EmIf you’re searching for unique things to do in Da Nang, you might be surprised by what this evolving coastal city has to offer. While it may not have the lantern-lit charm of Hoi An, Da Nang is carving out its own identity. It’s become a haven for digital nomads, expats, and travellers who want something a little different — whether that’s hidden craft studios, quirky cafes, or sound healing on a rooftop. I spent three months living here in 2025, and uncovered some truly special experiences. In this guide, I’m sharing the most unique things to do in Da Nang that you probably won’t find in a typical itinerary.
Is Da Nang worth visiting?
Da Nang is a growing tourist destination in Vietnam. When I first visited Vietnam in 2010, Da Nang wasn’t on any tourist itineraries, and was completely overshadowed by its beautiful neighbour, Hoi An. People only visited Da Nang to get the sleeper train north to Hanoi, or south to Ho Chi Minh City.
Things are changing now, and while Da Nang is never going be as aesthetically pleasing as Hoi An, it’s a growing hub particularly for digital nomads and expats, with a wealth of coworking spaces, cafes and delicious restaurants.
There are a few big tourist sites in Da Nang – including visiting My Khe Beach, seeing the fire show at the Dragon Bridge and visiting nearby Bana Hills. But so much of Da Nang’s charm is hidden away. Luckily, I spent three months here in early 2025, exploring the city and finding all the most unique experiences in Da Nang. Find out my favourite Da Nang hidden gems below and create your alternative Da Nang itinerary!
7 Amazing and Unique Things To Do in Da Nang
Make your own beautiful jewellery at Ngay Mai Craft
Cost: depends on the workshop and jewellery made. For jewellery workshop, between 300K VND-500K VND (depending on the stones chosen).
This beautiful gift shop, in a lovely cafe in central Da Nang, offers a range of different craft workshops for you to try! I did their jewellery-making workshop one gloomy Sunday afternoon and I can’t recommend it highly enough. They have a big range of stones and semi-precious gems to choose from, as well as silver and gold chains, earring hooks and charms. They’ll then talk you through how to make your vision come true.
The workshop took about an hour and a half, and the cost included a coffee or drink from Tourane Roastery, one of my favourite cafes in Da Nang. I recommend going in with an idea – I didn’t, and had to flail around a bit trying to work out whether I even wanted earrings or an anklet. I was thrilled with my earrings once they were complete though! This was such a lovely way to spend time making a meaningful souvenir from Da Nang.
They also offer other workshops, including candle-making, creating lip balms and making a signature perfume scent, giving lots of opportunties for unique things to do in Da Nang. I Whatsapped a day in advance to book my class, so no need to book very far in advance if you haven’t planned out your alternative Da Nang itinerary.
Feel like you’re in Greece at Son Tra Marina
Cost: Free to enter. A salt coffee cost 60K VND
Son Tra Marina is like nothing else in Da Nang – or Vietnam, or even Asia! It’s a little slice of pure Greek Island, nestled at the far end of My Khe Beach. Don’t worry though – you can still get your salt coffee!
This Instagram-famous cafe was designed as a yacht port, to become the first European-style yacht port in central Vietnam. It has now become famous with tourists in general, and it’s easy to see why: in the Vietnamese sun, the beautiful white and blue buildings are startlingly beautiful, and unlike anything else I’ve seen in Asia. As someone who loves Greece, and visits Greek islands like Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos as much as possible, it was a dream!
If you’re planning to visit Son Tra Marina, visit early in the day. Firstly, Da Nang faces east so you’ll get the morning sun. More importantly, while I was there in mid-afternoon it was very crowded and big tour buses were pulling up. A morning visit will give you the best opportunity to get those beautiful photos!
Visit one of Da Nang’s amazing markets
Cost: free to browse, but expect to want to buy something!
Nearby Hoi An is a shopper’s paradise, filled with tailors, artisans, and souvenir stalls. But while Da Nang doesn’t have the shopping reputation of its neighbour, there’s still plenty of amazing places to check out in Da Nang. You just have to know where to look, as they’re not quite as easy to find!
To start, Da Nang has a number of traditional markets across the city for you to explore:
- Bac My An Market – Get off the beaten track in Da Nang at this local market, which is the nearest to the An Thuong Tourist Area. The market caters mostly to locals, offering a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, household items and clothes (and chickens!). However, it can also be great for tourist items such as suitcases and bags, or to get your own pair of those Crocs everyone else is wearing.
- Han Market – on the other side of the river, this is one of Da Nang’s big markets. While it does also cater to locals, it has a huge concentration of tourist items. This is the place to go if you want new clothes, fake handbags, fake sneakers and typical tourist souvenirs. It’s very crowded, less from the amount of people than from the lack of space, so make sure you’re feeling patient! Try to visit on a cooler day as this indoor space has no aircon. Just down the road from Han Market, you’ll also find Da Nang’s famous pink Cathedral, and if you keep going, you’ll come to Cheese Coffee, one of my recommended coffee shops in Da Nang.
- Son Tra Night Market – somehow, in all m time living here, I never made it to Da Nang’s famous night market. But it’s a great spot to visit, particularly if you’re heading to the fire show on a Friday or Saturday evening, as it’s close to the Dragon Bridge.
Go Thrift Shopping
If your idea of heaven is peeking through racks of secondhand clothes, Da Nang has an emerging thrift scene. Check out a few of the lovely shops I found that are off the beaten path in Da Nang:
- Nhim Retro Second Hand – this is a thrift-shopper’s dream. Much bigger than Da Nang’s other thrift shop, this gorgeous space has a huge range of women’s clothes, jewellery, shoes and bags. It’s a real haven, and a beautiful space to spend some time pottering around.
- Helping Hands Thrift Store – this small store on Da Nang’s main nightlife street has a selection of clothes and household items, while helping to support deaf and disabled people in Da Nang. Its partnered with the Helping Hands Cafe just across the road, which gives employment opportunities to deaf people and is a great place to go if you want some traditional western comfort food.
- Lunetta Thrift Shop – inside the refurbished An Thuong Night Market, this lovely little shop offers a small curated selection of cute women’s clothes.
Enjoy some peace at a sound healing
While Da Nang doesn’t have the wellness credentials of Ubud in Bali, that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy some incredible wellness activities in the city. One of the best is the weekly Sound Healing sessions, run by Da Nang Wellness, and it was definitely one of the most unique things I’ve done in Da Nang.
I tried their regular Sunday afternoon session and it was a wonderful way of taking time out and getting some peace. There were two practitioners – a lady playing sound bowls and a man playing the handpan. The group was small, and this made for a much more intimate and personalised experience than I’ve had previously. I came away with a real sense of peace and relaxation, and highly recommend this for anyone who’s been busy travelling and wants a chance to turn their brain off for a while. Especially if you’ve come from the chaos of Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi!
Da Nang Wellness also offer regular yoga sessions from the same space, a lovely rooftop yoga room that gets a gorgeous sea breeze.
Go for a Traditional Vietnamese Hair Wash
Did you know that many Vietnamese women prefer not to wash their own hair? This is because there’s an abundance of spas and hairdressers offering a shampoo service. While this might sound a bit naff – I’m not always the biggest fan of leaning back uncomfortably with my head pressed against the ceramic rim of a hairdresser’s bowl in the UK – the Vietnamese experience couldn’t be more different.
As with many cities in Vietnam, there are a range of budget options to choose from. But regardless of price, you’ll get to lie on a table, with your head on a cushion over a bowl. This makes the experience much more comfortable than in Europe, and that’s just the start. For the next half an hour (or more, if you’ve booked a premium service), a trained staff member will wash your hair, mixing between gently scrubbing your scalp with her nails and gently massaging your head, neck and even your face. They’ll apply a conditioner as well, and then dry and brush your hair.
This is absolutely my favourite treat in Da Nang, overtaking massages as my favourite way to unwind. I’ve been to a few different places, but these are the ones I’d recommend:
- Babylon Spa – this is the premium experience, and one of the nicest spas I’ve ever visited. They start well, giving you a preferences card before your spa treatment, and you’ll also be asked to pick your post-treatment dessert! The shampoo itself was dreamy, and my hair has never felt so soft.
- An Spa – this neighbourhood spa became my go-to for treatments, including getting my nails done, because of their budget prices and excellent service. Their shampoo service was excellent – both thorough and incredibly gentle.
- Herbal Oasis Spa – this mid-range option did a great 75 minute package, which provided a full back massage before a shampoo that included a face cleanse and mask. Great if you want a bit of luxury but can’t stretch to Babylon (or it’s fully booked!).
Get Your Creative Juices Flowing at an Art Class
Cost: varies depending on the workshop
Da Nang has a strong art scene, and there are two places off the beaten track places where you can get your creative juices flowing in the city.
Just off the main part of An Thuong, Da Nang Art Studio offers a range of classes for everyone from complete beginners to art enthusiasts. Options include traditional Vietnamese crafts including Vietnamese printmaking, woodcut printmaking, and painting a tradition Vietnamese water puppet (you can see Vietnam’s most famous water puppet show in Hanoi).
Down a quiet side street, Create Da Nang Art Space is a beautiful space that offers coffee and cakes alongside a range of workshops. Their regular calendar of events includes abstract painting, Sip and Paint, soap making, candle making and textured art painting. They also run classes for kids at the weekends.
Although I lived in Da Nang for two months, I didn’t have time to try everything the city had to offer! While I didn’t personally try these workshops, they have great Google reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Da Nang Safe
Many travelers wonder about safety in Da Nang. The good news is that Da Nang is considered one of the safest cities in Vietnam for travelers. The An Thuong area in particular is very friendly and welcoming. However, take the usual precautions, particularly if you are out late at night. For example, make sure to use Grab rather than unlicensed taxis or motorbikes.
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) states that the most frequent types of crime in Vietnam are bag snatching and theft. However, rates of crime in Da Nang are very low. People often leave bags – and even laptops – at tables in cafes. However, you should still take the usual precautions with your belongings.
When is the best time to visit Da Nang
The best time to visit Da Nang is the peak tourist season, from April to August. This offers drier weather and sunnier days, although temperatures do get very high later in this season, reaching 40c in July and August.
September to March is considered the wet season, and is less popular with tourists. I was in Da Nang in late February and March in 2025, and the weather was very variable. Some days had beautiful sunshine, while others had drizzling rain.
How to get to Da Nang: Air
Da Nang International Airport is about 15 minutes from the city and is a modern airport with excellent facilities. Regular flights arrive from internal destinations including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as international destinations like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Siem Reap.
The best way to get from the airport to the city is via Grab. This is quick and cheap, and should cost about 100K VND-130K VND depending on the time of day and demand. You can also ask your hotel in Da Nang to organise a private transfer, or I was able to get a free transfer via Booking.com with my hotel booking.
While there are public buses, these tend to focus on the other side of the river, rather than coming to the An Thuong area where most hotels are located.
How to get to Da Nang: Train
Da Nang is one of the main stations on Vietnam’s extensive railway network, which stretches from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi and even Sapa in the north. Trains arrive and depart from Da Nang Train station, with departures to key destinations several times a day.
With the exception of a trip to Hue, train journeys from Da Nang tend to be long:
Hanoi – 17 hours
Ho Chi Minh – 19 hours
Hue – 2.5 hours
I wrote a full guide on the Vietnamese trains I took from Da Nang to Ninh Binh, and then from Hanoi to Sapa, because I loved the experience!
How to get to Da Nang: Bus
Vietnam’s buses have gained internet fame in recent years, with the VIP Sleeper buses offering some of the best luxury bus travel in the world. Taking a bus from Da Nang to other destinations across Vietnam is a popular option, with destinations including Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Nha Trang and others.
Buses arriving and departing Da Nang will usually operate from bus company offices across the city, rather than a central bus station. The best way to get from these to your destination is usually Grab.
Buses in Vietnam vary in terms of comfort and price, for example VIP Sleeper Buses offer wide beds with two seats per row, while cheaper sleeper buses have much less space as they have three beds per row. Do your research in advance to find out the best options for you.
Where should I stay in Da Nang
Da Nang has a specific area dedicated to tourists – the An Thuong Tourist Streets. Right on My Khe Beach, this area has the most restaurants, bars and coffee shops in Da Nang. There’s an abundance of hotels to suit every budget. However, if you choose a hotel further down My Khe beach in Son Tra, you can find some really good deals.
Most of the activities in this guide are within walking distance of this area. There are a few exceptions, including Han Market and Son Tra Market, and Son Tra Marina. If you haven’t rented your own bike, the best option to get to these is Grab Bike.
What makes Da Nang different from Hoi An or Hanoi?
Da Nang is more modern and less touristy than Hoi An, and quieter than Hanoi. It appeals to travelers looking for a mix of city convenience, local authenticity, and beachside relaxation — without the crowds. It’s a really great place to live, as there’s easy access to things like supermarkets as well.
Are the activities in this guide suitable for solo travelers?
Absolutely. Many of these experiences — like sound healing, art workshops, and market visits — are perfect for solo explorers. I did all of these activities alone and even met a few great people along the way! Da Nang is also a very safe and friendly city for solo travel.
Do I need to book workshops or wellness sessions in advance?
Usually, booking a day or two ahead via WhatsApp or Facebook is enough. Some classes fill quickly, so it’s good to reach out early, especially during peak season.
Can I get by in Da Nang without speaking Vietnamese?
Yes, many locals in the tourist and expat areas speak some English. Google Translate and translation apps also help a lot. A few polite Vietnamese phrases go a long way though!
Is Da Nang walkable, or do I need transport?
The main tourist area (An Thuong) is walkable, but for places like Son Tra Marina or Han Market, Grab (ride-hailing app) or a motorbike rental is more practical. Grab, particularly Grab Bike, is affordable and quick.
Is tipping expected in Da Nang?
Tipping isn’t required but is appreciated for good service — especially in spas or for guides. Small amounts (10–20K VND) are enough in most cases.
Da Nang may not shout for your attention like other Vietnamese hotspots, but that’s its secret superpower. It rewards the curious and the creative—those willing to look beyond the obvious and discover the extraordinary hidden in the everyday. Whether you’re crafting your own jewelry, enjoying a sound bath, or sipping salt coffee in a Greek-inspired marina, these unique things to do in Da Nang will help you experience the city in a way few travelers do. Trust me: if you’re the kind of explorer who values authenticity over aesthetics and loves uncovering places that feel like your own little secret, Da Nang is absolutely worth a visit.
Oh this list is so great! Da Nang has been on my list of places to visit for a long time but I’ve never made it there. I was worried it was all just high rises on the beach. This makes me see how much more there is to do there.
I did not know there were so many incredible things to do in Danang! As you said, I only went to visit ba na hills (which I actually loved!) and to board my flight to HCM. I cant wait to go back!