Wonderful, informative tour of Hue!
We had a wonderful day today with Trâm and Thuy, two very knowledgeable and lovely girls. They were so kind and accommodating today–we needed to exchange some money and they brought us before we headed out for the day, and they also brought us to a nice coffee shop after a delicious lunch when we asked if we could go to a place. I definitely felt like the tour was flexible. They were able to answer all the questions that we had about the historical sites and local culture and language. It really was one of the best tours I have had–Trâm and Thuy were so approachable, informative, and fun to be with throughout the day. I felt like I could ask anything and get a honest and thorough answer. It was also very interesting discussing the parts of Chinese culture and language that were present in the imperial city with them. They were also very helpful when we wanted to try local food! We never felt rushed by them and learned a lot at the same time. (We were also very lucky with the weather today!) Normally a full day tour would tire me out, but it was really so lovely to spend time with them! Cảm ơn for a terrific tour! — Traveller: Belinda Z 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
Amazing experience in Da Nang and Hue
I took 2 central vietnam trips through Xuan Tu tour company, which are Da Nang and Hue. My guide was Lap and he was an amazing guide. He was really knowledgeable and able to explain clearly the history of all attractions we visitted, especially in Hue which all the attractions there are historical site. Highly Recommended !! — Traveller: Willy S from Tripadvisor
Q
My friends and I booked 2 days of day trip to Hoi An & Hue. We met this young guide by the name of Quan & I was very impressed with him as he is knowledgeable & shared with us the history of Hoi An & Hue. He was friendly & accommodating. Thank you for making our trip memorable. I definitely will recommend him to my friends. — Traveller: wongviolet from Tripadvisor
Day tours in Hoi An and Hue
My travel group enjoyed two separate day-trips to Hoi An and Hue lead by the very engaging and attentive guide named Quan. He was very knowledgeable on the history and current information for both areas so we also picked up interesting trivia along the way. Quan was very accommodating with our requests for sights + shopping + rest-stops, and he was flexible to manage the itinerary so we never felt rushed or overwhelmed with the number of places visited. The transport vans provided were very clean and comfortable with careful drivers. — Traveller: WombatK from Tripadvisor