Da Nang 7-Day Slow Travel

Activities

1. 12:00 DAD Airport arrival + Grab to My Khe 1 hour

   Da Nang International (DAD) is 3km from My Khe Beach — 10-15 min by Grab. Most flights from Asia arrive late morning.

   Cost: VND 150,000 ($6) Grab TIP: Use Grab exclusively. Hotel shuttle $5-10 if pre-booked.
2. 13:30 Hotel check-in + Mì Quảng lunch at Madame Lan 1.5 hours

   Drop bags + walk to Bach Dang Riverside Madame Lan for the canonical Mì Quảng lunch.

   Cost: VND 100,000-200,000 ($4-8) TIP: Early check-in $20-40 extra worth it.
3. 15:00 My Khe Beach + pool rest 2.5 hours

   Beach swim + hotel pool to acclimate to tropical heat.

   Cost: Free TIP: Reef-safe SPF 50+ mandatory.
4. 17:30 Marble Mountains sunset + Linh Ung Pagoda summit 2 hours

   Late-afternoon Marble Mountains avoids midday heat. Elevator up for sunset views.

   Cost: VND 55,000 ($2.20) TIP: Last elevator 16:30 — confirm. Stairs back if late.
5. 20:00 Dinner — Bé Mặn Seafood Night Market 2 hours

   An Thuong seafood market — pick fresh from tank + grill on spot.

   Cost: VND 250,000-500,000 ($10-20) TIP: Bargain 10-20%. Scallops + clams + squid better value.
6. 21:30 Dragon Bridge fire show (Sat/Sun) or An Thuong walk 1 hour

   Dragon Bridge fire show 21:00 if weekend. Otherwise An Thuong cafe and bar walk.

   Cost: Free or $5-10 cocktails TIP: Fire show ONLY Sat + Sun 21:00.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:30 Pickup at hotel (day-tour bus) 1 hour transit

   Day-tour ($30-50 includes pickup + cable car + lunch + guide).

   Cost: $30-50 day tour TIP: Pre-book Klook 15-25% off.
2. 09:00 Cable car ascent + Golden Bridge 2 hours

   World's longest single-cable car (5,801m, 25 min). Golden Bridge giant stone hands (2018).

   Cost: Included TIP: Arrive 09:00 for crowd-free Golden Bridge photos. Cold at 1,487m.
3. 11:30 French Village + Fantasy Park + lunch 3.5 hours

   Indoor theme park + Disney-style French village + Fantasy Park + 4D movies + lunch ($10-20).

   Cost: Included + lunch $10-20 TIP: Cooler temperature welcomed in summer.
4. 15:00 Alpine coaster + Wax Museum + descent 2 hours

   Alpine coaster (Vietnam's longest) + Wax Museum + cable car descent.

   Cost: Included TIP: Right side going down for ocean views.
5. 17:30 Hotel rest + spa massage 2 hours

   1-hour Vietnamese spa massage at hotel or street spa ($10-25).

   Cost: $10-25 TIP: Charming Spa + Quan Spa Tre popular.
6. 19:30 Dinner — Quan Be Man beach seafood 2 hours

   Beach-zone seafood specialist. Grilled prawns + lemongrass crab + Vietnamese hot pot.

   Cost: VND 350,000-700,000 ($14-28) TIP: Vo Nguyen Giap. Set menus best value.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 Grab to Hoi An + check into Old Town hotel 1 hour

   Hoi An hotels in Old Town area (Hoi An Ancient House, Anantara Hoi An, Vinpearl). Walking access to Japanese Bridge.

   Cost: VND 200,000 Grab + hotel $30-300 TIP: Old Town hotels charge premium. Outside walls hotels 30% cheaper + bike to Old Town.
2. 12:00 Bánh Mì Phượng + lunch + tailor order 3 hours

   Bourdain banh mi + lunch + go to Yaly Couture or A Dong Silk for custom-tailor order (24-hour delivery).

   Cost: VND 35,000 banh mi + $50-200 tailor TIP: Order tailor today, pickup tomorrow. Yaly Couture + A Dong Silk highest quality. Negotiate firmly.
3. 15:00 Old Town walking — Japanese Bridge + ancient houses 3 hours

   Combo ticket 5 attractions VND 120,000. Tan Ky House + Phung Hung House best preserved.

   Cost: VND 120,000 ($5) TIP: Mornings/afternoons cooler. Shaded alleys.
4. 18:30 Lantern boat ride + dinner Morning Glory 3 hours

   Thu Bon River lantern boat ride + Morning Glory (most-recommended Hoi An restaurant).

   Cost: $5 boat + $10-25 dinner TIP: Reservation Morning Glory weekends. Lantern release VND 10,000 each.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Vietnamese cooking class (half-day) 5 hours

   Pickup hotel → market shopping → cooking class. Hoi An cooking school + Red Bridge Cooking School popular. 4-5 dishes you cook + eat.

   Cost: $35-50 per person TIP: Red Bridge Cooking School premium $50. Independent like Tra Que Vegetable Village cheaper $20.
2. 14:00 Lunch at cooking class — eat what you cooked 1 hour

   Vietnamese full lunch from class — spring rolls + banh xeo + bun cha + dessert + drinks.

   Cost: Included in class TIP: Take recipe cards home — most schools provide bilingual recipe cards.
3. 16:00 Tailor pickup + countryside bicycle ride 2 hours

   Pickup custom tailor order + bicycle ride through Hoi An countryside + rice paddies + Tra Que Vegetable Village.

   Cost: Bike rental $1-2/day TIP: Cua Dai Beach 4km east bicycle path. Tra Que village herb gardens free.
4. 19:00 Cao Lầu dinner + Old Town night walk 3 hours

   Cao Lầu Mr. Son + leisurely Old Town night walk with lanterns. Buy gifts in Old Town shops.

   Cost: $5-15 TIP: Cao Lầu Mr. Son authentic well-water version. Old Town night photogenic.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:00 Return to Da Nang hotel + Hue day-tour pickup 2.5 hours each way

   Pre-arrange Hue day-tour bus pickup at the Hoi An-Da Nang transition. Day-tour bus $35-50 includes Hai Van Pass + Imperial Citadel + tombs + lunch.

   Cost: $35-50 day tour TIP: Some tour operators pick up direct from Hoi An.
2. 10:30 Hue Imperial Citadel + Forbidden City 3 hours

   UNESCO Nguyen Dynasty capital 1802-1945. Imperial Citadel + Forbidden City + Throne Hall. Vietnam's largest historic complex.

   Cost: VND 200,000 ($8) TIP: Audio guide $5. English signage limited.
3. 13:30 Lunch — Hue specialties (Bún Bò Huế, Cơm Hến) 1 hour

   Hue cuisine — Bún Bò Huế (spicy beef noodle, royal court), Cơm Hến (clam rice), Bánh Khoái.

   Cost: VND 100,000-250,000 ($4-10) TIP: Lac Thien (heritage) or Hanh restaurant. Spicy default.
4. 15:00 Royal Tombs along Perfume River 3 hours

   Tu Duc (lake + pavilions), Khai Dinh (concrete + glass mosaic), Minh Mang (largest).

   Cost: VND 360,000 combo TIP: Boat ride Perfume River $5 extra.
5. 18:00 Return to Da Nang (Hai Van Pass evening) 2.5 hours

   Day-tour returns via Hai Van Pass — sunset views during return.

   Cost: Included TIP: Right side for ocean views.
6. 21:00 Late dinner — Mì Quảng Ếch Bếp Trang 1 hour

   Frog leg Mì Quảng variation. Open late.

   Cost: VND 80,000-150,000 ($3.20-6) TIP: Cash only. Take Grab.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:30 My Son Sanctuary half-day tour 4 hours half-day

   Vietnam's Angkor Wat — 4th-13th century Cham Hindu temple ruins. 1h from Da Nang. Apsara dance shows 09:00.

   Cost: VND 150,000 ($6) entry + $20-30 tour TIP: Apsara dance free with entry — catch 09:00 show. Wear hat — open archaeological site.
2. 12:00 Lunch + return to Da Nang 1 hour

   Local Vietnamese roadside lunch.

   Cost: VND 100,000 ($4) TIP: Tour usually includes lunch stop.
3. 13:30 Son Tra Peninsula motorbike loop + Lady Buddha 3 hours

   Son Tra Mountain peninsula motorbike circle + 67m Lady Buddha statue + monkeys + panoramic views.

   Cost: $5/day motorbike or $15 Grab TIP: Easy rider $25/day if not confident. Bai But viewpoint cafe sunset.
4. 17:30 Sunset cocktails at beach club 1.5 hours

   Beach club for sunset — Esco Beach + Burger Bros + The Deck. $5-15 cocktails.

   Cost: $5-15 TIP: Esco Beach most popular. Reserve weekends.
5. 19:30 Dinner — La Maison 1888 (InterContinental Michelin-equivalent) or Sea Phoenix 2.5 hours

   Mid-luxury dinner — La Maison 1888 French at InterContinental ($80-180) or Sea Phoenix Vietnamese ($25-60).

   Cost: VND 600,000-4,000,000 ($25-180) TIP: La Maison 1888 requires 1-week booking + smart casual.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:00 Hai Van Pass independent motorbike ride (or easy rider) 4 hours roundtrip

   Top Gear Vietnam-special 21km mountain pass. Independent motorbike rental $10/day or easy rider $35/day. Skip if not confident.

   Cost: $10-35 TIP: Helmet mandatory. Easy rider safer for first-timers. Skip in rain (Sep-Nov risky).
2. 11:00 Spa morning + beach final 2 hours

   Vietnamese spa massage 90 min ($15-50) + final beach time. Hyatt Regency spa or An Thuong street spa.

   Cost: $15-50 massage TIP: Charming Spa + Quan Spa Tre most popular. Tip 10-15%.
3. 14:00 Lunch + last banh mi + souvenirs 2 hours

   Last Vietnamese lunch + souvenir shopping — Vietnamese coffee + Mi Quang noodles + lanterns at Han Market.

   Cost: $10-25 TIP: Han Market 2nd floor souvenirs. Vietnamese coffee 250g $5-10. Avoid airport souvenir prices.
4. 17:00 Airport transfer + departure 2.5 hours

   DAD Airport 15-min Grab from My Khe (VND 150,000 / $6). Allow 2h before international flight.

   Cost: VND 150,000 ($6) Grab TIP: Most Asian flights depart 22:00-02:00. Check-in 2h before.

Meal Recommendations