Da Nang Flavors & Heritage: Markets, Mi Quang, Hoi An and My Son
See it in NavoyFive balanced days based in central Da Nang, with local markets, Cham heritage and plenty of regional food. You'll eat mi quang, wander Han and Con markets, and visit the Cham Museum and Marble Mountains. Day trips take you to lantern-lit Hoi An and the ancient temples of My Son. The trip ends with a hands-on mi quang cooking class and a seafood dinner by the beach.
1Riverside Markets and Cham Treasures
$28Ease in around the Han River with a morning market browse, a first bowl of mi quang, and the world's best collection of Cham sculpture. The evening is a relaxed local dinner of crispy banh xeo.
Riverside Markets and Cham Treasures
Han Market Browse
Wander the stalls near the Han River for dried seafood, local snacks, fruit and fabrics. Try banh beo or sweet che as you go and practice a little bargaining.
Mi Quang Lunch
Have your first bowl of Da Nang's signature turmeric noodles. It comes with a little rich broth, peanuts, rice crackers and fresh herbs. Squeeze lime and add chili to taste.
Museum of Cham Sculpture
See the largest collection of Cham sandstone art in the world, including altars, dancers and Hindu deities from My Son and nearby sites. An audio guide gives context that makes the later My Son visit richer.
Banh Xeo and Nem Lui Dinner
Eat sizzling banh xeo pancakes and grilled pork skewers, rolled in rice paper with herbs and dipped in rich peanut sauce. It's a classic communal local meal, and it's easy to enjoy on your own.
2Lanterns and Old Town Hoi An
$81Take a day trip to UNESCO-listed Hoi An. Explore the old town's merchant houses and eat local specialties. In the late afternoon, take a basket boat through the coconut palms, then watch the lanterns come on along the river. The timing is close to the lunar full moon, when the old town is usually at its most atmospheric.
Lanterns and Old Town Hoi An
Ride to Hoi An
Take a Grab car along the coastal road to Hoi An Old Town. The ride takes about 45 minutes.
Hoi An Ancient Town Walk
Buy the old-town ticket and walk past the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Tan Ky merchant house, assembly halls and the riverside market. Go early to avoid the heat and the crowds.
Cao Lau and Banh Mi Lunch
Try cao lau, Hoi An's chewy noodle dish with pork and greens. Follow it with a famous Hoi An banh mi for a street-food comparison.
Cam Thanh Basket Boat Ride
Ride a round basket boat through the Bay Mau coconut palm forest. The village is just outside town, and guides will show you crab catching and let you try paddling.
Riverside Dinner and Lantern Glow
Have dinner at a riverside restaurant, then set a paper lantern afloat on the Hoai River once the old town lights come on. Wander the quiet lanes after dark.
Return to Da Nang
Take a Grab car back to your base in central Da Nang. The ride takes about 45 minutes.
3Sacred Ruins of My Son
$131Leave early to reach the Cham temple complex of My Son before the heat. After lunch back in town, enjoy a massage and a relaxed evening on the Han River.
Sacred Ruins of My Son
Private Car to My Son
Book a private car and driver for the round trip, with waiting time included. The drive takes about 1 hour 30 minutes each way, and an early departure beats the heat and the tour buses.
My Son Sanctuary
Explore the brick temple towers of this UNESCO World Heritage site, built by Cham kings to honor Shiva. Hire a local guide for context, and look for the bomb craters and the small museum hall.
Bun Cha Ca Lunch
Back in Da Nang, eat a bowl of bun cha ca. It's a clear, tangy fish-cake noodle soup that locals love.
Traditional Massage
Rest after the morning's walking with a 90-minute Vietnamese massage at a well-reviewed spa in central Da Nang.
Han River Night Stroll and Salted Coffee
Walk the riverfront to the illuminated Dragon Bridge and the Love Lock Bridge. Stop at a local cafe for ca phe muoi (salted coffee) or coconut coffee.
4Marble Mountains and Street Food Night
$83Start with the caves, pagodas and stone-carving village at the Marble Mountains. After lunch, browse Con Market, where locals shop. End the day on a guided evening street food tour.
Marble Mountains and Street Food Night
Marble Mountains and Non Nuoc Stone Village
Climb or take the lift up Thuy Son, then explore Huyen Khong cave, the pagodas and the viewpoints. Afterward, watch sculptors at work in Non Nuoc village at the foot of the mountains and pick up a small carving.
Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo Lunch
Build your own rolls with rice paper, boiled pork, fresh herbs and pungent mam nem sauce. It's a Da Nang classic that's easy to eat solo.
Con Market
Browse Da Nang's biggest local market, with produce, noodle vendors, fresh herbs and an upstairs food hall of regional snacks. Ask vendors about local ingredients and taste a few things.
Evening Street Food Tour
Join a small-group tour of the stalls locals love. Expect bun mam, grilled snacks, banh canh, che desserts and more, with a guide to explain each dish.
5Son Tra Views and a Mi Quang Class
$78Start with the coastal peninsula and its pagoda. Then learn to make mi quang yourself, and finish with a seafood dinner by My Khe Beach.
Son Tra Views and a Mi Quang Class
Linh Ung Pagoda and Son Tra Peninsula
Take a taxi up to the Lady Buddha, the city's tallest statue. Walk the pagoda grounds and take in the views over the bay and Da Nang.
Banh Mi Lunch
Order a hot banh mi at one of the best-known local stands and eat it at a nearby cafe.
Mi Quang Cooking Class
Learn to make the broth, noodles, toppings and herb garnishes of mi quang with a local cook. You'll eat what you make, and you can take the recipe home.
Farewell Seafood Dinner at My Khe Beach
Pick fresh seafood from a beachside restaurant and have it grilled or steamed. Walk the sand afterward.