The Perfect 5-Day Da Nang Itinerary (2026)
A self-guided 5-day Da Nang itinerary from a local: Ba Na Hills, a full Hoi An day, My Son, beaches — with honest pace and 2026 prices.
Five days is the sweet spot for Da Nang: enough time to see the city highlights and take unhurried day trips to Hoi An and My Son, with the mountains, beaches, and ancient ruins all at a relaxed pace. If you are short on time, follow our 3-day Da Nang itinerary instead.
By the Go-Da-Nang local team · Last updated June 2026
Your 5-day Da Nang itinerary at a glance
| Day | Focus | Don't-miss | Rough pace / cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Settle into the city | Marble Mountains, Dragon Bridge fire show | Light, arrival takes time |
| Day 2 | Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge | Cable car, stone-hands bridge | Full day (~1,000,000đ entry) |
| Day 3 | Full day in Hoi An | Old town, basket boats, lanterns | Full but slow pace |
| Day 4 | My Son Sanctuary & downtime | Cham ruins, afternoon rest | Half-day trip, then relax |
| Day 5 | Son Tra, Lady Buddha & beach | Linh Ứng views, buffer day | Easy and flexible |
Swap freely. See Adjust this itinerary for your trip below.
Day 1: Arrive, explore the mountains, and see the dragon
Travel eats up most of your first day, so keep it light. Drop your bags, walk down to My Khe Beach, and grab a coffee or your first local meal to get your bearings. For ideas, see what to eat in Da Nang.
If you arrive by early afternoon, head to the Marble Mountains, about 15 minutes south of the main beach strip. Plan 2 to 3 hours for the caves, pagodas, and viewpoints. You will climb uneven stone steps, so wear good shoes and go before the midday heat. Entry is around 40,000đ, plus the elevator (15,000đ one-way / 30,000đ return) if you would rather skip the first climb.
On Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights, head to the riverfront for the Dragon Bridge fire and water show at 9:00 PM. The giant dragon breathes fire and sprays water, and it is free to watch — though the schedule can shift around Tet and holidays. Get there about 20 minutes early for a good spot near the head. A Grab from My Khe runs around 50,000–80,000đ.
Day 2: Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
This is your biggest sightseeing day. Arrive as close to opening as you can to beat the heat and the late-morning tour groups. The cable car up — one of the world's longest — is an attraction in itself, gliding high over the forest.
The Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands at Ba Na Hills.
At the top is the Golden Bridge, the famous walkway held up by two giant stone hands. Get there early for clear photos before the crowds, then wander the flower gardens. The French Village feels touristy, but the architecture is fun to look at, and kids enjoy the funicular and Fantasy Park rides.
The all-inclusive adult ticket (cable car plus entry) is roughly 1,000,000đ (~US$40) for 2026; children 1.0–1.4m pay 800,000đ. A Grab or private car takes about 45 minutes each way and gives you the most flexibility, but you can also take a shuttle from the city or a group tour with transport and tickets included. Book your entry ahead to skip the longest lines, then spend the evening back on the beach.
Day 3: A full day in Hoi An
Shorter trips only leave time for a quick evening in Hoi An. With five days, you can give this town the full day it deserves. Aim to arrive mid-morning — the drive takes about 45 minutes. See how to get from Da Nang to Hoi An for transport details.
Spend the morning in the old town: the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Tan Ky merchant house, and the Fujian assembly hall. It is small and walkable, so just wander without a strict plan. For lunch, try the two dishes Hoi An is famous for — cao lầu (thick noodles with pork and crunchy croutons) and white rose dumplings.
In the afternoon, head out of the center. A basket boat ride through the Cam Thanh water-coconut palms is touristy but genuinely fun, at around 100,000–150,000đ per person. Prefer something quieter? Visit a craft village or get fitted at a tailor. Then return to the old town before dusk, when thousands of lanterns switch on — the best time of day to be there.
Lanterns glowing over Hoi An old town at dusk.
Day 4: My Son Sanctuary and a slow afternoon
My Son is a fantastic day trip that shorter itineraries skip — a cluster of red-brick Hindu temples built by the ancient Cham kingdom in a lush jungle valley. Start early to beat the heat and the tour buses; the drive takes about an hour (up to 1h15).
The site is compact, so 2 to 3 hours is plenty. Try to catch one of the short Apsara dance performances. Entry is around 150,000đ, which includes the dance and the electric buggy from the main gate.
Red-brick Cham temple ruins at My Son Sanctuary.
My Son is a must if you love history or Cham culture. But if you have seen plenty of temples already and feel burnt out, skip it and swap in an extra beach day instead.
Whatever you choose, keep the afternoon open. A long lunch, a café, a swim, or a nap — this breathing room is the whole point of a five-day trip.
Day 5: Son Tra Peninsula, Lady Buddha, and the beach
Treat Day 5 as your flexible buffer. In the morning, take a Grab or scooter up the Son Tra Peninsula to the Lady Buddha at Linh Ứng Pagoda — a 67-metre statue watching over the bay. The drive is about 15 to 30 minutes depending on where you start, with great coastal viewpoints along the way. The peninsula is green, cool, and far quieter than the city.
Spend your final afternoon back on the sand, or track down a dish you missed earlier in the week. The buffer day sits at the end for a reason: if bad weather wrecked your Ba Na Hills or My Son plans, use today to reschedule. If everything went smoothly, just enjoy a slow finish.
Where to stay for this itinerary
Three areas work well. My Khe and An Thuong make up the main beach strip — the easiest choice for first-timers, with the sand, cafés, and restaurants on your doorstep. The city centre and Han riverfront put you near the nightlife, Han Market, and Dragon Bridge. The Son Tra side is quieter and more scenic. All three are a short Grab ride apart, so you can reach everything wherever you sleep.
Getting around and day-trip transport
Grab cars and bikes are cheap and cover every city stop here, so you never have to ride a motorbike if you would rather not. Confident riders can rent a scooter for about 120,000–150,000đ per day — a great way to explore Son Tra and the coastal roads.
For day trips you have three options. A private car or Grab gives you the most freedom at My Son or Hoi An. Group tours are cheapest per person but tie you to the guide's schedule. You can also self-drive a motorbike, though we only recommend that for Hoi An, since the highway to My Son is long.
Best time to visit and rainy season tips
February to May is the best window for this outdoor-heavy plan: warm, mostly dry, and less crowded. June to August gets very hot and busy. The rainy season runs September to December, with October and November the wettest. See our full guide on the best time to visit Da Nang.
If you come in the wet months, do not cancel — just watch the forecast and move Ba Na Hills and My Son to the driest days (Ba Na vanishes into cloud in heavy rain). Let Day 5 absorb delays, and save indoor-friendly options like the Marble Mountains caves or Hoi An's old town for the wettest days.
Adjust this itinerary for your trip
- Traveling with kids? Skip My Son on Day 4. Add a beach-and-pool day and more time at the Ba Na Fantasy Park rides.
- Couples and honeymooners? Consider an overnight in Hoi An — the old town turns quiet and romantic once the day crowds leave.
- Only have 4 days? Cut either My Son or the Son Tra day; you can fold the best of Son Tra into another afternoon.
- Want to avoid crowds? Swap Ba Na Hills for a full day on the Son Tra Peninsula — far fewer people, incredible coastline.
- Rain in the forecast? Rearrange around the dry windows and let your Day 5 buffer absorb the delays.
Quick FAQ
Is 5 days enough time in Da Nang? Yes — it is the sweet spot. You can see the city highlights and take both major day trips at a comfortable pace. With a week, add a trip to Hue or more beach time.
What is the best order for these activities? Group stops by location to avoid backtracking, and schedule Ba Na Hills and My Son for your clearest-weather days.
Should I stay in Da Nang or Hoi An? Base yourself in Da Nang for this plan — it is central to every day trip. If Hoi An is your priority, add an overnight there.
How do I handle the rainy season? Keep plans flexible, move the big outdoor trips to the driest days, and use Day 5 as a weather backup.
Do I need to book a tour for Ba Na Hills or My Son? No. You can visit both independently by Grab or private car. Just book your entry tickets ahead to skip the lines.
Next: line up the rest of your week with Da Nang's best beaches and our full list of things to do in Da Nang.
Image credits
- Photo by Tuan Vy on Pexels
- Photo by Prakash Achari on Pexels
- Photo by Võ Văn Tiến on Pexels
- Photo by Võ Văn Tiến on Pexels
