Comparing to other cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang is not very popular in the list of cities to visit in Vietnam. That is such a disappointment, because of the variety of activities and places for people to experience and visit. The third largest city in Vietnam is recognized as the city with the best living conditions, a perfect combination of modern day urban area and traditional influences. When coming to Da Nang, you will be able to have a stay at the most living-worthy city of Vietnam with borderless horizon, along with marvelous trips into riverside areas and gorgeous sandy beaches awaiting.

The geographic location is what makes Da Nang an ideal place to visit, as the city is located on the coast, surrounded by a long line of coastal sand. You can either enjoy the city life or take a trip to the countryside. As the city is not far away from the coast, water sports are perfect for energetic individuals, as well as mountain climbing or playing at amusement parks. If you are more like a historical nerd, then there are a few historical museums or attractions like ancient temples or ruins from the past.
 

Ba Na Hills are the number 1 destination every time someone mentions Da Nang, the place always filled with tourists from all over the world who wants to experience the comfortable climate that can only be found in the high grounds. 
 

The glourious and dreamy Ba Na Hill 

Looking down from the top of the Ba Na Hills, you will find the extraordinary views that has unlimited vision to the ocean, and if you are not into climbing up the hills, you can just simply take a cable car to the top.

The main attraction of Ba Na Hills would be Ba Na Hill Fantasy Park, which offers the visitors a variety of choices of entertainment, along with a wax museum that has a
display of statues of many popular celebrities

Have you ever come to or heard of those Communist styled coffee shops that is attracting countless people in Hanoi or Saigon? Their origins were right in Da Nang, as the first Cong Ca Phe was opened here. 

This is one of the best destination if you are looking for a great cup of coffee and enjoying the majestic landscape at the same time with a riverside view. It is highly recommended to try their best-seller drink – the coffee mixed with yogurt. 

My Khe Beach is seen as the prettiest beach ever seen in Vietnam, and it has the length of roughly 20 miles along the eastern coastline of Da Nang. Therefore, it offers many exciting activities for sports lover, such as jet skiing or surfing. Scuba diving is a fantastic option as well, for people who likes relaxing activities, besides sunbathing. Don’t forget to try the wide range of wonderful seafood, offers by restaurants nearby the beach.
 

My Khe Beach is always impress tourists for its clear and blue color

The Marble Mountains are a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble in Da Nang. It's also a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels and temples all just waiting to be discovered. Named after the elements metal, wood, water, fire and earth, Marble Mountains exist in a coastal area that is renowned for stone-cutting and sculpture about 9km south of Da Nang. 
 

Can you feel the demureness when stepping inside the cave of Marble Mountain?
 

The caves within the mountains hold many secrets including bullet holes from when troops used to spy on the US soldiers relaxing on My Khe Beach below and buildings standing within the caves and grottoes. There are also Buddhist sanctuaries and places of worship dotted across the mountains which are a much-visited spiritual site. You can even see a special circular cave here. It leads to the summit, where you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views.

Lying in the center of Da Nang, the Dragon Bridge is as well as the most impressive and attractive structure in the city without a doubt. Having the length of 666 meters, the bridge holds the record for the longest bridge of its kind in entire Vietnam. 

Just like the name, the bridge was built with a flying dragon statue in the middle, which stands for good omen in the local’s point of view.

Every Saturday and Sundays, visitors can witness the “Dragon” of Da Nang spitting fire and water along with designated music. It is the special event of the city, attracting many tourists and locals.  

Historical destinations are often being underrated in Da Nang, and Cham Museum is one of them. The following Museum will provide you with full knowledge about the Cham ethnic minorities in Vietnam. It is known for being the one and only Cham museum anywhere in the world and first established in 1915, during the time French colonial occurred. 
 

Historical relics are preserved inside Cham Museum.

This fine, small museum has the world’s largest collection of Cham artifacts, including altars, lingas (stylised phalluses that represent Shiva), garudas (griffin-like sky beings), apsaras (heavenly nymphs), Ganeshes and images of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu, all dating from the 5th to 15th centuries

Hai Van Pass is an approximately 21 km long mountain pass on National Route 1A in Vietnam. It traverses a spur of the larger Annamite Range that juts into the East Sea of Vietnam, on the border of Da Nang and Thua Thien–Hue Province, near Bach Ma National Park. Its name refers to the mists that rise from the sea, reducing visibility. Historically, the pass was a physical division between the kingdoms of Champa and Dai Viet.
 

Hai Van Pass offers an incredible view over seascapes.

This is the kind of place you looking for if you want to see a fully broadened view onto the city of Da Nang. There are a few historical sites here as well, most notable the bunker used by American and South Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War period (1954 – 1975)

Son Tra Mountain, as known as Monkey Mountain by the Americans during Vietnam War, stands at about 700 meters from sea level and is a majestic part of a national park. 

The area is also known as Son Tra Peninsula, and the roads here are ideal for sports lover as they come hiking and cycling. The Mountain is also famous for being the natural habitat of a rare species of monkey known as the red face monkey.

For a few years back, Da Nang has established a reputation for having some beautiful and large golf courses, attracting many tourists – mainly gentlemen who take interest the sport. 

The first established golf course called Da Nang Golf Club, opened in 2010 and has been voted in the list of 15 best newly-founded golf courses in the world. Nowadays, there are 4 different golf courses in Da Nang for people to choose from. 

Linh Ung Pagoda is located in an area locally called Bai But (Buddha’s Sanctuary) on Son Tra Peninsula. It is rated as the most magnificent work of this kind in the city of Da Nang in Central Viet Nam, in terms of architectural and artistic value.

To visit the pagoda, visitors will drive along the road surrounding the Me Khe coastal beach, one among the most beautiful beaches in Da Nang. From the foot of Son Tra Peninsula, it will take them about 10km further to the entrance to the pagoda.
 

The  Linh Ung pagoda

Built on an area of about 20 hectares and on the side of a mountain, the pagoda is really a magnificent artwork. It looks to the sea while its back leans on a vast primitive forest of Son Tra Peninsula. The stature of Goddess of Mercy is recognized as the tallest statue in the place, along with about 20 other statues inside the complex. 

About 20 minutes away from Da Nang’s central, Non Nuoc Beach is the perfect place for people having enough of city harmony and are looking for a getaway.

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, visitors can do plenty of sightseeing and leisure activities whilst enjoying local seafood dishes at many beachfront restaurants. If you’re looking to surf or experience thrilling water sports during your holiday in Da Nang, the best time to visit Non Nuoc Beach is between the months of April and September.

From the beach you will be able to reach the military base located on the Marble Mountains.

Formerly Tinh Hoi Pagoda, Phap Lam Pagoda consists of two levels and surrounded by gardens arranged with sculptures of Buddhas. The pagoda is loved for its peaceful and comforting atmosphere and you will easily find three giant Buddha statues in the courtyard, and an equally imposing large gold one in the temple, inlucding the statue of Goddess of Mercy (Avalokitesvara) and Dai The Chi Bodhisattva.

If you are interested in trying vegetarian food, then the food stalls and restaurants around the area offers delicious vegan meals.

Da Nang Cathedral is mainly famous for its eye-catching signature pink paintings and other design impression, making it the most beautiful catholic church anywhere in Vietnam.
 

The iconic pink of Da Nang Church

The architecture of the church following Gothic with soaring lines, crown doors. Inside the church, there are illustrations of the events in the Bible in the motifs of the Western churches.

On the back of the church, the stone carving of Our Lady is arranged in the pattern of Lourdes cave in France. Built in 1923, it is called by the locals by the name Con Ga (Rooster Church).

Looking for a getaway from the busy city? Then the Cham Islands is where you should seriously think of travelling to. 

Magnificent sea creatures can be found here by scuba diving, most notably the beautiful coral reefs or countless herds of colorful fishes. It is recommended to stay at the Islands for more than a day, as it takes an hour to reach the place on a boat and it offers a lot of excitement. 

Called the 'culinary paradise' of Da Thanh, Da Nang Con market is not only a place for local people to trade, but also a place for street food experiences. Tourists, especially young people want to come here when in Da Nang.
 

Many stalls selling local products such as food, clothes or kitchenwares

Souvenirs such as handicrafts and accessories are being sold at more than 2000 stalls inside the market, and at a very reasonable price. 

Pham Van Dong Beach is another popular destination for tourists visiting Vietnam.

This beach is a public beach, was renovated with a budget of 12 billion. Pham Van Dong beach is not very deep so it is very convenient for those who do not know how to swim. The white sandy beach is attracting many young people, especially foreign tourists. 

Pham Van Dong Beach is also the place to be chosen to host major events such as international parachute flying events, Paragliding or sand sculpture contests.

The Fifth Military Division is the evident display of the bloody and ruthless history of the Vietnam War that lasted from 1954 to 1975.
 

This museum keeps plenty of military's old materials

The city's Fifth Military Division Museum displays tanks, aircraft, armoured personnel carriers, weapons, cannons and other similar military themed material. In particular, look out for the A-37 Dragonfly light-attack aircraft, the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog observation aircraft, and the M48 Patton gun tank.

My Son Sanctuary is one of many places that have earned the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an area contains relics and ruins of once powerful and formidable kingdom of Champa.

From the 4th to the 14th century AD, the valley at My Son was a site of religious ceremony for kings of the ruling dynasties of Champa, as well as a burial place for Cham royalty and national heroes.
 

The ancient My Son Sanctuary 

If you are interested in learning the history of the place, you can be accompanied by a tour guide, who will explain everything.

Ho Chi Minh Museum is in the same area with the Fifth Military Division Museum, displays the monuments and images of the late president of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh.
At the front, there is a display of the usual US, Soviet and Chinese weaponry. Hidden behind the Party buildings there are a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s house in Hanoi

Han River Bridge is the first and only rotating bridge in Vietnam, solely designed and built by Vietnamese engineers and architects. Everyday, around 1-2 am, the bridge will spin a 90-degree angle, along with water flows so that large boats and ships can sail from the river to the ocean and vice versa. It usually takes 15-20 minutes in order to rotate the bridge and if you are visiting Da Nang, remember not to sleep and witness how the bridge rotates at midnight. Around 4 o’clock in the morning, the bridge will return to its original state.

Located in the outskirts of the city of Da Nang, Asia Park is a giant amusement center that should not be missed. 

The place is divided into three different areas, namely the Amusement Park, the Cultural Park and the Central Zone.

The highlight of the complex is undoubtedly the giant Sun Wheel that measured 115 meters high, serving also as a clock tower, showing the times of different countries on different time zones. 

The best sport that you must try in Da Nang is riding the curving waves. It doesn’t matter if you are new to surfing or an expert in riding waves, the ocean offers the perfect waves for both, and even though you can try surfing here anytime, the most ideal period is from November to March, and the perfect destinations are China Beach and My Khe Beach.
 

Surfing is tourist's favorite ourdoor activity

If Hanoi has the Highlands Coffee Shop on a cruise ship, then Da Nang has Waterfront, a riverside lounge and restaurant that has the almost identical designs.  Waterfront is set over 2 levels, with an upstairs restaurant and downstairs bar for customers to enjoy the sunset on Han River whatever way they want. 

Cao Dai Temple is the largest temple ever built in Vietnam, speculations stated that it has taken in over 50,000 worshippers coming to the place. 

A sign that says “All religions have the same reason” hangs from the ceiling in front of the main altar. Behind the gilded letters is a picture of the founders of five of the world’s great religions: Mohammed, Laotse (wearing Eastern Orthodox–style robes), Jesus, a Southeast Asian–looking Buddha and Confucius (looking as Chinese as he could be).

Unlike Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang is not highly rated for the variety of nightlife entertainment. The Sky 36 Bar is the most popular place for partying and stunning electronic music. Sitting on the top of Novotel Da Nang Hotel, it opens a fantastic view down Han River as well as the famous bridges of the city.
 

Having a drink on Sky 36 Bar and enjoying the city view

The customers have to wear smart-casual clothes in order to enter the bar, and the place also offers a lot of eye-catching cocktails and liquors like many other.