Planning a visit to Da Nang Beach and not sure where to start? We got you covered! After spending multiple months living and remote working in Central Vietnam we grew to love this beachside city. Not only is Da Nang home to some of the best beaches in Vietnam, but you’ll also find amazing places to eat and drink dotted along the coastline. Here’s everything to know about Da Nang, the fun My Khe beach bar scene, plus tips from our own experience.
Does Da Nang Have Nice Beaches?
If you’ve already spent time traveling in Southeast Asia then you’ve probably heard Vietnam isn’t really known for it’s gorgeous beaches. With the Thai Islands, Bali Indonesia, and even Cambodia all a quick flight away, Vietnam sometimes slips under the radar.
However, you should know the Da Nang Beaches in Vietnam are some of the best around! Here you’ll find long stretches of warm white sand and calm waves. On top of that, the Da Nang beach bars and restaurants around My Khe Beach (and others) offer a great place to chill and enjoy your vacation.
Da Nang Beach vs City
The first thing to know about Da Nang is that there are actually two distinct parts of the city. If you’re heading to this area of Central Vietnam then we recommend staying in the Da Nang beach area.
Here you’ll find many of the best Da Nang restaurants, sea view hotels, and a blossoming ex-pat community. This is the perfect place to spend a holiday and combine great food with beaches.
Still, you should know that the actual Da Nang city centre is located across the many bridges from the beach! The most famous is the Da Nang Dragon Bridge which has a wild fire and water show on the weekends.
Once you get into the actual city, you’ll find a massive area that’s completely different from the Da Nang beaches. The narrow streets weave their way through the colorful buildings, making for an interesting place to explore.
You can also visit the markets of Da Nang city and do some shopping for clothes or souvenirs. Some of our favorite Da Nang restaurants are located in this area and we often cross the bridges just to eat!
→ Best Vietnam Food: 34 Delicious Dishes to Try On Your First Visit
When’s the Best Time to Visit the Da Nang Beaches?
Da Nang Vietnam has a tropical climate and it can be visited year-round. However, know that there are two seasons to be aware of when planning your trip.
The best time to visit the beautiful Da Nang beach is during dry season. Like much of Southeast Asia, this runs between the months of December and May. However, from our experience, December and January can be hit or miss with the weather.
We’ve been there over the Christmas holiday twice now and it was still a bit cold and rainy. With this in mind, you should plan for February or later to truly enjoy My Khe Beach and others in Da Nang.
March to May is a great time to relax at the beach, but know it comes with a warning. During peak season is also when you’ll see more crowds arrive at the beaches of Da Nang.
We have even been to Da Nang during rainy season when the weather is far less pleasant. Yet, this is when there are much lower prices for accommodations if you’re on a budget.
Off-season can also be an opportunity to visit the city side of Da Nang or even make a trip to nearby Hoi An Ancient Town. Check out our article below if you’re planning a visit to Hoi An!
→ 21 Amazing Things to Do in Hoi An Vietnam: Ancient Town & More
Where to Eat & Drink on the Da Nang Beaches
As we mentioned, we lived in Da Nang for almost two months in early 2023. One of the reasons we picked our area was because we could easily walk to the stunning Da Nang beach.
Almost every day we would walk along the coast and pop into a different Da Nang beach bar or restaurant for a quick coffee or meal. There are really enough options that you can spend weeks here and not get bored with the food. In addition to that, a large beer will typically cost $2 USD or less and fresh coconuts are $1.
Know that most of the places on the beach serve just drinks, local seafood, or international cuisine. So when you’re craving local Vietnamese food you’ll have to head into the backstreets from the Da Nang Beaches.
Best Da Nang Beach Bars & Restaurants
Our favorite place for a drink on My Khe Beach is Paradise Beach Bar & Cinema. We also loved Maia Beach Bar which is just next door!
Between the two beach bars is a small coffee stand called Bom TASTY. This is a nice spot to grab something to go and walk the boardwalk with.
When you’re in the mood for Western food there is even some amazing pizza near Da Nang Beach! Check out the small stand called Pizza and Burger by Herbal Pizza that has wooden tables set up overlooking the water. It will be hard to miss it as it’s always packed in the afternoon and evening.
For a more proper setup Esco Beach Bar Lounge & Restaurant is the place to go. They have delicious international food and a great happy hour during the week.
A little further down the coast you’ll find Mân Thái Beach – Chợ Cá Gỗ. This Da Nang beach bar features comfortable lounge chairs and bean bags.
Don’t be surprised when a few hours have passed by at all these fun locations! It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re taking in the beautiful Da Nang beach view and the drinks are flowing.
Da Nang Beach Guide
My Khe Beach is the main stretch of golden sand and where all the action takes place. Yet, know that there are so many amazing Da Nang beaches to discover along the vast coastline.
The best way to explore the Da Nang Beaches is by renting a motorbike. Many of them are located a bit further from the city, but still within range. If you’re confident enough in your skills, you can beach hop down the coast and dip in and out of the water.
Even for the most experienced scooter riders, we wouldn’t recommend driving over the bridges into Da Nang city. The traffic can be unbearable and often dangerous for tourists during rush hour.
5 Best Da Nang Beaches
My Khe Beach: The most popular place to hang in Da Nang! My Khe Beach is full of pop up cafes and a long boardwalk stretches under the endless palm trees. This is known as one of the most attractive beaches in Vietnam and not to be missed on your visit.
Bac My An Beach: Just north of My Khe Beach sits the soft sands of My An. It’s connected with My Khe Beach so you may think they’re the same, but Bac My An is a little bit more remote. This is the perfect place to relax in the peak months to avoid the crowds.
Non Nuoc Beach: Located a bit further from the main area near the Marble Mountains. Here you’ll find more amazing white sands and plenty of space to stretch out without many tourists.
Lang Co Beach: This beach is located about 30km north of the city, but well worth a visit. Enjoy the mountain views as you take a swim in the crystal clear sea. You’ll also see a local fishing village nearby with colorful basket boats.
Red Beach: Also known as China Beach, this part of the coastline was made famous during the Vietnam War. Another quiet place to relax, but many large hotels are currently being built.
Why is Da Nang So Popular?
Now that you know about the Da Nang Beaches, what else makes this such an ideal destination? To us, we think it’s the perfect blend of local and tourist vibes. It truly is the best of both worlds!
It’s a place where you can find everything from hostels to boutique hotels, and even high-end resorts with sea views at cheap prices. There are also an abundance of outdoor activities on the water, jungle hikes, and historical sites to see.
Aside from the Da Nang beach, our favorite part of every visit is definitely the food! There are so many great local specialties to try such as Mi Quang, Bun Cha Ca, and Banh Xeo. Be sure to try a Bo Ne for breakfast which is Vietnam’s take on sizzling steak and eggs.
Many of the best places to eat can be found in Da Nang city center. Alternatively, the beach side is full of seafood eateries and international cuisine.
Where to Stay in Da Nang Vietnam
Below are some of the very best places to stay in the area. All except for the InterContinental are walking distance from the main Da Nang beach!
To stay on the city side of Da Nang we recommend looking on booking.com. This is how we find the most affordable hotel deals in Southeast Asia.
Luxury Resort – InterContinental Danang – Although it’s outside the main city, the InterContinental is one of the nicest beachfront resorts in all of Vietnam. The ultra luxury bungalows are nestled into mountainside boulders and feature private pools with balconies facing the ocean. It doesn’t get much better than this!
Beachside Boutique Hotel – Prana Boutique Hotel and Apartments – After many visits to Da Nang this is our favorite place to stay. The family who owns Prana is extremely kind and helpful with information, tours, and motorbike rentals. Enjoy beautiful rooms that are modern and spacious. We also loved hanging out in the rooftop pool on a hot day.
Beachside Hostel – Light House Hostel – Fun hostel near the Da Nang beaches Vietnam. Everything is clean and new, plus they also have private rooms to accommodate couples.
Are the Da Nang Beaches the Best in Vietnam?
We certainly think so! After several trips to the country, we’ve been from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and everywhere in between. We’ve even traveled to Phu Quoc Island twice which was such a fun experience!
We definitely have enjoyed other popular coastal destinations such as Nha Trang, Con Dao, and Hoi An to name a few. Still, the Da Nang Beaches have always been our favorite.
For us it has the perfect blend of scenery, fun beach bars, and warm tropical waters. We also love how easy it is to head into the city and take in the local Vietnamese culture and food.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own tips for Da Nang Beach? Let us know in the comments below.
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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I’ve heard so much about this place and I’m really glad I got to read this before travelling. Thanks for the tips, this saved me a lot of time to research on my last trip!
Author
So glad to hear that! The Da Nang Beaches are so worth a visit