12 Things to Do in Da Nang, Vietnam in 3 Days

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Vietnam is an incredible country that has a way of getting under travelers’ skin. While similar to its southeast Asian neighbors in certain regards, the flavors, landscape, and culture is unlike anywhere I’ve experienced elsewhere.

After traveling throughout the country for a month, my husband and I, both long-time nomads, decided to move to this hot and welcoming country. What we thought would last for a year quickly turned to three.

We spent the first year living in Ho Chi Minh City but really settled into a fantastic lifestyle once we moved to the coastal city of Da Nang.

Da Nang is easily one of my favorite places in the world. The mix of urban amenities with incredible nature gives it the perfect balance that you don’t usually see in cities with over 1 million residents.

So, while I’ll certainly try and convince you to give living in Da Nang a go, if you only have time for a 3-day visit, you’re still in for a treat.

Here are the best things to do in Da Nang in 3 days.

Day 1 in Da Nang

Arriving in Da Nang is super easy.

The international airport is located right in the city so getting to your accommodation once you arrive shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to start exploring the city from the moment you arrive. You can book a private transfer here.

Rent a Motorbike and Take Yourself for a Drive

If you’re comfortable driving a motorbike or scooter, you’ll love traversing the roads in Da Nang.

While still hectic at times, it’s not nearly as chaotic as Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. If you’re not comfortable driving, or if this is the first time you’d try it, I wouldn’t recommend you go for it on Day 1. 

Instead, download the app Grab and get a motorbike taxi. You can pick multiple points to get dropped off and just order another bike when you’re ready to move to the next stop.

The best way to see Da Nang is to drive aimlessly. The alleyways are endless and you’ll have a lot of fun simply seeing what you stumble across.

For the best self-guided tour, check out both the cityside and the beachside of Da Nang. Da Nang is intersected by the Han River and the iconic Dragon Bridge is only 1 of 7 you can use to cross it.

While you’re wandering around, be sure to stop and grab a coffee. Nowhere does coffee quite like