Transfer from Danang airport to Hoi an
On time, efficient and comfortable. Our party of 6 were collected from our international flight and taken to our hotel in a mini bus, and returned the same way. Pleasant drivers each time. — Traveller: Karana190 from Tripadvisor
A Complete Guide to Visiting the City of Da Nang, Vietnam
Surrounded by sandy beaches and located near the Buddhist pagodas and caves of the Marble Mountains, the once small town of Da Nang is a growing, bustling port city lying halfway between Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the south. As the third largest city in Vietnam, Da Nang is a great place to visit in its own right and not just as a stopping point to nearby attractions such as Hue Imperial City, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Despite its large urban population, Da Nang life runs at a slightly slower tempo than frenetic Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Perhaps it’s the isolated beaches that invite quiet meditation, the friendly people, or the lighter traffic on the streets; whatever it is that makes Da Nang so enjoyable, you should plan a few days to explore the delights this city has to offer. History of Da Nang, Vietnam da nang a travel guide Da Nang lies within the former kingdom of Champa, a culture heavily influenced by Hinduism brought from India. Even today, the Cham culture’s exhibited in the architecture, food, and Chamic languages still spoken throughout the region. In the 10th century, the Dai Viet (cultural Vietnamese) began an inexorable sweep from Northern Vietnam south into the Da Nang area and beyond, eventually conquering the Champa leaders and taking over their territories. While a small village existed on the site beginning in the 14th century, Da Nang wasn’t settled as a seaport until the 17th century, when it began attracting traders from Europe and Asia. Despite its trade and the area’s beauty, it was still a backwater town until Napolean III annexed it for the French Empire in 1862, and in 1889, the French colonial government renamed the seaport Tourane (or Turon). As French influence and power grew in Vietnam, the seaport also expanded and grew until it became one of the five major cities of French Indochina, included among Hanoi, Saigon, Hai Phong, and Hue. French colonial architecture, food, and fashions layered atop the Cham and Dai Viet influences already present in the city and surrounding area. When the French left Vietnam in 1954, the country declared independence as a nation. Da Nang was the scene of many battles Da Nang was the scene of many battles during the Vietnam War (the Vietnamese call this war the American War). It was the first landing site of American troops in March, 1965, and the scene of many bloody conflicts throughout the ten years of the war. Despite the conflicts and setbacks suffered by the city and its people, Da Nang has flourished in the years after the war. Industry and manufacturing play a major part in its growth, and tourism is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the city. Best Time to Visit The weather is ideal from April through September, with the ocean regulating and cooling the city during the hottest summer months. Winter, from the end of September through January, is still mild in temperature, but rain showers are an almost daily occurrence during this monsoon season, along with occasional fierce storms coming off the South China Sea. If you plan on visiting Da Nang in winter, be sure to pack an umbrella. About Da Nang Da Nang is situated at the mouth of the Han River that exits from the East Vietnam Sea. On the north, Da Nang hugs the Da Nang Bay, while the long waterfronts of the east and south border the Han River and the Song Cam Le River. In Da Nang, you’ll find gorgeous white sand beaches, superb vistas, a wide range of restaurants and eateries, plenty of shopping, and tons of culture and special sites to visit. Within the city and the surrounding area, you’ll recognize the Cham, Da Viet, French Colonial, and modern Vietnamese and global influences that have helped shape this seaport into a city that is friendly towards visitors while successfully preserving its own heritage. City authorities have launched a multi-year campaign designed to make Da Nang the most modern city in Vietnam by the year 2030. It’s an exciting time to visit! From the iconic Dragon Bridge to the wild beauty of Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang will make you glad you came. Attractions near Da Nang Marble Mountains Each of the five craggy peaks that make up the Marble Mountains, located nine kilometers (5.5 miles) south of Da Nang and near the China Beach coastal road, is named after the element it is said to most closely resemble: water (Thuy Son), wood (Moc Son), fire, (Hoa Son), metal or gold (Kim Son), and earth (Tho Son). Though each peak is topped with a pagoda, only the largest mountain, Thuy Son is open to visitors. Within Thuy Son lies a series of caves, tunnels, and sanctuaries originally dedicated to Hindu gods and later turned into Buddhist temples and sanctuaries. Visitors can enter the cave system and traverse a series of tunnels, stairs, and paths as they wind through the various caverns up to the summit of the mountain. The caverns and grottoes are filled with religious carvings on the marble walls as well as numerous statues of Buddha. At the base of the mountains lie villages whose residents specialize in marble carvings and statues. Until recently, the marble they used actually came from the Marble Mountains, but marble is now shipped in from nearby provinces in order to preserve the integrity of the mountains. You can get to the Marble Mountains by bus or taxi from Da Nang for a very reasonable price. The entry fee to the caves is around 18,000 Vietnamese dong (VND), or less than one U.S. dollar. An elevator is available for those who have difficulty walking up hills or climbing stairs, but be prepared for a workout if you want to get to the summit. Son Tra Mountain (Monkey Mountain) Escape the
Food + Cultural tour of Hoi An
Lam is the funniest, most knowledgeable and easy going guide you will ever meet. Our tour of Hoi An with him was unquestionably the highlight of our trip to Vietnam, and this was all because Lam made the tour so enjoyable. It’s difficult to put into words what makes him such a good tour guide. I think it was Lam’s unique ability to tie together personal anecdotes about life in Vietnam, ancient and modern history and good food that created an immersive experience. We felt like we were being shown around by a lifelong friend, not somebody we met a couple of hours before. Lam even went out of his way to show us interesting sights around Danang just to improve our experience. You could go see Hoi An by yourself, but you won’t truely understand Hoi An or Vietnam without spending time with Lam. What a fantastic time! — Traveller: Samuel L from Tripadvisor
Tour guide Nhieu Tran made our trip!!
Our group recently stayed in Hoi An for 5 days. Nhieu Tran (through Exo Travel) was our guide. Nhieu couldn’t be more helpful. Apart from the tours as included in our itinerary, he got out of his way and in his own time to make sure all our questions and requests are met. And he personally took us to where we needed to go. All and all, we thoroughly enjoyed Hoi An. We will definitely recommend our family and friends to go to Hoi An and ask for Nhieu as their tour guide. Thank you Nhieu for all your help. — Traveller: onekiwitraveller from Tripadvisor
Food tour delight
Took part in a tour of Hoi An with our guide Quan who was fun to be with, knowledgeable about both the place and the food. The amount and variation of food was amazing with 12 dishes to savour and experience during the tour. — Traveller: qawsqa2222 from Tripadvisor