Ask a Vietnamese person what they think about Da Nang, and there’s a good chance they’ll extol the city’s obvious virtues: sun, sand and sea. While these are indeed highlights of Vietnam’s third city – a tempting destination for both domestic and foreign tourists – there’s a lot more to Da Nang than its sweeping metropolitan beach and bright blue skies.
Da Nang can’t offer the architectural ancestry of Hanoi in the north, Ho Chi Minh City in the south and the nearby cities of Hue and Hoi An. But what it lacks in built heritage it makes up for with its proximity to nature, capacious public space and a food scene that blends traditional favourites with original innovations. Da Nang is, after all, probably Vietnam’s most liveable big city.
Two days is just enough time to take in the best of what Da Nang has to offer. And, fortunately, the MICHELIN Guide is here to help you discover the best things to do and, perhaps just as important, the best things to eat.
Day 1
Morning
Do as the locals do and head to the coast at dawn. Da Nang’s beach – like most beaches in Vietnam – faces east, which means it offers ethereal views of the rising sun, a simple pleasure not lost on the locals. Da Nang’s beach stretches for more than 10km, but for Vietnamese vibes head to the stretch at the end of Pham Van Dong Street or Nguyen Van Thoai Street. After taking a dip in the sea, find a nearby sun lounger and enjoy a coconut for breakfast. Before leaving, make a note of the gigantic white Guanyin statue on the peninsula to your left as you look out to sea. You’ll get to meet her up close on Day 2.Jump in a taxi and take the coastal road south to the Marble Mountains for one of the city’s most atmospheric religious sites. The five elements of Eastern philosophy – fire, water, earth, wood and metal – are represented in these five clusters of limestone peaks with marble outcrops. The mountains were mined for their marble for decades, but these days the grottoes are filled with religious shrines. The one to visit is the Water Mountain, which hosts more than a dozen temples and a handful of viewpoints.
Lunch
After an hour or two spent crawling around the Marble Mountains, taxi back into town along the coastal road and tuck into a well-deserved seafood lunch at Bé Mặn. Our MICHELIN Inspectors recommend steamed squid with ginger and spring onion served with a side of salad greens.Afternoon
After lunch, head to the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, the city’s standout museum. Da Nang heats up during the summer months, so it’s often a good idea to spend the afternoons holed up in an air-conditioned museum. The focus here is on the Cham, which ruled central Vietnam many centuries ago. An Indianised Hindu civilisation (though many Cham would eventually convert to Islam), the Cham were known for their intricate sculptures of Hindu gods. The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture exhibits the most extensive and well-presented collection of Cham art on the planet.
After you’ve cooled down, it’s time for a pick-me-up. Head to 113 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street for a cluster of hip cafes popular with students. There’s a good selection here, from retro hideaways and hipster hangouts to streetside spots and garden retreats. From here, you can stroll five minutes north to the early 20th-century Dien Hai Citadel, where you’ll also find the Da Nang Museum. Truth be told, this isn’t the city’s best museum. But it does have some remarkable photography that shows how Da Nang has transformed from a small fishing settlement to a glistening metropolis in just a few decades.
Dinner
Getting hungry? Just south of the citadel, you’ll find Bún Chả Cá 109, which serves up a Da Nang specialty: vermicelli rice noodles in a fish a seafood broth, topped with bamboo shoots, cabbage, pineapple, fish balls and crab cakes.Address book:
- Marble Mountains: 81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Hoà Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Da Nang
- Bé Mặn: Lô 8õ Nguyên Giáp, Mân Thái, Sơn Trà, Da Nang
- Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture: 2 Tháng 9, Bình Hiên, Hải Châu, Da Nang
- 113 Nguyễn Chí Thanh: Hải Châu, Da Nang
- Điện Hải Citadel and Đà Nẵng Museum: Thạch Thang, Hải Châu, Da Nang
- Bun cha ca 109: 109 Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Hải Châu 1, Hải Châu, Da Nang
- Dragon Bridge: Cầu Rồng, An Hải Trung, Sơn Trà, Da Nang
Day 2
Morning
No need to get up at the crack of dawn this morning, but it’s still worth making an early start as you’re heading to the Son Tra Peninsula, a huge, jungle-clad outcrop. If you’re comfortable on two wheels, rent a motorbike. If not, commandeer a taxi. First head for the Linh Ung Pagoda and gaze up at towering Guanyin, the statue you saw yesterday from the beach. Then head further from the city and see if you can spot the endangered red-shanked duoc langur. Keep your eyes peeled and there’s a good chance you’ll see them.Lunch
On your way back into town make a detour and stop for a light lunch at Năm Hiền (Phan Thanh Street). The standout dish here is banh xeo, a savoury pancake made from rice flour batter and topped with shrimp and beansprouts. Here it’s served with a sweet peanut dipping sauce.
Afternoon
After lunch, it’s time to cool down in another museum. This time head to the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum, a rarely visited but superb city institution with a broad collection of pieces from artists from central Vietnam. Most of the art is housed on the upper floor, where pieces are divided by medium: oil, silk, sculpture and so on. The most visually striking pieces might be the lacquer works, crafted by a painstaking technique that results in a glistening sheen. After the museum, head to the beach for one final dip in the sea and then prepare for dinner.
Dinner
Round off the couple of days with dinner on Da Nang’s glitzy riverside. Luk Lak offers smart modern Vietnamese cuisine in the centre of town with several standout dishes, including grilled ground beef with herbs and lemongrass.Evening
After dinner, stroll down Bach Dang Street and along the Han River. You’ll get to see Da Nang’s multicoloured bridges spectacularly lit up, including the iconic Dragon Bridge. If it’s Saturday or Sunday, cross the Dragon Bridge to the east side and watch its head breathe fire, which happens promptly at 9 pm. Then head to a riverside bar.For a place to stay in Da Nang, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa features a full-service spa, and 357 modern rooms and suites, which is essential for any Vietnam itinerary. The “King” room offers a balcony, marble bath, and rain shower, with various luxurious upgrades available, including ocean-view suites.
Address book:
- Linh Ứng Pagoda: Sơn Trà, Da Nang
- Năm Hiền: 46 Phan Thanh, Thạc Gián, Thanh Khê, Da Nang
- Da Nang Fine Arts Museum: 78 Lê Duẩn, Thạch Thang, Hải Châu, Da Nang
- Luk Lak, 28 Bạch Đằng: Thạch Thang, Hải Châu, Da Nang
RELEVANT: 2 Days in Ho Chi Minh City
Illustration image: © Shutterstock
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