Da Nang in 3 days: a first-timer's walking itinerary (2026)
This is the route we would hand a friend visiting Da Nang for the first time. Each day is eight stops in walking order, timed so the busy places come before the tour groups and the viewpoints land near sunset. Prices were checked in November 2026; where a price is older or not published, we say so.
Open the interactive 3D route →Day 1 · Da Nang city & Son Tra: Pink church to the fire-breathing dragon
Best on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The Pink Church and Han Market in the cool morning, a riverside walk to the Cham museum, a Grab up to the Lady Buddha on Son Tra, the afternoon on My Khe Beach, seafood at sunset, then the night market and the Dragon Bridge fire show at 9pm.
Da Nang Cathedral (Pink Church)
The candy-pink 1920s church with a rooster on the spire is Da Nang's favourite photo, and the light is soft first thing.
Price: Free · Hours: Visits usually Mon–Sat about 8–11:30am and 1:30–4:30pm · Sunday for Mass only
Tip: Shoot the whole facade from across Tran Phu street. Cover shoulders and knees if you go inside.
Han Market
Dried mango, coffee beans, rattan bags and the tailors upstairs, all under one roof a minute from the river.
Price: Free entry · Hours: Daily from early morning to early evening
Tip: Ask the price first and bargain politely. Jewellery shops on the street outside change money; compare two rates before you swap.
Museum of Cham Sculpture
Walk down the riverside promenade to the world's biggest collection of Cham stone gods and dancers, air-conditioned and calm.
Price: ₫60,000 · Hours: Daily 7:30am–5pm
Tip: Start in the My Son room. The Dragon Bridge is right outside, so note where you will stand tonight.
Linh Ung Pagoda & Lady Buddha
The 67m white Lady Buddha faces the sea from the Son Tra hillside, with the whole curve of My Khe Beach and the city below.
Price: Free · Hours: Daily, early morning to evening
Tip: Dress modestly (shoulders and knees). Keep the same Grab driver waiting or book a new one from the car park; signal can be weak.
My Khe Beach
A long, wide sweep of fine sand with Son Tra at one end. The afternoon is for a swim, a coconut and a rest.
Price: Free · Hours: Open all day · lifeguards by day
Tip: November brings big surf: swim only between the lifeguard flags and stay out on red-flag days. Public beach parks have showers.
Seafood dinner on Vo Nguyen Giap
Pick live clams, prawns and crab from the tanks and choose grilled, steamed or with garlic butter while the sky turns pink behind the city (sunset around 5:10pm).
Price: Free entry · pay per kg · Hours: Most open for lunch and dinner
Tip: Ask the price per kg and see it weighed before it goes to the kitchen. Morning glory with garlic and grilled scallops with scallion oil are safe hits.
Son Tra Night Market
Grilled skewers, sugar-cane juice, mango and souvenirs under lights at the foot of the Dragon Bridge.
Price: Free entry · pay per dish · Hours: Evenings
Tip: Prices are tourist prices; buy snacks rather than a full meal after the seafood. Keep your phone in a front pocket in the crowd.
Dragon Bridge fire show
The 666m golden dragon breathes fire, then sprays water over the crowd while the bridge glows.
Price: Free · Hours: Shows Fri, Sat, Sun at 9pm (about 15 min) · bridge lit nightly
Tip: Arrive 30 minutes early and stand near the head on the east bank (Tran Hung Dao side). The front rows get wet; step back if you have a camera.
Day 2 · Ba Na Hills: Into the clouds: Golden Bridge and the French village
Leave the city by 7am. The long cable car climbs to about 1,400m, the Golden Bridge before the crowds, flower gardens and the wine cellar, the French village and Fantasy Park when it rains, and the ride down at dusk. Bring a jacket: the summit is much cooler than the beach.
Ba Na Hills cable car
From 2026 one ticket gives unlimited cable car rides for up to three days in a row, and the climb over waterfalls and jungle is half the fun.
Price: ₫1,000,000 adult (non-resident) · ₫800,000 child/senior · cable car included · Hours: Park about 8am–10pm · first cable cars around 8am, earlier on busy days (check)
Tip: Buy online the night before only after checking the forecast: the park shuts on typhoon days and the cable stops in strong wind. A Grab from the city takes about 45 minutes.
Golden Bridge
A gold walkway held by two giant moss-covered stone hands, floating over the forest and often over the clouds.
Price: Included in the Ba Na Hills ticket · Hours: About 8am–6pm
Tip: Head straight here off the cable car; by 10am it's shoulder to shoulder. If it's foggy, wait 15 minutes: the cloud often moves.
Le Jardin d'Amour
Terraced themed gardens right beside the bridge, cool and misty in the morning.
Price: Included · Hours: Daytime
Tip: Paths are wet and sloping in November; wear shoes with grip.
Debay Wine Cellar
A cool tunnel of wine barrels dug into the mountain, next to the station for the ride up to the summit.
Price: Included · tasting extra · Hours: Daytime
Tip: Walking through is free; wine tasting costs extra.
French Village
Cobbled squares, half-timbered houses and a beer plaza at the summit, a little Europe in the clouds.
Price: Included · Hours: All day
Tip: Use your ticket's draft beer or fast-food voucher here. The 'After Glow' show runs at 1:30pm in the Beer Plaza.
Fantasy Park
A huge indoor play park with rides and a drop tower: a dry, warm plan when the rain comes in.
Price: Included (a few extras cost more) · Hours: Daytime
Tip: Most rides are included; queues are shortest while groups are at the lunch buffets.
Saint Denis Church & summit
The Gothic-style church at the top of the village; when the cloud lifts you see down to the coast.
Price: Included · Hours: Daytime
Tip: It gets cold and dark early up here in November; start heading for the cable car by 4pm.
Cable car down at dusk
Float down over the jungle as the light fades, with the plain and the city lights far below.
Price: Included · Hours: Last regular cars down around 6pm (check on the day)
Tip: Book the Grab back to the city while still in the cabin; the car park is busy after 5pm.
Day 3 · Hoi An: Basket boats, old streets and lanterns on the river
About 45 minutes from Da Nang by Grab. Spin through the coconut forest by basket boat, walk the old town with one ticket (Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky house, Phuc Kien hall), lunch at the market, rest in the heat, then the lanterns come on at sunset, the night market and a boat with a candle on the river.
Cam Thanh basket boats
Round bamboo boats paddled through water-coconut channels, with the rowers' spinning show and crab-fishing on the way.
Price: ₫150,000–200,000 per person, shared (2026 price · check on site) · site fee ₫30,000 · Hours: About 7am–5:30pm
Tip: Confirm the total and the tip before you board. Say 'khong quay' if you'd rather not spin. In high water after storms rides can stop.
Japanese Covered Bridge
Hoi An's symbol: a little roofed bridge with a shrine inside, first built by Japanese merchants around 1600 and freshly restored.
Price: ₫120,000 international old-town ticket (covers the bridge, museums and more sites) · Hours: Sites about 8am–5pm · streets car-free 9am–9pm in winter
Tip: Buy the ticket at an old-town booth and keep it for up to three days. Photos are best from the riverside before the tour buses arrive.
Tan Ky Old House
Dark wood, mother-of-pearl and a courtyard open to the sky in a house still lived in by the same family.
Price: In the old-town ticket · Hours: Daytime
Tip: Find the flood-height marks on the wall: the river comes in here most rainy seasons.
Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
The grandest of the Chinese halls: a tiled gate, a dragon fountain and huge incense coils hung with wishes.
Price: In the old-town ticket · Hours: Daytime
Tip: Look up at the incense coils; each carries a red tag with a family's wish.
Hoi An Central Market · lunch
Eat Hoi An's own cao lau noodles, mi quang and banh xeo at the food stalls inside the riverside market.
Price: Free entry · pay per dish · Hours: Morning to afternoon
Tip: Pick a stall with a printed menu and prices. Banh Mi Phuong is a short walk if you want the famous sandwich too.
Old-town lantern streets at sunset
Walk Nguyen Thai Hoc and Tran Phu as hundreds of silk lanterns switch on against the yellow walls.
Price: In the old-town ticket zone · Hours: Lanterns on around sunset (about 5:10pm in November)
Tip: After heavy rain the riverside streets can be ankle-deep or closed; check with your hotel and follow police directions.
An Hoi Night Market
Lantern stalls and grilled snacks along Nguyen Hoang street, across the bridge from the old town.
Price: Free · pay per snack · Hours: Evenings
Tip: Lantern shops will let you photograph for a small fee or purchase; ask first. Try banh mi and grilled pork skewers.
Lantern boat on the Hoai River
Glide past the lit old town in a wooden boat and set a paper lantern with a candle on the river.
Price: ₫150,000–170,000 per small boat for 1–3 people (2026 price · check on site) · Hours: About 4pm–9:30pm · stops in high water
Tip: The price is per boat, not per person; agree it at the kiosk before stepping in. Paper lanterns cost a little extra.
Top 10 places for a first visit
| # | Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hoi An Ancient Town A UNESCO-listed trading port of wooden shophouses, assembly halls and lanterns on the Hoai River. | Hoi An | ₫120,000 international ticket |
| 2 | Sun World Ba Na Hills A mountaintop park at about 1,400m reached by one of the world's longest cable car lines, with the Golden Bridge and a French village. | Ba Na | ₫1,000,000 adult (non-resident) incl. cable car |
| 3 | Golden Bridge A gold walkway held up by two giant stone hands, floating above the forest. | Ba Na | Included in the Ba Na Hills ticket |
| 4 | Dragon Bridge A 666m bridge shaped like a golden dragon that breathes fire and water on weekend nights. | Hai Chau | Free |
| 5 | My Khe Beach A long, wide city beach of fine sand with the Son Tra mountains at the north end. | Son Tra | Free |
| 6 | Linh Ung Pagoda & Lady Buddha A hillside pagoda on Son Tra with a 67m white Lady Buddha looking out over the bay and the city. | Son Tra | Free |
| 7 | Marble Mountains (Thuy Son) Five limestone hills with caves, pagodas and viewpoints halfway between Da Nang and Hoi An. | Ngu Hanh Son | ₫40,000 adult (Thuy Son) |
| 8 | Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An's symbol: a small roofed bridge with a shrine inside, first built by Japanese merchants around 1600. | Hoi An | In the ₫120,000 old-town ticket |
| 9 | Han Market Da Nang's central market: dried mango, coffee, rattan bags and tailors upstairs. | Hai Chau | Free entry |
| 10 | Da Nang Cathedral (Pink Church) A pink 1920s church with a rooster on its spire, right on Tran Phu street. | Hai Chau | Free |
Before you go
Entry
- Korean passports: 45 days visa-free: South Korean citizens can stay up to 45 days without a visa under Resolution 44/NQ-CP, valid from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028.
- Singapore passports: 30 days visa-free: Singapore citizens can stay up to 30 days without a visa under the ASEAN arrangement.
- Longer stays: e-visa: For other nationalities or longer trips, the e-visa allows up to 90 days, single or multiple entry (US$25 / US$50 government fee). Apply only on the official portal, evisa.immigration.gov.vn; look-alike agency sites charge much more.
- Passport and tickets: Have at least 6 months left on your passport, and keep your return or onward ticket handy: airlines and immigration may ask for it. Your hotel registers your passport with the police; that's normal.
SIM & eSIM
- At the airport: Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone counters in the Da Nang arrivals hall sell tourist SIMs. SIMs must be registered, so bring your passport.
- eSIM before you fly: A data eSIM installed at home works on landing for maps and Grab. Compare days and data, not just price.
- Why data matters here: Grab, maps and translation apps do most of the work in Da Nang and Hoi An; signal can drop on Son Tra and at Ba Na, so download offline maps.
Getting around
- Grab: The easiest way to move: Grab car or Grab bike, priced in the app, card or cash. Check the plate number before you get in. Xanh SM's green electric taxis are a good alternative.
- Airport to city: Da Nang airport is very close to the centre, about 10–15 minutes by Grab or taxi to the Han River hotels and a little longer to My Khe Beach.
- To Hoi An and Ba Na Hills: Hoi An is about 30 km south (around 45 minutes by car); Ba Na Hills about 40 km west (around 45 minutes). Many hotels run shuttles; for a group, a private car for the day can cost less than several Grabs.
- Crossing the street: Walk at a steady pace and don't stop or step back suddenly; motorbikes flow around you.
- Scooters: Renting one yourself needs a licence valid in Vietnam and insurance that covers motorbikes; without both, take Grab.
Money
- Cash is king: Carry Vietnamese dong for markets, street food, boats and tips. Hotels, malls, big restaurants and Grab take cards.
- Watch the zeros: The ₫20,000 and ₫500,000 notes are both bluish; check before you pay and count your change.
- Changing money: Jewellery shops around Han Market are a popular place to change won or dollars; compare two rates. ATMs are everywhere but charge a fee per withdrawal.
November: rainy & typhoon season
- Peak season for storms: October–November is the wettest time in central Vietnam, with heavy rain, floods and typhoons. Expect at least one rainy day; keep one day flexible and swap Ba Na or Hoi An if a storm is forecast.
- Ba Na Hills: The park closes on days a typhoon makes landfall, and the cable car stops in strong wind. Check the official Sun World channels the night before and in the morning; the summit is often in cloud and much cooler, so bring a jacket.
- Hoi An floods: The riverside streets (Bach Dang, Nguyen Thai Hoc) flood first after heavy rain; boats, the night market and some houses close. Ask your hotel, follow police directions, and never walk through fast water.
- The sea: Big waves are common: swim only between lifeguard flags and stay out on red-flag days. Island boats to the Cham Islands are often cancelled.
- Warnings & insurance: Follow storm warnings from Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and your hotel. Buy travel insurance that covers weather delays.
- Temperature & sunset: Around 25°C and humid in the city, with sunset around 5:10pm; mornings and late afternoons are the best times to be outside.
Tips & scams
- Agree the price first: For basket boats, lantern boats, cyclos and massages, confirm the total (and any tip) before you start. Boat prices are often per boat, not per person.
- Seafood by weight: At seafood restaurants ask the price per kg and see the weight before it's cooked.
- Temples: Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas and churches; take off your shoes where others do.
- Weekend fire show: The Dragon Bridge breathes fire only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9pm, so plan Day 1 for one of those nights.
Sources
- Da Nang Fantasticity (official city tourism) — 2026 admission prices, published 22 Jan 2026
- Da Nang Fantasticity — official Da Nang tourism site
- Tuoi Tre News — Dragon Bridge fire & water shows every Fri, Sat, Sun at 9pm (24 Aug 2026)
- Vietnam Tourism guide — Da Nang Cathedral hours, dress code, Mass times (updated 27 Oct 2026)
- Sun World Ba Na Hills — official site
- Da Nang Fantasticity — Ba Na Hills cable car tickets valid up to 3 days from 2026 (2 Jan 2026)
- Da Nang Fantasticity — Hoi An Ancient Town entrance tickets 2026 (6 Mar 2026)
- Hoi An Heritage (Da Nang city) — visiting the Ancient Town
- Vietnam Tourism guide — Cam Thanh basket boats, prices checked early 2026
- GTrip — Hoi An lantern boat ride prices and hours (Apr 2026)
- Vietcetera — Vietnam visa & immigration guide 2026 (45-day exemption for Korea, 30 days Singapore, e-visa fees)
- Vietnam Immigration Department — official e-visa portal
- Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting — storm and flood warnings
- Illustrated draft map by 3DAYS · positions from OpenStreetMap · real-data 3D map in preparation
Prices are for adults and can change; always check the official site on the day. Some ticket, hotel and eSIM links on 3DAYS are affiliate links: your price is the same and we may earn a commission. Rankings and routes are not paid placements.