Best Day Trips from Da Nang: Ba Na Hills, Hue, My Son and a Night Cruise
Four day trips from Da Nang compared: Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, Marble Mountains with a Han River night cruise, Hue Imperial City and My Son Sanctuary, with timings and who each suits.
By AmGo Travel5 min read
Da Nang is one of the easiest bases in central Vietnam: beaches in the city, mountains on the edge of town, and two UNESCO sites within a day's drive. The hard part is choosing. This guide compares the four day trips from Da Nang our guests book most, what each day actually looks like hour by hour, and who each one suits, from the trip planners at AmGo Travel.
The four best day trips from Da Nang at a glance
- Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge: a full day in the mountains above the city, with Da Nang's other sights on the way. Best for first-time visitors and families.
- Marble Mountains and a Han River night cruise: an afternoon and evening trip, ideal if you want a beach morning first.
- Hue Imperial City: a full day in the former royal capital. Best for history lovers.
- My Son Sanctuary and rice paper making: a morning trip to ancient temple ruins, back by early afternoon.
All four include hotel pick-up and an English-speaking guide, and the Ba Na Hills and night cruise trips can also pick you up in Hoi An.
1. Ba Na Hills, Golden Bridge and Da Nang city in one day
This is the classic Da Nang day. Pick-up is at 8:00–8:30 in Da Nang (7:30–8:00 in Hoi An), and the morning covers the city's own highlights before you head up the mountain:
- Lady Buddha on Monkey Mountain (Son Tra), with its bonsai garden and views over the bay.
- Marble Mountains, with the stone-carving village, 19th-century pagodas and the Huyen Khong and Tang Chon caves, plus Am Phu Cave. The elevator is optional.
- Lunch of Mi Quang, the noodle dish of Quang Nam.
In the afternoon, the cable car takes you up to Ba Na Hills. You walk the Golden Bridge, held up by two giant stone hands, then visit Le Jardin D'Amour and Linh Ung Pagoda. A second cable car goes to the French Village, and there is time for the Lava Train, Moon Kingdom and Fantasy Park. The van leaves at 17:45 with a stop at the Dragon Bridge, and you are back around 19:00 in Da Nang or 19:30 in Hoi An.
For a closer look at the mountain itself, read our Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge guide.
2. Marble Mountains and a Han River night cruise
If you want to keep your morning for the beach, this half-day trip starts in the afternoon. Pick-up is at 14:00–14:30 in Da Nang (13:30–14:00 in Hoi An).
- Lady Buddha on Son Tra and the view over the bay.
- Marble Mountains and Am Phu Cave, inside the mountain.
- Pho dinner with a drink, then an evening cruise on the Han River.
From Friday to Sunday, the Dragon Bridge puts on its fire-and-water show at 21:00 for about 10 minutes, so plan for a weekend if you want to see it. You are back around 21:15 in Da Nang or 21:45 in Hoi An.
3. Hue Imperial City from Da Nang
Hue was the capital of Vietnam's last dynasty, the 13 Nguyen kings, and this day trip covers its main sights in a medium group of 1–22 guests. Pick-up is from 7:30 at your hotel in Da Nang. Note that this tour goes directly to Hue and does not stop at the Hai Van Pass.
- Khai Dinh Tomb, one of the royal tombs of the Nguyen kings.
- Lunch: a 7-dish set menu of Hue cuisine.
- The Imperial City, including the Ngo Mon Gate, the Royal Library, Thai Hoa Palace and the Nine Dynastic Urns.
- Thien Mu Pagoda on the Perfume River.
You leave Hue at 15:45 and are back in Da Nang around 18:00. Entrance fees, water and travel insurance are included.
4. My Son Sanctuary and rice paper making
My Son is a UNESCO World Heritage site of ancient brick temple towers set in a green valley. This morning tour picks you up at your Da Nang hotel at 7:30–8:00 (about 110 km round trip).
- About 2 hours at My Son with a local guide, including an Apsara dance performance. An electric shuttle takes you into the site, and the entrance fee is included.
- Rice paper making where you see the traditional process up close.
- Lunch at a family home with traditional Vietnamese food.
You are back in Da Nang by 13:30, leaving the afternoon free.
Which Da Nang day trip should you choose?
- One day only, first time in Da Nang: Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, since it also covers Lady Buddha, Marble Mountains and the Dragon Bridge.
- Beach in the morning, sightseeing later: Marble Mountains and the night cruise, ideally on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
- History and architecture: Hue Imperial City.
- Short on time or travelling in the heat: My Son, which finishes by 13:30.
- Several days in Da Nang: combine them. Marble Mountains appears on both the Ba Na Hills day and the night cruise, so pair Ba Na Hills with Hue or My Son instead.
Tips for day trips from Da Nang
- Dress for two climates on Ba Na Hills. The mountain is cooler than the coast, so bring a light layer.
- Cover shoulders and knees for pagodas, the royal tombs and Thien Mu.
- Bring comfortable shoes. Marble Mountains, Ba Na Hills and the Imperial City all involve stairs and a lot of walking.
- Staying in Hoi An? The Ba Na Hills day and the night cruise both pick up in Hoi An.
FAQ
What is the best day trip from Da Nang? For most first-time visitors it is Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, because the same day also covers Lady Buddha, Marble Mountains and the Dragon Bridge. For history, choose Hue.
Can I do Ba Na Hills from Hoi An? Yes. The Ba Na Hills day tour picks up in Hoi An at 7:30–8:00 and drops you back around 19:30.
When can I see the Dragon Bridge fire show? From Friday to Sunday at 21:00, for about 10 minutes. The Marble Mountains and night cruise tour is timed for it.
Where can I book day trips from Da Nang? AmGo Travel, a Vietnamese team of trip planners and guides with an office at 61 Hang Ga in Hanoi's Old Quarter, arranges all four Da Nang day trips with hotel pick-up and an English-speaking guide. You can book at amgotravel.com or message the team on WhatsApp.
Does the Hue tour stop at the Hai Van Pass? No. This tour goes directly to Hue so you have more time at the Imperial City, Khai Dinh Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda.
Day trips from Da Nang with AmGo Travel
See all Da Nang tours, or message AmGo Travel on WhatsApp and a trip planner will help you fit the right day trips into your stay.
