Destination Da Nang

Sơn Trà Peninsula, a few kilometres from central Da Nang, is home to one of the world's rarest monkeys: the red-shanked douc. With its orange-toned face and colourful coat, this endangered primate is unmistakable. The peninsula is one of its most important remaining refuges, but spotting these tree-dwelling monkeys in the wild takes patience.

In Da Nang, sunrise at the beach is much more than a pretty view: it's a daily ritual for residents. At first light, the beach comes alive and becomes a gathering place for locals, far removed from the tourist atmosphere later in the day. It's a special side of the city worth discovering!

At nightfall, the Hoài River in the heart of Hoi An fills with small boats decorated with colorful lanterns. For around twenty minutes, you glide among the illuminated boats, with the chance to make a wish and release a small paper lantern onto the water. It's a very touristy activity, but one that really adds to Hoi An's charm.

Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng) is one of Da Nang’s landmarks in Vietnam. Spanning 666 metres across the Han River, it features an enormous golden dragon. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm, the dragon comes to life in a free show, breathing real flames and then spraying water. The show is short, lasting less than ten minutes.

Just a short bike ride from Hoi An’s historic centre, the scenery changes completely. Busy streets give way to rice fields and narrow paths, where you might pass locals on scooters, farmers at work and the occasional buffalo. Around Cam Chau and Cam Thanh, a few cafés offer a lovely spot to stop and look out over the fields.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An's Old Town is a maze of narrow streets lined with old yellow-fronted houses, small cafés, shops and colourful lanterns. It's a charming historic centre best explored on foot, with plenty of opportunities for spontaneous stops along the way.