You’ve To Visit Hoi An, Hue & Da Nang On This Itinerary: Food, Culture & Nature

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The ancient streets, the coffee culture, the beaches and cuisines are what made me fall in love with this part of Vietnam.

After hitting the big towns and major cities like Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, this was a welcome pace that I much appreciated.

Everything was walkable or bicycle-friendly as you visit nooks and crannies of every street and imagine what life was like for them in the heydays when it was a trading port.

The shady alleys and the side street were the perfect escape to hunt for that bowl of noodles. What was interesting is also how these two cities are being recognised in today’s times.

here’s an itinerary of da nang, hoi an and hue

Da Nang, a coastal city was once the host to a U.S. air base during the Vietnam war — the city is now and up and coming destination in its own right. It is the fourth most populous city and you’ll see the contrast between modern skyscrapers and fishermen on the other end rowing most evenings to catch their prawns and squids for the day!

For Hoi An, just 29km away from Da Nang is a UNESCO heritage town. Sure, it is touristy and there are plenty of tourist traps with its yellow tinge walls and post-card-worthy cute streets.

But moving further, while cruising past buffaloes and wheelbarrows, you’ll see remnants of the past and explore paddy fields where locals try and source sustainable materials for the country’s rice bowl.

Here’s an off-the-beaten-path itinerary for those who have about 3 to 6 days to spend in Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang.

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A Complete Itinerary for Hoi An, Hue & Da Nang

1. Day One: Da Nang, soaking in the city

the beaches of da nang - soft sandy beaches!

Lesser known and way less crowded than Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and away from the concrete jungle is where Da Nang lies.

Da Nang has even become an up and coming Digital Nomad destination without all the frills, crowd and pollution of other islands in southeast asia. The street culture is very much alive and not to forget its 35km long coastline all the way from Hai Van pass to Non Nuoc making it the perfect stop.

The best way to explore Da Nang on the first day is to explore its beaches. The most popular beaches to visit are My Khe Beach, Non Nuoc Beach, and Lang Co Beach.

My Khe Beach and Non Nuoc Beach are two fantastic options that offer soft, golden sands and warm, crystal-clear waters.’

amazing bun cha in da nang

I was famished after all that beach walking and saved the best meal for dinner by having the best Bun Cha in the town. Tonkin Bún Chả - Nguyễn Công Trứ!

This shop serves the best local delight where the grilled meat patty and pork are added into a cold broth. With some lime, garlic and chilli to elevate the tangy flavour and the fresh leafy vegetables in, you have the most delicate and tropical flavours!

2. Day Two: Son Tra Peninsula & Marble Mountains

son tra peninsula - look at those roads in da nang

cycling in son tra peninsula with views of da nang’s coastline

There’s not a lot of touristy things to do in Da Nang and the most popular Da Nang activities are usually Marble Mountains/Ba Na Hills in which you can spread out these sights depending on how you like to travel and do too many things or be selective.

With bicycles almost everywhere and not too many vehicles, we decided to just use our hotel mountain bikes and cycle all the way up to Son Tra Peninsular which was a 36km ride. You could opt to take a car which is just 20 minutes away or do the more adventurous route which ofcourse I had to (imagine scenic coastlines + awesome 25-degree weather!)

the pagoda in son tra peninsula

You can stop at Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda and continue cycling to the end of the road. This pagoda is renowned for its stunning architecture, picturesque setting, and its association with the Lady Buddha, also known as the Goddess of Mercy, or Quan Am in Vietnamese.

It was unfortunate that there was a landslide that day and the roads were closed but otherwise you’d be able to see a lot of historic points along the way like the giant banyan tree. During the Vietnam war, Son Tra mountain was known as “The Monkey Mountain” by Americans due to multiple monkey sightings.

views of da nang coastline in son tra peninsular

We loved the views, the coconut juice at the end and also the endless stops by these cliffs with a light cool breeze. Sure, there were some steep gradients but we took it as slow as we wanted while admiring these coastlines that could rival places like Hawaii.

After that sweaty cycling affair and back to the city, it was time to visit another interesting feature like the Marble Mountains. No cycling was required here but taking a grab taxi was convenient enough! The Marble Mountains are a series of five marble and limestone hills that offer stunning views of the surrounding area.

You can climb to the top of the mountains, explore the caves and pagodas, and shop for local crafts at the base of the hills. That’s what we did and it was a nice climb to take in the view. Be sure to wear good shoes with grips!

There’s plenty of things to see inside including shrines and carvings in the walls. There were a lot of steep, steep stairs to viewpoints so take these routes at your own risk. It shuts at 5pm so going during lunchtime or in the afternoon is perfectly fine but do be mindful of the heat and afternoon sun.

Day 3: Ba Na Hills + Hai Van Pass

ba na na hills in da nang

Instagram and most touristy brochures are all about the Ba Na Hills with that giant palms out holding the Golden Bridge.

About 1500 metres above sea level, it is a popular day trip from Da Nang, about a 45-minute drive. It was established by French colonists as a hill station in 1919 to avoid the heat in the delta and for recreational activities.

CNN even ranked this infrastructure among the 10 most impressive cable-car systems in the world, and it's won more than one Guinness World Record.

But what’s worth checking out? I would say it’s worth checking out only if you have time and if you’re not into disneyfied spots — it is almost a cross between a French Village setting and Buddhist mountain retreat.

The French village has tons of restaurants and acts as the central hub for the uppermost section of the resort from walkways to the furnicular.

The best way is to pre-book your driver and go on the tour because it makes it way more cheaper and affordable to get there.

Day 4: Day Trip to Hue over Hai Van Pass

over the hai van pass en route to hue

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From tombs to history and temples all over, Hue could be the perfect day trip from Da Nang. The route takes you over the Hai Van pass as you get to stop at various scenic points.

The Imperial City, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, was the political and cultural center of the Nguyen Dynasty, and its sprawling grounds are filled with stunning architecture and intricate design details

on my trusty grab driver riding pillion

The perfect way to get here is on an amazing guided day trip that’ll be able to drop you off at Hoi An at the end of it. You get to visit the imperial city, explore the royal tombs, and try its incredible cuisine. Hue is known for its delicious cuisine, which features plenty of fresh seafood, spicy noodles, and savory soups

Day 5: Hoi An: Amongst the Paddy Fields

the charming old town of hoi an

Pagodas, paddy fields and traditional houses that dates back to the 15th century couple with cute and lantern-filled streets built for bicycles, this is the old-world charm of Hoi An.

Hoi An's unique fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences is a living testament to the area's historical importance.

Strolling along the lantern-lit lanes, you'll feel like you've stepped into a painting from a forgotten era.

The best way to explore Hoi An is grab your bicycles and coast away on a cafe. Every hotel or guesthouse provides these bikes which makes it perfect to explore.

This is also the perfect town to dabble in lantern making, a craft that is dedicated to its local heritage.

views of these stunning paddy fields while cycling

the cafe scene in hoi an, vietnam — this is at rosie’s cafe

We went out of the Old Town and discovered this amazing Beatles cafe filled with old books and great Vietnamese drip coffee Nha Hang. This is a great starting point to explore the various paddy fields. You could opt for a tour too if you’re with a family or a small group.

The next best thing to do is explore the cafe scene. There are countless cafes and no shortage of them in Old Town where you people watch, spend some hours sipping the best coconut coffee with a side of banh mi. Their best cafes are Cộng Cafe, Rosie’s cafe and Phin Coffee & Restaurant.

Day 6: Market Tour, Basket Boat Ride & Cooking Class

basket boat ride in hoi an

Go on an eco-friendly Hoi An Coconut Tour Market Tour, Basket Boat Ride and Cooking Class: Based on raved reviews, you get to visit a local market, explore a coconut palm forest by bamboo basket boat, and take part in a hands-on cooking class.

In the evening, you could continue your cycling escapades and cycle to An Bang Beach and Bãi biển Cửa Đại beach: This is a great place to take in the views and also see the small fishing villages along the way.

An Bang beach can feel really touristy and not to forget the touts that keep telling you to buy — I found the quiet Bai Bien Cua Dai beach to be better.

Where to Stay in Da Nang, Hue & Hoi An?

where to stay in da nang, hoi an and hue

Where to stay in Da Nang

  • Intercontinental Hotel: Perched on a private bay overlooking Son Tra Peninsula, honestly this is really luxurious and the absolute treat if you’re looking for a retreat with daily tai chi classes and massages.

  • Minh House: Really nice place to stay in Danang that’s close to all the places to visit!

  • The Dream Suite: Amazing value for money with good quality bicycles for rent!

  • Bare Han - Boutique Stays: Gorgeous place as well!

Where to stay in Hue

Where to stay in Hoi An

How To Get Around Between Da Nang, Hue & Hoi An

The best way to get to Da Nang is to book your buses here. You mostly get a sleeper bus and it’s quite a comfortable journey as long as you break it up.

From Da Nang to Hoi An, it’s fairly easy to get a grab ride for $10.

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