Da Nang - Hoi An 4 Days 3 Nights: A Super Detailed Review
Our trip cost around 4 million VND per person (excluding souvenirs!). Here's the breakdown:
Flights
- We booked Vietnam Airlines via Traveloka: 1,650,000 VND/person round trip + 385,000 VND for checked baggage. Pro Tip: Booking in advance can often snag you better deals!
Accommodation
- We stayed at Le House Hotel: 350,000 VND/double room/2 people. Since we only needed a place to sleep, we opted for a budget-friendly option. Room was clean, good price, and friendly staff! Perfect for travelers on a budget who prioritize location and cleanliness.
Transportation & Activities
We visited various spots: Love Bridge, Ba Na Hills, Hoi An Ancient Town, Bay Mau Coconut Forest, Son Tra Peninsula, My Khe Beach. We rented a motorbike for easy travel. Before the trip, I contacted Ms. Thao Than Thien (admin of a travel group) for advice. She was incredibly helpful! I just provided my phone number and travel dates, and she took care of the rest! Highly recommend getting local tips; it can make a huge difference.
- Motorbike Rental: We rented a Lead scooter (for the storage space!). Cost was 120,000 VND/day. For 3.5 days, it totaled 420,000 VND. Gas cost: 100,000 VND.
- Ba Na Hills Ticket: 1,180,000 VND/person (included buffet lunch). This is a must-do! The views are incredible, and the French Village is so charming.
- Bay Mau Coconut Forest: 130,000 VND/2 people. We booked through Ms. Thao Than Thien's company (0764.890.852), and it was so much fun! Highly recommend going around 3-4 PM for a lively atmosphere or 9-10 AM for beautiful scenery.
- Love Bridge: Parking fee - 10,000 VND. A classic photo spot!
- Hoi An: Parking - 5,000 VND, bicycle rental - 40,000 VND, releasing lanterns on a boat - 150,000 VND/boat (not sure if this was overpriced!). Hoi An at night is magical.
- My Khe Beach: Chair rental + luggage storage + parking: 40,000 VND.
- Son Tra Peninsula: We only had time for Obama Rock Beach. Entrance fee: 10,000 VND/person, free parking.
Other Expenses
- Transportation to/from Noi Bai Airport: 200,000 VND/2 people (to), 250,000 VND/2 people (from) - included pick-up/drop-off fees at two locations. We picked up our motorbike at Da Nang airport, so no airport transfer fee. For the return trip, we returned the bike at the hotel and took a taxi to the airport: 130,000 VND/2 people (including toll fees).
- Food & Drinks: Approximately 1,100,000 VND/person. Da Nang is a foodie paradise!
- Souvenirs: About 1,900,000 VND.
Our Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Da Nang, Dragon Bridge, Love Bridge + Evening City Stroll
We arrived in Da Nang at 3:30 PM. Since it was late, we decided to explore the city center. We wanted to save the further destinations for the following days. The Love Bridge is best visited in the afternoon for better photos. In the evening, we took a Han River cruise to admire the city at night. If you go on weekends, you can see the Dragon Bridge breathe fire!
We tried Banh Xeo Ba Duong. The dipping sauce was excellent, and the nem lui was good. The banh xeo, however, was just average.
Day 2: Ba Na Hills
Originally, we planned to visit Ba Na Hills and then relax at My Khe Beach in the afternoon. But, we woke up late, took too long to get ready, and had some map-reading issues. We arrived at Ba Na around noon. The drive is beautiful! Bring water and an umbrella, as there can be sudden showers.
We had Mi Quang Ga (turmeric chicken noodles) at Con Market for breakfast, buffet lunch at Ba Na Hills, and Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo Ba Mau (rice paper rolls with pork) for dinner. Personally, I found the Mi Quang Ga and Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo to be pretty standard, nothing special.
Day 3: My Khe Beach + Coconut Forest + Hoi An
We went to My Khe Beach in the morning. Note: Visit during the afternoon, the photos are much better! Midday offers sun, while the mornings can look grey. Around noon, we headed to the Coconut Forest. We basically had the whole forest to ourselves! Wearing yellow or bright colors will make your photos pop!
Around 1 PM, we set off for Hoi An Ancient Town. We parked our motorbike and rented bikes to explore. The most popular street for photos is Tran Phu Street. We missed Chuc Thanh Pagoda, which was disappointing!
We only managed to see these check-in spots: Japanese Covered Bridge, small alleyways, Mot Herbal Drink, Fairo Coffee (3rd-floor view), and bougainvillea vines. Mot's drinks were cheaper and tastier than Fairo's. In the evening, we had Cao Lau (Hoi An noodles). Sadly, we didn't get to try Banh Mi Phuong (famous banh mi place)! After that, we released lanterns and returned to our hotel in Da Nang.
Day 4: Son Tra Peninsula
The plan was to visit Obama Rock Beach, Ban Co Peak, and Bai But. But, we woke up late again and arrived at Son Tra Peninsula in the afternoon. We checked out of the hotel, left our luggage at reception, and had seafood at Nam Danh Restaurant. The restaurant was delicious and very crowded.
At Son Tra Peninsula, we only had time for Obama Rock Beach. The pretty bridges that are popular for photos have been removed. In the evening, we had Kem Bo Co Van (avocado ice cream). It was super cheap at only 15,000 VND/cup. Then, we went to Con Market to buy souvenirs. Vendors here don't overcharge much, but you should still bargain a little.
Finally, we returned to the hotel, packed our bags, and flew back to Hanoi.
Final Thoughts
The people in Da Nang are friendly and helpful. When asking for directions or information, ask locals or check Google. We got misdirected a few times when asking tourists! The weather was great in the late afternoon. Strangely, the sun set around 4 PM every day. One tip: wake up early to avoid missing any spots like we did!
Cre: Thanks for sharing details from Nguyen Khanh Huyen
Photos: Collected
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