5 Days in Da Nang: Day Trips to Hoi An, Hue & Ba Na Hills
Base yourself in Da Nang and explore three of central Vietnam's best destinations without changing hotels. Includes Marble Mountains, Hoi An's lantern-lit streets, Ba Na's Golden Bridge, and the imperial tombs of Hue.
The plan
Da Nang works as a home base. Hoi An is 30 km south; Hue is 110 km north; Ba Na Hills sits 40 km west. You can hit all three on day trips and return to the same hotel each night. Book a mid-range place near Da Nang's beachfront or city center — somewhere with a reliable tour desk or easy taxi access. You'll need transport each day, either private driver (book through your hotel, typically 400,000–600,000 VND for a full day), group tour, or self-drive motorbike if confident.
Day 1 — Da Nang city + Marble Mountains
Arrive, settle in, then head to Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son), 10 km south of the city center. The site is a cluster of five limestone and marble hills carved with caves, temples, and viewpoints. Enter at the main gate and take the elevator up (50,000 VND), then walk through the caves — you'll pass Buddhist shrines, incense smoke, and stone steps worn smooth over centuries. The descent takes about 45 minutes. From the top, the view sweeps across Da Nang Bay and My Khe Beach. Expect crowds on weekends.
Back in town, stroll the Riverfront Park along the Han River. Have dinner near the bridge: the Tran Hung Dao street area has casual "com tam" (broken-rice) places, pho stalls, and seafood restaurants. Budget 100,000–200,000 VND for a solid dinner. Early night — you'll need energy tomorrow.
Day 2 — Hoi An old town
Leave Da Nang at 7:30 a.m.; the drive takes 45 minutes. Hoi An's old town is a living postcard: 15th–19th century architecture, narrow lanes, lantern-lit storefronts, and almost no cars inside the pedestrian zone. Arrive by mid-morning.
Walk the Japanese Bridge first (Cau Nhat Ban), iconic and usually crowded by 9 a.m. Then duck into quieter alleys — Tran Phu Street runs the spine, but turn right onto Phan Boi Chau or Le Loi to lose the tour groups. Stop at a tailor's shop: Hoi An's bespoke tailoring is fast and cheap. A shirt takes 2–3 days; you can't collect, but many travellers ship. A silk dress runs 200,000–400,000 VND.
Lunch on "banh mi" from a street stall (30,000–50,000 VND) or "cao lau", a local noodle-pork dish unique to Hoi An. The most famous stall is Cao Lau Ba Buoi, down a side lane near the old market.
Spend the afternoon in the Ancient House Museum or wandering the waterfront. Rent a bicycle and pedal to nearby rice paddies or "My Khe" beach (not Da Nang's, a different one south of town — 6 km). Late afternoon, catch sunset from the bridge, have coffee, then return to Da Nang by 6 p.m. Dinner back at your hotel or nearby.
Photo by Sachith Ravishka Kodikara on Pexels
Day 3 — Ba Na Hills + Golden Bridge
Book a tour or driver for 6 a.m. pickup. Ba Na Hills (Sun World Ba Na) is a mountaintop resort and theme park at 1,487 meters, famous for its Golden Bridge — a massive hand-like structure cradling a walkway, surrounded by clouds and mist. The drive from Da Nang takes about 90 minutes via winding mountain road.
Entry to the complex (including cable car and attractions) runs 750,000–850,000 VND. The cable car ride is steep and dramatic — you'll rise above cloud cover. Spend 3–4 hours: walk the Golden Bridge (15–20 minutes), explore the fake French village (charming and kitsch), visit the Buddhist temple, and enjoy the cooler mountain air. Food at Ba Na is overpriced; consider a packed lunch.
The crowds peak 11 a.m.–3 p.m. If you arrive early, you'll beat most visitors. Return to Da Nang by late afternoon. Light dinner — you'll be tired.
Day 4 — Hue
Start at 6 a.m. for a 2-hour drive north (about 110 km). Hue is Vietnam's old imperial capital, built along the Perfume River. It's less touristy than Hoi An, with deeper history.
First stop: the Imperial Citadel (Kinh Thanh), a vast walled complex built in the early 1800s. Hire a local guide at the gate (300,000–400,000 VND for 2 hours); it's worth it — the citadel is huge and a guide explains the layout, royal politics, and war damage. Main sights include the Forbidden City (only royal family and concubines allowed inside historically), the Meridian Gate, and the royal gardens.
Lunch on "bun bo Hue", the city's signature beef noodle soup — richer and spicier than Hanoi "pho". Try Bun Bo Hue O Ngu, a famous stall in the old market near the citadel.
Afternoon: visit one or two royal tombs. The most impressive are the Tomb of Tu Duc (serene, with gardens and lakes) and the Tomb of Khai Dinh (gaudy, with ornate carvings). Each requires a separate short drive from the citadel; factor in 1–1.5 hours per tomb including transport. If time is short, pick Tu Duc.
Return to Da Nang by 6–7 p.m. Dinner near your hotel.
Photo by FOX ^.ᆽ.^= ∫ on Pexels
Day 5 — My Khe Beach + departure
Have a leisurely breakfast. My Khe Beach is Da Nang's best stretch of sand, 5 km east of the city center. Spend the morning swimming, reading, or having "ca phe sua da" (iced coffee with condensed milk) at a beachfront cafe. The beach is long, clean, and less crowded than tourist hotspots to the south.
Arrive back at your hotel by early afternoon, collect luggage, and head to Da Nang International Airport (Tien Sa Airport, 2 km north of the city center). The drive takes 10 minutes; allow 2 hours before departure for check-in.
Practical notes
Book accommodation in Da Nang in advance, especially May–September. A decent 3-star hotel runs 800,000–1.5 million VND per night. Arrange transport through your hotel concierge; it's easier and safer than negotiating with taxis. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and light clothes — central Vietnam is hot and humid year-round. If you're driving yourself, be cautious on mountain roads (Ba Na) and in Hue traffic; road discipline is loose.
Budget snapshot
- Marble Mountains: 50,000 VND (elevator)
- Hoi An: 200,000–300,000 VND (lunch, coffee, miscellaneous)
- Ba Na Hills: 750,000–850,000 VND (entry)
- Hue citadel + guide: 350,000–400,000 VND
- Hue tomb: 150,000 VND per tomb
- Transport (daily): 400,000–600,000 VND via private driver
- Meals (casual): 100,000–300,000 VND per day
Total per person (excluding accommodation): roughly 2.5–3.5 million VND (105–150 USD) for the five days, depending on food choices and whether you hire guides.
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