Da Nang Travel Guide - vacation, seasons, beaches, how to get there, transport

General Information

Da Nang (Da Nang, Danang, former French Turan or Tourane) - the fourth largest and most important city (after Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Haiphong), and at the same time a popular beach resort, one of the best in Vietnam. Located on the coast of central Vietnam (the coast of the South China Sea) approximately in the middle between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Da Nang on the map). It is the administrative center of Quang Nam-Da Nang province. The city is one of the fastest growing and economically developing in Vietnam, and tourism is also developing rapidly here. Population - more than a million people. The city has an international airport, railway station, intercity and international bus station, seaport. There is a General Consulate of Russia in Da Nang.

What kind of vacation in Da Nang and why come here

Da Nang is a developed city-resort with excellent beaches. In fact, the beaches here are among the best in Vietnam, and in 2005 they were even included by Forbes magazine in the list of the most attractive in the world. The main city beach My Khe stretches for six kilometers within the city limits, and for another 20 kilometers beyond its borders. And along this entire length there is sand, palm trees, and almost no vacationers.

We have a detailed review of Da Nang beaches, in which we told everything from personal experience about their infrastructure, prices, entertainment, there is a map of beaches. In general, there is everything you need to know to choose the perfect beach for your vacation. And here is brief information for quick understanding and choice:

In addition to being a beach resort, Da Nang is also one of the most modern and developing cities in Vietnam. The layout of the city is very different from other resort cities in the country for the better, even from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. There are very wide streets and modern buildings, there are even sidewalks and embankments along which you can actually stroll leisurely, rather than zigzag around countless shops and parked motorcycles.

In just a few years, modern hotel skyscrapers have grown on the multi-kilometer wastelands along the city beach, a modern amusement park has opened, and large shopping centers have started operating.

And at night, Da Nang dazzles guests with the bright lights of modern architectural wonders - the bridges of Da Nang, which the locals are so proud of. And once a year, Da Nang surprises guests with the colors of exploding fireworks, because an annual festival and fireworks competition is held here. This grandiose event takes place on schedule from April to June, and if you want to attend it, check the time in advance.

Our videos about Da Nang

If you prefer watching videos instead of reading or didn't understand something from our guides, then for you we made a video guide about Da Nang:

• 🎥 Breaking down Da Nang to the bone, part 1: how everything works here, beaches, seasons, prices
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Breaking down Da Nang to the bone, part 2: embankment, exchange, prices for fruits and food
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Breaking down Da Nang to the bone, part 3: infrastructure and districts, and what to do in the evening
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Breaking down Da Nang to the bone, part 4: Son Tra, Hai Van Pass, and summing up
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Review of a budget hotel in Da Nang and how much it costs
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Motorbike rental in Da Nang: where to rent, real prices, documents
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Da Nang Marble Mountains: what they don't show tourists
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 My Son ruins and how to visit them
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• ❤ Our entire playlist about Vietnam
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video

Da Nang infrastructure

Until recently, Da Nang was not too spoiled by the attention of foreign tourists and was not very suitable as a place for a long vacation. But the city is rapidly developing as a resort, perhaps like no other in Vietnam. And if during our first visits to Da Nang we walked through wastelands and construction sites along the main beach, now a new resort area with a cool promenade and all the necessary tourist infrastructure has appeared there.

Now there is everything you need for vacation and travel: a lot of hotels and guest houses, travel agencies, transport rental, cafes and restaurants, exchange offices and banks. The only thing that may still be lacking for Russian-speaking vacationers is travel agencies with guides who speak Russian, Russian information centers and shops of Vietnamese goods for Russian tourists, as in Nha Trang, for example. They just aren't here.

Even in English, it is not always possible to find a common language. In some places, the situation with knowledge of English is so bad that hotel staff at the reception do not even know the most basic phrases to check in guests, and we had to communicate through electronic translators on smartphones. Menus in restaurants are also often without English translation.

Shopping in Da Nang

Shopping is well developed. There are several large shopping centers, chain supermarkets, souvenir shops, markets, and street trading is flourishing. It is worth visiting the shopping centers Vincom Plaza, Parkson, Lotte mart, and the largest local market Han Market. There are chain supermarkets Go (Big-C) and Lotte Mart, where prices for all products and goods, including Vietnamese coffee, are as always very low. Winmart supermarkets are found throughout the city.

The main shopping area is not in the new tourist part of Da Nang (the area along My Khe beach), where there are not many shops yet. For shopping, it is best to go to the other side of the Han River to the area of Han Market and the streets Bach Dang and Duong Tran Phu near it. These streets have many shopping centers, boutiques, small shops, and stalls.

If you need something from electronics, then you can easily find everything you need in brand stores or in the chain hypermarket with the complex name Điện máy XANH (Green Machine).

Where to eat and food prices for budget calculation

There are many restaurants and cafes in Da Nang, but they have their own characteristics: menus in English are hard to find, staff mostly do not speak English. Actually, this does not complicate communication much, because you can always choose from the menu by pictures and explain with gestures and a calculator, but still sometimes difficulties with orders arise. The range of dishes in inexpensive cafes is not always suitable for tourists, but is more oriented towards locals. But there are many seafood restaurants. The highest quality and most expensive establishments can be found on the embankment.

The approximate price order for calculating the food budget is as follows:

• Eat everyday food in a budget cafe for locals – from 60,000/person / 2.28 USD.
• Eat in an inexpensive tourist cafe – from 120,000/person / 4.56 USD.
• Eat in a seafood restaurant – from 500,000/person / 19 USD.

Add to these expenses water, drinks, alcohol, fast food and "goodies" on the beach (ice cream, corn, coconuts, fruits) - that's about another 100,000 - 250,000 per person per day.

Many hotels in Da Nang, not only on tour but also when booking independently, include breakfast in the price or for an additional fee, including even as a buffet. This is very convenient so as not to waste time in the morning looking for a place to eat.

Where to buy a SIM card

The most convenient way is to buy SIM cards right at Da Nang airport upon arrival. Moreover, you can even choose a tariff and pay for the SIM online, and receive it at the counter at the airport or order delivery to the hotel (it's free), and it will be cheaper than buying on the spot. We have tested this method ourselves, it works great.

• Buy esim in Vietnam on trip.com
• Buy a physical card on trip.com with delivery to the hotel or pickup at Da Nang airport

If you couldn't buy at the airport, then you can:

1. Buy a SIM card from street agencies (recommended for short vacations up to 2 weeks). They are sold everywhere, just walk through the streets of the tourist area and pay attention to the signs. They are sold with a small markup and are not registered to you, but for a short vacation of a couple of weeks, this is not a problem at all.
2. Buy SIM cards at an official communication salon (makes sense for independent travelers for a long term). More tariff choices, cheaper price, registered to your passport. But you will first have to find an official operator's office and spend 30-60 minutes there.

All about tariffs, which one to choose and how to buy, we told in a separate guide about SIM cards in Vietnam.

Currency exchange, cards, ATMs

• Cash exchange

  You can exchange currency at the airport. We checked and calculated, the rate there is about 1.5% lower than you can find in the city, so if you don't need a large amount, you can safely exchange there. For reference, if you exchange 300 dollars, you will lose about 4.5 dollars compared to favorable exchange offices in the city. Whether this difference is worth spending time on vacation looking for exchange in the city is, of course, up to you.

  Just calculate the exchange rate difference in advance on a calculator, as the situation may change. We always act according to a simple algorithm for this: get the current official dollar rate in a currency converter app or in a search engine, subtract 1% from it, and below this figure we do not exchange at the airport, unless there is an acute need and no other options.

  However, it is worth noting that in Vietnam there has been a phenomenal situation with cash exchange for many years: you can exchange in jewelry stores at a higher rate than the official one. Therefore, in a standard situation at resorts and in cities, we never exchange new and old dollars at a rate lower than the official one.

  If you need to exchange at a more favorable rate, then you need to do it at exchange offices in the city. They are in the tourist area, you can easily find them while walking, just pay attention to the signs on establishments. In general, they exchange anywhere: in travel agencies, private shops, even in pharmacies. We do not exchange in banks, the rate is always lower there.

  

  But if you need a really good rate for a large amount, then go to places we have tested multiple times - jewelry workshops and stores. There are many near Han Market (on the map); near the local market Cho An Hai Dong (on the map); opposite the Go! supermarket (former Big-C), this is near the large Con Market. From the tourist area, it is easiest, even on foot, to get to Cho An Hai Dong (on the map). Come to the place, and simply walk along the street and ask for rates in jewelry stores, compare and exchange. Do not exchange below the official rate in the app or Google here, they always have a higher rate.

  Read our reliable guide on the topic, and you will know all about money in Vietnam:

  • Money in Vietnam: what to pay with, where to exchange, what currency to bring and everything else.

• Cards and ATMs

  Cards are in use in Da Nang, you can pay and withdraw almost everywhere from supermarkets to travel agencies. Cards are not accepted only in markets and small stores, for motorbike rental. There are also many ATMs.

  UnionPay cards work. Not everywhere and not always, but from personal experience we pay with UnionPay without problems in 9 out of 10 cases, only in very rare places they don't work or there is no suitable terminal. You can also withdraw money with UnionPay without problems, but it is noticeably less profitable than paying by card or exchanging cash. On this account, we have a detailed calculation and comparison in real numbers - Which UnionPay RSHB card to choose: rubles, yuan, dollars or euros.

  Mir cards work, but very limitedly. You can only pay at retail outlets from a list, which makes it practically inapplicable for payment in reality. You can withdraw money at one of four ATMs of VRB bank, nowhere else. Losses when withdrawing cash due to commissions and low exchange rate 8-10% compared to cash. Find VRB ATMs on Google Maps or download this file with addresses.

  Read our reliable guide on the topic, and you will learn a lot more useful information:

  • Bank cards in Vietnam: which work, is it profitable to use, how Mir cards work

Hotels and where to stay

There are a lot of hotels in Da Nang, and new ones open every year. Prices are rising every year along with the popularity of the resort, but still compared to other countries, including in Southeast Asia, the cost of accommodation here is very affordable. Prices for reference:

• Hostel bed - from 150,00 dong / 5.7 USD.
• Room in an inexpensive guesthouse for two with air conditioning - from 300,000 dong / 11.4 USD.
• Room in a hotel for two with air conditioning and breakfast - from 400,000 dong / 15.2 USD.
• Room in a hotel equivalent to 4-5 stars - from 1,000,000 dong (37.99 USD).

Of course, prices change by season, but overall the order is approximately the same.

Search and book hotels in Da Nang on the following sites from the list below. Lately we most often book everything on Trip.com, but still each time we compare prices in all systems in search of the best deal.

• 🛌 Search for hotels in Da Nang on Trip.com (👍 Mir cards work)
• 🛌 Hotels in Da Nang on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

If possible, be more attentive when choosing a location for a hotel in Da Nang. It is a huge city, and it is easy to unknowingly choose a good and inexpensive hotel, but end up far from the beach or infrastructure.

Our advice on this issue is simple: stay in the tourist area near My Khe beach, and you will have everything nearby. If you need a specific atmosphere and surroundings on vacation, then you can consider other areas. We have traveled and walked around the districts of Da Nang more than once, formed our opinion about them, and share everything in our detailed review of districts for accommodation in Da Nang, which will help you decide where it is better to settle.

Weather in Da Nang and tourist seasons, when is the best time to go

There is no reason not to go to Da Nang because of the weather at one time or another of the year: it is always warm and cozy here. But two seasons are conventionally distinguished: dry season and rainy season (wet season).

The hottest period in Da Nang is from August to September, when the average temperature is 33°C-34°C. The lowest average temperature from December to February is 18°C-19°C, but during the day in this period it is still hot and even more comfortable than in other periods, and only at night the temperature drops.

• 🌞 Dry season (high season) from January to August . This time is considered ideal for visiting central Vietnam. The best time for "swimming" vacation is from May to August, since at this time there are almost no waves at sea. The lowest rainfall is from January to April.

• ☔ Rainy season (low season) from September to December. It is also hot at this time, but it often rains, and the sky is almost always covered with clouds. The most precipitation falls in October and November. Sometimes in September-October typhoons, heavy rains and floods can hit the coast, but more often it happens that the weather is excellent even in the off-season. It is in the low season that you can save a lot on the trip, as hotels drop prices sometimes up to 50%.

Tourist seasons in Da Nang by months, when is the best time to go

Current weather in Da Nang and forecast for the near future:

График приливов и отливов в Дананге подробно ⧉

How to get to Da Nang

Da Nang is located in central Vietnam, 750 kilometers from Hanoi and 800 from Ho Chi Minh City (Da Nang on the map). You can get here from other countries by plane through Da Nang International Airport, and from cities in Vietnam by train and intercity buses.

The easiest way is to fly here directly by plane, but flight prices are not always acceptable, and therefore the most economical travelers fly first to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang, and there transfer to a local plane, train or bus, which can save 100-200 dollars. You can also get to Da Nang by bus from Laos.

We have broken down all the ways, how and on what to get to Da Nang in a detailed guide, and here is brief information by directions:

• From cities in Russia, CIS and other countries. It is best to fly directly to Da Nang airport by international flight. But if you couldn't find tickets or the price doesn't suit you, then you can fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Nha Trang, and from there by bus, train or again by plane with local airlines.
• From Da Nang airport. From the airport by taxi from 100,000 dong or bus for 8,000 dong (10-20 minutes).
• From Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. It is best to fly (1 hour 20 minutes). If you buy tickets in advance several weeks before, the prices are very affordable. Overland by bus (cheapest, 14 hours travel), or by train (more comfortable, but noticeably more expensive than bus).
• From Nha Trang. From Nha Trang there are direct flights by plane (1 hour), or bus and train (10 hours).
• From Da Lat. There are direct flights by plane (1 hour), or bus (13-14 hours).
• From Mui Ne/Phan Thiet. From the Mui Ne resort area there are no buses to Da Nang. From Phan Thiet bus station there is a direct bus (13-15 hours). Or go to Ho Chi Minh City airport and there take a plane to Da Nang. But taking into account the time to get to the airport, it won't be much faster.
• From Phu Quoc. By plane direct flight 1 hour 45 minutes. There is no point in traveling overland, as it will take at least two days for the trip.
• From other cities in Vietnam. Da Nang is the largest transport hub in central Vietnam, you can get there by direct buses from almost everywhere. There are direct buses from Vung Tau, Phan Rang, Sapa, Cat Ba Island,
• From Laos. There are direct buses from Vientiane.

ЦЕНА	ПЕРЕСАДКИ	АВИАКОМПАНИЯ	ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА	ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ
Купить от 54875 ₽	3 пересадки		29.05.2026	20.06.2026
Купить от 47938 ₽	2 пересадки		19.06.2026	29.06.2026
Купить от 55754 ₽	2 пересадки		21.07.2026	05.08.2026
Купить от 47795 ₽	2 пересадки		19.08.2026	18.09.2026
Купить от 47261 ₽	2 пересадки		01.09.2026	29.09.2026
Купить от 59171 ₽	2 пересадки		10.10.2026	24.10.2026

ЦЕНА	МАРШРУТ	ПЕРЕСАДКИ
Купить от 47850 ₽	Москва ⇄ Дананг	2
Купить от 65583 ₽	Санкт-Петербург ⇄ Дананг	2
Купить от 54583 ₽	Новосибирск ⇄ Дананг	Прямой
Купить от 34454 ₽	Владивосток ⇄ Дананг	Прямой
Купить от 55381 ₽	Казань ⇄ Дананг	Прямой
Купить от 48741 ₽	Красноярск ⇄ Дананг	1
Купить от 45012 ₽	Хабаровск ⇄ Дананг	Прямой
Купить от 32736 ₽	Благовещенск ⇄ Дананг	Прямой

Transport in Da Nang, how to get around the city

Da Nang is a large city, and for a full-fledged vacation and acquaintance with its attractions, if you are not going to limit yourself to the hotel territory and a trip to the beach, you will need transport. Fortunately, there is a full range of options from budget buses to car rental with a driver. The main ways of getting around are walking, taxis, motorbike rental and city buses.

In our opinion, Da Nang is one of the most comfortable cities in Vietnam for walking due to its wide sidewalks and embankments. However, distances can be large: from the beach area to the center - 2-3 kilometers. For navigation, it is convenient to use offline maps (work without internet), such as Organic Maps or Maps.me. Download points from our Da Nang map in them, and go for walks.

Taxis and motorbike taxis

For trips around the city, it is convenient and inexpensive to use a taxi. The cost starts from 12,000 dong (0.46 USD) for boarding by meter, and an average trip around the center will cost about 60,000 dong (2.28 USD). A motorbike taxi costs almost half as much.

We recommend ordering rides through mobile apps - it is transparent and often more profitable. In Vietnam, the following are popular:

• Grab optimal choice in terms of the number of cars and service.
• XanhSm eco-friendly taxi on electric cars, a bit more expensive.
• Maxim the cheapest option, but you may have to wait a long time for a car.
• InDrive convenient for long trips, for example, to Hoi An or to Ba Na Mountain.

Payment in all apps is available in cash after the trip.

Motorbike rental

Scooter rental is a popular way for independent travel. Prices start from 100,000 dong (3.8 USD) per day for a semi-automatic. It is easy to find rental in the tourist area of My Khe beach or through Google Maps, by contacting the owners directly.

Technically, an international driver's license category "A" is required for driving, although in practice they are rarely checked. As a deposit, they usually ask for a passport or a copy of it.

City buses

The most budget, but not always the most convenient option for a tourist. The route network covers the center, but is weakly connected to the beach area. The fare costs from 8,000 to 30,000 dong. But if you show a little skill in orientation, you can get to key points such as Marble Mountains, Hoi An, railway or bus station, and even go to Ba Na Mountain very cheaply by bus.

For route planning, you can try the DanaBus app or Google Maps, but information in them is not always up to date. It is more reliable to clarify routes on the spot. And about the most popular routes that we have personally checked, you can learn from our guide on Da Nang buses.

Attractions and entertainment in Da Nang: what to do and what to see

Da Nang is not only excellent beaches, but also good opportunities to get acquainted with history and culture by visiting museums and attractions. In the city itself, you will find modern and traditional architecture, interesting museums and picturesque embankments, and within an hour's drive - UNESCO sites, mountain resorts and stunning nature.

We have prepared a selection of the most significant places that are worth visiting, even if you have little time. All attractions can be conditionally divided into two groups: city (architecture, museums, promenades) and out-of-town (nature, historical complexes).

Top-14 most important attractions

If your visit to Da Nang is time-limited, we recommend focusing on this list:

• Marble Mountains
• Cave of Heaven and Hell
• Cham Museum
• Da Nang Museum
• Dragon Bridge
• Han River cruises
• Linh Ung Temple
• Local market
• My Son ruins
• Ba Na Mountain and Sun World amusement park
• Golden Bridge (bridge on hands)
• Hai Van Pass
• Romantic Hoi An
• Imperial Hue

Routes for different travelers

To help you plan, we have combined key places into logical routes. Choose the appropriate one or combine them.

• 📍 If you only have 1-2 days (classic minimum)

  Focus on the most iconic places that are nearby:

  • Morning: Marble Mountains (climbing the mountain, caves, panoramas).
  • Day: Cham Museum (history of the region) or Linh Ung Temple (view of the city).
  • Evening: Dragon Bridge (lighting and show on weekends at 21:00), walk along the Han River embankment.

  How to get around: taxi or rented bike. Marble Mountains are on the way to Hoi An.

• 👪 If you are traveling with children

  Entertainment, interactivity and comfort:

  • Main hit: Ba Na Mountain with Golden Bridge, cable car and amusement park (needs a whole day).
  • Alternative in the city: Danang DownTown amusement park with Ferris wheel.
  • Relaxation: My Khe beach with gentle entrance, visit to Son Tra marina restaurant with photo locations.

  Tip: it is better to plan a trip to Ba Na on a weekday to avoid queues.

• 🏛 If you are interested in history and culture

  Immersion in the heritage of the Champa Empire and Vietnam:

  • Must see: My Son ruins (UNESCO archaeological complex, half a day).
  • In the city: Museum of Cham Sculpture (best collection), Da Nang Museum (modern updated museum).
  • Out of town: one-day trip to Hoi An (UNESCO old town) or Hue (imperial citadel).

  Logistics: it is convenient to go to My Son in the morning by taxi or with an excursion. Hoi An can be combined with Marble Mountains.

• 🏞 If you love nature and active recreation

  Mountains, beaches and scenic roads:

  • Motor or auto trip: Hai Van Pass - one of the most beautiful roads in Vietnam.
  • Trekking: Bach Ma National Park (caves and climbs), exploring the Son Tra Peninsula.
  • Beach relaxation: secluded bays on Son Tra or secret beaches at the foot of Hai Van (for the prepared).

  Important: for a trip to the pass and exploring Son Tra, your own transport is desirable (rented bike/car).

🕒 17 April, 2026