Located halfway up the coastal spine of Vietnam, the bubbling city of Danang is something of a microcosm of the country’s touristic experience, offering a crossroads of pearly white beaches, high rise hotels, luxurious resort complexes and curious cultural treats. This makes it the perfect stopover for those making their way through the central heartlands of the country, and a great place to enjoy classic Vietnamese city life away from the seething intensity of the capitals.
Most Danang tourist guides will recommend a trip to the curious Marble Mountain monoliths that pierce the skyline around nine kilometres from the centre of town. Here, it’s possible to climb the winding stairs of Thuy Son, where the various Hindu and Buddhist religious sites that cling to the peaks can be observed.
For sunbathers, swimmers and wind surfers, the magnificent curve of China Beach will be the perfect out-of-town trip. It lies just to the east of town and is home to many of Danang’s most laid-back bars and backpacker haunts. Elsewhere, the inner-city nightlife is fast becoming one of the best in the country, boasting a number of super clubs and plenty of those quintessential Southeast Asian bamboo bars, where beer and cocktails flow into the night.