3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
One and a quarter hours from Saigon by plane
When to go
From February to August
Minimum stay
One day
Da Nang (Vietnam)
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Claire GUERIN
Practical information about Da Nang
Reviews of Da Nang
The port city of Đà Nẵng is somewhere to stop at and visit when touring Vietnam, though I didn't find it really had much of interest to offer. The Marble Mountains and the Linh Ung Pagoda are in my opinion the two most interesting sites to see in the area around Đà Nẵng.
My suggestion:
If you're looking to get back to city-centre based leisure activities (cinemas, bars restaurants, etc.), Đà Nẵng has everything you could wish for!
Summary:
I particularly enjoyed visiting the Museum of Cham Sculpture: it's educational, and some of the information on display is in French. There's a view of the Dragon River Bridge to enjoy once you exit the museum.
Another thing that sticks in my mind is the entirely pink-clad cathedral, which is very pleasing to look at! I didn't have the opportunity to go inside however (be sure to check the opening hours beforehand).
The best time to visit the Marble Mountains (located 12 km from the city centre) is either very early in the morning or close to closing time, as it gets very hot there. What I particularly enjoyed at the mountains were the views and one of the grottoes, which was quite spectacular. I never imagined there could be so many temples and pagodas at this Buddhist sanctuary, so high in the mountains as it is! It's something of a workout getting up there, but it's definitely worth the effort!
The Lady Buddha Statue (Linh Ung Pagoda, located 10 km from Đà Nẵng city centre, is a religious site from where there are wonderful panoramic views over the city and the sea. It's actually located on a peninsula, and when I was there I got to see the views at sunset, which was simply magical! Đà Nẵng's pretty beach is located just next to the site, though in my opinion it is not one of the most beautiful beaches the Vietnamese coast has to offer!
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Claire GUERIN
Đà Nẵng is a city located in the centre of Vietnam.
My suggestion:
Be sure to visit the city's Museum of Cham Sculpture.
Summary:
The city of Đà Nẵng serves as an important financial centre for Vietnam, largely due to its busy seaport. It's the largest city in Central Vietnam and lies around 30 km from Hội An.
I spent two days in Đà Nẵng and found I wasn't really all that taken with this quite modern city. It has quite a calm atmosphere and it's a nice place to relax in and enjoy a little time away from the frenetic pace of large cities like Saigon or Hanoi, but I didn't find Đà Nẵng to be either charming or exotic. Because of the economic boom the city has experienced in recent years, there are now some large skyscrapers here, so head instead for the lively city centre with its little streets and small cafés.
The long sandy beach is nice, as is the area around it: Đà Nẵng is actually located in a bay sheltered from the wind and surrounded by a chain of mountains. The Museum of Cham Sculpture is an interesting place to visit. For me, however, Đà Nẵng is not one of the essential places to see when in Vietnam!
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Paul Arps
189 travellers' photos
