You plan to visit Hoi An and you would like to know when is the best time to visit Hoi An. Here are all the answers for your questions.

Hoi An is a beautiful and historic city in Vietnam, renowned for its well-preserved Ancient Town. Here are some key aspects of Hoi An that make it a popular tourist destination:

1. Ancient Town: The heart of Hoi An is its Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is characterized by well-preserved architecture from the 15th to the 19th century, showcasing a blend of different cultural influences, including Chinese, Japanese, and European.
2. Cultural Heritage: Hoi An reflects a rich cultural heritage, evident in its architecture, traditional wooden houses, assembly halls, and pagodas. The town has a unique charm, especially when lanterns light up the streets in the evening.
3. Lantern Festival: The city is famous for its monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival. During this event, the Ancient Town becomes adorned with colorful lanterns, and locals and tourists alike release lanterns onto the Thu Bon River for good luck.
4. Tailoring and Handicrafts: Hoi An is well-known for its tailor shops, where you can have custom-made clothing created. The town is also a great place to purchase handmade crafts, including silk lanterns, ceramics, and traditional Vietnamese artwork.
5. Cuisine: The local food is a major draw for visitors. Hoi An is famous for its delicious and diverse Vietnamese cuisine. Don’t miss trying local specialties like Cao Lau, a noodle dish, and White Rose Dumplings.
6. Beaches: Hoi An is situated near the coast, and there are beautiful beaches nearby, such as An Bang Beach and Cua Dai Beach. These beaches offer a relaxing escape and are easily accessible from the city.
7. Bicycle-Friendly: The town is relatively small and is best explored on foot or by bicycle. Many streets are pedestrianized in the evenings, making it a pleasant experience to wander around and explore the local shops and eateries.
8. Cultural Experiences: Visitors can participate in various cultural experiences, such as cooking classes, traditional music and dance performances, and boat tours along the Thu Bon River.

Hoi An’s unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty makes it a favorite among tourists exploring Vietnam.

Best time to visit Hoi An city in Vietnam

Danang is the biggest city in central Vietnam and third biggest of the country. Danang is surrounded by mountains and is a coastal city. There is large and one of the most beautiful beach in Danang. Danang is crossed by the Han River. When is the best time to visit Danang ?

The weather in Danang has two distinct periods: the rainy season and the dry season.

Dry season in Danang

The dry season in Danang runs from January to September, and these months are hot and humid. The highest average temperature is around 33 – 35°C and the lowest is around 26°C.

The hottest months of the year are between June and August with an average temperature of 40°C.

From March to May, it’s when the weather is perfect. There is little bit rain and the temperature can vary between 19.5°C and 30°C. Therefore, it is neither too hot and humid nor too cold and wet, which is fantastic.

You can spend time doing all kinds of activities without worries. The temperature continues to increase during the months of April and May, and reaches the maximum temperature during the “summer” (from June to the end of August). Moisture also adds more discomfort to the situation.

Rainy season in Danang

From October to March, it is the rainy season. At this time of year, the rain comes frequently, making the city much cooler.

The average temperature is around 25.5°C but can fall below 20°C and the coolest months are from November to January. Unfortunately, this time of year is the typhoon season. There will be thunderstorms that could cause bad floods, so you should check the weather forecast in advance. This period is not the best time to come to Danang.

Best time to visit Danang

If you are able to handle the heat and humidity of the tropical climate, the dry season is the perfect time to visit the coastal city. Because the weather is generally nice with the sun and clear skies, and it’s good for outdoor activities.

Hoi An Lantern Festival Dates 2023 & Guide

If you are travelling to Danang or Hoi An, you should not miss this special event in Vietnam. Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place one night per month. We will explain you in this article what you can see during this festival and the Hoi An Lantern Festival 2023 dates.

What is the Lantern Festival of Hoi An

Also called the Legendary Night or Full Moon Party is a festival that takes place every 14th day of every month on the lunar calendar. This festival is very popular for foreigner tourists as well as for Vietnamese.

Hoi An becomes the City of Lanterns of yesteryear since it is illuminated by the light of these.

There are several old games organized as well as music concerts. The old quarter is pedestrian (no bicycles or motorized vehicles until 10 pm)

During the lantern festival, all the lights of the old city are extinguished which gives a magical side and only the lanterns illuminate Hoi An. This is an opportunity to visit the ancient city of Hoi An.

During this night, it is an opportunity for Vietnamese to honor their ancestors by burning counterfeit notes and paper.

In front of each shop, you will be able to see tables with offerings, fruits in general bananas and mangos, as well as a fire where are burned different things in paper.

During the festival, the pagodas of the city of Hoi An are free, enjoy it. The Full Moon Festival exists since 1998. Be careful, the city is completely pedestrian – Bikes are prohibited even parked so you have to put them in the various car parks of the city otherwise it is likely that it will be recovered at the pound.

What to do during the lantern Festival in Hoi An

Here is a list of things you will see during the lantern Festival in Hoi An:

1) Traditional chess game

Address: 35 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street

2) Folk Songs of Quang Nam

Address: Tran Phu Street 155

3) Recitation of traditional poems

Address: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street 84

4) Bingo game also called Bai Choi

Address: Next to An Hoi Bridge (opposite Gam)

5) Calligraphy

Address: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street 64

6) Breakage game of terracotta pots

Address: 138 Tran Phu Street

7) Family Music

Address: 149 Tran Phu Street (near the Japanese Bridge)

8) Recitation of poems

Address: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street 04

9) Spectacle of traditional martial arts

Address: Hoàng Văn Thụ Street (west, near the river)

10) Singing, dancing and traditional music

Address: Court House 62 Bach Street Đang

11) Singing the spread

Address: 92B Bach Dang Street

12) Festival of the lanterns

Address: Lampions sold around the river

13) Recital of Folk Music

Address: Tran Phu Street 77

14) Traditional chess game

Address: Quang Trieu Temple (176 Tran Phu Street) – 06 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street – 129, 87 Tran Phu Street – 41, 96 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street – 99B Bach Street Đang

15) Traditional Vietnamese Theater

Address: 106 Bach Dang Street

16) Class of Calligraphy

Address: 155B Tran Phu Street

17) Singing and Music

Address: 78 Rue Le Loi

Hoi An Lantern Festival Dates 2023, 2024

Around 8 pm on the eve of the full moon the lights of the town are shut off, and the only light comes from the lanterns being carried down the river. Here is the list of the next Hoi An lantern Festival dates in 2023 and 2024. You should not miss this special event !

Are you looking to travel to Danang and visit Ba Na Hills ? You are planning to go to Ba Na Hills but you don’t know what you will see there ? Here are the top things to see in Ba Na Hills.

Ba Na Hills is one of the most famous amusement parks near Danang in recent years. From a distance, it looks like a medieval castle hidden in the forest. Yet in this ancient castle, luxury accommodations, modern game rooms and an amusement park await you to explore.

Particularly, Ba Na Hills becomes impressive with the Golden Bridge, a giant bridge held by two stone hands. It is a shimmering structure emerging from the trees of Thien Thai Garden in Ba Na Hills. If you are planning to visit Ba Na Hills but don’t know what to do and see, follow our suggestions below.

What is Ba Na Hills ?

Most famous for: the golden bridge, the theme park, the game center.

Location: 1,489 meters above sea level on Nui Chua Mountain, about 30 km from downtown Danang.

Ba Na Hills was first the leisure destination for French tourists during the colonial era before being transformed into a modern theme park.

Price: 750,000 VND (about 32 USD) / adults and 600,000 VND (25 USD) / children (1m – 1.4m in height). Free for children under 1m.

If you have a specific itinerary, book your tickets online (and maybe take advantage of 20% off) in advance to avoid queuing.

Opening hours: every day from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Things to see in Ba Na Hills?

1. Traveling in a cable car system

As soon as you come to Ba Na Hills, you are surprised by its cable car system. This system obtained several world records, including the record for the highest difference between departure and arrival and the greatest change in altitude.

The cable car system has 94 cabins with a total capacity of 1,500 passengers/hour. It takes you about 15-20 minutes to travel by foot from the mountain to the top of Ba Na in a modern cable car. You will have the chance to fly over the spectacular Golden Bridge. The journey to reach the fairy world covered in white clouds is magical.

2. Walks around the French village of Ba Na Hills

At an altitude of 1,500 meters, you will find a European-style village in a tropical country. Tourists are free to walk around a large square with a flower garden, fountains, cafes, restaurants, vintage cars. Here you are lost in a suburb of Paris with old buildings with French architecture, castles with sharp towers, the square, the peaceful roof… For those who never have the chance to visit Europe, this. It’s a chance to explore a whole new land.

3. Visit the wax museum

The exhibition area of ​​Ba Na Hills presents a wax version of movie stars, musicians, businessmen, politicians in the world. For example, US President Barack Obama, actor Jackie Chan, singer Taylor Swift, British Royal Family in 1:1 size.

If you want to take photos with celebrities, this is your chance to make the dream come true. It is another thing to see in Ba Na Hills. Each wax figure comes with character information noted in both English and Vietnamese.

At the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity to discover the wax workshop and how Italian craftsmen create a wax figure. It’s a meticulous process to accurately determine each famous person’s height, height, skin color, and facial expressions. Some works are as vivid as the real ones.

4. Visit the spectacular Golden Bridge

Located in the Thien Thai Garden, the Golden Bridge is the connection point between the French Village and the Le Jardin d’Amour flower garden. The Golden Bridge is the most beautiful thing you have to see in Ba Na Hills. This monument is impressive by the giant hands that lift the bridge. According to TA Landscape Architecture – the company that designed the Golden Bridge, the giant hand represents the mountain god, and the bridge is the yellow silk that helped villagers reach Thien Thai Garden. TIME Magazine of the United States ranked the Golden Bridge in the “Top 100 Most Wonderful Destinations in the World 2018”.

Taking walks on this magnificent bridge on sunny days is an opportunity to enter a paradise on earth with clouds below and sunshine above.

5. Immersion in the flower garden Le Jardin d’Amour

The discovery of the flower garden Le Jardin d’Amour is an activity not to be missed during your visit to Ba Na Hills. Nine themed gardens hide its own significance in the architecture and selection of flowers.

Suoi Mo Garden (Dream Stream): A beautiful flower garden with a perfect combination of Aparang and Kim Kim flowers.

Garden of Eden: this place is ideal for admiring the sunrise. This site is the harmony between heaven and earth, decorated with beautiful bellflowers.

The mysterious garden: a place is created to encourage visitors to discover. This garden looks like a maze with tall walls of trees.

Garden of lovers: a garden is decorated with French architecture, lively and attractive patterns.

Thoughtful garden: it is a garden with an infinite flow of botany representing the flow of thought.

Mythological Garden: This place is inspired by Mount Olympia with the sacred gods of Athens.

Garden of Remembrance: the four gods here represent the four seasons which alternate with the flow of memories.

Sacred Garden: Lovers should not miss this place as it stands for vow, romance and emotions of love.

Vineyard: the landscape is reminiscent of a vineyard in the south of France.

And don’t miss the chance to explore in the century-old wine cellar nearby, a place to complete your trip to Paris in Vietnam.

6. Conquer Alpine Coaster of Ba Na Hills

Settled in the area of ​​French Village – the most beautiful and romantic place in Ba Na Hills, the sledding route follows the winding mountain, offering beautiful scenery of the area.

The journey is designed with a spectacular trail and unexpected curves up and down, then suddenly a landscape of breathtaking beauty appears before your eyes. Cars can continue along the rail at a maximum speed of 40 km/h. Each car is equipped with its own braking system so you can choose your own desired speed. This site is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

7. Awakening your taste buds in restaurants of different styles

To tantalize your taste buds in Ba Na Hills, there are several great options to choose from:

Arapang: This is the largest buffet restaurant in Ba Na Hills. There you can treat yourself to an Asia-Europe buffet. Named after the famous arapang flower, the style of the restaurant makes a good visual impression with vivid images on the red brick wall, the wooden carved flying birds hanging from the 4th floor of the restaurant.

Beer Plaza: The restaurant is designed with a unique architecture, in the form of a giant yellow glass beer box with the glass dome. A 2-story stage is located in the middle of the restaurant, allowing foreign dancers and artists to dance to their heart’s content.

La Crique & Café Postal: Stop by to taste Spanish cuisine the right way. The dark red color of the ceiling, the greyish green of the walls constitute a semi-classical place with traditional wooden tables and colored sofas.

Le Louvre: the restaurant is designed in the form of a glass tower, resembling that of the Louvre Museum. From a distance, no one thinks it’s a restaurant. This restaurant serves more than 200 authentic Chinese dishes which are considered the best in Ba Na of Vietnam.

8. Discovery of 4D Death Race

The Death Race 4D in Ba Na Hills is actually the most modern 4D cinema in the country. This cinema has a total of 28 seats installed on a moving mechanical system, an electromagnetic sensor, many other effect devices as well as a large 3D screen. The Death Race gives you the thrilling sensations like in a Formula 1 race. There is even wind, steam and smoke to further stimulate your senses.

9. Fun with the drop tower

With the drop tower, you discover breathtaking beauties depending on the altitude. At the top, you can watch clouds floating through the glass dome. Then you fell 29 meters (95 feet) to enter a cave designed according to what was described in two novels by Jules Verne: Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) .

10. Night in Ba Na Hills

Overnight at Ba Na Hills lets you experience all 4 beautiful seasons. And it is the chance to enjoy the breathtaking sunrise and sunset. Currently in Ba Na Hills, there are only 3 hotels: Morin Hotel, Debay Hotel and Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village.

Morin Hotel: it is a 3-star hotel in Ba Na Hills with 2 types of rooms: deluxe room (30 m2) and suite room (65 m2). In addition, you will benefit from a modern bar-restaurant complex. Morin’s restaurant serves Asian and European cuisine.

Debay Hotel: Debay Hotel is a fairly quiet hotel. There are 3 types of rooms: deluxe room (23 m2), superior deluxe room (25 m2) and suite room (45 m2).

Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village: The Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village is a 4-star luxury hotel and the most modern hotel system in Ba Na. The rooms offer a view of the French village with high-end facilities such as a spa-gym, an indoor swimming pool, a bar, a retail store or a patisserie.

In high season it is very difficult to book a room here due to high demand. In addition, the public rate is sometimes quite high. You can contact Vietnam Découverte to get affordable prices.

How to get to Ba Na Hills?

Da Nang is a modern city with good road conditions, so traveling to Ba Na Hills from Danang is very easy. You can get there by taxi, motorbike or bus.

By taxi: the price varies from 350,000 VND to 500,000 VND per trip (15 – 22 USD). The best known are Vinasun, Mai Linh, Tien Sa…

By motorbike: it is a cheaper option than a taxi, around 4 USD to 7 USD for a day.

By bus: the first departure is at 8 am and the last at 4.30 pm. Expect 120,000 VND to 150,000 VND for a return ticket (5 – 7 USD) and 100,000 VND for a one-way ticket (4.5 USD).

You can book a Vietnam Discovery package because we offer combined Danang – Bana Hills – Hoi An tours with services as you wish.

Best time to visit Ba Na Hills

The months of April to August is the high season because the Vietnamese and spend their summer holidays there. So, if you want to share the emotional and lively atmosphere with thousands of people, choose this time to go to Vietnam. If you prefer the less crowded period, you should come to this destination from September to March.

In Ba Na Hills, all 4 seasons happen in one day: mild spring in the morning, hot summer in the afternoon, cool autumn in the evening and cold winter at night.

Many tourists choose to spend only 5 days and 4 nights in Danang, which is enough to visit the main destinations of central Vietnam. Danang is a coastal city located in central Vietnam, 770 km from Hanoi and 850 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Danang is the fourth largest city in Vietnam. It is a big city, modern and animated.

Vietnam is a very long country and transport is very tiring. Thus, Danang is a full-fledged destination for many tourists who wish to visit this region. Danang International Airport provides direct flights to central Vietnam from abroad. There are direct flights from Malaysia for example.

 We will describe here an itinerary to follow if you choose to spend 5 days and 4 nights in Danang.

The nearest and best known cities around Danang are Hoi An and Hue. These cities are easily accessible from Danang. Hoi An is only 45 minutes far from downtown Danang and it takes about 3 hours to reach Hue from Danang.

The interest of spending 5 days in Danang is to be able to take a rest at the edge of the sea while discovering landscapes and magnificent cities. The center of Vietnam is the ideal region to go for a weekend with friends or family. There are many attractions in this part of Vietnam.

Best Danang 5 days itinerary

With only 5 days in Danang, it is better not to waste too much time on arrival at Danang Airport and choose immediately where you want to spend the most of your time.

Be aware that Hoi An is only 45 minutes drive from the airport and is a much nicer place than Danang. Therefore, we recommend that you should spend more time in Hoi An than in Danang.

Here is the itinerary we recommend for a 5 days stay in Central Vietnam :

Day 1 : Danang arrival, overnight in Danang
Day 2 : Ba Na Hills (B-L), overnight in Danang
Day 3 : Hoi an ancient town (B-D), overnight in Hoian
Day 4 : Cam Thanh basket boat tour – cooking class (B-L), overnight in Hoian
Day 5 : Danang departure (B)

Upon arrival, you can take a taxi from the airport to reach your hotel in Hoi An. The price of the race costs around US $ 15 (360,000 VND) which is not excessive.

In Hoi An, it is better to book a hotel near the old town. Indeed, you will be able to easily visit the city with its atypical and authentic architecture. Also, you will be close to restaurants and other shops. In the evening, it is very pleasant to walk along the river and go for a walk at the night market. You should not miss the famous Hoi An Lantern Festival once a month.

Some people choose to book a hotel near the sea. This is another possibility. Know that hotels by the sea are often quite expensive and the beach is about 6 km from the old town. It is therefore necessary to take a taxi to visit the old town of Hoi An. Some hotels offer free shuttle services but these services are not always very convenient.

The second day, you can choose to visit the village of Cam Thanh with its famous basket boats. Group excursions are not very expensive. This little boat trip on the river is very nice and will allow you to learn more about traditional fishing techniques. The rowers master their boats very well and will make some demonstrations. Hang in there!

If you are interested in the history of Vietnam, the archaeological site of My Son is not to be missed in this region. My Son temples were built from the 4th century under the reign of King Bhadravaman, until late 13th century, and early 14th century under the reign of King Jaya Simhavaman III (Che Man). My Son used to be a group of more than 70 temple towers. Each temple has a typical architecture which reflects a historical stage of the Champa kingdoms. Most of the architecture and sculptures were influenced by Indian culture. Most of the temples point to the East, the sun direction. Champa people thought that the East was the place where the gods lived.

On the third day, you can leave Hoi An to go to Ba Na Hills. The most popular theme park in Vietnam is about an hour and a half drive from Hoi An.

Ba Na Hills is a must for most tourists visiting Danang. Ba Na Hills Station is a hill station and resort located on the Trường Sơn Mountains in Da Nang, central Vietnam. The station, advertised as “the Da Lat of Danang province” by local tourism authorities, was founded in 1919 by French colonists. Linh Ung Pagodais located near the station, with a cable car to carry tourists to and from the resort. The Ba Na Cable Car, opened on March 29, 2013, holds the world record for longest non-stop single track cable car at 5801 meters in length. During your visit to Ba Na Hills, you should not miss the famous Golden Bridge for a memorable selfie. To learn more about Ba Na Hills, read our article here. Note that on weekends, there are often a lot of people at Ba Na Hills. The weekends are therefore to be avoided as far as possible for your visit.

Finally, after visiting Ba Na Hills, the end of your 5 days Danang itinerary will approach. It will be time to return to Danang which is 45 minutes drive from Ba Na Hills. You can choose to spend the night in the city to admire the Dragon Bridge and go to the night market or choose to spend the evening on one of the most beautiful beach of Vietnam My Khe Beach. Note that the beach is pretty far from downtown. So you have to make a choice here.

The next day you will be just 20 minutes from Danang Airport for your return flight. We hope that with our advice you will have a pleasant stay of 5 days and 4 nights in Danang.

Best time for a 5 days Danang trip

The choice of the best period is essential for a pleasant stay in Danang.

The rainy season runs from September to December. It’s the wrong time to visit Danang.

From June to August, Danang is very hot and there are many local tourists. Ba Na Hills will be much crowded during this period.

The best time for a 5 days Danang itinerary is from January to May. During this period, it is not too hot and the weather is dry. The weather is ideal to enjoy the city of Hoi An or go to Ba Na Hills.

To learn more about the best time to visit Danang, feel free to read our article here.

After one day in Hoi An, you no longer know what to visit ..? Why not visiting the countryside of Hoi An and in particular Hoi An Water Coconut village. A place almost unique in Vietnam.

This village has gradually become a must see destination to visit around Hoi An.

Hoi An Water Coconut village is above all a fishing village stretching over 75 ha (just that).

Its particuliarity? This village has 7 ha immerged water coconut trees (Nippa), that’s what makes it curious and each hectare belongs to a family.

Since 2017, there is an entrance fee to visit the village if and only if you are taking a traditionnal Vietnamese boat (basket boat). Entrance fee is about 30,000 vnd per person. If you just want to visit the village without taking a basket boat, it’s still free.

Take a Basket Boat (Vietnamese round boat that you can see everywhere) in this forest is a quite magical experience. It feels like being in an Amazonian forest and feeling alone (if you go to the right place).

Hoi An Water Coconut is also rich in marine species such as crab and clam. This place is the main source of seafood for the region.

We have learned from the local people that during the war, the Vietnamese were hidden in the forest to avoid the Americans.

This forest is an protected area by WWF (World Wild Life).

Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village

The real name of the coconut palm village is Cam Thanh. Located just 6 km from Hoi An, it is possible to easily reach the village of Cam Thanh by boat or bicycle.

If you want to visit the water coconut village, basket boat tours are organized where you wander through the different canals among the coconut trees.

After 30 minutes on the Thu Bon river, you will arrive at the village of Cam Thanh. Thu Bon river is the river which crosses the city of Hoi An and which forms a delta before throwing itself in the sea.

At the edge of the river, fishermen offer tours in round boats typical of the region. Count 150,000 vnd per person for 1 hour of basket boat.

The fishermen will give you a demonstration of fishing with these very mobile boats. Indeed, if you like thrills, fishermen can give you a little demonstration of navigation with these boats.

The main activity after fishing is of course the cultivation of these same coconut palms whose leaves are used to build the roofs of traditional houses as well as parasols, among others. You can see on the side of the roads the leaves that are drying in the sun.

If you are a photo lover, we have only one advice, come at 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. for the sunset with the background landscape, the coconut trees or a little further, the fishermen launching their nets, it’s just magnificent !

Why Basket boats in Central Vietnam ?

The circular shape is obtained by a booklet and fine bamboo frames linked internally by ties to the basket. The caulking is done with a decoction composed of pulverized resin, lime and buffalo dung, all then coated with wood oil to varnish and protect the caulking.

Admirably adapted to always stay on the blades, the cross effect not existing, we encountered it, even in rough sea and strong swells, around fishing boats, to set or raise traps, longlines or gillnets.

The basket boats that dot the waters from the southern coast all the way up to Danang have become iconic to Vietnam. The origin of these coracles is unclear, but many believe they were born out of ingenuity during the French colonial era.

As the story goes, when the French levied taxes on boats in Vietnam, fishermen couldn’t afford to pay them – so they designed circular woven “baskets” that just so happened to also function as boats. The basket boats quickly became popular up and down the coast thanks to both their tax-free status and their impressive engineering.

Danang is a coastal city located in central Vietnam, 770 km from Hanoi and 850 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Danang is the fourth largest city in Vietnam. It is a big city, modern and animated.

Vietnam is a very long country and transport is very tiring. Thus, Danang is a full-fledged destination for many tourists who wish to visit this region. Danang International Airport provides direct flights to central Vietnam from abroad. There are direct flights from Malaysia for example.

Many tourists choose to spend only 4 days and 3 nights in Danang, which is enough to visit the main destinations of central Vietnam. We will describe here an itinerary to follow if you choose to spend 4 days and 3 nights in Danang.

The nearest and best known cities around Danang are Hoi An and Hue. These cities are easily accessible from Danang. Hoi An is only 45 minutes far from downtown Danang and it takes about 3 hours to reach Hue from Danang.

The interest of spending 4 days in Danang is to be able to take a rest at the edge of the sea while discovering landscapes and magnificent cities. The center of Vietnam is the ideal region to go for a weekend with friends or family. There are many attractions in this part of Vietnam.

Best 4 days Danang itinerary

With only 4 days in Danang, it is better not to waste too much time on arrival at Danang Airport and choose immediately where you want to spend the most of your time.

Be aware that Hoi An is only 45 minutes drive from the airport and is a much nicer place than Danang. Therefore, we recommend that you should spend more time in Hoi An than in Danang.

Here is the itinerary we recommend for a 4 days stay in Central Vietnam :

Day 1 : Danang arrival – transfer to Hoi An, overnight in Hoi An
Day 2 : Hoi An – Cam Thanh basket boats or My Son sanctuary, overnight in Hoi An
Day 3 : Hoi An – Ba Na Hills, overnight in Danang
Day 4 : Danang departure

Upon arrival, you can take a taxi from the airport to reach your hotel in Hoi An. The price of the race costs around US $ 15 (360,000 VND) which is not excessive.

In Hoi An, it is better to book a hotel near the old town. Indeed, you will be able to easily visit the city with its atypical and authentic architecture. Also, you will be close to restaurants and other shops. In the evening, it is very pleasant to walk along the river and go for a walk at the night market. You should not miss the famous Hoi An Lantern Festival once a month.

Some people choose to book a hotel near the sea. This is another possibility. Know that hotels by the sea are often quite expensive and the beach is about 6 km from the old town. It is therefore necessary to take a taxi to visit the old town of Hoi An. Some hotels offer free shuttle services but these services are not always very convenient.

The second day, you can choose to visit the village of Cam Thanh with its famous basket boats. Group excursions are not very expensive. This little boat trip on the river is very nice and will allow you to learn more about traditional fishing techniques. The rowers master their boats very well and will make some demonstrations. Hang in there!

If you are interested in the history of Vietnam, the archaeological site of My Son is not to be missed in this region. My Son temples were built from the 4th century under the reign of King Bhadravaman, until late 13th century, and early 14th century under the reign of King Jaya Simhavaman III (Che Man). My Son used to be a group of more than 70 temple towers. Each temple has a typical architecture which reflects a historical stage of the Champa kingdoms. Most of the architecture and sculptures were influenced by Indian culture. Most of the temples point to the East, the sun direction. Champa people thought that the East was the place where the gods lived.

On the third day, you can leave Hoi An to go to Ba Na Hills. The most popular theme park in Vietnam is about an hour and a half drive from Hoi An.

Ba Na Hills is a must for most tourists visiting Danang. Ba Na Hills Station is a hill station and resort located on the Trường Sơn Mountains in Da Nang, central Vietnam. The station, advertised as “the Da Lat of Danang province” by local tourism authorities, was founded in 1919 by French colonists. Linh Ung Pagodais located near the station, with a cable car to carry tourists to and from the resort. The Ba Na Cable Car, opened on March 29, 2013, holds the world record for longest non-stop single track cable car at 5801 meters in length. During your visit to Ba Na Hills, you should not miss the famous Golden Bridge for a memorable selfie. To learn more about Ba Na Hills, read our article here. Note that on weekends, there are often a lot of people at Ba Na Hills. The weekends are therefore to be avoided as far as possible for your visit.

Finally, after visiting Ba Na Hills, the end of your 4 days Danang itinerary will approach. It will be time to return to Danang which is 45 minutes drive from Ba Na Hills. You can choose to spend the night in the city to admire the Dragon Bridge and go to the night market or choose to spend the evening on one of the most beautiful beach of Vietnam My Khe Beach. Note that the beach is pretty far from downtown. So you have to make a choice here.

The next day you will be just 20 minutes from Danang Airport for your return flight. We hope that with our advice you will have a pleasant stay of 4 days and 3 nights in Danang.

Best time for a 4 days Danang trip

The choice of the best period is essential for a pleasant stay in Danang.

The rainy season runs from September to December. It’s the wrong time to visit Danang.

From June to August, Danang is very hot and there are many local tourists. Ba Na Hills will be much crowded during this period.

The best time for a 4 days Danang itinerary is from January to May. During this period, it is not too hot and the weather is dry. The weather is ideal to enjoy the city of Hoi An or go to Ba Na Hills.

To learn more about the best time to visit Danang, feel free to read our article here.

When you arrive in Danang, you will discover the official Vietnamese currency which is the Vietnam Dong. The first question that people ask when they arrive at the airport is where to exchange money in Danang.

Don’t worry, Dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Vietnam for everyday purchases.

Euros are not used at all in everyday life, but are accepted in some hotels and on arrival at the airport to pay your visa if you chose this option.

However, paying in foreign currency is not always advisable because the conversion of dong into foreign currency in small establishments is sometimes at your disadvantage. In daily expenses, it is convenient to always have dongs on you but where to exchange money when you arrive in Danang ?

There are 500d, 1000d, 2000d, 5000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d, 200,000d, 500,000d notes.

Apart from US Dollars, many banks in Vietnam still exchange VND for these foreign currencies:

• Australian Dollar: 1 AUD ≈ 17,000 VND
• British Pound: 1 GBP ≈ 29,000
• Euro: 1 EUR ≈ 25,000 VND
• Canadian Dollar: 1 CAD ≈ 16,000 VND
• Japanese Yen: 1 JPY ≈ 200 VND
• Singaporean Dollar: 1 SGD ≈ 16,000 VND
• Taiwanese Dollar: 1 TWD ≈ 500 VND
• Hong Kong Dollar: 1 HKD ≈ 3,000 VND
• Swiss Franc: 1 CHF ≈ 22,000 VND
• New Zealand Dollars: 1 NZD ≈ 15,000 VND
• Thai : 1 THB ≈ 700 VND

You can easily convert to dongs upon arrival at the airport, banks, exchange offices or jewelers.

Visa, MasterCard, American Express … are widely accepted in most hotels, major cities and many tourist centers. Payments by credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club) are accepted in some large shops, hotels, shopping centers… As for traveler’s checks, they are exchanged only in the authorized banks.

Where to Exchange Money in Danang

Exchange money at Danang international airport

The international airport of Danang is the easiest and most convenient way.

This way is not always encouraged as the exchange rate is very high or you will be charged a large transaction fee. You are just advised to use it if you are in hurry.

Exchange money at Danang’s local banks

Certainly, the safest way to exchange your money is at a local bank, you can easily find out when moving towards the downtown area.

Vietcombank run by the government can help you convert into the dong from the following currencies:

• USD
• Thai Baht
• Euro
• British Pound Sterling
• Japanese Yen
• Australian
• Hong Kong
• Canadian
• Singaporean Dollars

Although using bank services is the safest approach for this converting, there is something annoying you, e.g. the bank will require you to fill out a form along with showing your passport.

It is important that you should keep your paper notes carefully because any torn or damaged will not be accepted.

Vietnamese banks agree to exchange foreign currencies in cash, traveler’s checks (a 1% to 3% charge applies) and credit cards (Visa Card, Master Card, American Express). In some cases, you must show a piece of identification. Keep in mind that exchanging currency and travelers’ checks are not always available in small towns.

Banks in Danang are open from Monday to Friday, from 7:20 to 11:20 and from 13:20 to 17:00. At some big branches of the bank, they also serve you on Saturday morning.

Here is the list of all the banks in Danang. You will find easily the closest bank near your hotel in order to exhange money in Danang :

Foreign Trade Bank of Vietnam, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 140 – 142 Le Loi Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3.822110

Investment and Development Bank of Vietnam, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 90 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.821703/824496/837602
• Fax: 05113.827693
• E-mail: danang@bidv.com.vn

Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (Agribank), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 23 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Danang City, , Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.821168/812151
• Fax: 05113.823495

VID PUBLIC Bank, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 02 Tran Phu Street, Hai Chau District, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3.826801/826802
• Fax: 0511.3.826800

Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 16 Thai Phien Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.897806/897886/897963
• Fax: 05113.897883
• Website: http://www.acbbank.com.vn

Vietnam Technological Commercial Bank (Techcombank), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 244 – 248 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.655118/655119/650775
• Fax: 05113.655455
• Email: admin@tcb.dng.com.vn

Vietnam Trade Joint – Stock Bank for Private Enterprises (VP Bank), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 112 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.835090/835092/821186
• Fax: 05113.835065

State Bank in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 01 Yen Bay Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.821128
• Email: ngahadana@dng.vnn.vn

Industry and Commerce Bank (Incombank), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 172 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.822158/ 821823 / 821993
• Fax: 05113.825528
• Email: Danaicb@dng.vnn.vn

Danang Trade Joint – Stock Bank, Vietnam

• Add: Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Hoa Tho Commune, Hoa Vang District, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: (84.05113) 672368/ 672369
• Fax: (84.05113) 672369

Marine Trade Joint – Stock Bank, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 15 Le Duan Street, Hai Chau District, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.825019/ 825804
• Fax: 05113.825014

Vietnam Export and Import Joint – Stock Bank (Eximbank), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 48 Tran Phu Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 05113.830889/ 826676/826673
• Fax: 05113.826674

Social Policy Bank, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 127 Quang Trung Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511. 3887438
• Fax: 0511. 3. 892307

Viet A Commercial Joint – Stock Bank, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 33 Hung Vuong Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3.837543

East Asia Trade Joint – Stock Bank (EAB), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 51 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3.582971

Saigon Commercial Bank (Sacombank), Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 202 Hoang Dieu Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3582619

Saigon Commercial & Industrial Bank , Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 169-171 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3 652491

Phuong Nam Trade Joint – Stock Bank, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 337 Le Duan Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3 893420

Orient Bank, Trung Viet Branch in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 05 Dong Da Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3.887899

Military Trade Joint – Stock Bank, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 54 Dien Bien Phu Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3.257999

Bank for dwelling development in Delta Mekong, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 129 Le Loi Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3817840

International Trade Joint – Stock Bank, Danang Branch, Danang city, Vietnam

• Add: 189-193 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Danang City, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3.653171

The Mekong Delta House development Bank in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add 1 : 278C Trung Nu Vuong street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511.3552997
• Add 2 : 439 Hoang Dieu street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511.3552861

Branch of Saigon – Hanoi Commercial Bank in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add : 89- 91 Nguyen Van Linh street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511.3584599

Branch of Nam Viet Commercial Bank in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add : 46 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511. 3584846

Branch of Hoang Hai Commercial Bank in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add : 222 Hoang Dieu strret, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511. 3584996

Representative office of agricultural and rural development Bank in Central Vietnam in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add : 228 2/9 street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3622607

Branch of social policy Bank, Thanh Khe branch in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add : 106 Thai Thi Boi street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel: 0511.3648899

Branch of agricultural and rural development Bank, Hai Chau branch in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add : 392 Nui Thanh street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511. 3642384

Branch of Dong A commercial Bank in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add 1: 112 Ong Ich Khiem street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511.3531687
• Add 2 : 260 Dong Da street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511.3531847
• Add 3 : 88 Dong Da street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511.3540636

Branch of An Binh commercial Bank in Danang city, Vietnam

• Add : 174 Nguyen Van Linh street, Danang city, Vietnam
• Tel : 0511.3225263
• 0511.3225265

Exchange money at Danang’s jewelers

There are not as many jewelers in Danang as in Hanoi but you can find some in the center of the city.

They can also exchange money with a better rate than the banks or at Danang international airport.

Get money at the ATM

ATM machine Distributors are everywhere in Danang. These machines accept cards: VISA or MASTER CARD: withdrawal of money in cash up to the availabilities of the account. 3% bank charges. 

Other tips

Bear in mind that paying by credit card is not common in Vietnam, and especially in rural areas, so be interested in how to exchange currency when you arrive in Danang.

If there are still some dongs left after the trip, make sure you should exchange them before leaving as it is very difficult to do that in your country or some regions in the world.

Hoi An Night Market may seem like a whole new world. It’s easy to be swept away by all the smells, people, noises and unidentifiable foods served on rice cakes.

A visit to the night market is a living experience for families, couples, buyers and photographers. Children also love this night market, given its many lights, toys and music.

Where to find the Hoi An Night Market ?

The official Hoi An Night Market is located on Hoi An Island, opposite the Japanese Bridge, Nguyen Hoang Street.

The street is illuminated by hundreds of colorful lanterns, animated by a life and a frenetic activity! Every evening from 17h to 22h, vendors line up in three rows, forming two main aisles in which visitors can walk.

The two outer rows (left and right) are lined with food stalls. The middle row consists of stalls selling local souvenirs.

What to see at the Hoi An Night Market ?

The 300-meter long street, home to Hoi An‘s official night market, is home to more than 50 vendors selling many different of local snacks, crafts, souvenirs, trinkets, clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories. If you have already been in a night market in Vietnam, you will not be lost !

It is good to know that most of the time, the first stands are more expensive so head towards to the end of the market to do good business. You will negociate better prices at the end of the night market.

What to eat at Hoi An Night Market ?

If you have never been to Vietnam, this is the place where you can taste some Vietnamese snacks. In the first stands, you will find Vietnamese pizza, skewers of meat, glutinous rice with grilled banana, coconut cake, etc …

Prices are around 30,000 vnd for most of the dishes. This is a good way to taste dishes that you will not find in your hometown.

After the first stands, you will find others with all the specialties of Hoi An on the market such as Cao Lau or Mi Quang. As before, the prices are standard and it will not exceed 30,000 vnd.

There is also a popular ice stand. His specialty is making ice cream with sweetened condensed milk (the same as in Vietnamese milk coffee). The ice cream is spread on an iced metal plate, chopped and served rolled up. A show in itself that you should not miss !

Hoi An Lanterns market place

Without a doubt, the highlight of the market, both esthetically and for shopping, is its lantern corner.

From the beginning of the market, you will find five stands offering lanterns of all kinds of shapes, sizes, colors and patterns. Sellers typically charge VND 20,000 ($ 0.90) for a photo in front of their stores.

If you buy lanterns at the store, this cost will probably be canceled if you settle with your new purchase.

It is also a good Instagram spot in Hoi An and you will see many tourists taking in the walls of lanterns. This is the best place to buy a lantern in Hoi An.

Here, the price of a lantern should not exceed 100,000 vnd.

Opening hours of Hoi An Night Market

For those who prefer to come to the market without the crowds, the best time to visit is just before sunset.

Most sellers arrive around 5 pm, but people do not really start until 6 pm For those who do not have a problem with the crowd, the busiest time is from 18:30 to 20:30.

After 21 hours, the number of people is significantly reduced and the owners of food stands move their carts closer to the market entrance to attract new customers. Most stands close around 10pm.

The second Night Market in Hoi An

A second night market opened in Hoi An in 2018 and occupies Tran Quy Cape and Bach Dang Streets near the Central Market. Do not confuse it with the Hoi An Night Market.

They offer more or less the same products as the first night market.

Good point, There are a lot less people. This makes it an easier alternative for strolling and shopping than the official, more crowded night market.

On Bach Dang Street, you will find a few food stalls.

The major disadvantage is that there is no Lantern market that makes a difference.