Central Vietnam’s river-meets-ocean city of fire-breathing bridges, surf-ready beaches and 1 000-year-old Champa relics.
1 | Why Da Nang in 2025
- Visitor forecast: ~12 million (≈ 5 million international).
- Golden Bridge: most-tagged VN landmark two years running.
- UNESCO triangle: Huế 100 km N • Hội An 30 km S • Mỹ Sơn 100 km SW.
- Easy entry: 45-day visa-free for most EU passports; new Skytrax-rated terminal.
- Year-round beach weather plus eight illuminated bridges.
2 | Fast Facts
| Statistic | 2025 figure |
|---|---|
| Urban population | ≈ 1.2 million (4th in Vietnam) |
| Province area | 1 283 km² incl. Sơn Trà Peninsula & Hoàng Sa district |
| Airport code | DAD – 10 min Grab/taxi ⇒ riverfront |
| Sea temperature | 26 °C (Jan) → 29 °C (Aug) |
| Nicknames | “City of Bridges”, “Silicon Beach” |
Tip: This quick set-up is why many guests start the Splendid Vietnam route here instead of Hanoi.
3 | Five-Minute History
Champa era (4th-13th c.). Hindu traders; Mỹ Sơn shrines remain.
French “Tourane” (1800s). Cinnamon & tea sailed to Marseille; pastel villas line Bạch Đằng Quay.
“Saigon North” (1965-1972). US air base became world’s busiest; surf bars thrived.
Đổi Mới boom (1986 → now). Eight bridges, container port, IT park, 30 km resorts.
4 | Visa & Entry Rules
| Passport group | Visa-free stay | E-visa options | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU (FR, DE, IT…) | 45 days | 30 / 90 days | 25 / 50 USD |
| UK & Ireland | 45 days | 30 / 90 days | 25 / 50 USD |
| USA, CA, AU… | None | 30 / 90 days | 25 / 50 USD |
5 | Flights & Transfers
Direct Asian routes: Seoul 9 daily • Tokyo 1 daily • Singapore 3 • Bangkok 3. Long-haul connects via SGN or HAN (80 min hop).
Airport → hotel: 10 min GrabCar ≈ 100 000 VND (≈ 4 USD).
6 | Weather Cheat-Sheet
| Season | Months | Typical temp | Why go / skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry, sunny | Jan–Aug | 22–33 °C | Perfect beach & motorbike season |
| Typhoon gap | Sep–mid Nov | 24–30 °C | Hotel rates -30 %; plan museums & cafés |
| Cool “winter” | late Nov–Dec | 18–26 °C | Surf swells & pink sunsets |
7 | 18 Essential Experiences
Golden Bridge • Ba Na French Village • Dragon Bridge fire Fri/Sat 21:00 • Marble Mountains • Cham Museum • 30 km beaches • Sơn Trà douc-monkey safari • Jeep over Hải Vân Pass • June-July Fireworks Festival • Asia Park • Pink Cathedral • Helio Night Market • Con Market food crawl • Dawn surf lesson • Hội An lantern class • Basket-boat canals • Huế imperial tombs • Phong Nha cave add-on.
8 | Best Day-Trips
| Destination | Distance | Highlights | Travel time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hội An Ancient Town | 30 km south | Lantern alleys • riverside cafés • tailors – full guide here | ≈ 45 min e-bus E01 • 35 min taxi |
| Huế Imperial City | 100 km north | Citadel • royal tombs – deep dive here | ≈ 2 h via Hải Vân Pass (car/jeep/train) |
| Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary | 100 km SW | Champa temples at sunrise | ≈ 2 h private car/minivan |
9 | Where to Stay
Mỹ Khê Beach: Four Points, TIA Wellness (120 USD+).
Riverfront: Novotel Premier, Hilton Garden (100–135 USD).
Sơn Trà Peninsula: InterContinental Sun Peninsula (480 USD+).
Hội An add-on: Anantara (210 USD) • Little Riverside (140 USD).
10 | Typical Prices
| Item / Service | Price (VND) | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Street-food noodle bowl | 40 000 | 1.7 |
| Seafood platter (2 pax) | 350 000 | 15 |
| Craft-beer pint | 70 000 | 3 |
| GrabBike 5 km | 25 000 | 1 |
| Surf lesson 2 h | 550 000 | 23 |
11 | What & Where to Eat
Mì Quảng 1A • Bà Dưỡng bánh xèo • Đại Lộc pork rolls • Con Market noodle alley • sea-urchin grills on Võ Nguyên Giáp after 17:00 • coconut espresso at 43 Factory • passion-fruit gose at Seven Bridges.
12 | Digital-Nomad Corner
Enouvo Space day-pass 7 USD (150 Mbps fibre). Beach-side studio from 350 USD/month. 90-day multi-entry e-visa suits surf-and-screen lifestyle.
13 | Families, Couples & Accessibility
Kids: Sun Wheel, VinWonders water-park, Ba Na alpine coaster (≥ 120 cm).
Couples: 2-h sunset yacht under fireworks ≈ 160 USD/boat.
Golden Bridge, river promenade & DAD airport are wheelchair-friendly; Marble Mountains now feature a glass elevator covering 70 % of the climb.
14 | Safety & Health
Low petty crime; Grab after midnight; zip valuables in markets. Helmets mandatory on scooters. Vinmec International Hospital (24 h English) is 15 min from most beach hotels. Tap water → no; use refill stations.
15 | Sample Itinerary Ideas
7-night Coast-to-UNESCO Loop (customisable). Mỹ Khê beach warm-up • Marble Mountains • Ba Na Golden Bridge • lantern night in Hội An • dawn at Mỹ Sơn • jeep over Hải Vân Pass • Huế citadel & dragon-boat farewell. (Ask us to weave this into Splendid Vietnam or Hidden Charm of Vietnam.)
4-night Beach & Bridge Mini-Break. Sunrise paddle-board • My Khe surf lesson • spa afternoon • Golden Bridge before crowds • craft-beer crawl & Dragon Bridge fire show. Built as a short add-on before the Vietnam Scenic Golf tour or any business trip.
16 | Festival Calendar 2025
9 Feb Tết dragon parade • 11 May Ironman 70.3 • every Sat 7 Jun–26 Jul Fireworks Festival • 15 Aug Ghost-Festival lanterns • 24 Dec Pink-Cathedral choir • 31 Dec Dragon Bridge drone show.
17 | Responsible Travel
Refill not landfill • stay on paved Sơn Trà trails • shop social enterprises (Kym Việt, Re-Form) • Sat 07:00 beach clean-up • learn “xin chào” & “cảm ơn”.
18 | Frequently Asked Questions
1 | Do EU citizens need a visa to enter Vietnam in 2025?
No. Holders of most EU passports (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc.) can stay up to 45 days visa-free. Travellers from the UK, USA, Australia and others apply online for a 30- or 90-day e-visa (25 / 50 USD).
2 | What month offers the best beach weather in Da Nang?
February to April—expect blue skies, sea temperatures around 27 °C and almost no rain on Mỹ Khê, Non Nước and Sơn Trà beaches.
3 | Is Da Nang safe for solo female travellers at night?
Yes. The city has very low petty crime; take Grab after dark and keep valuables secured in busy markets.
4 | How much does a GrabCar cost from Da Nang Airport (DAD) to Mỹ Khê Beach?
About 100 000 VND (≈ 4 USD) for the 10-minute, app-based ride—no extra airport surcharge.
5 | Is the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills worth visiting?
Absolutely—ride the first cable car at 07 h to enjoy mist-free photos and minimal crowds, then explore the French Village before day-trippers arrive.
19 | Getting Around
| Mode | Cost | Payment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrabBike / GrabCar | ≈ 20 000 VND/km | App • card • cash | 24 h door-to-door |
| Electric bus E01–E03 | 7 000 VND flat | Cash → VietQR end-2025 | Airport ⇆ beach ⇆ Hội An |
| Bicycle rental | 40 000 VND/day | Passport deposit | Beach & riverside paths |
| Scooter rental | 150–180 000 VND/day | Cash | Hai Vân Pass freedom |
20 | Nightlife
Rooftop cocktails (Altitude 36F, Sky36 35F) • craft-beer strip (Seven Bridges, East West, Turtle Lake) • live jazz at Waterfront Thu • beach clubs Esco & Azure with DJ sunsets • Dragon Bridge fires 21:00 Fri/Sat.
21 | Shopping & Souvenirs
| Item | Where to buy | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Marble figurine | Non Nước village | 8–80 USD |
| Silk lantern | Hội An night market | 4–12 USD |
| Tailor-made áo dài | Kimmy / Bebe | 45–65 USD |
| Up-cycled art | Re-Form, Han Market mezz. | 10–20 USD |
22 | Golf, Spa & Business
Golf: Montgomerie Links & BRG Danang from 95 USD twilight; Laguna Lăng Cô (Nick Faldo, 70 min N) – Asia Eco-Course 2024.
Spa: TIA Wellness 80-min singing-bowl 75 USD; Herbal House massage 60 min 14 USD.
MICE: Ariyana Convention Centre 2 500 seats, 8 K hybrid streaming upgrade 2025.
23 | Emergency & Must-Have Apps
- Police 113 • Ambulance 115 (English dispatch).
- Vinmec International Hospital 24 h: +84 236 3711 111.
- Lost-passport desk: +84 236 3822 059.
- Apps: Grab • Google Translate offline • Zalo • Maps.me.
Tours that include Da Nang
- Splendid Vietnam 13 D 12 N – four coastal nights, Hải Vân Pass jeep, dragon-boat Huế farewell.
- Hidden Charm of Vietnam 14 D – Hội An lanterns and Mỹ Sơn sunrise en route north.
- Vietnam Scenic Golf (Luxury) 15 D – championship fairways plus spa & Hoi An excursion.
Plan Your Central-Vietnam Journey
Share your dates via our Contact-Us form. We’ll reply within 24 h with guides, flights and beachfront rooms tailored to your pace.
See you beside the Han River!
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