#1 The Viral Golden Bridge

Most people first have an interest in Da Nang after seeing the viral picture of the beautiful Golden Bridge. Who can resist not seeing this place in person, it’s stunning. The Golden Bridge is supported by giant hands and its intention is to “invoke the sensation of walking along a thread stretching through the hands of God”. It gets misty in the morning, thus if you are looking to take clearer pictures, you might consider visiting it in the afternoon as the weather gets warmer then. Also, expect loads of tourists, it’s a popular spot after all. 

#2 French Village 

The French Village is located at the top of the hill and it was built in 1919 by the French colonists as a leisure destination for French tourists back then. Naturally, the architecture is inspired by the classical and romantic France with cobblestoned streets and medieval looking buildings. There are tons of restaurants and cafes, a huge beer corner, and a number of hotels too. If you want to have the full experience, feel free to stay a night or two. Otherwise, do allocate more time here as it’s a huge area to explore. 

#3 Marble Mountain 

Marble Mountain is a location that's a little underrated if you are a cultural buff and loves to walk around learning about local religion stories and beliefs. This area has plenty of pagodas, statues to admire, and greeneries. There are five marble mountains, each named after a basic element, water, earth, air, fire, and metal but most people only visit the biggest and most famous mountain Thuy Son, the Water Mountain. There's an entrance fee and it's extra charge if you take the elevator instead of the stairs. Mind you, the trails are not super challenging but if you are with elderly or very young children, be sure to watch their steps as they can be a little unpredictable and slippery, especially in the cave area.

#4 Lady Buddha

Travel to Son Tra Peninsula, also known as Monkey Mountain, to visit  the 67 metre tall Lady Buddha or as we know it as Guan Yin. We were told that Lady Buddha stands tall facing the waters to protect Danang city from winds and storms. Visiting at night was great as Lady Buddha statue was well lit by flood lights, so a picture with any camera will still look great. 

#5 My Son Sanctuary 

My Son Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place offers an introduction to the ancient Champa civilisation where you'll see impressive Hindu-themed ruins and stone sculptures within a refreshing tropical jungle surroundings. This sanctuary now solely serves as a tourist spot, thus you won't see any religious activities happening there. 

#6 Hoi An Ancient House 

There are a few ancient houses you can visit in Hoi An and most of them demonstrates the perfect fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. Each has its own unique points, such as House of Phung Hung houses many documents about the architecture, culture, art, and lifestyle of the Hoi An’s business circle from the old days and it’s close to the Japanese Covered Bridge. House of Tan Ky on the hand is known to be one of the best-preserved ancient houses of them all. Definitely so some research to see which Ancient House is convenient for you. 

#7 Japanese Covered Bridge

Located at the ancient town of Hoi An, this tourist spot is still a functioning bridge and it’s a historical piece of Japanese architecture where it was previously used by the Japanese to reach the Chinese quarter across the waters. On a less rainy day, apparently many local couples like to come here to take pictures as it’s considered a romantic spot in Hoi An.  

#8 Hoi An Ancient Town 

If you love shopping, Ancient Town is your heaven. They have everything there, from fresh produce to clothes and souvenirs. If you will be there for more than three days, you could also get yourself a suit or dress made. Just remember to bargain as the tailoring industry is ultra competitive in Hoi An. You could also seek out for traditional Vietnamese outfits if you are interested. For street food, check out their night market. It’s a whole row of vendors selling yummy barbecue and local snacks. 

Interested in all that Da Nang has to offer? Check out affordable itineraries here!