Da Nang & Hoi An Heritage Escape
Five days on Vietnam's central coast — the beaches and modern skyline of Da Nang, the lantern-lit ancient streets of Hoi An, and the Cham temple ruins of My Son — with your transfers, hotels and guided sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
Vietnam's central coast — beaches, an ancient town and living heritage
Da Nang and Hoi An sit less than an hour apart on Vietnam's central coast, and together they cover more ground than almost any other short break in the country. Da Nang is the modern beach city — wide sand, a skyline of new bridges, and the base most travellers use to explore the region. Hoi An, a short drive south, is its opposite: a UNESCO-listed trading port frozen in the 15th to 19th centuries, its old streets closed to cars and lit by silk lanterns after dark.
This five-day itinerary uses both as your base, with a full day given to each and a day trip inland to My Son — the Cham dynasty's answer to Angkor, a cluster of red-brick Hindu temple ruins set in a forested valley. Along the way there's Da Nang's Marble Mountains, an afternoon on the sand, and the old-town walking tour that makes Hoi An one of the most photographed towns in Southeast Asia.
Airport transfers, centrally located accommodation, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing are arranged for you. Want more beach time, a cooking class added in Hoi An, or the whole thing run privately? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
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What you'll actually see
Hoi An's UNESCO-listed Ancient Town
A former trading port on the Thu Bon River, its old quarter of merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls and covered bridges has been preserved largely intact since the 15th–19th centuries. On foot, it's one of the most atmospheric old towns in Southeast Asia — by night, lit almost entirely by silk lanterns.
My Son's Cham temple ruins
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in a forested valley inland from Hoi An, My Son was a religious and political centre of the Champa Kingdom from the 4th to the 14th century. Its red-brick Hindu temple towers, now in various states of ruin, are the largest surviving collection of Cham architecture anywhere.
Da Nang's Marble Mountains
Five limestone and marble hills rising out of the coastal plain south of Da Nang, each named for one of the five elements. Caves and grottoes cut into the largest, Thuy Son, hold Buddhist sanctuaries and shrines, reached by a mix of stairs and lift.
Da Nang beaches and the Dragon Bridge
Wide, gently sloping sand along Da Nang's coastline, with hotels and cafes right on the beach road. In the evening, the Han River's Dragon Bridge — the world's largest dragon-shaped steel bridge — lights up, and on Saturday and Sunday nights, breathes fire and water.
Your 5-day itinerary
A balanced pace across two very different towns, with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met at Da Nang International Airport and transferred to your beachside hotel. Settle in, then take an easy first evening — a walk along the sand, or down to the Han River for the Dragon Bridge, which lights up after dark and, on Saturday and Sunday nights, breathes fire and water at 9pm.
After breakfast, a guided visit to the Marble Mountains, the cluster of five limestone hills south of the city. Climb (or take the lift) into Thuy Son to explore the caves, Buddhist sanctuaries and viewpoints cut into the rock, before an afternoon free for the beach — swim, relax on a sun lounger, or browse the seafront cafes.
A short transfer south to Hoi An, checking into your old-town-adjacent hotel along the way. Spend the afternoon on a guided walk through the Ancient Town — the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese assembly halls, centuries-old merchant houses and the riverside market — then stay on for the evening, when the lanterns come on and the old streets close to traffic.
A morning drive inland to My Son, arriving before the day's heat builds. A guide walks you through the different temple groups — some intact, some reduced to brick and vine-covered rubble by time and war — explaining the site's Hindu iconography and its place in Cham history. Return to Hoi An by early afternoon, free to relax on An Bang Beach, browse the tailor shops, or simply linger over a bowl of cao lau in the old town.
Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight, a little free time for last-minute shopping or a relaxed morning by the river. You're then transferred to Da Nang International Airport for your onward journey — or, if you'd like to extend, we can add nights on the coast or link this trip to a wider central Vietnam itinerary including Hue.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to flight schedules, tides, weather and local conditions.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 4 nights
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Intercity transfers where applicable
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
Before you go
Best time to visit
Central Vietnam is warm year-round, with a wetter season roughly October to December and the calmest, driest weather generally February to May. We'll advise on timing for your dates when you enquire.
Currency
The Vietnamese Dong (VND). Cards are widely accepted in Da Nang's hotels and larger restaurants; carry cash for Hoi An's old-town shops, markets and tailors, many of which prefer it.
Visas & documents
Entry requirements depend on your passport. Many nationalities can apply for a Vietnamese e-visa online in advance, and some enter visa-free for short stays — please check based on your nationality, and we're happy to point you to the right official source.
Getting between towns
Da Nang and Hoi An are close enough for an easy private road transfer, and Hoi An's old town is entirely walkable once you're there — most sights, restaurants and your hotel will be within a short stroll or cyclo ride of each other.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing, swimwear, good walking shoes for the Ancient Town's uneven paths and My Son's temple grounds, sun protection and insect repellent. Hoi An's tailors are famous — leave a little suitcase space if you're planning to shop.
Hoi An after dark
Much of the Ancient Town's charm is best seen at night, when lanterns replace streetlights and parts of the old quarter close to traffic. Plan at least one evening there rather than treating it as a day trip.
Da Nang and Hoi An, side by side
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Good to have answered
Is the US$699 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 5-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation. It covers your hotels, daily breakfast, airport and listed transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel choice, group size and whether you'd like it private, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
How far apart are Da Nang and Hoi An?
Close enough for a straightforward private road transfer, which we arrange as part of your package. Many travellers base themselves in one town and day-trip to the other, but this itinerary gives you a proper stay in each, since they offer very different experiences.
Are international flights included?
No — international flights aren't included unless we've specifically stated so in your quote. Da Nang International Airport has direct connections from several regional hubs; we can advise on convenient routings and arrange your airport transfers to match your flights.
Can this itinerary be customised or run privately?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Run it fully private, add beach days, include a Hoi An cooking class or tailoring session, or extend into a wider central Vietnam trip that includes Hue. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape it around you.
How much walking is involved, especially at My Son?
It's a moderate, comfortable trip for most travellers. Hoi An's Ancient Town is flat and easy on foot; the Marble Mountains involve some stairs (a lift is available for most of the climb); and My Son has uneven, sometimes shaded forest paths between temple groups. Tell us your preferences and we'll plan the day around them.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your nationality. Many travellers can apply for a Vietnamese e-visa online in advance, and some nationalities enter visa-free for short stays, but requirements change. Please verify based on your own passport before you travel — we're glad to point you to the right official source.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your Da Nang & Hoi An escape
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.