Lovers Bridge

Three bridges cross the Han River in central Da Nang within a few hundred metres of each other, and the Love Bridge (Cau Tinh Yeu) is not the most famous of them. The Dragon Bridge, 666 metres of fire-breathing dragon-shaped steel, holds that title. But the Love Bridge is the one couples walk slowly across at dusk, reading the names scratched into padlocks hanging from the railings, and it has developed a different kind of claim on the city than its bigger, louder neighbour.

Da Nang itself has grown faster than almost any other city in Vietnam over the past 20 years, from a quiet coastal town into a city of nearly 1.4 million people with an international airport, high-rise beach hotels, and a rapid transit network in development. The Love Bridge, which opened in 2015 on the eastern bank of the Han River, arrived in step with that growth: it is a deliberate piece of romantic infrastructure, designed for photographs and padlocks, with red heart-shaped lanterns strung along its length and views toward both the Dragon Bridge to the north and the Han River Bridge to the south. It is best visited at dusk rather than midday; the lanterns are barely visible in full daylight and the heat on an exposed riverbank at noon in July is formidable.

Dragon Bridge: What the River Is Actually Famous For

The Dragon Bridge deserves its own paragraph because most visitors to the Love Bridge also come for the Dragon Bridge fire show, and the two are naturally paired on an evening walk. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night at 9 p.m., the dragon’s head breathes fire nine times in two bursts, then switches to a three-minute water spray. The full show runs until about 9:30 p.m. Entry is free with no booking required.

The best vantage point is Tran Hung Dao Street on the west bank, directly below the dragon’s head, close enough to feel the heat and get lightly misted by the water but not so close that you lose sight of the whole structure. A Han River dinner cruise that times the route to pass under the bridge during the show is a more comfortable if more expensive option; operators selling cruises cluster along Bach Dang Street on the western riverfront.

Marble Mountains

Seven kilometres south of the Love Bridge, the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) are five limestone karst peaks named for the five elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. Each one was carved with Buddhist shrines and cave temples over centuries. The most visited, Thuy Son (Water Mountain), has a cave system with altars that predate French colonial rule by several hundred years. Entrance is about $2; an elevator is available for those who prefer not to climb the stone steps, which are slippery even when dry.

Go early. The mountains are fully exposed to the sun from mid-morning onward and the marble stairs become extremely hot. By 7:30 a.m. the site is quiet and the light through the cave ceiling openings is at its best.

Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge

Ba Na Hills, about 40 kilometres west of Da Nang in the Truong Son range, sits at 1,400 metres altitude and is most famous internationally for the Golden Bridge, supported by two enormous stone hands, which appeared in countless travel photographs after 2018. The entrance fee is around $39 and covers the cable car (one of the world’s longest at 5.8 kilometres). On weekdays the cable car queues are manageable; on weekends, when domestic tour groups arrive in volume, the wait can run to 90 minutes. Book tickets online in advance to save 10 to 15 percent. A Grab car or private hire from central Da Nang costs around 600,000 VND each way.

The French colonial theme park at the summit is divisive. It is objectively kitsch. But the cloud cover at that altitude is genuinely spectacular on the right day, and walking through clouds on a steel-and-glass bridge remains a vivid experience regardless of the context.

Where to Eat

Da Nang’s food scene is serious. The city’s central location in Vietnam means it draws from both northern and southern traditions and has its own regional dishes that most visitors do not encounter elsewhere.

Mi Quang is the signature noodle dish: thick turmeric-yellow noodles, served with minimal broth (more of a concentrated sauce), topped with shrimp, pork, peanuts, and a prawn cracker. It is eaten at breakfast or lunch, not dinner. Ask any local for the nearest Mi Quang stall and you will eat well for under 40,000 VND.

Banh xeo (the sizzling Vietnamese crepe, filled with bean sprouts, pork, and shrimp) in Da Nang is larger and crispier than the Saigon version. Ba Duong, a street food area near the city’s western outskirts, remains the local go-to for banh xeo eaten the proper way: torn by hand and wrapped in rice paper and fresh herbs.

For seafood, My Hanh Seafood on Vo Nguyen Giap Street near My Khe Beach has been operating for over 30 years and lets you choose live seafood from tanks. Muoi Bien, a newer entrant on the same strip, covers similar ground in a larger, more modern room. Budget around 200,000 to 400,000 VND per person for a full seafood meal with beer.

Nha Bep Xua, in the My An area, serves Central Vietnamese home cooking in a setting that feels like eating at someone’s house. The clay pot fish and the beef pho are the things to order.

Where to Stay

My Khe Beach, four kilometres long and largely free of crowds outside peak season (June to August), is the right base for most visitors. The beach runs parallel to Vo Nguyen Giap Street, which is lined with mid-range and upscale hotels. The My An area, just behind the southern end of My Khe, is walkable to both the beach and a good concentration of local restaurants.

The Danang Prince Hotel, which opened in October 2025 on the beachfront, has 164 rooms with private balconies and ocean views and is currently one of the better value options in the upper-mid range. Furama Resort, one of the area’s established luxury properties, remains a strong choice for families and couples who want a self-contained resort with pool and beach access. Rates at Furama typically run $120 to $200 per night depending on season.

For budget travelers, the An Thuong area just inland from My Khe is dense with hostels and guesthouses; a private double with air conditioning runs around $20 to $35 per night. Da Nang Backpackers Hostel, near the city centre, is the social option for solo travelers, with a rooftop bar and a well-organized tour desk.

Getting There and Around

Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is 3.5 kilometres from the city centre, one of the closest major airports to any city in Vietnam. Terminal 3 opened in January 2025, bringing capacity to 28 million passengers annually. A Grab from the airport to My Khe Beach costs roughly 60,000 to 80,000 VND (about $2.50 to $3.50). Download Grab before you arrive; negotiating with non-metered taxis at Vietnamese airports is rarely worth the energy.

The Da Nang Green Bus network, running electric vehicles on 35 routes, connects the airport, the city centre, My Khe Beach, the Marble Mountains, and the Hoi An junction for 7,000 VND per journey. It is genuinely useful for the city-centre-to-beach route.

For the Love Bridge itself: it sits on the eastern bank of the Han River, a short walk across the Dragon Bridge or the Han River Bridge from the western riverside strip. The walk from the Dragon Bridge across to the Love Bridge and back makes a good evening circuit of about 45 minutes, timed to catch the Dragon Bridge fire show at 9 p.m. on a weekend night.

The one practical note: the Love Bridge padlocks are periodically removed by the city authorities when the weight accumulates. If yours is gone on a return visit, that is why.