Da Nang travel info

Half past five in the morning on My Khe beach. The sun hasn't cleared the Son Tra peninsula yet, but a group of women from the neighbourhood are already waist-deep in the sea, deep in conversation. On the sand, old men do their group exercises, and a few round basket boats come in with the night's nets. By midday the beach belongs to resort parasols; at dawn it still belongs to the locals.

In the evening, cross to the Han River. The Dragon Bridge glows gold over the water, and at 9pm on weekend nights the dragon's head actually breathes fire and sprays water. Under the bridge, seafood stalls set out plastic stools along the riverbank, and hundreds of scooters stream past with no traffic lights to speak of. To cross the road, keep walking at the same slow pace and let the bikes flow around you.

Most Da Nang trips come in three parts: lazing at a beachfront hotel, eating mi quang and banh xeo in town, and one day forty minutes south among the lanterns of Hoi An. The airport is right on the edge of town, and Grab gets you anywhere for a few dollars. Just leave slack in your beach days from late September to December, when the rain and typhoons arrive.

Da Nang International Airport (DAD)

• Grab: About 10 min to downtown, 15–20 to My Khe, 40–50 to Hoi An · GrabCar roughly 80,000–120,000 VND to downtown, 100,000–150,000 to My Khe, 300,000–400,000 to Hoi An (surge pricing applies; the app's upfront quote is final)
• Metered taxi (Mai Linh, Vinasun, Xanh SM): About 10 min to downtown, 15–20 to My Khe, 40–50 to Hoi An · Metered. Downtown or My Khe roughly 70,000–190,000 VND (sources vary widely); Hoi An about 350,000–500,000 VND
• Hotel pickup or private transfer: 15–20 min to town or beach, 40–50 to Hoi An, no waiting · Around 250,000–400,000 VND for a sedan to town or the beach; luxury resorts charge more (InterContinental Sun Peninsula roughly 600,000–900,000). Varies by hotel; confirm when booking

• Visa: Many passports: 45 days visa-free; others e-visa
• Getting there by air: DAD airport, ~3 km from the centre
• Time zone: UTC+7
• Currency: Dong (₫); '45k' = 45,000
• Paying: Cards for Grab and hotels; cash for stalls
• Power: 220V; round and flat pins
• Language: Vietnamese; English in tourist areas
• Internet: Nothing blocked; Grab needs data
• Emergencies: Police 113 · Ambulance 115
• Best time: Feb–May; late Sep–Dec is rain/typhoons