Da Nang sits at the heart of Central Vietnam, where Cham art, imperial legacies, and modern seaside life meet. Once a French colonial port and later a key American base, the city has reinvented itself around clean beaches, green mountains, and a lively riverfront. It’s also the gateway to Ba Na Hills’ Golden Bridge—those photogenic stone hands rising from the clouds—and the UNESCO-listed lantern town of Hoi An.

For travelers, Da Nang delivers contrasts: sunrise surf at My Khe, incense and caverns inside Marble Mountains, winding roads up Son Tra Peninsula to the giant Lady Buddha, and neon nights along the Han River. Weekends sparkle with Dragon Bridge’s fire-and-water show. Day trips add variety—theme-park fun in the hills, street-food forays, or a lantern-lit boat ride in Hoi An.

Practical notes: ride-hailing via Grab is cheap and reliable; motorbike rentals are common (helmets required). Expect tropical sun and brief showers—pack light layers, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. Central Vietnam cuisine shines: mi quang (turmeric noodles), bun cha ca (fishcake noodle soup), and rice paper pork rolls are musts.

Da Nang

Between the sea and the mountains, Da Nang is compact, clean, and famously friendly. My Khe Beach runs for miles, with early-morning swimmers and seafood shacks by night. The city museum holds the world’s richest Cham sculpture collection; riverside parks glow after dusk as families stroll to the bridges.

• Top sights: My Khe & Bac My An beaches, Marble Mountains (pagodas and caves), Son Tra Peninsula (monkeys, viewpoints, Linh Ung Pagoda’s 67m Lady Buddha), Han and Dragon Bridges, Cham Sculpture Museum.
• What to eat: Mi Quang 1A (iconic turmeric noodles), Banh Xeo Ba Duong (crispy pancakes you wrap in herbs), Bun Cha Ca Ba Phien or Ba Lu (fishcake noodle soup), Nam Danh Seafood or Be Man Seafood (local-style seafood feasts).
• Coffee culture: 43 Factory Coffee Roaster (specialty beans and pour-overs), Cong Ca Phe (retro-war-era vibe, coconut coffee), The Local Beans (minimalist third-wave coffee).

Where to stay (book with trusted partners):

• Browse vacation rentals: VRBO Da Nang
• Compare hotels by neighborhood: Hotels.com Da Nang
• Beach luxury and fine dining: InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (home to La Maison 1888) — check availability
• Classic beachfront resort vibe: Furama Resort Danang — see rates
• Budget-friendly social base downtown: Danang Backpackers Hostel — book a bed
• Wallet-friendly near the beach: Funtastic Beach Hostel — book here

Getting there from Nha Trang (choose what fits your timing and budget):

• Overnight or day bus: 10–12 hours, about 350,000–600,000 VND (US$15–25). Comfortable if you like sleeper berths.
• Train (recommended for views and comfort): 9–11 hours. Soft seat/berth typically US$20–45. Compare schedules on Trip.com Trains.
• Flight (fastest): ~1 hr 10 min Nha Trang (CXR) ↔ Da Nang (DAD), often US$35–90 on low-cost carriers. Search Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 1 — Arrival, Beach Time, and the Han River by Night

Morning: Travel from Nha Trang to Da Nang. If you rode an overnight bus or took an early train/flight, fuel up with coconut coffee and a croissant at 43 Factory Coffee Roaster or a banh mi from Banh Mi Ong Ty. Drop bags, freshen up, and get your bearings along the Han River promenade.

Afternoon: Check in and head to My Khe Beach for a swim or a shoreline walk; the surf is gentlest before late afternoon winds. Late lunch options: Mi Quang 1A (order mi quang ga or thap cam, add herbs and rice crackers) or Bun Cha Ca Ba Phien (a Da Nang staple—savory fish broth, dill-scented fishcakes, and green onions).

Evening: Feast on local seafood: try Nam Danh Seafood (no-frills, big flavors—grilled clams with scallion oil, tamarind crab, morning glory with garlic) or Be Man Seafood near the sand. Then see the skyline from a Han River dinner cruise and catch the Dragon Bridge show.

Book this river experience: Da Nang: Poseidon Cruise with Dinner and Dragon Bridge Show

Tip: On Saturdays and Sundays, Dragon Bridge breathes fire and water at 9:00 pm. If you’re not cruising, watch from Tran Hung Dao street’s riverside park.

Day 2 — Full Day at Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge

Ride Vietnam’s record-breaking cable car to the mountaintop French Village and the famed Golden Bridge—massive “stone hands” cradling a walkway above the clouds. Along the way, explore landscaped gardens, Linh Ung Pagoda (a different one from Son Tra), and family-friendly attractions at Fantasy Park. Most tours include hotel pickup and a buffet lunch; bring a light layer as temperatures are cooler at altitude.

Book your day tour: Full Day Golden Bridge and Ba Na Hills Small Group Tour

Post-tour dinner back in town: Waterfront Danang Restaurant & Bar (river views, Vietnamese-meets-international menu) or La Maison 1888 at InterContinental for a splurge-worthy tasting menu if you’re celebrating.

Day 3 — Marble Mountains, Son Tra Views, and Hoi An Lanterns

Morning: Explore caves, pagodas, and stone stairways at Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son), then circle up to Son Tra (Monkey Mountain) for sweeping views and the towering Lady Buddha at Linh Ung Pagoda. A guided small-group makes logistics easy and adds local context on wartime history and Buddhism.

Book the guided morning: Morning Small group to Marble Mountains - Am Phu Cave - Monkey Mountain

Afternoon: Refuel at Banh Xeo Ba Duong (dip sizzling turmeric pancakes, pork and shrimp, into peanut sauce) or Bun Cha Ca Ba Lu near the river. Culture fix at the Cham Sculpture Museum—look for the Tra Kieu altar and the dancing Shiva. Chill with a pour-over at The Local Beans or a coconut coffee at Cong Ca Phe by the water.

Evening: Head to Hoi An (about 45 minutes) for a walking tour and the dazzling night market—lantern-lit alleys, riverside tailors and shoemakers, and a short wooden-boat glide where you can release a tiny lantern for luck. This tour times everything perfectly and returns you to Da Nang at night.

Book this evening experience: Hoi An Night Market with Hoi An Walking Tour, Colourful Lanterns, Boat Ride

Dinner in Hoi An before the return: try cao lau (smoky pork-and-noodle specialty) or white-rose dumplings at a family-run spot near the market; save room for pandan-coconut desserts from street vendors.

Day 4 — Markets, Spa Time, and Departure

Morning: Sunrise walk on the sand, then breakfast at Happy Heart Cafe (hearty Western-Vietnamese plates; community-minded) or mi quang at Ba Mua (add lime and roasted peanuts). Shop for souvenirs at Han Market (coffee, dried fruits, fish sauce in travel-safe bottles) and taste a few local snacks at Con Market’s food court.

Afternoon: Unwind with a massage at Herbal Spa (good value, consistent service) or grab a final beach swim if the sun’s out. Lunch on rice paper pork rolls at Quan Tran—roll tender slices with herbs, cucumber, banana flower, and dip in fermented fish sauce. Depart for your bus, train, or flight.

Heading back to Nha Trang? Compare afternoon/evening options on Trip.com Trains or look for late flights via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Buses typically depart throughout the day and overnight.

If you decide on just 2 days: Combine Day 1 evening (river cruise + Dragon Bridge) with Day 2 Ba Na Hills. On Day 2 night, slot the Hoi An Night Market tour or swap Ba Na Hills for the Marble Mountains + Hoi An combo (Day 3’s morning/evening) to maximize variety.

With broad beaches, mountain temples, and the Golden Bridge above the clouds, Da Nang packs a lot into a long weekend. The food is fresh and distinctly Central Vietnamese, and nights along the Han River feel festive year-round. Whether you linger for four days or dash through two, this itinerary gives you the highlights—and room to add your own discoveries.