DANANG

Busy port town is more a transport hub for Hoi An than a destination — too bad: Danang keeps it real (and the beach isn’t bad either)

Worth It? For those wanting a ‘real’ Vietnamese town, and a day or two to spare
What to Do Go to China Beach, the Marble Mountains, the Cham Museum, eat the best mi quang in Vietnam, meet people in a place less accustomed to foreign travelers
Best Time to Go Avoid rainy season October and November if you can
How Long? A day or two
Gateway Danang is a big air/train/bus hub for central Vietnam, with connections north and south
Fact During the ‘American War’ Danang’s airport was the second-busiest in the world, trailing only Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat. Before that it wrestled the port duties from Hoi An in the late 19th century, and business is still booming.

A busy port town sandwiched between UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Hoi An and Hue, Danang – poor Danang – gets passed through like a Kansas by nearly all visitors to Vietnam. It’s less historic than many cities – only dating from the late 19th century, but it has fine beaches 2km east, an interesting museum devoted to findings from area Cham sites, the pagoda-topped marble-sized Marble Mountains, and enough ‘authentic’ experiences on its street stands and river walks to make many ex-pats across Vietnam to swear it ranks up with Vietnam’s most interesting places. Few first-time visitors spend more time than a looksy at the Cham museum. But if time’s limited, you’ll survive missing it – if you have an exploratory day or two, or are on your second or third trip to Vietnam, give it a day.

See the One-Day Planner for a good day in Danang.