Top Things to do in Da Nang

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Da Nang, Vietnam is a beautiful and quiet city located on the coast in Central Vietnam. It is filled with history, enchanting temples, fascinating bridges, wonderful restaurants, a beautiful beach and a fun amusement park. It is the fourth largest city in the country and its origins date back to 192 AD. Overall, Da Nang was one of the most mystical places I’ve visited.

During February 2020, I traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia with a friend. We started our trip in Ho Chi Minh in Southern Vietnam and then took a short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. After spending a few days in Siem Reap, we took another short flight back to Vietnam where we explored Da Nang for two days. Our time in Da Nang was a breath of fresh air as we got to stay at the eco-friendly Bridges Da Nang boutique hotel that is inspired by the bridges located throughout the city. We also got to indulge in delicious food; visit unforgettable hotspots; explore ancient temples and immerse ourselves in authentic cultural customs.

We spent 2 full days (2 nights) in Da Nang and I am excited to expose the best places and experiences you cannot miss out on when you visit Da Nang, Vietnam.

***Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in Da Nang, Bridges Da Nang hosted me for two nights.

Vietnam Visa:

Before you travel to Vietnam, you will need to apply for a visa from a local embassy. (I did mine online and it cost me $17 USD. Please note that the visa application fee could vary.) Click here to learn more! If you fill out the application correctly and there are no issues, you will receive your Visa Approval Letter within 72 hours via email. I was thankful I received mine in less than 24 hours.

Once you receive your Visa Approval Letter, please look through it thoroughly to ensure there are no mistakes or typos. You can be denied entry on arrival in Vietnam if your passport and visa do not align! After receiving your Visa Approval Letter and checking to see if everything is correct, make sure you star the email and print out the letter (all pages) before you depart for your trip. I had to show the printed letter to officials when I checked in at the airport at JFK here in New York.

When you land in Vietnam (I originally landed in Ho Chi Minh when I first arrived in the country), you will need to present your Visa Approval Letter and passport (valid at least 6 months beyond date of arrival) to customs officials. They will also ask you for two photos and if you do not have them, they could take your photo for you for an additional $5 USD. Please note that payment is cash only in either USD or Vietnamese Dong (VND). There are ATMs available when you arrive. In addition, you will need to pay for your actual visa when you arrive and present your Visa Approval Letter. A 1 or 3-month single entry visa is $25 USD; a 1 or 3-month multiple entry visa is $50 USD and a 1-year multiple entry visa is $135 USD per applicant. This is extremely important to take note of, especially if you are looking to travel to another country and come back to Vietnam! Since we traveled to Cambodia in the middle of our trip, we needed to get the multi-entry visa for $50 USD. If you accidentally get the single-entry visa and you leave the country, you will NOT be allowed back into Vietnam and in worse case scenario, you will have to spend $200 USD to get an approval letter sent to you right away. Please also have at least two full pages open in your passport for the Vietnamese visa and stamps. The visa is a sticker that will take up one entire passport page and the stamps will reside on the page next to it. Since most of my passport is filled up with stamps, I was forewarned to keep some pages opened for my Vietnamese visa. Because I already had my visa when I arrived in Da Nang from Siem Reap, I just had to go to Passport Control and get my passport stamped.

Getting to Central Vietnam:

As I have mentioned above, I traveled to Da Nang from Siem Reap, Cambodia. I was able to get affordable flights because I planned at the right time. Da Nang International Airport is a little less than a 20-minute ride from Bridges Da Nang hotel. Getting from the airport to Bridges requires a taxi (you could also book a private car service through the hotel). Please note that Uber does not run in Vietnam, but they do have a similar service called Grab, where you could haul a taxi at an affordable cost through an app. In order for you to use Grab’s services, you will need to have a Vietnamese phone number or SIM card. Since I didn’t get a SIM card for this trip, I unfortunately couldn’t use Grab, BUT the hotels we stayed at were able to organize affordable cab rides for us, which was amazing! It is also important to note that you should be aware of taxi scammers when you leave any airport in Vietnam. You should not pay more than 100 VND for every 10 miles. It is very easy for foreign travelers to be charged more when they travel from the airport to their hotel! Also, always make sure the meter is running when you enter a taxi. If there isn’t one, make sure to negotiate a price before you get into the cab.

Staying at Bridges Da Nang Hotel:

Whenever I am looking for a hotel room when I travel, I always look for a place that is authentic, clean, fun, sustainable, convenient, allows me to interact with others and offers a taste of luxury and Bridges Da Nang offers all of that!

This amazing, creative and eco-friendly boutique hotel offers 25 stylish rooms as well as high-energy co-living spaces. For a while, I would find fun public spaces in hostels, so it was nice to finally find a boutique hotel that offers ways for you to utilize the property while also getting privacy. As someone who usually solo travels (even though I had a friend with me on this trip), a hotel like Bridges is totally something I look for since it is easy to meet and mingle with other travelers. Each room in Bridges is inspired by a different bridge in Da Nang and the hotel is developed to meet the need for innovation. Everything about Bridges is eco-friendly and sustainable with ZERO plastic; there is a co-working space, bar and café (with indoor and outdoor seating), workout room, bikes to rent for free to take around the city and local markets and they even have a Bridgeclimb where you could experience a 1.5-hour guided climb up a bridge in Da Nang!

The Rooms at Bridges:

Like I mention above, the rooms at Bridges are inspired by the bridges that are located throughout the city. The hotel is a 25-room residence and co-living concept which combines high-energy public areas with rooms that feature space-efficient creative designs.

Overall, the building is nine floors and it features four rooms on each level. Every room has balconies with large windows that allow sunlight in along with wooden floors and air conditioning. Each room also has a television, WiFi, kitchen amenities and a mini bar.

When it comes to choosing a room, there are awesome options at Bridges. We stayed in the Deluxe room that featured twin beds, a large working desk, sofa and thoughtful décor. I absolutely loved our room and it was inspired by the Nga Ba Hue bridge located on the National Highway. In addition, our room offered lovely details such as stone scrabbles where you could create thoughtful messages; the wardrobe had a conical hat (rice hat), comfortable robe, umbrella, slippers and more; there were plants placed throughout the room and wonderful touches all throughout. I also loved how brand new and clean the hotel was in general (it opened in November 2019) and our beds were super comfortable. When we first checked into Bridges, the hotel manager Carmen gave us homemade coconut macaron cookies, which were delicious!

In addition to the Deluxe Room, there was also the Cozy Room that featured the same thing as the Deluxe Room, but with a double bed; the Cozy Sea View Room offered the same thing as the Cozy Room, but with a view of the South China Sea and the Deluxe Sea View Room is situated on the upper floors with a grander view of the nearby coast.

Co-Living Spaces at Bridges:

Located on the first floor of Bridges Da Nang hotel is The Pier Co working space. This beautiful section of the hotel is fully equipped with a modern European kitchen and a living room space that could hold up to 40 guests.

Breakfast at Bridges consisted of Vietnamese tea, Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, fresh tropical juice along with toasted breads that came with local honey and homemade jams. We absolutely LOVED the homemade jams made by Carmen! The flavors that were offered were mango, guava, orange marmalade, local peanut butter and more. In addition, Bridges also offers yogurt, fresh fruits and pho – a delicious Vietnamese soup made with rice noodles. You could add chicken or beef to your pho or keep it vegetarian by adding additional vegetables. If you get a chicken pho, the broth will be chicken. The same thing goes for beef. It is popular to eat pho for breakfast in Vietnam and it is hard to find it offered at restaurants and cafés at any other hour during the day. The chicken pho that I had at Bridges was delicious!

The living room space had a large sofa with a coffee table with board games and playing cards. There was also a barstool with seats that had pedals attached to them as if you were riding a bike. It was really cool! On the ground floor is The Deck Bar & Café where you could grab a drink and small snacks any time throughout the day. There is also a fitness center on the second floor.

Convenience at Bridges:

Bridges is located in a safe, quiet and convenient area in Da Nang. It is only two blocks away from the beach, it’s in walking distance to a lot of great restaurants and it is an easy drive to get to all of the temples and hotspots in Da Nang City.

Bridges also offers bicycles you could rent for free and take with you around the city. It is a great way to explore the different neighborhoods of Da Nang, visit the local markets, ride around the coast and get a taste of the local life. Another cool aspect about Bridges is that they also had traditional costumes you could rent and wear around and take photos in! It’s such a cool concept!

Things to Do in Da Nang within 2 Days:

Participate in the Da Nang Bridgeclimb with Bridges:

One of the most epic activities Bridges Da Nang hotel offers is a 1.5-hour guided bridge climb on one of the city’s famous bridges. The climb itself will lead you by ladders to a sky deck. One of the climb leaders will take photos of all the climbers, since you are not allowed to bring cameras for safety reasons, and at the end, everyone will receive a commemorative Climber Certificate.

Watch the Da Nang Dragon Bridge Fire Show:

Known as the longest bridge in Da Nang, the iconic Dragon Bridge offers an enchanting display of lights, fire and water that you cannot miss out on during your time in the city. During weekend evenings, annual festivities and holidays, this state-of-the-art bridge spits out water or breathes fire from its mouth from 9pm onwards.

The Dragon Bridge first opened in 2013 and it currently offers six lanes that crosses over the Han River. It serves as a direct route to My Khe Beach and Non Nuoc Beach. It also commemorates Da Nang’s City’s liberation after the Vietnam War and the dragon symbolizes power, nobility and good fortune. You could enjoy the fire show at many of Da Nang’s riverfront bars, restaurants and cafés that offer outdoor and terrace seating. The Han River also features a waterfront area where you sit at a park bench and watch the show.

Become Fascinated at the Linh Ung Pagoda and Lady Buddha:

Located on the Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang is the peaceful Linh Ung Pagoda. Vietnamese legend has is that during the time of Minh Mang King (the Nguyen Dynasty), there was a Buddha statue that drifted along the sandbank on the Son Tra Peninsula. Locals took that as a sign and established a shrine for worship and later on, Linh Ung Pagoda was built at that exact spot.

Opening up in July 2010, Linh Ung Pagoda was considered a meeting place of “heaven and earth’s sacred air and people’s heart”. It is considered the largest pagoda in Da Nang and it brings together contemporary style combined with the inherent tradition of pagodas in Vietnam that include roofs in dragon shape and sophisticated details.

I absolutely loved walking around Linh Ung Pagoda and I recommend spending at least 1.5 hours there so that it allows you to see everything. The main shrine is considered the most dignified and pure. In the middle is the Sakyamuni Buddha statue and the right side has an Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue. The left side has a Buddha Tripitaka statue, four guardians and 18 Arhats are arranged to protect the main shrine. Each statue is the embodiment of different emotions – joy, anger, love and hate.

One of the most iconic statues at Linh Ung Pagoda is the Lady Buddha. She is considered the tallest Buddha statue in Vietnam and is perched atop of a lotus-shaped temple. Lady Buddha has 17 floors and each level is dedicated to a different Buddha. When you reach the top, you could witness some of the best views of the city.

Even if you don’t make it up to the top of Lady Buddha, there are so many picturesque areas to enjoy the views and nature surrounding Linh Ung Pagoda. You could also see a lot of monkeys here as well.

Have Fun and Walk the Famous Golden Bridge at Sun World in Bà Nà Hills:

One of the top things you cannot miss out on when visiting Da Nang is Bà Nà Hills. It is an exciting resort located in the Truong Son Mountains.

To get to Bà Nà Hills, you will need to take a cable car to get there. The cable car system at Bà Nà Hills holds several Guinness World Records for being the widest gap between the top and bottom stations and it offers the greatest change in elevation. I truly enjoyed riding the cable car as it offered breathtaking views of the mountains, city and beach. It was also cool experiencing climate change on the cable car ride. It was like experiencing four seasons in one day! At one moment, visibility is low and the next moment it is super clear. It reminded me of Iceland.

When we finally reached the top, which is where the Sun World amusement park was, I was surprised to see that it was European themed. One part of the park felt like you were strolling through Paris and the other side made you feel like you’re in the mountains of Bavaria with medieval castles. All throughout the park, you will find restaurants and cafés featuring different cuisines such as Italian, American, Moroccan, traditional Vietnamese, French, Russian and even Azerbaijani. Some of the rides and attractions you must do and see at Sun World are the Wax Museum, the Alpine Coaster, the 4D Death Race, the Drop Tower, flower display and more.

One of the most iconic spots at Bà Nà Hills is the Golden Bridge. You will need to take another mini cable car to get to this bridge and it is absolutely fascinating! It is a 150-meter-long (492-foot) pedestrian bridge. If you are reading this, you probably recognize this “hand bridge” from Instagram. To me, it was actually a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be. The Golden Bridge was still amazing to see and experience in person.

Savor Delicious Food in the City:

Da Nang has a lot of wonderful restaurants and cafés located throughout. It was awesome that we were able to walk to a lot of the restaurants located near the hotel. During our first night, we enjoyed a lovely French dinner at The Temptation Restaurant. It was a lovely place that offered delicious food and a friendly ambiance. For my main course, I savored a delicious grilled salmon with roasted mushrooms and mashed potatoes. It was absolutely amazing! In addition, the restaurant was very charming and they gave us a small salmon tartare crostini as a starter and then a lovely tray of mini pastries for dessert.

During our second night, we went to a wonderful vegetarian restaurant called Nhà Hang Chay Tâm Châu. It was absolutely dreamy as it featured lanterns hanging from the ceiling in the outdoor terrace. We savored delicious spring rolls that we hand rolled ourselves and I had a delicious fried pho noodle dish with vegetables.

Wander through the Local Markets:

There really is nothing like the local markets in Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese markets are the best ways to find authentic souvenirs, beautiful clothing, hand crafted jewelry, artisanal crafts, delicious street food and home goods.

Just like any other market in Southeast Asia, the markets in Da Nang are great places to test your bartering skills. The markets you must visit during a trip to Da Nang are the Con Market, which is a bustling local bazaar; the Seafood Market, which is a unique experience at sunrise; Han Market, which is one of the best places to purchase souvenirs and Bac My An Market, where you could get mouthwatering street food.

Enjoy My Khe Beach:

Located right around the corner from Bridges Da Nang was My Khe Beach. Named as “One of the Most Attractive Beaches on the Planet” by Forbes Magazine, the Da Nang Lifesaving Association does everything it can to keep the beach clean and safe. It is also free for tourists!

In general, Da Nang is one of the most beautiful coastal cities in Vietnam as it features smooth white sand, clear and warm water, mountain views, coconut trees and stunning buildings and skyrises. Even though it wasn’t necessarily beach weather when we visited Da Nang, it was nice to take an evening stroll along the coast and admire the beauty. (You could even see Lady Buddha from My Khe Beach!)

Enter into an Enchanting World at Marble Mountains:

One of the most mystical and tranquil places in the world are the Marble Mountains in Da Nang. Before heading onto our next adventure in Hoi An, we stopped at Marble Mountains. It was a very rainy day when we visited, but it didn’t stop us from enjoying the beauty and peace this breathtaking place offers.

According to ancient folklore, a dragon emerged from the water on Non Nuoc Beach and laid an egg. After a thousand days and nights followed before the egg hatched, out stepped a beautiful girl. The fragments of the shell were left on the beach and eventually grew into the five mystical Marble Mountains. Today, it is popular to hike up the Marble Mountains and walk through the Mountain of Water, which is home to pagodas dating back to the 17^th Century and a variety of caves that were really cool to walk through! Throughout the Marble Mountains are gates, Buddhas, fountains and also souvenir shops. There are also stalls to enjoy street food and a comforting cup of Vietnamese coffee.

I hope you all enjoyed reading about everything to do in 2 days in Da Nang and also my experience staying at Bridges Da Nang hotel. If you have any questions about my time in Da Nang or Vietnam in general, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

Basic Facts of Vietnam:

Currency: Vietnamese Dong, Capital: Hanoi, Time Zone: Indochina Time

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