Da Nang: 2-Day Itinerary
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Two days is enough for a real taste of Da Nang, one day in the city and on the beach, one day out to Hoi An, but not enough for Ba Na Hills as well without rushing. If you have a third day, our 3-day itinerary adds it in properly.
Day 1: Beach, Marble Mountains, and the Dragon Bridge
Start at My Khe Beach in the morning, before 8am if you can manage the jet lag, when the roughly 9km stretch of sand is close to empty and the fishermen’s round basket boats are still out. This is the beach the war-era nickname “China Beach” refers to; today it’s a modern city beach lined with cafes rather than a solemn site.
Grab a taxi or Grab south to the Marble Mountains after breakfast, about 8-10km, roughly 40,000-70,000 VND ($1.50-$2.70, verify) by Grab. Entry runs about 40,000 VND, with an elevator up Thuy Son for around 15,000-30,000 VND one-way or return if you’d rather skip the 156-step staircase (verify current pricing). Huyen Khong Cave, the largest cave here, is worth timing for late morning, when its natural skylight lights up the Buddha statue inside.
In the afternoon, head back into the city and visit the Cham Museum, which holds the world’s largest collection of Cham sculpture, roughly 40,000 VND entry. In the evening, walk the Han River promenade to the Dragon Bridge; if it’s a Saturday or Sunday, the bridge breathes fire and then water around 9pm (verify the current schedule). Dinner should be Mi Quang, Da Nang’s true signature dish, wide turmeric noodles with shrimp, pork, and herbs, available at street stalls for a small sum in VND near Han Market.
Tip: book your hotel in the My Khe/An Thuong beach strip for day 1, it puts the beach, dinner, and the walk to the river all within a short Grab ride or a walk.
Day 2: Hoi An, UNESCO’s closest site to Da Nang
Hoi An Ancient Town sits about 28-30km south of Da Nang, 25-45 minutes by Grab depending on traffic, running roughly 250,000-350,000 VND ($10-$13.50) one way (verify, prices move with demand). It’s the day trip most travelers wish they’d given more time to, so start early and plan on the full day rather than a rushed half-day.
The old town’s entry ticket covers several sites, including the Japanese Covered Bridge and the old merchant houses, and it’s genuinely worth the wander through the lantern-lit streets, especially in the late afternoon as shops start lighting up ahead of dusk. Have lunch somewhere in the old town rather than rushing back, cao lau, Hoi An’s own noodle dish, is worth trying here specifically since locals attribute its texture to the town’s well water.
Return to Da Nang by early evening; if your flight isn’t until the next day, a last dinner back on the My Khe beach strip is a relaxed way to close the trip.
Tip: agree on a return Grab pickup time with your driver before you start wandering Hoi An’s pedestrian-only core, cell signal and street names inside the old town can make booking a fresh ride mid-visit slower than planning ahead.
Getting around both days
Grab is the default for both days; no metro exists in Da Nang. If you’d rather not deal with app-based rides for the Hoi An leg, a private car or small group tour is a reasonable, similarly priced alternative that also means no rideshare-app hunting once you’re in Hoi An’s old town.
Read more: our full Da Nang guide covers visas, safety, and where to stay in more depth if two days turns into more.