Da Nang is a coastal city in central Vietnam reachable by plane in two hours from Hong Kong and three from Singapore.
Although not as famous as other Southeast Asian beach hotspots such as Phuket and Bali, it is close to some famous Vietnamese sights, including Hoi An, the Ba Na Hills and the Hue Imperial City.
Da Nang can be roughly divided into two main sections: the beach side and the city side. The former, filled with beachside bars and hotels, is popular with digital nomads and surfers. The latter is where locals congregate at 24-hour cafes, hole-in-the-wall food stalls and markets.
The Dragon Bridge traverses the Han River to connect the two sides and breathes fire on weekend evenings.
Tourists and locals alike enjoy fresh seafood al fresco at Da Nang’s Moc restaurant. Photo: Instagram/@haisanmocquandanangVisitors will eat well no matter which side they end up on. In 2024, the online travel guide TasteAtlas named Vietnamese cuisine among the best in the world, and dishes such as banh mi and pho are now famous around the globe.
The real star in Da Nang, however, is seafood.
Dining and Cooking