20 Amazing Things To Do with Kids in Da Nang, Vietnam
We spent around 6 weeks in Vietnam exploring it, and it surprised us in so many ways – there is so much to see and experience in this beautiful country.
We explored Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang and Hoi An.
For all the honesty- we would not have come to Da Nang (and Hoi An) if it wasn’t for my friend that is currently residing in Da Nang. We changed our travel schedule in order to visit with our friends because we have not seen each other for years and this was a perfect opportunity to explore Da Nang and surrounding area.
Anyways – to the point-
Da Nang was the best part in Vietnam for us. It is an amazing coastal city with a long stretches of beautiful beaches, great weather, lots of things to see and do and we honestly had the best time ever and explored it to the fullest. While we did not checked the box on couple of things that we wanted to do (we definitely will come back to do them), but nevertheless it was a fantastic time spent in this city that is full of natural beauty, cultural heritage, delicious food and adventures.
Here are 20 Amazing things to do with your kids in this amazing vibrant town:
- VISIT LADY BUDDHA and the nearby VIEWPOINT- this place is amazing and best if you went there early in the morning for sunrise. We went there in the morning with the kids and the views are spectacular. There is also a temple that You can explore, beautiful landscaping throughout the territory, and also they have the best soft serve ice cream near by. I think it is a win – win.
2. ENJOY 3D ART MUSEUM –
this one brought so much fun for the kids- it is absolutely great to spend a few hours here. We went because it was raining and just learned about it from a fellow traveling family and it really was a great way to spend a day. It is conveniently located not too far from the city center and is just a short drive away with a taxi or a scooter.
3. MAKE A DAY TRIP TO HOI AN –
this ancient city is a Unesco Heritage site and for a good reason. As it is just a short drive from Da Nang, but you feel like you are in a different country once you get there. It truly is so different with lanterns everywhere and very unique buildings. We did a day trip and also went there in the evening and both times we enjoyed our time there. In the evening it gets really crowded, especially if ti si in season and on the weekend, but it is beautiful just to walk the old Town streets and admire this vibrant ancient city.
You can incorporate your visit with some attractions that you can do in/ near Hoi An:
*Coconut Village and a round boat tour;
*Ang Bang Beach which is just couple kilometers away from the Hoi An old Town; it has a lot of restaurants and local eateries there (we actually had a great food experience at one of those eateries);
*lantern making class- they are on every corner but nevertheless a very enjoyable experience;
*lantern boat ride in the evening;
4. VISIT MARBLE MOUNTAIN-
it is located just a few kilometers outside Da Nang and consists of rocky mountains, some caves and a temple. There is even an elevator that can take you to the op of the mountain if you do not want to climb the stairs. The views from the mountain is very beautiful, as well as the temple. But we really enjoyed exploring the caves there.
5. BA NA HILLS and THE GOLDEN BRIDGE-
this is a stunning theme park, with one of the longest cable cars in the world to take you up the hills. The views are breathtaking. The whole park is just 5 years old and there are some parts that are still being built, but nevertheless – one day is not nearly enough to go through the whole park. It is so big and there are cable cars connecting different parts of the park. There are rides and arcade in there as well as restaurants. There are castles, train rides and a Medieval Town. You can always stay in the park at a hotel for the night if you plan to explore it for more than 1 day. The Golden Bridge is a must and it stands as a work of art and best to visit it at sunset as it does not get so m ay crowds at that time. There are temples to explore at the park as well that you can walk from the Golden Bridge on foot- the views are stunning by the temples to say the least as it seems that you are above the clouds. The whole park is very beautifully landscaped area.
6. MY SON SANCTUARY-
it is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Shaiva hindu temples near city of Da Nang, constructed between the 4th and the 14th century by the Kings of Champa.
The Mỹ Sơn temple complex is regarded one of the foremost Shaiva Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. As of 1999, Mỹ Sơn has been recognized by UNESCO as a WORLD HERITAGE SITE. So if you like history and ancient times – this place is truly remarkable and a must visit.
7. SPA DAY-
we have enjoyed massages in Vietnam as well as other spa treatments as it is so budget friendly but the quality in most of the Spas and Salons are outstanding. Of course, we read the reviews beforehand, but most of the places we looked were wonderful. I can tell you in confidence – that SPA days is a must when in Vietnam no matter which city or town you are. We had massages in Thailand, that are highly rated but found that the ones in Vietnam are better.
8. WATCH A SHOW AT DRAGON BRIDGE-
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (at around 8:45 pm) there is a water and fire show on the bridge and attracts a lot o people (if you stand on the bridge near the Dragon Head- you will get wet!).The show is ok, but the views of the colorful boats lightening up to see the show is really nice. You can also explore a nearby market across the street from the bridge.
9. SPEND A DAY IN ASIA PARK –
located across the bridge from My An in Da Nang and is very close to the sea. The views are beautiful from the ferris wheel and great way to spend a day at the theme park.
10. ENJOY SON TRA LOCAL MARKET-
it is more like flea market and very close to the Dragon Bridge so if you are there to watch the show – make sure you visit this market as it has truly unique vendors.
11. TRY AMAZING SEAFOOD–
Da Nang is known for its amazing seafood and has a lot of seafood restaurants – we found the ones we liked by asking locals to give us a hint where to go for outstanding cuisine.
12. WATCH LOCAL FISHERMAN AT THE BEACH –
there is a very distinct way the way the fishermen pull the nets from the sea and just walking at the beach may give you a glimpse how they do it. When we went to talk to the local fisherman at the beach they caught so many ginormous jelly fish- it was an attraction to the kids and us as we never have seen anything like it before.
13. TAKE A TRAIN RIDE TO HUE-
Huế is a city in central Vietnam that was the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and the national capital from 1802 to 1945. A major attraction is its vast, 19th-century Đại Nội Citadel, surrounded by a moat and thick stone walls. It encompasses the Imperial City, with palaces and shrines; the Forbidden Purple City (Tử cấm thành), once the emperor’s home; and a replica of the Royal Theater.
Hue is located just around 100 km away from Da Nang but the views from the train getting there will make the trip feel short (even though it takes about 2-2.5 hr to get there). The train goes into the tunnels as the region is very hilly. Once you get to HUE- explore this Imperial City and get back to Da Nang by train in the afternoon.
14. TAKE SURFING LESSONS-
The coast is so suitable for beginner surfers that there are many surfing schools at the beaches of Da Nang.
15. EXPLORE ROOF TOP CAFES by the BEACH-
this was one of the highlights for the kids. We picked a hotel that had a fancy rooftop cafe and a pool. We treated ourselves to a few smoothies and juices, and our kids had a chance to swim in the pool. The views are amazing! We were on the 27th Floor after all. A lot of cafes also do breakfasts so it would be a nice view for a meal. I would go in the morning as the sun tends to be on the side of the sea, because in the afternoon the sun goes behind the building and it tends to get very windy and rather cold.
16. VISIT MONKEY MOUNTAIN-
Sơn Trà Mountain, also known as Monkey Mountain, is a mountain and peninsula range located on Sơn Trà Peninsula, in Sơn Trà district, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, overlooking the Bay of Da Nang and the East Sea. Đà Nẵng Port’s Tiên Sa Terminal is located at the base of the mountain’s western face, as is nearby Tiên Sa Beach.
17. OBSERVE FROM SON TRA RADAR STATION –
At first I thought it was a planetarium and got so excited. but oh well. It is a radar station but it also has. a great viewpoint of Da Nang and the Bay area. It is also located on Son Tra Peninsula.
18. ENJOY SUN AND WATER AT MY KHE BEACH-
one of our favorite beaches as it is so wide and long. You can always spend a day at the beach.
19. ENJOY EARLY MORNING TOUR TO A NEARBY ISLAND on SUP-
this one we did not do as we have a baby and I cannot escape the baby just yet for couple of hours. But our friends did with their kids and it was so much fun- that they wanted to do it again.
20. ENJOY STREET FOOD IN DA NANG-
but just ask for locals where to go for it. There are couple of spots for local food stalls and the food here in Da Nang is delicious. It seems that it is very special here.
We spent 2 weeks in Da Nang and hopefully come back for more. It was a very different experience from the rest of Vietnam. It has a great vibe, people are very friendly and it has all these amazing attractions that are just a walking distance or a short drive away. We could easily see ourselves spending a month or so here in Da Nang and we would not get bored.