Da Nang Itinerary: Central Vietnam
Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains)
First stop on our Da Nang Itinerary is The Marble Mountains, one of the most important landmarks of Da Nang. This site has had sacred significance to Buddhist in the area for hundreds of years. They sit on the south side of the city, surrounded by otherwise mundane suburbs. Da Nang is located in a thin pocket of flat plains between the sea and mountains. Making these 5 large limestone mountains stand out above the winding neighborhood streets. To be honest, we came here as an afterthought. I had noticed it on Google Maps but never took an interest, and only planned a visit after we ran out of other options. I’m so glad we came, because what we found ended up being one of our favorite places in the country.
The five hills make up Ngu Hanh Son, called Marble Mountains by the French during Indochina, due to marble deposits in the area. All of the hills are sacred Buddhist sites, with temples and caves scattered throughout, although only one is open to the public. There is an elevator that can be taken up for a small fee, and you can expect to walk for several hours up the mountain. The complex is huge, with several caves, many shrines, and sacred spots all along the way. There are rest areas selling water and snacks, bathrooms, and tables as well. I was shocked at how many different areas there were. I wasn’t expecting such a diverse experience with so many intricate shrines. Walking around these areas was a true highlight of the trip, the mountain is exceptionally beautiful.
Two moments stand out during our visit. First, we descended deep into a cave until we came across a massive open cavern with several shrines and the smell of incense wafting through the air. The size rivaled Batu Caves in Malaysia, and at that moment, I could really sense why it was considered a sacred place. Afterwards, we decided to take a path back up, and it just kept going. Our blood was pumping, but we made it to the top, where we were treated with an incredible view of the other mountains and the city. As the wind rushed over us, I was in shock at how beautiful the area was and how lucky we were to be able to experience it.
These moments are etched in my mind, and the Marble Mountains remain one of my favorite locations in Southeast Asia. If there’s one thing that needs to be on your Da Nang Itinerary, it’s the Marble Mountains.
Da Nang Cathedral
We made our way to the north end of the city to check out Da Nang Cathedral. For obvious reasons, this is often called the Pink Cathedral. Back when we visited Da Nang, I was very inexperienced with other countries and cultures. In America, everyone always talks about communism banning all religions, especially Christian ones. So I was surprised to see many catholic churches all around. During French Indochina, Catholicism was widespread throughout South East Asia, and while the communist governments relationship with the church has shifted over time, Catholicism is still widely practiced in Vietnam to this day.
This cathedral isn’t particularly important, aside from being quite beautiful and uniquely designed when contrasted with other Vietnamese buildings. It’s very nice to see in person, but the visiting hours are limited. Also, tourism inside the building may be restricted to members of the church. You only need 15 minutes to appreciate the outside, but if you’re interested it’s worth the stop. We were lucky enough to visit a sister church in Ho Chi Minh with a similar pink hue, and it really felt like a full circle moment.
Dua Ben Tre 190
One thing we always love to do in tropical places is indulge in fresh fruits. Since we live in South Korea, where fruit is very expensive. Yemisi is an island girl at heart, so we had to get some fresh coconut water and coconut ice cream. I had never even had fresh coconut at the time, so this was a first for me. Of course, it was super delicious with a much less bitter taste than I was expecting. I suppose coconuts that have been shipped across the world develop a bit of a funny taste.
The ice cream was incredibly refreshing on a blisteringly hot day, with the perfect amount of sweetness. There were many shops all across the city with a similar menu, this is just the one we happened to pick. I definitely recommend trying out fresh fruit while you’re in a tropical city like Da Nang.
Fresco Village
Many cities in Asia have neighborhoods with murals on the walls. We were running out of large attractions to see in Da Nang, so we decided to take a look. At first, we were really disappointed, because we could hardly find anything. It turns out this is one of the most hidden art villages we’ve been to, tucked far back behind some tight alleyways off the main roads.
To be honest, it’s a bit small, and the alley is super tight, making it hard to take pictures without a wide lens. But we were taken in by the charm of the tight alleys regardless. I can honestly point to this moment that made me fall in love with Vietnam. Quaint winding alleys with mopeds and greenery draping over the walls; these streets have such a charm that really embodies the country. Even if you don’t visit this fresco village, I implore you to take some time to appreciate the quieter streets.
Bikini Bottom Express
One of the places we wanted to check out happened to be right next to our hotel. Bikini Bottom Express is an interesting little restaurant selling Canadian food and Vietnamese fusion. Since Yemisi had lived in Korea for many years, she hadn’t had real western food in a long time. A few winters ago, we visited Toronto and Vancouver, and had a very underwhelming poutine experience. We got our revenge, as well as ordering some burgers.
It was such a relief to taste a real American style burger in Asia, a rare treat in our neck of the woods. The poutine here was thankfully a lot better than what we had in Toronto, so I can now safely say I’m a fan. Overall, Bikini Bottom Express was a fun restaurant with good food and a convenient location. If we went back to Da Nang we probably would choose a Vietnamese restaurant, but I don’t regret our visit.
Dragon Bridge
Da Nang isn’t particularly known for booming nightlife. While there are many cool bars and late-night restaurants, people here tend to go to bed early and wake up even earlier. One exception to that is at the Dragon Bridge. This huge bridge in the center of the city is exactly what it sounds like, a bridge spanning the river in the shape of a dragon. There are promenades on either side of the bridge that have stands with street food and the surrounding neighborhoods are lively.
The bridge is striking as is, but the show really starts at night. Hundreds of people crowd around the head to watch the dragon throw a massive ball of flame into the sky several times, followed by an even larger shower of water. It was cool to see, but a bit strange at the same time. It felt like something you’d see at an theme park, not a random bridge in the middle of an otherwise normal city.
Mi Quang Ba Vi Restaurant
One of the last meals we had before leaving Vietnam was at Mi Quang Ba Vi. As the name suggests, they serve mi quang, the signature dish of Da Nang. It is a thick noodle dish with turmeric and a heavy broth. We also ordered com ga, which refers to chicken on rice and can be served in many ways. Vietnamese food is the king of savory flavors. Both of the dishes were absolutely packed with umami, and of course the fresh veggies always help to cut through the heavy dish. If I had to choose, I think pho is more up my alley than mi quang, but honestly I would rate them both an A+. Vietnamese food really hits hard, and getting it from a real streetside kitchen like this is the best way to experience it.
Draco Hotel
We don’t usually write about our hotel experiences, but once in a while, we have an exceptional stay that we want to show you. We booked our stay at the Draco Hotel without a lot of research. The general area and vibe were important to us, but other than that, we went in blind. There are a lot of nice hotels in and around Da Nang, but what made Draco Hotel special was the cost. To this day, this is one of the cheapest stays we’ve ever had per night, which is wild if you include the amenities. Draco Hotel is located right off of My Khe Beach in walking distance to some of the busiest tourist areas. With plenty of restaurants and bars, it’s the perfect jumping off point.
First, the room was very nice with a lovely open design and a pretty good beach view. The top floor had a free breakfast buffet that blows continental buffets out of the water. With a great view, tons of options, and even a custom pho and omelet bar, we were getting service you usually only find at a mid-tier hotel. The icing on the cake was the infinity pool outside, overlooking the stunning beach and Marble Mountains in the distance. All for an amazingly low price and great service, I can’t possibly imagine a better bang for your buck.
Final Thoughts
I’m super happy with our day itinerary exploring Da Nang. This was one of my first times in South East Asia, and it made me fall in love. To this day, I still think about climbing to the top of the Marble Mountains in awe of the view.
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