Walking in the Beautiful Da Nang Beach vietnam Early Time
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SHARES
When it comes to travel, each destination is ultimately known best for one thing. Whether it’s Pisa’s Leaning Tower, Sydney’s Opera House, or the spring cherry blossoms of Japan, there seems to be one iconic visual or experience to associate with each city and region. From my view, the coastal city of Da Nang located in central Vietnam is good for one thing and one thing only; Its beaches. Okay, perhaps two; It has an international airport that provides convenient transit to many other Vietnamese destinations. While some may consider this appraisal somewhat harsh, after three nights in Da Nang I’m confident in my assessment. If you’re considering travelling to or through Da Nang, it’s worth reading on.
Da Nang is a city of bridges, growing rapidly with resort construction trying to redefine itself from transit hub to destination. The imperial city of Hue, rich with political history is a two hour drive North. In the other direction, the cultural gem of Hoi An is only 40 minutes South. Both are notable travel destinations, which absolutely merit a visit. Da Nang’s one million residents and hotel construction boom are left somewhere in an awkward middle ground. Though boasting a few temples and government buildings, some modern bridges and the beautiful Marble Mountains nearby, nothing really puts it on the international map so to say. That leaves the beaches, which, for as much as I sound like a negative Nancy, are actually quite striking.
Da Nang Travel Guide Beach
Da Nang: A Beach Bum’s Paradise
Da Nang has 92 kilometres of coastline. There are roughly three separate beach areas of varying popularity and features:
The North part of Da Nang includes Xuan Thieu Beach (Red Beach) and Thanh Binh Beach (one kilometre long) facing Da Nang Bay. Both are offer incredible white sand, blue water and fewer tourists, but also lack many facilities. Best to prep your picnic basket or cooler for the day.
The Son Tra Area encompasses the eastern mountainous peninsula that divides the south and north areas of the city’s coastline. It includes smaller, near empty, albeit sometimes rockier, beaches such as Bai Con, Bai Nam, Bai Bac, Bai But, Bai Rang, and Tien Sa Beach. Day trips here are usually combined with visits to Linh Ung Pagoda or up to the top of Monkey Mountain to take in the view over the region. If you consider yourself a bird watcher, nature lover or fisherman, this is where you want to be.
The South part of Da Nang (actually across the Hàn River to the east of the downtown) encompasses Pham van Dong Beach, My Khe Beach, Bac My An Beach and finally, Non Nuoc Beach (China Beach) at the southernmost end. Collectively they span an impressive 30 kilometres, are in closest proximity to most accommodation in the city as well as beachfront dining options. Therefore it’s the busiest, but for the stretches of private beach in front of resorts along Non Nuoc.
The southern beaches are being transformed by a growing row of five star resorts. In December 2016, Four Seasons took over The Nam Hai, a 100 villa resort between Da Nang and Hoi An. Wyndham is constructing a 57 story condo-hotel complex set to open in 2018 that will house the tallest buildings in the city, bar none. Sheraton, Ariyana Beach Resort & Suites, and a half dozen other developments are also under construction, soon to call Da Nang home. They will join the existing Furama Resort Danang, Pullman Danang Beach Resort, and Hyatt Regency Danang Resort, among others, already situated on Non Nuoc. Then there’s the over 500 room Crowne Plaza Danang and InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. Starting to understand? This very likely represents the greatest density of high end beach resorts anywhere in Vietnam. And they have all pretty much opened in the past six years.
Ultimately, if you consider yourself a bit of a beach bum, or are looking to take a high class break from flashpacking around Vietnam, this just might be your perfect weekend getaway. The beaches all get top marks for cleanliness, though the strong surf and resulting rip current of the South China Sea may make swimming in some areas a risky exercise. Whether you opt for the public stretches of beach or the private resort areas, plenty of lounge chair options abound. Not to mention the ability to enjoy a cold drink or two by the seaside. While scuba diving around nearby Chàm Islands is an option, it’s not the best Southeast Asia has to offer. There are a few options for jet ski rentals and the like, but broadly speaking, Da Nang is beaches, and beaches alone.