Central Vietnam is three completely different city characters an hour or two apart: resort Da Nang with skyscrapers along the beach, the lantern-lit Old Town of Hoi An, frozen 500 years ago, and imperial Hue with its citadel and the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty. The route is calm, without early starts and long transfers — designed for a family with children.
The logic of the route: Da Nang as a base for all 4 nights, so as not to pack a suitcase every day — from there day trips to Hoi An (40 minutes), Hue (2.5 hours one way, so the day is long) and Ba Na Hills (45 minutes). The only long trip is to Hue, the other days are gentle even for small children.
Route map
Click a day or a point of interestDay-by-day route
From the Airport to the Beach
Da Nang airport is within the city limits; it takes 15–20 minutes by taxi/Grab (around 150,000–200,000 VND) to reach beach hotels. It’s one of the few cities in the region where you don't need to factor in an hour for transfers after your flight.
Marble Mountains
Five marble and limestone hills named after the five elements, with cave temples inside — a lift to the top costs around 15,000 VND; from there, it’s a walk up steps between the grottoes. It's easy to visit with children – the route is short and shaded.
My Khe Beach at Sunset
One of the beaches along My Khe beach — a wide sandy beach with warm water; in the evening, cafes and street grills serving seafood open along the promenade. A good option for a gentle acclimatization on your first day without a packed schedule.
Ticket to the Old Town
Entry is 120,000 VND for adults (children under 15 with a parent are free), and the ticket is a booklet of 5 detachable coupons valid for any 5 of approximately 22 protected sites: old merchant houses, clan meeting halls, museums. Choose in advance how to use your coupons – the list is long, and you usually don’t have time for everything.
Japanese Covered Bridge
A covered wooden bridge from the 16th century with a miniature temple inside—a symbol of the city, even featured on the 20,000 VND banknote. Viewing it from the outside is free; entry inside requires one of your coupons.
Evening Lantern Market
As the sun sets, the town transforms: streets and the river are illuminated by thousands of paper lanterns of all colors, and small boats with candles are launched onto the water—you can buy and launch your own (around 20,000–30,000 VND). It's worth staying in Hoi An until dark for this evening alone, rather than leaving immediately after the daytime program.
The Hai Van Pass Road
Around 2.5 hours one way – the route goes through the scenic Hai Van Pass between the sea and mountains, so it’s worth agreeing with the driver to stop at a viewpoint along the way. It's best to set off early, around 7 am, to avoid the midday heat and return before dark.
The Imperial Citadel
A residence of the Nguyen dynasty, built in the image of the Forbidden City in Beijing – flagpole tower, Midday Gate, throne hall. Part of the buildings are still being restored after the war, but even in its current state, the scale of the complex is impressive.
Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Tu Duc
A seven-tiered pagoda on the banks of the Perfume River – one of the symbols of the city. The tomb of Emperor Tu Duc isn't just a mausoleum, but an entire park complex with pavilions and a lake that the emperor used as a summer residence while he was still alive.
Ticket and Cable Car
A combined ticket costing 950,000 VND per adult (750,000 VND for children 1.0–1.4 m tall, free for younger children) includes the cable car and entry to the entire area. From 2026, the ticket will be valid for 1–3 days – if the forecast for your chosen date promises fog, it’s sensible to postpone your visit without losing money.
The Golden Bridge
A pedestrian bridge seemingly held up by two giant stone hands – this is the most photographed image of Da Nang in recent years. The best time for photos without crowds is the first hour after opening; by lunchtime, there’s already a heavy flow of visitors on the bridge.
French Village and Fantasy Park
A zone stylized as a European town with carousels and rides – you can easily spend the rest of your day here with children. There are also indoor pavilions in case of rain, which is common in the mountain area.
A Relaxed Morning
Da Nang’s airport is within the city – it takes just 15–20 minutes to get there even from hotels on the waterfront, so you can enjoy a relaxed last morning: have breakfast by the sea and pick up any last-minute souvenirs at the local market.
Trip Summary
5 days, one base in Da Nang, and three very different day trips – beaches, the lantern-lit old town, and imperial architecture. Detailed practical tips are in the postscript below.
Off the Beaten Path Notes
Hoi An is best visited twice – during the day and separately in the evening, rather than trying to fit everything into one visit. We underestimated the difference: during the day, the Old Town is about architecture and museums with coupons, while in the evening it’s a completely different place when thousands of paper lanterns light up and boats with floating candles come out on the river. Ideally – return to Hoi An as a separate half-day trip just for the evening.
Hue — The Longest Day, Plan Your Trip Early
2.5 hours each way from Da Nang — if you leave at 8 am, you arrive at the citadel around lunchtime in the hottest part of the day. We would have started at 6:30–7:00 am: it’s cooler for walking around the citadel and there's daylight left for the return journey.
Hoi An Ticket Booklet — Choose Coupons in Advance
A ticket for 120,000 VND gives you access to 5 attractions out of ~22 — it's worth deciding in advance which 5 are most important (the Japanese Bridge is free to view from the outside, but the interior requires a coupon), otherwise it’s easy to waste coupons on the first houses you come across instead of really interesting ones.
Ba Na Hills — Buy Tickets with Buffer Days
From 2026, the ticket will be valid for 1–3 days — if the forecast predicts cloud cover on your chosen date (the Golden Bridge loses all its effect in fog), it makes sense to allow for a buffer day and check the forecast the day before, rather than booking rigidly.
Actual Budget
For a family of three (2 adults + child), excluding flights: accommodation — about 34,000 ₽ for the entire route, transport (car with driver for excursions) — 12,000 ₽, food — 16,000 ₽, entrance tickets (Hoi An, Hue, Ba Na) — 9,000 ₽. Total around 71,000 ₽ — slightly higher than the initial estimate due to the car with driver in Hue instead of a bus.
What's Next
If mountains and rice terraces appeal more than beaches and imperial architecture — route through northern Vietnam with Ha Long Bay and Sapa. A general overview of the country, visas and budget — on the Vietnam page.
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