6 budget-friendly things to do in Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang is a central Vietnam city by the beach that is a popular vacation destination for locals and a very budget-friendly location for travelers. This city by the beach isn’t the most interesting city in all of Vietnam, but it was a great digital nomad location to chill by the beach and work from cute coffee shops. 

With that being said, if you look up Vietnam on Google images, you’ll probably see two of the coolest bridges in the world, and they are both located in Da Nang.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly city to explore, definitely check out Da Nang, Vietnam.

Below, I name a few of my favorite budget-friendly things to do in Da Nang.

---

6 budget-friendly things to do

in Da Nang

1. Check out the fire-breathing dragon bridge

The dragon bridge can be enjoyed any day at any time since it’s always open for transit as it connects the beach side of Da Nang to the city side. But the fire show only happens around 9 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Be sure to arrive at least 10-15 minutes before it starts to get a good spot, and have your camera ready.

Luckily, the dragon breathes fire (and afterward breathes water) around 3 times starting at 9 pm. The whole spectacle lasts for about 20-30 minutes. And afterward (or before the show starts) you can enjoy the nearby local street market.

2. Spend a few hours at the beach

Da Nang is on the west side of Vietnam and by the coast, so you can enjoy a long stretch of beach. My favorite beach area is called My An beach. Along the beach, there are plenty of seaside bars and restaurants, beach beds and umbrellas, and you can even walk around with a can of beer to cool down from the heat. 

3. Take a mid-day trip to Marble Mountain

Around 10 – 15 minutes away from the My An beach area (by car), you can visit a pretty cool marble mountain. Once you arrive, take the elevator up (for around $0.70 USD per person), or take the stairs (free) to enjoy the many temples and caves on top of the mountain and the views of the city and beach from a few viewpoints. This area is also perfect to get a marble souvenir to take home. 

4. Spend the day at Sun World in Ba Na Hill

This theme park on top of a mountain is definitely a fun activity to add to your itinerary. For around $35 USD per person, not only do you get to the park through a 20-minute long cable car with an amazing view, but this is where you can see the hand bridge, known as the Golden Bridge, in person. The park itself is very charming with lots of European influences. But the highlight is definitely the Golden Bridge.

To get to Sun World in Ba Na Hill from Da Nang, which is about an hour away, I recommend booking a grab taxi for around $15 USD each way. You could also book a Tripadvisor or Klook tour to take you there and back for around the same price. 

5. Visit Hoi An

Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site city around 40 minutes away from Da Nang. This adorable city in central Vietnam has a very picturesque old town that still looks like it did 500 years ago and it’s full of classic Vietnamese lanterns, local shops, quaint restaurants, beautiful bridges, and even a river you can explore by hopping on a boat for a few minutes.

While in Hoi An, I recommend getting a few custom-made clothing items because Hoi An is known for its textile industry. Here you can get tailor-made clothes and shoes for a super affordable price. You can choose the design and the fabric, get your measurements, and receive your one-of-a-kind items in less than 24 hours. Talk about a unique and actually useful souvenir!

6. Take a short ride to Chua Linh Ung temple

This temple on the Son Tra Peninsula can be seen from Da Nang’s beaches and is very impressive up close. Here you’ll find the outstanding 220-feet-tall white Lady Buddha statue, which is the tallest one in Vietnam. It’s totally free to enjoy this temple and it offers a panoramic view of Da Nang.

---

Learn more about Vietnam with this related blog post.