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When Bree and I were researching the places we wanted to stay in Vietnam we originally had 2-3 nights planned for both Da Nang and Hoi An. Although, after researching what each place had to offer, we realised that most of Da Nang's highlights that we wanted to see could be covered in just a day. Better yet, the distance between each city was not far at all, only about 25-30km's. Therefore, in this blog we will go through all the details of the day trip we did to Da Nang as well as mentioning a few other recommendations. So without further ado, let's begin!
Where to stay in Hoi An?
Hoi An offers three main areas to stay in, each with its own unique benefits.
The first is An Hoi which is a perfect choice for those seeking close proximity to Hoi Ans vibrant nightlife. The area is filled with an abundance of bars, restaurants, and the renowned Night Market offering delicious street food, souvenirs, and clothing.
Next you have Cam Chau which is opposite of An Hoi in the sense that it is a very quiet neighbourhood with a relaxing calm atmosphere. The neighbourhood is surrounded by rice paddies and offers easy access to the nearby beaches while still remaining close to all major attractions.
Finally is the area of Cam Pho with its main positive being its many affordable accomodation options. Although their are no 'tourist' activities in the nearby area, it is still an accessible spot to access all the main highlights! This was the area we ended up staying in and for reference it was a place called 'Legend Connect Homestay'. This was honestly the best place we stayed in all of Vietnam, you get free peddle bikes to be able to explore the city, complimentary breakfast and the most loving and caring ladies who do their best to ensure you have the best time!
How to get from Hoi An to Da Nang?
By Motorbike:
We highly recommend this option for a day trip to Da Nang because it is not only the most affordable but also allows for more flexibility. Renting a bike in Vietnam or South East Asia is surprisingly easy for tourists, and there are many places in Hoi An that offer this service. We would personally suggest 'Hoi An Bike Rental,' which was recommended to us by our host at the homestay we stayed at. Their cheapest bike rental is only 180,000 VND ($11 AUD) for a day, and it includes the convenience of them dropping off the bike at your location and picking it up!
By Bus/Van:
The booking platform 12go allows you to search through numerous bus companies, to find the best and most affordable option to get from one destination to the next. 12go was our primary booking platform while we were traveling throughout Asia, so you can rest assured that they are a reliable method for booking transportation. For this journey, the buses are available at a range of prices from $3 to $15, and the travel time typically falls between 30 minutes and 90 minutes.
By Tour:
If you're looking for a stress-free way to explore the main attractions of Da Nang, booking a tour is a great option. You can easily book return tours from Hoi An on platforms like Klook and GetYourGuide. These tours can take you to must-see places like Ba Na Hills, Marble Mountains, and the city highlights.
Day Itinerary
Alright, now that we got our accommodation and our mode of transport sorted, we can now look at what to do once in Da Nang. We would suggest leaving as early as possible to make the most of your day!
First stop is the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone formations located about a 25 minute drive from Hoi An. We first wan't to give some advice on parking in this area, as it can be quite overwhelming. As you drive along Huyền Trân Công Chúa road towards the mountains, you will be approached by a lot of locals telling you to follow them to a parking spot, some even jump onto the road to try and stop you! Of course in exchange they want money and we can't say for certain how much that would be as we opted to find our own spot. Therefore we parked in front of a nearby convenience store called VietMart and we asked an employee there for permission to leave our bike there while we explored, just to be sure it was okay.
Now that parking is taken care of, let's delve into the Marble Mountains themselves. The mountain is separated into half a dozen large caves in which you can explore. The entrance fee to visit them is 40,000 VND ($2.30 AUD) with the exception of 'Am Phu Cave' which has a separate entrance located outside. The cost to enter this one is 20,000 VND ($1.15 AUD) and the image below can help paint a better picture of where the caves are located:
You may also notice that there is an elevator available to accommodate individuals with disabilities or those who prefer not to use the stairs to reach the top. The cost for the elevator is 15,000 VND ($1 AUD).
In terms of our visit, we only explored Am Phu Cave as we didn't take our own advice to start early enough to see all the caves. However, we were happy with our experience at just the one cave, as it was truly stunning with numerous picturesque spots. It's definitely worth checking out but I would suggest that you could skip it if you decide to pay the entrance fee to see all the other caves :)
If that's your plan and you're looking for the best or most popular cave to visit, then Huyen Khong would be the one. It is the largest of the caves and is considered a must-visit for photographers or Instagrammers due to its impressive features. Such as it bearing a collapsed ceiling which allows shafts of light to pierce the dark cavern, creating dramatic spotlights inside. Huyen Khong also holds a rich history, having been used as a secret base and later a field hospital for Vietnamese revolutionaries. To explore all the caves on offer, it will take you approximately 2-3 hours.
Next up is the renowned Ba Na Hills, home to the iconic Golden Hand Bridge. If you're planning to visit, it's a good idea to book your tickets online in advance, many of which include a complimentary shuttle service from Downtown Da Nang. This may not appeal to you if you rented a motorbike for the day but for us, we still chose that option as the ride up to the base of the mountain is quite steep! For reference, we booked our tickets on Klook as the price was really reasonable and easy to redeem.
Once you arrive at the main centre, you will then wait in line to catch a gondola up to top of Ba Na Hills.
Fun Fact
The Gondola up to Ba Na hills is the longest cable car in the world, with a distance of 5,771 meters (18,930 feet)
Once at the top there is so much you can do, more than what we expected at the time! Of course the first and most notable attraction you will visit is the Golden Bridge. With a height of 1,441 meters, the Golden Hand Bridge is not only an architectural marvel but also a breathtaking viewpoint. This bridge offers 360-degree views of Vietnam's natural beauty, capturing the essence of the country.
As you continue exploring, you'll encounter beautiful gardens, a large Buddha statue, and the entrance into Sunworld. This enchanting place can be best described as a fantasy/medieval land with scattered rides, the main one being the impressive Alpine Coaster situated on the hillside, providing breathtaking views of the area. They have now 3 Alpine Coasters in total and the cost to go on one of them is about $4 AUD when you book your tickets here.
In addition to the Alpine Coaster, there are other rides and attractions in the Fantasy Park area, all included in your cable car ticket. The Free Fall 360 Ferris Wheel ride is a definite highlight, being the tallest free-falling tower in Vietnam, reaching up to 29m. It was a lot of fun and definitely got the heart race pumping!
After all that exploring and fun activities it’s probably time to look at grabbing some delicious food. As you venture further into the town-like area, you'll discover charming fantasy-style buildings and a plethora of dining options. Included in our ticket at the time was dinner at the Beer Plaza, a buffet style restaurant offering plenty of delicious options to choose from, accompanied by live music and dancing. We unfortunately are unsure what the standalone price would be as we had ours included in our ticket. Our research suggests it would be somewhere between 300,000-400,000 VND ($18-$24 AUD)
Following a satisfying meal, you can opt to continue strolling around or take the gondola back down, which is not the one you took on the way up. The gondola is conveniently located near the dinner area, and there are plenty of signs to guide you in the right direction.
If you have some free time afterwards, consider visiting the Dragon Bridge for their captivating fire and water show at 9pm, which only takes place on Saturdays and Sundays. This impressive 2,185-foot long bridge features a large dragon head on its east end, from which it releases bursts of flames and water in this rather spectacular night show. As the bridge is closed off to traffic for the show, you can enjoy the experience by standing near the dragon head, although you may end up getting a little wet! Another great spot to view the show is from the river bank along Tran Hing Dao Street or enjoy it from one of the many rooftop bars nearby.
Another option is by booking a local river cruise where you can witness the show and enjoy beautiful Da Nang at night while sipping on some lovely champagne!
Other Recommendations
Being a coastal city, Da Nang offers many great beaches in which you can sit back and relax while enjoying the sunshine. Our pick is My Khe Beach which is a must visit due to its soft white sand, clear blue waters, and a palm-fringed coastline, creating a picturesque tropical setting.
Asia Park boasts a fun day out with three main zones to explore. These include a modern outdoor park, a cultural park that consists of mini architectural works and artworks to symbolise 10 Asian countries, and the Sun Wheel. Tickets are really affordable as well, around $3-$4 AUD.
About a 20 minute drive further north from Downtown Da Nang you will find the 67 metre tall Lady Buddha statue. It's also located near Monkey Mountain so you may see some monkeys hanging around the statue as well!
For more ideas on what to do in Da Nang, click here!
Summary
So there you have it, that’s how easy it is for you to visit the beautiful coastal city of Da Nang from Hoi an, saving you time and money if you were to stay there instead. Of course our itinerary is based of our own experience and you can definitely take another day trip, as there are many other places to explore. Click here to discover more options!
If you enjoyed reading our blog and found it helpful, please like and share the post and if you have any questions feel free to comment below :)
Happy travels
Bree & Aiden
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