Da Nang travel guide: My Khe Beach, Marble Mountains and Son Tra

Beach or river: choose your side of the city first

Da Nang is split by the Han River. On the east bank, the coast road runs along My Khe Beach, which the city's tourism portal places about 2 km from the centre, with Pham Van Dong, My An and Non Nuoc beaches continuing south towards the Marble Mountains. Staying here puts the sea outside the door and the Son Tra Peninsula a short ride north. My An beach links to the An Thuong tourist street, where the city portal places food and drink, massage and evening events; most of the large resorts sit further south along the coast towards Non Nuoc.

On the west bank, Hai Chau is the working city centre: Bach Dang Street along the river, the Cham Museum by the Dragon Bridge, the pink Da Nang Cathedral and the markets. It is the better base for a short city stay, for food and for a late walk by the water, and it is the side nearest the airport. Vietnam Tourism counts seven bridges over the water, and taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find, so the choice is about what you want outside the hotel in the morning, not about being cut off.

My Khe Beach and the Han River, morning and evening

Vietnam Tourism's advice is to set an alarm at least once: early in the morning the beach belongs to residents, with fishermen selling the catch, football and volleyball games, joggers and swimmers. Late afternoon is the other busy window, when locals come down to swim before sunset and the seafood restaurants across the road start filling. In the middle of the day the sand is quiet and hot; that is the time for a museum or a long lunch.

When we checked on 2026-10-03, the Da Nang tourism portal said the city's government lifeguard team works from 4:30 to 19:00 daily. Swim where lifeguards are posted and inside those hours, and treat the sea with respect in the rainy months, when Vietnam Tourism describes the weather from November to February as long rains and moody skies.

In the evening, cross to the west bank. Vietnam Tourism suggests starting where Bach Dang Street meets the Han River Bridge just before sunset and walking south along the water, past colonial and modern buildings, cafés and marble sculptures. The walk ends naturally at the Dragon Bridge, which is the point to time your evening around (see below).

Marble Mountains: go at opening time

The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) are a cluster of limestone and marble outcrops named after the five elements, about 8 km south-east of the centre according to the city portal, on the road towards Hoi An. Most visitors climb Thuy Son (Water Mountain), whose stone steps lead to Tam Thai and Linh Ung pagodas, the Xa Loi Tower and a series of caves. Huyen Khong, the largest cave, is lit by shafts of daylight through its broken roof and holds a large stone Buddha and shrines; Am Phu Cave, on the south side, has its own ticket.

When we checked on 2026-10-03, the city tourism portal listed tickets for Thuy Son at 40,000 VND for adults and 10,000 VND for students, with the lift at 15,000 VND one way or 30,000 VND return, and Am Phu Cave at 20,000 VND for adults. Vietnam Tourism lists opening from 7:00 to 17:30. Allow at least two hours.

Come at 7:00. Vietnam Tourism recommends the early morning, when the steps are cool and the paths and pagodas are quiet before the crowds of later in the day. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the stone steps, bring a hat and water, dress modestly, and remove shoes and hats before entering pagodas. Linh Ung Pagoda's gate on Thuy Son faces the sweep of Non Nuoc beach, and the lookouts give panoramic views over the coast. The Marble Mountains fit neatly on the way to Hoi An, so it is sensible to combine them with a transfer or an afternoon in the old town.

Son Tra Peninsula and Linh Ung Pagoda

The forested Son Tra Peninsula closes the bay to the north-east, about 10 km from the centre. The city portal describes it as 15 km long, rising to 696 m, with around 4,370 hectares of primary forest and nearly 300 endangered red-shanked douc langurs. Vietnam Tourism suggests binoculars and an unhurried day of wildlife spotting; from the higher roads you look back over the crescent of the city, the Marble Mountains and the Hai Van Pass.

Linh Ung Pagoda at Bai But is the landmark you see from the beach: a 20-hectare pagoda complex begun in 2004 and inaugurated in 2010, according to the city portal. Its white statue of Avalokiteshvara, the Lady Buddha, stands 67 m high facing the sea; both the portal and Vietnam Tourism describe it as the tallest in Vietnam. Behind the gate, a courtyard of bonsai trees and statues of the eighteen arhats leads to the main hall. It is a working pagoda, so cover shoulders and knees. Vietnam Tourism's three-day plan combines it with a ride around the peninsula's coastal road; if you are not confident on a motorbike on steep, winding roads, go by car or with a guide.

Below the hills, the peninsula's beaches — Bai Bac, Bai Rang, Bai Nam, Tien Sa and others — are quieter than My Khe and are where the city portal places coral diving and boat trips.

The Cham Museum and the Dragon Bridge

The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, on the river at 2 Thang 9 Street, holds the most representative collection of sculpture from the Champa kingdom, gathered from My Son, Tra Kieu, Dong Duong, Thap Mam and other sites along the central coast. The first building, designed in the style of Cham temples, opened in 1919. It is the best preparation for a trip to My Son, and an hour or two here is a good use of the midday heat. When we checked on 2026-10-03, the city portal listed opening from 7:30 to 11:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, closed on Mondays, and a ticket price of 60,000 VND.

The Dragon Bridge (Cau Rong), a few minutes' walk away, is 666 m long and opened in 2013. When we checked on 2026-10-03, the city portal said the dragon's head breathes fire and then water at 21:00 every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and on holidays — about two minutes of fire followed by three of water. Vietnam Tourism suggests watching from the bridge itself, from a café on Tran Hung Dao Street on the east bank, or from the Son Tra night market below; arrive early for a place. The portal publishes separate schedules at Tet and around the fireworks festival, so check the latest notice if your date is a holiday.

A three-day plan, with day trips if you have more time

This is an editorial suggestion, not a timetable. Check opening days, especially Mondays for the Cham Museum.

• Day 1 — Marble Mountains and the river: Thuy Son at 7:00, coffee and mi Quang for lunch, the Cham Museum after lunch, then the Bach Dang riverside walk at sunset.
• Day 2 — Sea and Son Tra: My Khe Beach at dawn, Linh Ung Pagoda and the Son Tra coastal road in the morning, a rest in the heat, then a seafood dinner by the beach.
• Day 3 — Hoi An or Hai Van: Hoi An, about 45 minutes away according to Vietnam Tourism, for the old town in the evening; or the Hai Van Pass to the north. On a Friday to Sunday, finish at the Dragon Bridge at 21:00.
• Extra days: Ba Na Hills (about 40 minutes west by road), My Son Sanctuary or the Cham Islands, each as a separate day.

Day trips: Hai Van Pass, Ba Na Hills and Hoi An

The Hai Van Pass starts about 20 km north of downtown and climbs for some 20–21 km to around 500 m, where the Hai Van Gate, rebuilt under Emperor Minh Mang in 1826 and restored in 2024, stands on the old boundary between Da Nang and Hue. The city portal notes that the views over Da Nang Bay, Son Tra and Lang Co are best on clear days. Vietnam Tourism describes the road as ideal by motorbike and adds that you can also cycle it or take the train. If you are heading on to Hue anyway, crossing the pass on the transfer is better than doing it twice.

Ba Na Hills, a mountain resort and theme park with cable cars and the Golden Bridge, is around a 40-minute drive west, according to Vietnam Tourism, which advises buying tickets in advance to skip the queues; the entry includes the cable car up and down. Treat it as a full day out. Hoi An is close enough for an evening visit, but its lanterns and old houses reward at least one night there; see our Hoi An guide.