Son Tra Mountain in Da Nang is home to hundreds of endangered red-shanked douc langurs and inquisitive long-tailed macaques. These free-roaming monkeys frequently inhabit roadside areas near the coastline, delighting visitors with their active daily behavior. Travelers should admire them from a safe distance and avoid feeding them to protect their natural foraging habits.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP
• 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 Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang
– Location/address: Tho Quang ward, Son Tra district, Da Nang city, Vietnam
– Name’s meaning: ‘Son Tra’ means ‘camellia (flower) mountain’
– How to pronounce:
– Other name(s): Son Tra Mountain, Monkey Mountain (by American), Son Cha Mountain, Monkey Island, the Clam Mountain (by Chinese)
– Opening hour(s): sunrise to sunset
– Ticket price: free
– Area: 43,7 km2
– Height/elevation: 715 meters (2,198 ft)
– Reason(s) to visit: awe-inspiring sceneries from mountains to sea, untouched forests, red shanked douc (one of 25 world’s rarest primate species), 67-meters-tall Lady Buddha Statue, Linh Ung Pagoda, beautiful beaches, coral reefs, hiking trails
– Best time to visit: early morning, late afternoon, sunny days
– Time to spend: from 30 mins
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/son-tra-peninsula-travel-guide
– Recognition(s): national nature reserve (1992)
– Emblem: red shanked douc (Son Tra langur)
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: no
– Tour guide: contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Fact: Son Tra Night Market, the city’s biggest night market is not in Son Tra Peninsula/Mountain!
Son Tra Peninsula on Map
Are There Monkeys at Son Tra Peninsula?
Yes, monkeys live in Son Tra Peninsula at Da Nang Vietnam. That’s why it’s known as the Monkey Mountain. However, there are some different types of ‘monkey’ here, in perspective of a tourist.
The monkey you see most in Son Tra Peninsula is the Indochinese rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). It is a resilient, medium-sized primate species native to the coastal rainforests and mountain slopes of the Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang. Recognized by their brownish-grey fur and distinctive pinkish-red faces, these social animals live in structured troops distributed across the reserve. Within the local ecosystem, they play an essential role as seed dispersers, helping maintain the health and diversity of the peninsula’s subtropical vegetation. However, high levels of human contact and unauthorized provisioning by tourists have led many troops to become heavily habituated, creating ongoing wildlife management and conservation challenges.
There is another ‘monkey’ which visitors can see in Son Tra Peninsula is red shanked douc langur (popularly called ‘Son Tra langurs’). Often celebrated as the “queen of primates,” it is a critically endangered species natively endemic to the forests of Indochina, with the Son Tra Peninsula hosting the largest known wild population. These striking arboreal animals are instantly recognizable by their vibrant, multi-colored coats, which feature distinctive red lower legs, white forearms, black hands and feet, and a soft gray body. Strictly folivorous by nature, they spend their days high in the forest canopy selectively foraging for young leaves and shoots. Read more information and details
To see red shanked douc langurs, stay in Intercontinental Resort or trek inside the forests.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tour and transfer to Son Tra Peninsula (Monkey Mountain).
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation.
Thank you very much!
Where to See Monkeys in Son Tra Peninsula?
Visitors can find macaque monkeys in these spots on Son Tra Peninsula (from the city):
– Near the crossroad of Le Van Luong Street and Hoang Sa Street
– Viewpoint near Dong Dinh Museum and below the Lady Budda (location on Google maps: 16°05’56.8″N 108°16’32.8″E)
– The giant Lady Buddha statue (67 meters)
– Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda (where Lady Buddha is located within)
– The slop on the coastal road near the entrance of Intercontinental Danang Resort (location on Google maps: 16°06’44.1″N 108°18’32.5″E)
– On the main road from the base to Ban Co Peak
– Around Ban Co Peak (top of Son Tra Mountain)
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tour and transfer to Son Tra Peninsula (Monkey Mountain).
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation.
Thank you very much!
Monkey Feeding in Son Tra Peninsula
Here are reasons why visitors should not feed monkeys in Son Tra Peninsula:
Reason 1: Disrupts natural foraging habits
Relying on tourist handouts makes macaques abandon their natural foraging and seed-dispersing instincts within the forest. Instead of searching for native fruits and leaves, they learn to expect easy meals from passing vehicles. This behavioral shift creates an unnatural dependency that compromises their ability to survive independently in the wild.
Reason 2: Severe health impacts
Human foods, processed snacks, and sugary items lack the balanced nutrients wild primates require for proper growth and long-term health. Consuming these unnatural diets frequently leads to severe nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and dental decay among the monkey populations. Over time, poor nourishment significantly weakens their immune systems and shortens their lifespans.
Reason 3: Increased risk of aggression and bites
Food-conditioned macaques quickly lose their natural warfulness and begin viewing humans primarily as sources of food. When visitors refuse or run out of snacks, these animals often become aggressive, biting, scratching, or snatching belongings. This dangerous shift turns popular tourist viewpoints into unpredictable zones for human-wildlife conflict.
Reason 4: Traffic hazards and road accidents
The expectation of food lures monkeys out of the dense jungle canopy and directly onto busy asphalt roadways and resort perimeters. Lingering near traffic to beg from cars dramatically increases the frequency of fatal vehicular collisions. Consequently, roadside feeding acts as a major driver of accidental mortality for the peninsula’s wildlife.
Reason 5: Transmission of zoonotic diseases
Close physical proximity and direct feeding facilitate the dangerous two-way transmission of pathogens and infectious diseases between humans and primates. Because of our shared genetic makeup, viruses and bacteria can easily jump species lines during these close encounters. This puts both vulnerable wildlife populations and tourists at severe risk of contracting communicable illnesses.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tour and transfer to Son Tra Peninsula (Monkey Mountain).
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation.
Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Monkeys in Son Tra Peninsula
Here are beautiful photos and videos:
