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After the boats and caves of Ninh Binh, we reached Vietnam's most beautiful coastal city. This plan covers Da Nang, Ba Na Hills and Hoi An in three days.
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Where to stay
- Near My Khe Beach: central Da Nang, with every attraction and market close by. Best for city vibes.
- In Hoi An: the ancient-town experience, which is out of this world.
- In between (what we did): we stayed at a beachfront resort with a private beach, close to Da Nang city, Hoi An and Ba Na Hills.
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Open Agoda →Getting there
Da Nang is in central Vietnam, so it's well connected:
- Flight: about 1.5 hours from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Best if you're short on time.
- Overnight sleeper bus: about 11 hours from Ninh Binh (13 from Hanoi). We did this and arrived early, so we got the whole day.
- Train: about 13–14 hours, along a very scenic coastal route.
Sleeper bus tips: carry a jacket (the AC is strong) and an eye mask (lights shine in all night).
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Open Trip.com →Day 1: take it easy
Don't put a big attraction on day one. Enjoy the resort, visit the Marble Mountains, walk My Khe Beach, and shop at Lotte Mart: wooden handbags (about 350,000 VND, roughly ₹1,500–1,700) and very cheap co-ord sets and swim shirts.
Day 2: Ba Na Hills (full day)
Plan nothing else that day. Get the Wow Pass to skip the queues. With an extra night, stay on Ba Na Hills to see the Golden Bridge without crowds in the morning and evening. Full guide: Ba Na Hills & the Golden Bridge.
Day 3: Hoi An (full day)
Leave early and spend the whole day in Hoi An. Do the coconut basket boat, the old town, lotus tea and the lantern boat at night. Full guide: Hoi An travel guide.
Pro tips
- Custom clothes in Hoi An take at least 24 hours, so stay overnight if you want them.
- Shop for bags in Hoi An, not Da Nang. The leather bags there are better value.
- One day in Hoi An wasn't enough for us. Give it two if you can.
FAQs
Should I stay in Da Nang or Hoi An?
Stay near My Khe beach for city life, in Hoi An for the ancient-town experience, or in between (like we did) to be close to Da Nang, Hoi An and Ba Na Hills.
How far is Hoi An from Da Nang?
About 25–40 minutes by car.
TAGS: DA NANG · HOI AN · BA NA HILLS · VIETNAM · ITINERARY
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Prashant & Sunaina
A travel couple from Pune with Kashmiri Pandit × Maharashtrian roots, 8+ countries and counting. Every rupee shared.
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