Da Nang, four days

Danang International Airport

Nguyễn Văn Linh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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From Seattle this is a night flight and at least one change, so I am writing day one as if I arrive useless. A US passport needs a visa: the 90-day e-visa is applied for online, takes a few working days, and the entry port on the application has to say Da Nang or it does not work at Da Nang.

My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam

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Staying at the An Thuong end rather than on the river. Two minutes to the sand and the small restaurants are walkable, which is the whole argument on a night when I will not want to work out transport.

An Thuong Night Market

Trần Bạch Đằng, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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Something to eat within walking distance and no plan beyond that.

Bún chả cá 109

109 Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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Bun cha ca is breakfast here, not dinner. Early, because the good places sell out and stop.

The Marble Mountains

81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Hoà Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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Opens at 07:00 and there is no shade at the top, so this is a morning or it is nothing. 40,000₫ in; the lift is 15,000₫ if I do not fancy the 156 steps; Am Phu cave is a separate 20,000₫ and I probably will.

XLIII Specialty Coffee

Lô 419, 422 Ngô Thì Sĩ, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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The middle of the day is not for walking around. Coffee and air conditioning until about four, and this is the afternoon to give up entirely if my friend is free.

Linh Ung Temple

472H+34F Bán đảo, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam

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Free, no ticket. The reason to go is the view back over the bay rather than the pagoda, so late afternoon with the light behind me.

Dragon Bridge

Cầu Rồng, An Hải, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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Fire and water Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 21:00, about half an hour, free — and nothing Monday to Thursday. If the night I am here is a Tuesday this is just a bridge and I should not build an evening around it.

Ba Na Hills

Thôn An Sơn, Hòa Vang, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam

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A whole day and an hour each way, for a bridge that is mostly other people's photographs. Leaving it out unless somebody who lives there tells me I am wrong.

My Quang Ba Mua

95A Nguyễn Tri Phương, Thanh Khê, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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Mi quang is the dish this city is actually known for. Doing it properly before leaving town for the day.

Central Market Hội An

49 Nguyễn Phúc Tần, An Hội, Hội An, Đà Nẵng 50000, Vietnam

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Forty-five minutes by Grab, roughly 250,000–400,000₫, and up to ninety minutes if I leave in rush hour. Going in the afternoon deliberately: the town is hot and full at midday and the point is after dark. The 120,000₫ ticket covers five heritage houses — the streets, the bridge and the lanterns cost nothing.

Chùa Cầu

Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Hội An, Đà Nẵng 564010, Vietnam

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Staying for the evening rather than doing this as a half-day. If the trip lands on the 14th of a lunar month the lanterns replace the street lighting entirely, which is worth choosing dates around if everything else is flexible.

Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng

280/23 Hoàng Diệu, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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Down an alley and always loud. Last proper meal before the airport.

My Khe Beach

My Khe Beach, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam

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Deliberately empty time. If four days has taught me the place is worth longer, this is where I will know it.

Danang International Airport

Nguyễn Văn Linh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

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