the hands of the Mountain God which rises out from the forest, pulls a golden silk string from the hill, and gives it to all visitors. Vietnamese architects and designers used different materials to create the building, such as fiberglass and wire mesh to form the hands or titanium to plate bridge’s handrails. See more information & details

Ba Na Hills Has Many Stunning Attractions & Activities

In this park, there are lots of things to see and do, such as Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden, Debay Wine Cellar, Big Buddha Statue, Linh Ung Ba Na Pagoda, Fantasy Park, French Village, King Peak, Lunar Castle, Eclipse Square, Atlas Statue, Wax Museum, Jurassic Park, Helios Waterfall, Ba Na Hills Brewery, Square Du Dome, funicular rides, alpine coaster rides, outdoor live performances, shopping, eating different cuisines, etc.

Most Ba Na Hills tickets include the entry to Golden Hands Bridge and nearly all of the above mentioned things to see/do. So, it’s needed to spend at least 1/2 day to explore this park if don’t want to miss any highlights. If traveling with kids, they can have lots of fun in the theme park or join exciting activities/festivals throughout the day. So, no doubt, it’s totally worth a trip to Golden Bridge and Ba Na Hills.

World Record Cable Cars to Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is widely famous for its guiness-record cable cars. The first cable car here was built in 2009, and considered to be the longest cable car on our planet (5 kilometers long). This cable car carries passengers to an elevation of approx 1,400 meters, giving it another record for the biggest difference in altitude between first and final stations. It’s needed about 15 mins to finish one ride. During it, visitors can see a such beautiful scenery, including rolling mountains, dense and old forests, tall waterfalls, rivers, outcrops, clouds, midst, sunrise or sunset, animals as well as a panoramic view to the whole below areas (stretching until the horizon). A ride on Ba Na Hills cable cars is unforgettable, adventurous, and good value for money. See more information & details

Ba Na Hills is Good for Kids

Travel to Da Nang Hoi An with kids or young adults and do not know where to go? Ba Na Hills is absolutely a good place to visit. Here, kids can watch the nature during the cable car ride, go to the amusement park with games and fun rides, participate outdoor activities, meeting with international artists, take photo with iconic spots, flower gardens with exotic sculptures, try different cuisines in the world, watch cinematic videos at Lunar Castle, climb to the highest point of the mountain, etc. See more information & details

Ba Na Hills Has Many Instagrammable Places

Just like Hoi An, Ba Na Hills has a plenty of photo spots for those who seek beautiful instagram pictures. Right in the main entrance, the gates, gardens, and walkways designed with an inspiration from Vietnamese traditional culture, provide many opportunities. During the cable car ride, visitors can have some shoots (and selfies) with white-water falls, sheer rock faces, incredible bird’s eye views or rolling mountains topped by forests. By the cable car at the Hoi An station, visitors will come to the Golden Hands Bridge, a must-see for all instagrammers in the world. If possible, let’s visit this place in the early morning or late afternoon/sunset, to have pictures with no people. The light is better in those times too. On the same hill but lower terraces, flower gardens in Le Jardin D’Amour, Debay Wine Cellar, and Linh Ung Pagoda (a 27-meters-tall buddha statue here).

In another section of Ba Na Hills, visitors will see massive European-style castles, church, quarters, water fountains, gardens, statues and sculptures, squares. All of them recalls a wealthy and splended city in the Europe. We recommend going to the Eclipse plaza (a conical glass cone with two colannades here, reminding about Louvre museum and Vatican), the Lunar castle with Atlas statue, the French village (with Helios waterfall, magnificent Saint Denis church, grand Mercure hotel building, stone paved walking paths, sculptures, amusement rides), or King Peak/Nui Chua (with two temples, one tower, and views to the whole park).

No doubt, visitors can roam around Ba Na Hills and hunt beautiful photos for social media. Yes, it’s a really good idea to spend a full day. This reason makes Ba Na Hills worth visiting (and exploring for many hours).

Easy to Find Tours to Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is a popular tourist attraction, so visitors have no difficulty looking for a guided day trip from Da Nang or Hoi An or Hue cities. After around one hour transfer, the guide will show the way to ride one of world record cable cars, or to sightsee Golden Bridge, Le Jardin D’Amour gardens, Debay wine cellar, Linh Ung pagoda, Gautama Buddha statue, French Village, Lunar Castle, Fantasy Park, Nui Chua (King Peak), watch shows, go in funicular rides,…

Brilliant Sunrise/Sunset at Golden Bridge

From a height of 1,414 meters, watching sunrise or sunset at Golden Hands Bridge is a stunning experience. The amazing bridge itself with red-orange sky behind is just perfect for taking photos. Furthermore, there are no crowds at this time either. Without the bridge, landscape pictures will be great as well. Definitely, Golden Bridge is amongst the best spots to see sunrise and sunset in Da Nang.

Abundant Food Options in Ba Na Hills

There are lots of food options in Ba Na Hills, including both Asian and Western cuisines. Visitors can see authentic Vietnamese restaurants, and restaurants serving French, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Russian, Thai, and Indian dishes. The most popular lunch choice is the international buffet (sometimes if buy a combo of entry ticket and buffet ticket, the price is cheaper). It includes appetizers, main courses, and desserts, such as classic Vietnamese dishes (fried spring rolls, pho noodle soup, steamed rice cakes, crispy rice pancakes, fresh rice rolls,…). A Japanese buffet, an Indian buffet, and a hot pot buffet are available as well.

Not only indoor spaces, outdoor food courts are seen around Ba Na Hills too. There, visitors can have scrumptious barbecues with tapped or craft beers, and listen to live music, watch fun performances or simplier, enjoy the beautiful weather of the mountain. At night, the food court at the French Village is still opened, plus bornfire in some days.

Vibrant Night Time in Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills still opens at night (visitors can not stay overnight here if do not book the hotel). During this time, it becomes splendid and romantic thanks to fairy lights and the fog in the rainy season. That’s why it’s known as a little Europe in Vietnam. After the sunset, visitors can go to the French Village area to eat and drink at the outdoor food court or Beer Plaza Restaurant (live music here), visit and try different craft beers at the brewery, dance with international artists, watch 3D mapping light shows, etc. The view of the city lit up by a million lamps is incredible. See more information & details

100-Years-Old Debay Wine Cellar

If researched about Ba Na Hills, everybody knows that French colonists stayed here in the first half of 20th century (because of cool weather). Besides private villas atop hills, small hotels, and the road leading to the peak, they also constructed a wine cellar. This wine cellar, Debay Wine Cellar has about 100 years ago (built in 1923). It includes a 100-meters-long tunnel through a small rocky hill, with many holes where bottles of wine are preserved. French owners used natural cold water to have lower temperatures for their own wine. If don’t visit Ba Na Hills, visitors have no other places in the country to see an ancient wine cellar as well as taste different kinds of wine with a view to lovely flower gardens. This special experience makes Ba Na Hills worth visiting again. See more information & details

Longest Mountain Alpine Coasters in Vietnam

In Ba Na Hills today, visitors can go to Fantasy Park and then ride on the longest alpine coaster tracks in the mountains in Vietnam. Plus turns and high speed, the rider and even the friend behind will have a fun-filled, adventurous time while riding by himself/herself. In 2024, there are 3 alpine coasters to choose from, and each costs 70,000 VND each person. See more information & details

Breathtaking Natural Scenery in Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills sits on the top of a high mountain (1,487 meters above sea level) and in the middle of an untouched nature reserve Ba Na Nui Chua. For that reason, the scenery here is breathtaking and great to photograph. During sunny months, visitors can catch an incredibly beautiful panoramic view to below area (plus very cool breeze). In the rainy season, the mountains are cloudy, bringing a heaven-like landscape. The waterfall at Ba Na Hills falls from top of a 70-meters-high cliff.

Cool Weather & Fresh Air in Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is on the top of Nui Chua (King Peak), between 1,400 and 1,487 meters above sea level. It’s also in the middle of Ba Na – Nui Chua nature reserve, home to thousands of plant and animal species. Thanks to this special geographical location, the weather here is perfect for relaxation and recreation, not just a day trip. The temperature is always lower a few degrees than below cities, and it can be cold at night or during the rainy season. On hot days, Ba Na Hills is a perfect place to escape the heat. The atmosphere here is fresh, unpolluted. During the day, weather at Ba Na Hills changes, and is popularly known for ‘4 seasons in one day’.

Exciting Shows & Performances

Throughout the day, there are many exciting shows and performances occuring around Ba Na Hills, including outdoor spectacle and lots of dance styles. All of them are hosted by artists who come from Europe and the Americas (will be interesting for those who do not live there), bringing such a festive atmosphere. Sure, these are worth watching. In the end, artists stand back and spend time for taking photos with the audience. See more information & details

Ba Na Hills is On Top of Da Nang & Hoi An

There is a fact that Ba Na Hills is on the top of Da Nang Hoi An area. Its highest point, the King Peak is at an elevation of 1,487 meters (while Marble Mountains is only 108 meters and Monkey Mountain is only 700 meters). From here, during the day, visitors can catch a beautiful panoramic view of the whole hill station (surrounded by forests). At night, the city with millions of lights can be observed. If staying in the hotel, let’s come here to watch the sunrise. It won’t be disappointed!

Additionally, on the peak, there are two temples where visitors can sightsee or pray.

Majestic Eclipse Plaza at Ba Na Hills

The Elipse Plaza is between Moon kingdom and Sun kingdom, characterized by an enormous glass-and-metal tower which looks like a Vietnamese conical hat. It’s inspired by the world-famous pyramid at Paris, France. On both sides, there are great colonnades decorated by lots of statues of Greek gods and gorgeous mural paintings. See more information & details

Glorious Helios Waterfall at Ba Na Hills

The Helios Waterfall is one of the architectural masterpieces at Ba Na Hills. It’s designed and constructed by globally famous Italian artists. This grand cascade is inspired by the much greater one at St Petersburg city, Russia. It becomes so glamorous and imperial because of dozens of yellow bronze statues of Greek gods and goddesses. No matter day or night, this is a must see attraction at Ba Na Hills. See more information & details

Reasons Not to Visit Ba Na Hills Vietnam

Besides many good reasons to visit Ba Na Hills or make it worth seeing, there are still some reasons which visitors should not visit it:

– In the wet season, the weather in Ba Na Hills is bad (heavily rainy, wet, cloudy). Sure, there is nothing much to do here if travel on a day like that. We advise checking the weather forecast carefully once you pay for tickets or tours.

– To get to Ba Na Hills, visitors must use the cable car. Those who are scared of heights, or have heart/brain diseases, may not be able to visit this place (and its Golden Hands Bridge).

– Ba Na Hills is an extensive park, with plenty of places at different elevations in the mountain. Therefore, visitors have to walk a lot. Those who can’t walk too much or have limited mobility, should consider carefully before going. If just interested in Golden Bridge, it’s totally fine to walk and sightsee then.

– Ba Na Hills tickets are more expensive than many tourist attractions in the area. If traveling with a budget, visitors may need to consider carefully before going.

– During the year, especially during high seasons, Ba Na Hills is very crowded. To avoid this, visitors should go in the early morning or late afternoon. See more information & details

– There is a limited number of places in Ba Na Hills that are wheelchair accessible.

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

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 Half 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 Afternoon Tour

– Ba Na Hills Sunset Tour with Golden Bridge & Dinner

– Ba Na Hills Night Tour with Golden Bridge Sunset & Dinner

– Ba Na Hills Instagram Tour

– 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