Similar to Hue, I only had one day in Da Nang, so I wanted to make it count. I heard that this was a city that most people skipped on their way from Hoi An to Hanoi, but I wanted to see what was going on in the fourth largest city in Vietnam.
5 Things To Do in Da Nang:
1. Explore The Marble Mountains:
There are five marble and limestone outcrops south of Da Nang city that boast numerous caves and Buddhist temples. It is quite the tourist destination, but it really is so beautiful!
Since I had very limited time in Da Nang, I was only able to explore one of the five mountains, but was very pleased with my visit to Thuy Son. Here is where you will find the largest cave, which is adorned with Buddhist shrines, lanterns and a 200-step path to the top with beautiful views of the ocean.
The ticket to the cave is separate to the ticket you need to hike the mountain, but both together cost $1.30, plus 10 cents to park my bicycle! There is parking at the main entrance to the cave, so don’t park at any of the shops nearby. The ladies will try to get you to park at their shops and will make you buy things to keep your bike there!
2. Go For a Swim at Non Nuoc Beach:
It’s not the nicest beach I’ve been to, but it’s a perfect stop after wandering the Marble Mountains for a few hours (it is very hot). Instead of going down the main road that leads to the beach where there are vendors yelling for you to buy stuff and pay them money to park your bicycle, I went a few hundred yards down the road where I saw a dirt path leading to the beach.
I rode my bike down the path and had my own private part of the beach! There was only one other person, and he didn’t seem upset that I had discovered his secret spot. After a refreshing dip in the ocean, I got back on my bike and peddled back towards town.
3. Pick Up Fresh Produce at Han Market:
I made it down a little too late in the evening, so most of the vendors were packing up, but it’s a decent sized market right by the river offering fruit, veggies, meats, fish and anything else you can think of!
4. Take in the Beauty of the Han River & Dragon Bridge:
The Han River is beautiful when the sun starts to go down, as the whole city lights up. My favorite feature of the downtown area of Da Nang was the Dragon Bridge, which was the standout feature of the city.
There were loads of people hanging on the boardwalk lining the river, from families, to couples, to tourists and locals. It’s such a beautiful and lively part of the city!
5. Feel Like a Local on Tran Phu:
If you’re looking for authentic Vietnamese food and want to check out the local scene, look no further than Tran Phu. This street is lined with street food, bars, restaurants and was buzzing even on a weekday night. I was passing through on my way back to the guesthouse after a long day of wandering so I didn’t stop at any of the bars, but if I had time I would have definitely ordered a beer and observed the locals in their element!
How to Get There:
I took a bus from Hue to Da Nang, which cost $4 and only took two hours. I just asked the receptionist at my hotel in Hue for a bus and she arranged everything for me. The bus drops you off in central Da Nang, which was a 20 minute drive to where I was staying, so if you plan on staying over where I was, expect to pay a whopping $2 for a motorbike taxi to drive you.
Where to Stay:
Kara Beachside Guesthouse was in the perfect location for my day travels, as it is around the corner from the beach, not too far from the city center, and a nice bike ride to The Marble Mountains. I stayed in a 4-bed dorm, but only shared the room with one other person. It was clean, had friendly and helpful staff, and cost $6 for the night – hard to beat!
How to Get Around the City:
I rented a bicycle for the day from reception that only cost $1.50. The Roads are busy, but I never felt uncomfortable on my bike, and I’m not much of a cyclist. I found the roads to be pretty flat and easy to navigate. I ended up biking for about 20 kilometers. It was a really cheap and fun way to see the city in my limited amount of time!
