If you are wondering where you should go to explore in-depth about the lives of Vietnamese, and you do not just want to see the bustling urban cities but also a hint of the rural lifestyles, your best bet would be Da Nang. As the largest in Central Vietnam, where agriculture is the main economy, Da Nang is the best city that represents both sides of Vietnam.

Astonishing Beaches

Even though it is not the most popular destination for beaches within Vietnam, Da Nang is known for its 30km-long coastline, touched by clean water and sand.

My Khe Beach in Da Nang is also honorably listed in the 6 most charming beaches in the world by Forbes Magazine.

Other famous beaches that tourists can visit to enjoy the sunlight include Pham Van Dong, Bac My An, Non Nuoc, Thanh Binh, Son Tra Peninsula, Bai Bac, where they can participate in popular activities such as sunbathing, swimming, jet-skiing, surfing, snorkeling.

Awe-inspiring Bridges

Outside of its beaches, Da Nang is also known as the City of bridges. Da Nang is the proud home of 6 famous bridges in Vietnam, with specific features:

Han River Bridge – the country’s first swing bridge

Thuan Phuoc Bridge -the  country’s longest cable-stay bridge

Dragon Bridge – famous for its water and fire releasing show on every Saturday and Sunday at 10pm

Tran Thi Ly Bridge – received several international awards for its innovative design

Nguyen Van Troi Bridge

Tien Son Bridge

Ba Na Hills

Located on the height of 1,487 meters above the sea level, with majestic mountain scenery, Ba Na Hills is a perfect place to escape the tropical weather, especially in Central Vietnam. Tourists who are not used to the heat can find themselves at ease and enjoy a breath of fresh air here.

Tourist attractions:

Linh Ung Pagoda: This is one of the three Linh Ung Pagodas in Da Nang. The 27-meter-high white Shakyamuni Buddha Statue in this pagoda is the biggest within South East Asia.

Ba Na Hills cable cars: proudly received 4 Guinness Records by Guinness World Records for being the longest one-wire sling with the length of 5,777.61m; the longest distance between each station of 1,368.93m; the longest unpatched wire in the world of 11,587m; and the heaviest cable roll in the world of 141.24 tons.

Marbles Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) or Five Element Mountain

Named after the five elements of the ancient oriental philosophy: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Marble Mountains are a well-known attraction due to its peaks, caves, tunnels and temples, including five hills connected together, made from limestone and marble. Here, tourists can enjoy the scenery while visiting Thuy Son Mountain, with caves filled with varied Buddhist statues.

Museum of Cham

Located on the city-side of Dragon Bridge over the Han River. Museum of Cham is the largest exhibition of Cham sculptures in the world, with almost 2000 terracotta and stone works of art, ranging from the 7th to the 15th centuries.

The museum is divided into a series of rooms named after the area where the works were found: My Son, Tra Kieu, Dong Duong, etc.

Cuisines in Da Nang

Many street food vendors can be found along Han River, offering My Quang (Quang noodles) – a signature food of Da Nang, and fresh seafood with unbeatables price along My Khe beach. Tourists can come and enjoy a little taste of this cultural city after a whole day out exploring, to relax and maybe have a chat with the locals here.