If you’re planning a trip to Central Vietnam, Here’s a list of the top things to do in Da Nang and Hoi An, from relaxing on beautiful beaches to exploring Hoi An’s historic streets and tasting the region’s amazing food. These two cities are only about 30 minutes apart by car, so most travelers (myself included) combine them into one trip. I personally added Hue to the itinerary as well, making it a proper Central Vietnam run. If you’re curious about Hue, you can read more about it here.

Planning Your Da Nang and Hoi An Trip

Getting There

Most people fly directly into Da Nang International Airport (DAD), which is well-connected to major cities across Vietnam and several international destinations. From the airport, Da Nang city centre is only about 15–20 minutes by taxi or Grab (Vietnam’s Uber equivalent). If you’re heading straight to Hoi An, a taxi or private car transfer from the airport takes around 45–60 minutes and costs roughly $12–16 USD depending on the provider.

Practical Tips

• Consider to rent a bike or scooter for easy city travel.

• Carry cash for small food stalls and ticketed attractions.

• Pack light layers for coastal winds and occasional rain.

So what made Da Nang and Hoi An so special to me? Honestly, it came down to a few things: the warmth of the locals, the genuinely thoughtful service, the stunning coastline, the layers of history and culture still very much alive in the streets, and I can’t stress this enough – the seafood. Fresh, affordable, and absolutely delicious.

Here’s everything that stood out from my trip.

Top Things to Do in Da Nang

Da Nang has consistently been ranked as the most liveable city in Vietnam, and spending time here, it’s easy to understand why. It’s modern and well-organised, but without losing that coastal, laid-back energy. Great infrastructure, easy to get around, and right on the beach.

My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach is one of those places that lives up to its reputation. Stretching about 10 kilometres along Da Nang’s eastern coastline, it’s perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or early morning walks. The sand is soft and white, the water is warm and calm enough to swim in almost year-round, and the whole beach is clean and well-maintained. It’s only about 3 kilometres from the city centre, which makes it incredibly easy to access, just cross the Han River and you’re there.

The best time to visit is during the dry season, roughly from April to August, when the sea is at its calmest. Early mornings are especially good, less crowded, great light, and you’ll often see local fishermen starting their day.

Son Tra Peninsula & Linh Ung Pagoda

I rented a bike and rode up to Son Tra Peninsula in the late afternoon. The peninsula sits about 10 kilometres northeast of the city centre and is a well-known sunset spot among locals .

Up on the hillside sits Linh Ung Pagoda, one of three pagodas in Da Nang sharing the same name. The one on Son Tra is the largest, built on a 20-hectare site at around 693 metres above sea level. Its most striking feature is the 67-metre Lady Buddha statue – the tallest of its kind in Vietnam, equivalent in height to a 30-storey building, which faces out to sea and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Entry is free, and the grounds are peaceful and open daily from 6 AM to 9 PM. Just make sure to dress respectfully (shoulders and knees covered) as it’s an active place of worship.

Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge

Ba Na Hills feels like a mini Europe dropped into the middle of Vietnam. Originally developed by French colonists in 1919 as a mountain retreat, the complex sits at about 1,400 metres above sea level and has been transformed into a large theme park by Sun Group.

The French-inspired architecture, cobblestone squares, and various performance zones scattered throughout the complex give it a very distinctive atmosphere. It’s a full-day kind of place.

The cable car ride up is an experience on its own, at over 5 kilometres long with the largest elevation difference in the world, it holds multiple Guinness World Records. On clear days, you can see all the way to My Khe Beach below.

But the real highlight is the Golden Bridge. Opened in June 2018, it’s a 150-metre pedestrian walkway held up by two giant moss-covered stone hands (actually made of fiberglass), but so convincingly realistic that most people assume they’re carved from the mountain. It sits at 1,400 metres above sea level and has become one of the most iconic images of Da Nang, shared endlessly online and featured in international media. On foggy days, the bridge appears to float in the clouds, which adds another layer to the whole experience.

Practical info: The entrance fee (which covers cable car access and the full complex) runs around $36–50 USD per adult. Plan for at least 5–6 hours. The journey from Da Nang city centre takes about 40–45 minutes by car.

Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng)

One thing worth planning around is the Dragon Bridge fire show. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9:00 PM, the dragon breathes fire and sprays water for about 15 minutes, free to watch from anywhere along the Han River. The bridge itself closes to traffic during the show, so you can walk up and watch right on it. Just get there a little early as it draws a crowd.

A Birthday Night I Didn’t Expect – HAIAN Riverfront Hotel

This deserves its own section.

I stayed at HAIAN Riverfront Hotel, which already had everything going for it: great sea views, excellent service, a location right on the beach. But what really stuck with me was something I didn’t expect.

I mentioned to the staff that it was my birthday and ask if there is some service regarding this event two weeks before my trip. They told me that they will check and see what they could do. Then I haven’t heard back from them and I don’t want to check about this again. However, when I checked-in for my room that evening, the team had already set everything up: a birthday cake, fresh fruit, and the room fully decorated with red roses and a handwritten card. No extra charge. Just a genuinely kind gesture that caught me completely off guard.

Get a Nice Drink at Beachfront Pub

That evening, I wandered across to a beachfront pub right opposite the hotel – the kind of place with bean bags on the sand, fairy lights, and a solid cocktail menu. I spent the night lying back, sipping drinks, listening to the waves. Simple, but honestly one of the best nights of the whole trip.

Before calling it a night, I also made a stop at one of the many fresh seafood restaurants along the beach strip. Grilled squid, butter-fried crab, fresh clams, etc. All at prices that still seem too good to be true.

Top Things to Do in Hoi An

Hoi An is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, the Ancient Town is considered one of the best-preserved historic trading ports in Southeast Asia, with buildings and street layouts that date back to the 15th to 19th centuries, still largely intact. Over the centuries, merchants from China, Japan, Portugal, and beyond all passed through here, each leaving traces in the architecture, food, and culture that you can still find today.

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Old Town has two very different sides depending on when you visit and honestly, both are worth your time.

During the day, the old town is perfect for a slow wander. The streets are lined with small boutiques and tailor shops selling clothes made from beautifully soft, lightweight fabric. Think flowy linen sets, silk blouses, and traditional Vietnamese áo dài in every color. Silk has been woven into Hoi An’s identity for centuries, during Silk Road trading days it was literally used as currency here. The accessories are just as good: delicate pieces that feel both traditional and well put-together. It’s the kind of shopping that doesn’t feel like shopping, you just end up trying things on and leaving with a bag full of things you didn’t plan to buy.

When you need a break, stop for a bowl of local chè – Vietnamese sweet dessert soup, served cold and layered with things like mung beans, coconut milk, and jelly. It’s refreshing, cheap, and very much a Hoi An thing to do. Or just find a café with a street-facing seat, order something slow, and watch the town go about its day.

At night, the mood shifts completely. The lanterns come on, the Thu Bon River reflects the warm light, and the whole place takes on a quiet, cinematic glow.

According to UNESCO, over 840 of the town’s buildings are heritage-listed, so walking through the old town at night really does feel like moving through a living museum. The old merchant houses, the narrow lanes, the sound of traditional music drifting out from somewhere nearby, Hoi An moves at its own pace, and after the energy of Da Nang, that slowness feels like exactly what you need.

If your feet are tired from a full day of walking, the old town has plenty of small shops offering foot massages and traditional herbal hair wash – a deeply relaxing Vietnamese treatment where warm herbal-infused water is used to cleanse and massage the scalp. Both are incredibly affordable and make for a perfect way to wind down the evening. Highly recommend.

Practical info: Entry to the Old Town is free for general wandering. An Old Town ticket (~$5 USD/adult) gives access to five heritage sites including the famous Japanese Covered Bridge – the only covered bridge in the world to also contain a Buddhist temple, and so iconic it’s printed on the 20,000 VND note.

Hoi An Memories Show – Don’t Skip This

If there’s one thing I’d tell every single person visiting Hoi An, it’s this: go see the Hoi An Memories Show.

I went in without knowing much about it, and it completely blew me away. The show takes place on a massive 25,000 m² open-air stage on Hoi An Memories Island, with nearly 500 performers, dramatic lighting, water effects, and a live soundtrack – all telling the story of Hoi An’s history as an ancient trading port across five acts. It’s a full theatrical production on a scale I genuinely didn’t expect to find here. The show has held the Vietnam Guinness record for the largest outdoor real-scene stage in the country, and was named the World’s Leading Cultural Tourism and Entertainment Complex in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

What surprised me most is that not enough people seem to know about it. For a show this polished and this moving, it deserves far more attention than it gets. If you only do one “planned” activity in Hoi An, make it this one.

Practical info: There are three seating tiers – ECO, HIGH and VIP (I booked the ECO ticket from Klook and it’s the closest one to the stage, that’s why your view will be a bit limited, you can’t see the whole performance at once). Ticket prices for adults are around $7 USD – $20 USD. Booking online in advance can get you a discount of 5–30% off the counter price, and the show runs from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with mini shows from 5:30–7:00 PM and the main performance starting at 8:00 PM. Booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially during peak season and full moon nights when tickets sell out fast.

Final Thoughts

Da Nang and Hoi An together make for one of the most well-rounded trips you can do in Vietnam. You get the beach, the mountains, the history, the food, and if you’re lucky, a few unexpected moments of genuine kindness that end up being the parts you remember most.

I hope you find something useful in these Da Nang and Hoi An things to do. Pair it with a stop in Hue, and you’ve got yourself a Central Vietnam trip worth writing home about.

Have questions about the trip or want more details on any of the stops? Kindly drop them in the comments below.