Da Nang Day Trips: Exploring Hoi An, Ba Na Hills & More from the City

💰 Click here to see Vietnam Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: October, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₫25,964.41

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: ₫650,000 – ₫1,550,000 ($25.03 – $59.70)

Mid-range: ₫1,800,000 – ₫3,900,000 ($69.33 – $150.21)

Comfortable: ₫5,200,000 – ₫9,100,000 ($200.27 – $350.48)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: ₫120,000 – ₫350,000 ($4.62 – $13.48)

Mid-range hotel: ₫780,000 – ₫1,850,000 ($30.04 – $71.25)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: ₫60,000.00 ($2.31)

Mid-range meal: ₫250,000.00 ($9.63)

Upscale meal: ₫800,000.00 ($30.81)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: ₫10,000.00 ($0.39)

Monthly transport pass: ₫300,000.00 ($11.55)

Most travelers in 2026 don’t struggle to find things to do around Da Nang. They struggle to pick, and to avoid wasting a day on the wrong trip at the wrong hour. Ba Na Hills fills with tour buses by 10 a.m. Hoi An’s Ancient Town is magical at dusk and tiring at noon. Guesthouse tour desks all sell roughly the same packages at very different prices. This guide shows which trips are worth your time, how to reach each one, what it costs, and how to fit several into a stay of four to seven days.

Why Da Nang Is the Smartest Base in Central Vietnam

Da Nang feels like a city that has its life in order. The streets are wide and the beach, My Khe, runs for kilometres along the east side. The Han River is crossed by bridges that light up at night, and the traffic is calmer than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Locals eat breakfast at plastic tables near the water and head to the sand before the sun gets strong. Visitors who expected another chaotic Vietnamese metropolis are often surprised by how easy it is here.

The location is what makes it a hub. Within 45 minutes you can reach Hoi An’s lantern-lit lanes, the marble cliffs of Ngu Hanh Son, and the cable cars climbing to Ba Na Hills. Within two and a half hours you can reach Hue’s imperial citadel by road. The airport sits about 3 km from the centre, so you land and reach your hotel within 20 minutes.

One 2026 detail is worth knowing. Since the 2025 provincial merger, Da Nang’s administrative area also covers the former Quang Nam province, which includes Hoi An and My Son. You will see this on new maps and signs. For travelers, nothing changes in practice. The day trips are still the same places, and the roads and tickets work as they always have.

Best Neighborhoods for Day-Trippers

My Khe Beach (An Thuong and Phuoc My)

This is the most popular area for visitors. It has beachfront hotels, small cafés, seafood restaurants and laundry shops. Mornings start with joggers and fishing baskets on the sand. An Thuong, a few streets inland, has a strong expat feel with craft beer, brunch spots and tailor shops. It suits travelers who want to swim and still have easy Grab access to Hoi An, which is about 30 minutes south.

Han River and City Centre (Hai Chau)

Hai Chau is the working heart of Da Nang. Han Market, Bach Dang riverside, the Dragon Bridge and the Cham Museum are all here. It is a good choice for food lovers, first-time visitors and anyone who prefers a city feel to a resort feel. Buses and Grab cars pass through constantly, which makes early departures simple.

Son Tra Peninsula Side

North of the centre, the Son Tra side (Tho Quang and Man Thai) is quieter and greener. Fishing boats pull in at dawn, and you can smell grilled squid and diesel on the breeze. It suits travelers who want calm evenings and are happy to ride 15–20 minutes into town.

Ngu Hanh Son and Non Nuoc Beach

This southern stretch sits between the city and Hoi An. It is home to the big resorts, golf courses and the Marble Mountains. It is practical if Hoi An is the main goal, but dinner options within walking distance are limited, so expect to use Grab.

Top Attractions Inside the City

Save these for the days between big trips. They are short, cheap and work well in the morning or late afternoon.

• Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son): Five limestone hills with caves, pagodas and viewpoints. Entry is about 40,000 VND (US$1.60), and the elevator is about 15,000 VND. Go at 7 a.m. when the temperature is lower and the stone steps are empty. Inside Huyen Khong Cave, shafts of sunlight cut through incense smoke.
• Son Tra Peninsula and Linh Ung Pagoda: The 67-metre Lady Buddha statue faces the sea. Rent a scooter or hire a Grab for the winding coastal road. Wild red-shanked douc langurs sometimes appear along the upper road. Watch them from a distance and do not feed them.
• Dragon Bridge: On weekend nights, usually Saturday and Sunday around 9 p.m., the dragon breathes fire and then water. Arrive 30 minutes early and stand on the east bank. The crowd is thick and the heat from the flames reaches you.
• Museum of Cham Sculpture: A compact museum with sandstone art from the Champa kingdom. It is a useful 90-minute preview before visiting My Son. Entry is around 60,000 VND (US$2.40).
• My Khe Beach at sunrise: Free, and often the best hour of the day. The water is warm and calm from May to August.

Where to Eat in Da Nang and on the Road

Da Nang’s eating is concentrated in a few clear areas, so you can plan meals around your day’s route.

In Da Nang

• Han Market (Hai Chau): The ground floor sells produce and the upper floors sell clothing, but the food stalls at the back are the draw. Come for a quick bowl of noodles or sweet soup. Mornings are best, and most stalls thin out after 2 p.m.
• Con Market: Less polished and more local. The prepared-food section serves cheap lunches at plastic tables. Expect to pay 30,000–50,000 VND (US$1.20–2).
• Hoang Dieu and Le Duan streets: Local restaurants line these roads. Look for places with full benches of customers at lunchtime. The banh xeo alley off Hoang Dieu is a long-standing favorite, and you hear the batter sizzle from the street.
• Vo Nguyen Giap seafood strip (along My Khe): Dozens of open-air seafood restaurants where you pick live fish, shrimp and clams from tanks. Always agree the price per kilo before they cook. A shared seafood dinner for two usually runs 600,000–1,000,000 VND (US$24–40).
• An Thuong streets: Brunch, coffee, vegetarian cafés and international food. Prices are higher but menus are in English.

In Hoi An

• Central Market (Tran Quy Cap): Stalls serve cao lau, sweet soups and fresh juices. It gets crowded at lunch, so go around 10:30 a.m.
• Banh mi stalls on Phan Chu Trinh: Queues form at noon. Order, wait five minutes and eat standing up.
• An Bang Beach: Beach restaurants with seafood and cocktails, good for a late lunch.
• Riverside restaurants on Bach Dang: Prettier than cheap, but good for dinner views of the lantern boats.

On Other Trips

Near Ba Na Hills, the best value is eating in Da Nang before or after, because hilltop restaurants charge tourist prices. On the Hai Van Pass, small cafés at the summit serve coffee and grilled corn. Lang Co has a lagoon-side seafood strip, ideal for lunch on the way to Hue.

Getting Around: Grab, Buses, Trains and Private Drivers

In the City

Grab is the easiest option for cars and motorbike taxis, with fixed fares shown before you ride. A typical ride within central Da Nang costs 30,000–70,000 VND (US$1.20–2.80). Taxis from Mai Linh and Vinasun are reliable too, if you insist on the meter. Walking works in Hai Chau and along the beachfront, but the heat in summer makes distances feel longer.

Airport Transfer

Da Nang International Airport is only about 3 km from the centre. Grab rides to the city or My Khe usually cost 60,000–120,000 VND (US$2.40–4.80). Use the official pick-up zone shown in the app, and ignore touts in the arrivals hall. The domestic and international terminals sit close together, so check which one you need before ordering.

To Hoi An

• Grab car: About 250,000–350,000 VND (US$10–14) each way, 35–50 minutes.
• Public bus 01: Runs from Da Nang to Hoi An for a few tens of thousands of dong. It is slow but cheap, and a good option for solo travelers on a budget.
• Motorbike rental: 120,000–200,000 VND (US$5–8) a day for a scooter. You need a valid license and insurance. The coastal road via My Khe and Non Nuoc is a pleasant ride, but afternoon traffic can be heavy.

To Ba Na Hills, My Son and Hue

Ba Na Hills is about 25 km west of the city and is best reached by Grab or a hotel shuttle. For My Son and Hue, a private car with driver is the least stressful choice. Many travelers also take the train to Hue along one of Vietnam’s best coastal rail lines. Book through the official railway site or a trusted agent, and choose a seat on the sea side.

The Best Day Trips from Da Nang

1. Hoi An Ancient Town (half day or full day)

Hoi An is a UNESCO-listed trading port with yellow shophouses, wooden assembly halls and a river dotted with lanterns. Allow at least five hours. The ancient town ticket costs about 120,000 VND (US$4.80) and covers a choice of heritage sites such as old houses, temples and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Without a ticket, you can still walk the streets, but access to most sites is blocked.

Arrive in the late afternoon. Heat peaks around noon, and the best light arrives around 4 p.m. Shops stay open late, the lanterns come on at dusk, and the smell of charcoal and lemongrass drifts through the alleys. Cars and motorbikes are restricted inside the old town during certain hours, so you will walk the last stretch. Plan to return to Da Nang by 9–10 p.m. Grab drivers become harder to find after that.

2. Ba Na Hills (full day)

Ba Na Hills sits at about 1,400 metres in the Truong Son range. The cable car ride, among the longest single-track cable cars in the world, takes you up through cloud and forest. At the top are the Golden Bridge, held by two huge stone hands, a French-style village, gardens and a large amusement park.

The ticket costs about 900,000 VND (US$35), including the cable car and most attractions. Buffet lunch is extra. Arrive when it opens, usually around 8 a.m., and go straight to the Golden Bridge before the crowds. The summit is 10–15°C cooler than the coast, so bring a light layer. Fog can wipe out visibility completely, so check the live camera or ask your hotel before you go. Most visitors need 5–6 hours.

3. My Son Sanctuary (half day)

My Son is a collection of Hindu temples built by the Champa kingdom between the 4th and 13th centuries. It is about 70 km southwest of Da Nang, roughly 1.5 hours by road. The brick towers sit in a green valley, and some bear scars from wartime bombing. Entry is about 150,000 VND (US$6).

Go first thing in the morning, usually from 6:30–7 a.m. The air is cool, tour groups have not yet arrived and the red brick glows in early sun. Combine it with an afternoon in Hoi An, which is about 40 km away.

4. Hai Van Pass and Hue (full day)

The Hai Van Pass is a 21 km mountain road between Da Nang and Lang Co, with sea views from the summit. Since the Hai Van Tunnel opened, most traffic bypasses the pass, so it feels quieter than it once did. You can ride it on a rented scooter, hire an easy rider or go by car. The old French-era bunker at the top is a good photo stop.

From Lang Co you can continue about 80 km to Hue, where the Imperial Citadel and royal tombs take most of a day. It is a long trip, so start by 7 a.m. and take the train or a driver back. The imperial city ticket is about 200,000 VND (US$8). If you are tight on time, do the pass and Lang Co only, and make Hue its own overnight stay.

5. Cham Islands (full day)

The Cham Islands lie 15 km off the coast of Hoi An and are a protected marine reserve. Boats leave from Cua Dai, with speedboat crossings of 20–30 minutes in good weather. Day tours cost 600,000–1,000,000 VND (US$24–40) and usually include snorkeling, lunch and a beach stop. Seas are calm from roughly March to August. Outside that window, trips are often cancelled. Always check the weather and book through a licensed operator with life jackets on board.

Nightlife and Evening Entertainment

Da Nang’s nightlife is relaxed, and many people finish a day trip with a drink on the river or beach.

• Bach Dang riverside: Bars and cafés line the Han River with views of the Dragon Bridge. Come early on weekends to find a table before the fire show.
• Helio Night Market: Street food, games and live music in an open-air complex. It is good for families and cheap snacks.
• Rooftop bars: Several high-rise hotels, including Sky36, offer views of the bridge and the city lights. Cocktails run 150,000–250,000 VND (US$6–10).
• An Thuong bars: Craft beer, small live-music venues and late-night pizza, mostly aimed at expats and long-stay visitors.
• Hoi An at night: The Night Market on Nguyen Hoang Street, lantern boat rides on the Hoai River (about 100,000 VND, US$4) and riverfront cafés make a long evening there worthwhile. Boat captains often start with a high price, so agree on it before boarding.

Most places close by midnight or 1 a.m. Da Nang is not a late-night party city, and this suits early-morning day trips well.

Shopping

• Han Market: Souvenirs, dried seafood, coffee, fabric and clothing. Bargain politely, and aim for around 20–30% below the first price.
• Con Market: More local, with fewer tourist prices, and good for fruit and snacks.
• Hoi An tailors: The town is famous for made-to-measure clothing. A shirt may cost 350,000–600,000 VND (US$14–24) and a suit 3,000,000–7,000,000 VND (US$120–280). Allow at least two days for fittings, so visit early in your trip, not on your last day.
• Hoi An lanterns and leather goods: Silk lanterns cost 50,000–150,000 VND (US$2–6). They fold flat for travel.
• Marble Mountains stone-carving village (Non Nuoc): Statues and carvings at the foot of the hills. Shipping large pieces is possible but costly, so confirm details before paying.
• Vincom and Lotte Mart: Fixed prices and air conditioning, handy for toiletries and sunscreen.

Accommodation Areas by Budget

Where you sleep depends on how many of your days are beach days, and how many are day trips.

Budget (400,000–800,000 VND, US$16–32 a night)

Hostels and small guesthouses cluster in An Thuong and Hai Chau. Dorm beds are around 150,000–250,000 VND (US$6–10). Check that rooms have air conditioning and hot water, and that staff will book early-morning transport for you.

Mid-Range (900,000–2,500,000 VND, US$36–100 a night)

Boutique hotels and aparthotels along My Khe and Hai Chau offer pools, breakfast and rooftop terraces. Rooms facing the sea cost more, but street-side rooms are quieter and often better value. This tier suits couples and families who want comfort without resort prices.

Luxury (3,500,000 VND and above, US$140+ a night)

Beachfront resorts on Non Nuoc, the Son Tra peninsula and the My Khe coast offer private beaches, spas and multiple restaurants. Some have free shuttles to Hoi An. In 2026, resorts remain busy during summer and Tet, so book several months ahead for those periods.

Should You Stay in Hoi An Instead?

If Hoi An is your priority, an overnight stay lets you see the town at dawn before the tour groups arrive. The cost is that Ba Na Hills and My Son become longer rides. A common compromise is three nights in Da Nang and two in Hoi An.

Best Time to Visit

• February–May (best): Dry, sunny and warm at 24–32°C. Seas are calm, so Cham Island tours run reliably. This is the sweet spot for day trips.
• June–August (hot): Highs of 34–38°C with strong sun. Beaches are busy, and you should plan trips for early morning and late afternoon. The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival is usually held around this time, with schedules announced each year.
• September–December (rainy): This is typhoon season. Flooding in Hoi An’s Ancient Town is common in October and November, though streets usually clear within days. Ba Na Hills can be foggy and wet. Keep your plans flexible, and check forecasts a few days ahead.
• January: Cool and drizzly at 18–23°C, but crowds are small. Tet (Lunar New Year) falls in February in 2026, when many shops and restaurants close for several days and transport is booked out well in advance.

Hoi An’s monthly full-moon night, on the 14th day of the lunar calendar, turns off the street lights, lights candles and floats lanterns on the river. It is a good reason to time a visit.

Practical Tips

• Safety: Da Nang is one of Vietnam’s safest cities. Watch for phone snatching from passing motorbikes, particularly along beach roads and in Hoi An. Keep bags on the side away from traffic.
• Tipping: Not required. Rounding up a Grab fare or leaving 20,000–50,000 VND for a guide or driver who did a good job is appreciated.
• Language: English is common in hotels, tour desks and cafés. Learn “cảm ơn” (thank you) and “bao nhiêu?” (how much?). A translation app helps in local markets.
• SIM cards and eSIM: Viettel and Vinaphone SIMs work well, and eSIMs are now widely available. Download Grab and Google Maps before day trips, since mountain areas may have weak signal.
• Water: Drink bottled or filtered water. Ice in restaurants is usually safe, as it is made from purified water.
• Payments: Cards work in hotels and malls, while markets and small eateries prefer cash. QR payment is common, but foreign cards cannot always use it, so carry cash for rural trips.
• Midday break: Some family-run restaurants and small shops close between about 12 and 2 p.m., especially outside tourist areas. Plan lunch before 12:30 p.m.
• Tour desk scams: Very cheap tours often include long shopping stops. Ask what is included, how long you spend at each site and how many people are in the group.
• Visas: Vietnam offers e-visas valid for up to 90 days, and some nationalities are visa-exempt for short stays. Check the official immigration portal for current rules before booking flights.

2026 Budget Breakdown

These figures are per person per day, excluding flights and assuming at least one day trip. Exchange rate used: about 25,500 VND to US$1.

Budget: 700,000–1,100,000 VND (US$28–43)

• Hostel dorm or basic room: 200,000–400,000 VND
• Street food and market meals: 150,000–250,000 VND
• Bus or shared transport to Hoi An: 50,000–100,000 VND
• Entry tickets (Hoi An, Marble Mountains): 150,000–200,000 VND
• Coffee, water and snacks: 60,000–100,000 VND

Mid-Range: 1,800,000–3,200,000 VND (US$70–125)

• Boutique hotel: 900,000–1,600,000 VND
• Restaurant meals and drinks: 400,000–700,000 VND
• Grab rides and some private car hire: 250,000–500,000 VND
• Tickets and activities, including Ba Na Hills on a trip day: 300,000–900,000 VND

Comfortable: 4,500,000–8,000,000 VND (US$175–315)

• Beachfront resort: 3,000,000–5,000,000 VND
• Fine dining and cocktails: 800,000–1,500,000 VND
• Private car with driver for the day: 900,000–1,200,000 VND
• Guided tours, spa time and tailoring: 500,000–1,500,000 VND

Prices rise 20–40% around Tet and in July and August, so book rooms and drivers early in those periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Hoi An from Da Nang?

Hoi An is about 30 km south of Da Nang. A Grab or taxi takes 35–50 minutes depending on traffic. The public bus is slower, at around an hour. Most travelers go for an afternoon and evening, but a full day lets you add a cooking class or bike ride.

Is Ba Na Hills worth visiting?

Yes, if you start early and accept the theme-park atmosphere. The cable car ride, mountain views and Golden Bridge are memorable. Crowds peak from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and fog can hide the view, so check the weather and plan around it.

How many days do you need for day trips from Da Nang?

Plan four to five days if you want to do Hoi An, Ba Na Hills and My Son without rushing, plus time on the beach. Three days is workable if you choose only Hoi An and Ba Na Hills. Add one more day for Hue or the Cham Islands.

Can you visit Hoi An and My Son in one day?

Yes. Leave Da Nang by 6:30 a.m., reach My Son by 7:30–8 a.m., finish by 10:30 a.m. and continue to Hoi An for lunch and a walk through the old town. Stay for the lantern lighting at dusk, then return to Da Nang by 9 p.m.

Is it better to rent a motorbike or hire a driver for day trips?

A driver is better for Ba Na Hills, My Son and Hue, especially in the rain or heat. A scooter suits experienced riders on the Hoi An coastal road or Son Tra Peninsula. You need a valid license and insurance, and you should wear a helmet at all times.

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📷 Featured image by Lê Lâm on Unsplash.