Da Nang - Hoi An 4D3N: The Ultimate Budget Travel Guide! 🏝️
💰 Budget Breakdown: Under $170 Per Person! (Excluding Souvenirs)
We rocked Da Nang and Hoi An for four days and three nights, and it only cost us around $170 each (not including souvenirs, of course! 😬) Here's the lowdown:
- Flights: We snagged round-trip tickets with Vietnam Airlines on Traveloka for about $67.50 plus $15 for checked baggage.
- Accommodation: Le House Hotel was our budget-friendly pick at just $15 per double room/night. Clean, affordable, and the staff were super friendly – perfect for just crashing after a long day of exploring!
- Transportation: We wanted to hit all the hotspots: Love Bridge, Ba Na Hills, Hoi An, Bay Mau Coconut Forest, Son Tra Peninsula, My Khe Beach… so we rented a motorbike! Before our trip, we contacted Thao Than Thien (an admin of a local travel group) and she hooked us up with the best recommendations.
🛵 Getting Around: Motorbike Adventures & Expert Advice!
- Motorbike Rental: We opted for a Lead scooter for maximum storage (gotta have room for snacks!). It was only $5/day, totaling $20 for our 3.5-day rental. Add another $4 for gas!
- Ba Na Hills Ticket: $47 - included a delicious buffet lunch!
- Bay Mau Coconut Forest: $5.20 for two people. We booked through Thao Than Thien (0764.890.852) and had an amazing time! Pro tip: go around 3-4 PM for a lively vibe, or 9-10 AM for stunning photos.
- Love Bridge: $0.40 parking fee.
- Hoi An: $0.20 parking, $1.60 bike rental, $6 for a lantern boat ride (not sure if we got ripped off a little there 😌).
- My Khe Beach: $1.60 for chair rental, luggage storage, and parking.
- Son Tra Peninsula: $0.40 to access Obama Rock Beach. Parking was free!
- Airport Transfers: $8 roundtrip to Noi Bai, $10 from Noi Bai (extra fee for pickup/drop-off at two locations). From Da Nang airport to our hotel, we picked up our motorbike directly from the airport, so no charge! Taxi from the hotel to the airport on our way back was $5.20 (including tolls).
- Food & Drinks: Approximately $44 per person – delicious!
- Souvenirs: Roughly $76
🗺️ Our Epic Itinerary: Day by Day!
📍 Day 1: Hanoi - Da Nang, Dragon Bridge, Love Bridge & Nighttime Vibes
Arriving in Da Nang at 3:30 PM, we didn't have time for far-flung adventures, so we explored the city! Save the long trips for days when you have more time. The Love Bridge looks stunning in the afternoon light. And don't miss a Han River cruise to see the city sparkle at night! If you're there on a weekend, you might even catch the Dragon Bridge breathing fire! 🔥 We ate at Banh Xeo Ba Duong. The dipping sauce was amazing, and the nem lui (lemongrass pork skewers) were also yummy. The banh xeo (crispy pancake), although good, was not spectacular.
📍 Day 2: Ba Na Hills Extravaganza!
Originally, we planned to hit Ba Na Hills and then My Khe Beach, but we woke up late, took forever to get ready, and had some map-reading fails! We didn't get to Ba Na Hills until noon. The drive up is gorgeous! Bring water and an umbrella because you'll be hit with unpredictable rain showers. We had mi quang ga (turmeric noodles with chicken) at Con Market for breakfast, a buffet lunch at Ba Na, and banh trang cuon thit heo (rice paper with pork) at Ba Mau for dinner. Honestly, the mi quang and banh trang cuon thit heo were just okay for us 😑.
📍 Day 3: My Khe Beach, Coconut Forest & Hoi An Charm
We chilled at My Khe Beach in the morning. Go in the late morning or afternoon for the best light! We hit the Coconut Forest midday, and had the place all to ourselves! Wear bright yellow or vibrant colours for amazing photos. At 1 PM, we headed to Hoi An Ancient Town. We parked, rented bikes, and cruised around, focusing on Trần Phú Street. We sadly missed the Ba Mu Pagoda! We did manage to check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, the alleyways, Mót, the view from the 3rd floor of Fairo Coffee, and the bougainvillea wall. Mót has cheaper and tastier drinks than Fairo, in my opinion. We had cao lau (Hoi An noodles) for dinner but didn't get to try Banh Mi Phuong 😭. After lantern lighting, we headed back to our hotel in Da Nang.
📍 Day 4: Son Tra Peninsula Adventure
Our plan was Obama Rock Beach, Ban Co Peak, and Bai But Pagoda. Unfortunately, we woke up late! We checked out of our hotel, stored our luggage at reception, and grabbed seafood at Nam Dan Restaurant. The restaurant was excellent. At Son Tra Peninsula, we managed to visit Obama Rock Beach. Sadly, the scenic bridges that people usually take pictures on have been removed. On our way back, we ate kem bo (avocado ice cream) at Co Van – only $0.60! We bought souvenirs at Con Market. Vendors rarely overcharge, but still negotiate! 😭 Finally, we grabbed our luggage and headed back to Hanoi.
🌿 Final Thoughts: Friendly Locals & Sunset Magic!
The people are friendly and helpful. For directions or recommendations, ask locals or Google it! We got bad directions from tourists a few times! The weather in Da Nang is amazing in the late afternoon – it cools down by 4 PM. Remember to wake up early so you don't miss anything!
Credit: Huge thanks to Nguyen Khanh Huyen for sharing her detailed travel experience!
Photos: Collected
```