Hoi An and Da Nang sit less than an hour apart and suit each other well: one is a preserved trading port, the other a modern coastal city with long beaches and green mountains. Five days is enough to enjoy both without rushing.
Day 1: Arrive and settle into Hoi An
Transfer from Da Nang airport to Hoi An (see how to get from Da Nang to Hoi An). Spend the afternoon by the pool or the beach, then walk into the Ancient Town at dusk for your first view of the lanterns.
Day 2: Hoi An Ancient Town
Visit the heritage houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge in the cool of the morning. Order tailoring if you wish, and give the afternoon to cafes, museums and a cooking class.
Day 3: Countryside and beach
Cycle to Tra Que vegetable village, ride a basket boat in Cam Thanh and finish with seafood at An Bang Beach.
Day 4: Marble Mountains and Da Nang
Check out and travel north along the coast. Stop at the Marble Mountains to climb to the caves and pagodas, then continue to Da Nang. In the afternoon, drive up the Son Tra Peninsula to Linh Ung Pagoda and its tall Lady Buddha statue for views across the bay. After dark, walk along the Han River to see the Dragon Bridge illuminated.
Day 5: Ba Na Hills or My Khe Beach
Choose between a day in the mountains at Ba Na Hills, home of the Golden Bridge held up by two giant stone hands, or a relaxed morning on My Khe Beach followed by the Museum of Cham Sculpture. Either way you are close to the airport for an evening departure.
Practical notes
- Book two bases: three nights in Hoi An and one or two in Da Nang.
- Go to Ba Na Hills on a weekday and arrive at opening time to avoid queues at the cable car.
- From February to August the weather is driest. In the rainy months, keep the mountain day flexible.
