4 Days in Da Nang & Hoi An
All you need to know for a 4D3N in Da Nang, Ba Na Hills and Hoi An.
Day 1: Arrival in Da Nang
Our first time in Vietnam! Instead of the cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, we decided on Da Nang and Hoi An for our first city in Vietnam, because we felt that these cities were less chaotic but still rich in Vietnamese culture.
Lunch: A Taste of Banh Xeo
Right after arrival, we headed for lunch. Our first meal was banh xeo at Quán Bánh Xèo Miền Trung Bà Tình.
Banh xeo is a crispy Vietnamese pancake made with eggs and served with peanut sauce.
This combination was absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend trying it at this shop if you want an authentic local experience.
Chùa Linh Ứng: A Temple Retreat
Post-lunch, we took a Grab to Chùa Linh Ứng, a striking Guanyin temple perched high on a hill.
Our Grab ride up takes us along Da Nang Beach. The temple itself is free to enter and doesn’t require a guide, which makes it easy to explore at our own pace.
The temple architecture is intricate and stunning, and aside from the main attraction, the giant Guanyin statue, the highlight for us was the panoramic view overlooking the city, thanks to its hilltop location.
Beach Time: Bãi tắm Phạm Văn Đồng
Next, we made our way to the Da Nang beach.
Honestly, the beach was a letdown.
It was crowded and littered and didn’t live up to the good reviews on Google Maps. The water was also murky, so we didn’t spend too much time here.
Dinner: Seafood at Be Man Restaurant
Dinner was at Be Man Restaurant along the beach, where we picked our seafood straight from the tanks, watch it weight and decide how it's prepared.
We ordered dog conches (which is a local Vietnamese seafood), scallops with garlic, and a seafood fish stew.
The conch was with dipping sauce was only average while the the scallops with garlic were pretty good.
Unfortunately, the main dish, the fish stew, was surprisingly tasteless—a real disappointment. If you go, I would recommend sticking with their grilled or fried dishes, based on this experience.
Accommodation: Sala Danang Beach Hotel
We stayed at Sala Danang Beach Hotel, which oversaw the Da Nang beach.
While the service was decent, the hotel was crowded with domestic travelers, making the noise level and atmosphere a bit overwhelming.
Nonetheless, the room was comfortable and clean.
Day 2: The Magic of Ba Na Hills
The next morning, we headed to Ba Na Hills. Check out my separate post on Ba Na Hills here.
JJ Huang
Key Highlights of Ba Na Hills:
Golden Bridge
- Golden Bridge: We came early to beat the crowds at the famous Golden Bridge, which was perfect for photos.
- French Village: Inside Sun World, we explored the French village, which made us feel like we’d stepped into Europe, especially with the cool air.
- Linh Chuan Linh Tu temple: Another area in Sun World, which was a Chinese and Buddhist influenced area. It has a serene atmosphere, and was a wonderful stop too.
- Alpine Coaster: It was a fun thrill ride, though the queue was long.
- Gardens: We shipped this part as we were tired by mid-day and headed back to Da Nang.
Sun World Ba Na Hills
Overall Review of Ba Na Hills
The ticket price is high for SEA (like Disneyland or Universal Studios), but you do get a varied experience, with each area feeling like a different country, which made it quite memorable.
Post-Ba Na Hills – Cộng Cà Phê
Back in town, we cooled down at Cộng Cà Phê, famous for its coconut coffee. This was my first time trying coconut coffee, and it did not disappoint! This was before coconut coffee became popular from Luckin Coffee.
Dinner – Thìa Gỗ
For dinner, we tried Thìa Gỗ (Michelin Bib Gomand) and absolutely loved it. We had a bowl of pho, a dry noodle dish, and crispy spring rolls.
Everything was flavorful, especially the dry noodles, which had a delicious sauce.
Local Dessert: Chè Xuân Trang
We capped off the evening with a local dessert from Chè Xuân Trang. It was a mixed dessert but I felt it was way too sweet for our taste.
Day 3: Off to Hoi An
The next morning, we headed to Hoi An, where we spent two days. (I wrote a detailed post on our Hoi An itinerary here.)
JJ Huang
In short, these are some of the things we did at Hoi An:
1. Faifo Coffee:
Come here for the rooftop view of Hoi An's mustard-colored shophouses—definitely good for photos.
2. Lunch at White Rose:
We tried the famous local specialties, but it fell a bit short of our expectations.
3. Basket Boat Experience:
This was hands down the most fun part of our Hoi An trip! A unique experience that was totally worth it (though we skipped the spinning boat for fear of motion sickness).
4. Hoi An Night Market:
Dinner at the Hoi An night market was a feast of local street food—so many flavors to explore! Some were good, some were underwhelming.
5. Exploring Hoi An's Architecture:
Early morning is the best time to explore Hoi An without the crowds. The Ba Mu Pagoda Tam Quan gate, Japanese bridge, Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese, and the central market were all stunning.
Short Review of Hoi An:
We loved Hoi An! It’s a laid-back, magical ancient town that’s incredibly photogenic.
While it’s quite touristy, I found it to be still affordable. Definitely worth the visit. We enjoyed our two days here more than any other part of our trip.
Overall Thoughts:
Da Nang has plenty to offer, with each day bringing something new—whether it’s city sights, mountain views, or historical sites.
Although we spent four days here, I would recommend adding an extra day or two, especially if you’d like to explore Hue, another ancient city nearby.
Since it's quite touristy, Da Nang is thus very easy to navigate, and each attractions are unique, making this a memorable stop on our Vietnam journey.
So what do you think?
Have you been to Da Nang or Hoi An, or visited any of these spots? I’d love to hear your thoughts and any tips you might have! Let me know by leaving a comment below.
