Two Days in Da Nang: Marble Mountains, Son Tra and Lady Buddha, Ba Na Hills, the Beach, and the Dragon Bridge

Start at the Marble Mountains at 7:30, before the heat: the lift or the steps up Thuy Son, the Huyen Khong cave with its shaft of light, the pagodas and the view over the coast, ninety minutes. Then the Son Tra peninsula by taxi or motorbike: the 67-metre Lady Buddha at Linh Ung pagoda, the coast road viewpoints, and if you are lucky the red-shanked douc langurs in the trees. Lunch on the beach road, the afternoon on My Khe in season or at the pool, and the Marble Mountains guide has the caves in detail.

Da Nang's night is the Han river: the Dragon Bridge breathes fire and water at 21:00 on Saturday and Sunday nights (crowds line the east bank from 20:30), the Love Bridge and the carp statue beside it, the night market on the east bank, and the rooftop bars on the west side for the lit bridges. Seafood restaurants along the beach road and the Han Market's food stalls cover dinner; mi quang, the turmeric noodle of the province, is the local dish.

Ba Na Hills is a full day: leave at 7:00 to ride the cable car at opening, see the Golden Bridge before 9:00 when it is still walkable, then the French village, the gardens and the Fantasy Park, and come down after lunch when the crowds are thickest going up. The Ba Na guide has tickets and timing. The alternative for people who dislike theme parks is the Hai Van Pass to Lang Co and back, or one-way to Hue.

Hoi An is 30 km south and most people sleep there rather than in Da Nang; the two-day plan above works from either base, with a 45-minute transfer. Hue is a day trip or, better, the next stop over the pass. A third day goes to Cham Island in season or to a cooking class. The getting around page covers taxis, Grab and the airport.

Da Nang is hot from May to August, so the order matters: outdoor sights before 10:00, water or indoors at midday, the beach and the river after 16:00. From October to January bring a rain layer and expect Ba Na in cloud. Grab is cheap and everywhere; a private car with driver for a day runs USD 50 to 90 and removes the waiting. The best time to visit page decides the month.