A helicopter flies over the Dragon Bridge, a tourism symbol of Da Nang, on the Han River. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong |
Situated 929 kilometers from HCMC and 764 kilometers from Hanoi, Da Nang is a modern beach city in close proximity to numerous UNESCO-recognized sites like Hoi An Town and the former imperial capital Hue.
Da Nang stands out as a major success story in post-Covid Asia, with international arrivals in 2023 surpassing pre-pandemic levels, partly due to new flight routes, Condé Nast Traveler noted.
China Airlines now operates direct flights to the city, as do various budget airlines in Southeast Asia, making Da Nang easy to reach.
The city is especially popular during the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival in June, with over 150 daily flights bringing in tourists.
For those seeking natural wonders, the Son Tra Peninsula, just a 20-minute journey from the city center, beckons. Situated 10 kilometers from Da Nang, it spreads over 4,400 hectares and boasts expansive beaches and untouched forests. Then there is the 17-story, 220-foot Lady Buddha statue.
The peninsula is a nature reserve with almost 1,000 plant species, including 22 rare ones, and various animals, with the brown-shanked douc langur being the rarest, numbering just 300-400 and strictly protected.
My Khe beach seen from above. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong |
Da Nang is home to My Khe, recently ranked the eighth most beautiful beach in Asia by Tripadvisor. Known for its 900-meter stretch of smooth white sand and warm waters, My Khe offers various adventure sports activities.
Da Nang offers two notable local culinary delights that visitors are encouraged to sample: mi Quang (Quang-style noodles) and banh xeo (crispy pancakes).
"Hotel and resort developers are taking note of Da Nang’s newfound popularity," the magazine wrote.
Looking ahead to 2024, Da Nang is poised to welcome its first Mandarin Oriental property and a new establishment from the wellness-oriented Southeast Asian Fusion Hotel group.
The other destinations in the list include Chinatown in Thailand, Kobe in Japan, Mongolia, and Singapore.