Da Nang

Central Vietnam's golden coast: My Khe Beach, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills and the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An, the fastest-growing Vietnam destination for Chinese travelers.

Da Nang sits on Vietnam's central coast. It is one of the country's five centrally governed cities and the largest port city in the central region. Hoi An Ancient Town belongs to Quang Nam Province and lies about 30 km south of Da Nang; the two are linked by a coastal road and are usually visited together. Da Nang International Airport is only 3 km from the city center, with direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou and other cities, taking 3–5 hours; Vietnam offers an e-visa to Chinese travelers. The climate is tropical monsoon: February–August is the dry season, with March–May the most comfortable at around 28°C, and June–August hot but with good sea conditions; September–December is the rainy season, and October–November often brings typhoons and flooding, which can leave Hoi An Ancient Town waterlogged, so avoid these months. The core areas fall into four parts: first, downtown Da Nang, including the Dragon Bridge and Han Market on both sides of the Han River and the hotel strip along My Khe Beach; second, the Son Tra Peninsula, with the Lady Buddha statue at Linh Ung Pagoda and sea views over the peninsula; third, Ba Na Hills to the west (about 45 minutes by car), where a record-setting cable car climbs to the Golden Bridge and a French-style village; and fourth, Hoi An Ancient Town and its surroundings, including My Son Sanctuary (about 1 hour by car), An Bang Beach and the coconut forests of Cam Thanh. Plan on 4–6 days: 2–3 in Da Nang and 2 in Hoi An, with half a day extra for Marble Mountains. Grab taxis are the main way to get around: the starting fare in the city is about VND 20,000–30,000, and a taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An costs about VND 350,000–450,000; you can also book a hotel transfer or take the yellow No. 1 bus. Tips: the UV at My Khe Beach is extremely strong in summer, so use sun protection; entering Hoi An Ancient Town requires a VND 120,000 combined ticket (covering 5 sites); Ba Na Hills is crowded on weekends and holidays, so arrive at the cable car station before 8 a.m.; in the rainy season, always check typhoon forecasts before traveling.

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