Day Trips from Da Nang: Hoi An, My Son, Hue

Da Nang sits within reach of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, none of which are in the city itself. Hoi An, My Son and Hue all work as day trips, and Ba Na Hills fills out a fourth easy option. Every route below is by road or rail, with prices in Vietnamese dong (VND) that are approximate and worth checking before you travel.

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An is about 30 km south, roughly 45 minutes by road. A private Grab car one way costs about 300,000 to 400,000 VND, and taxis or a motorbike are the alternatives. The Ancient Town heritage ticket is about 120,000 VND and covers five historic sites. Expect yellow shophouses, the Japanese Covered Bridge and pedestrian streets lit by lanterns after dark, which makes late afternoon into evening the best window. Cham Islands boat tours also leave from the Cua Dai pier near Hoi An (see below).

My Son Sanctuary

My Son is about 70 km southwest and takes 1.5 to 2 hours each way. The red-brick Champa temples, many dedicated to Shiva, stand in a forested valley. Admission is about 150,000 VND and includes an electric shuttle from the entrance and a Cham dance performance. Opening details are on the My Son Sanctuary site . A private day tour combining My Son with the Marble Mountains, with car and English-speaking guide, runs about 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 VND.

Hue Imperial City

Hue is about 100 km north and takes around 2.5 hours. The Nguyen Dynasty citadel, the Forbidden Purple City and the royal tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh are the main stops. It is a long day, so decide early whether to go by car, by train along the coast or on a Hai Van Pass tour. An open-top jeep or Easy Rider motorbike tour across the pass costs about 1,300,000 to 1,800,000 VND per rider.

Hai Van Pass

The Ocean Cloud Pass is a 21 km mountain road on National Route 1A that climbs to 496 metres. Along it are old wartime bunkers and views over Lang Co bay. Fog, wet roads and landslides after heavy rain are the main hazards, and riders should use low gear on descents.

Cham Islands

The Cu Lao Cham archipelago is a biosphere reserve, reached by speedboat from Cua Dai pier. Day tours with coral snorkelling and a seafood lunch usually cost about 450,000 to 950,000 VND, with the upper end for private or premium boats. From September to December the sea is rough, so confirm that boats are running.

Ba Na Hills

The resort is about 45 minutes west of the city, with an all-inclusive adult ticket of about 1,000,000 VND. Treat it as a built attraction with cable cars, the Golden Bridge and a French-themed village. Heavy rain can stop the cable cars.

Planning tips

  • Pick one major trip per day. Hue and My Son each eat most of a day.
  • March to August gives the most reliable weather. Storm season from September to December, peaking in October and November, can wash out plans.
  • Hoi An, My Son and Hue are all reached over land, by taxi, Grab, tour bus, motorbike or (for Hue) train.

Read more: the multi-day trips guide strings these stops into a four-day loop, and the family friendly activities guide helps if you are travelling with children. Compare Da Nang day trip options on Viator .