What to do in central Vietnam during your trip ?

After my trip to the south of Vietnam, I headed for Da Nang to discover the centre of the country. If you have the opportunity, I would recommend staying 1 week in central Vietnam. If you’re a bit pressed for time, I’d recommend as a priority : Hoi An 🥰.

What to do in Da Nang ?

The city of Da Nang attracts tourists in part for its 900m long main beach. I didn’t find much of interest in the city centre, but you can go to the large Han Market. It’s the same kind of market you’d find in Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi with a food section and a textile section.

Lady Buddha and Son Tra Mountain :

The Da Nang Buddha, an impressive 67-metre high statue, is located on the Son Tra peninsula, a 15-minute drive from the city centre. This colossal work, inaugurated in 2010, embodies peace and serenity. Carved from white marble, it represents Amitabha Buddha, a symbol of compassion and benevolence.

Once at Son Tra Mountain, you can take a walk in the nature park to meet the monkeys. Or head for the wilder beaches.

Where to eat in Da Nang ?

This city has some interesting places to eat! I was able to try out around ten of them, as I stayed for a week to relax a bit. I recommend my 4 favourite places:

• Nha Bep Xua : the inexpensive place to try the local cuisine! The place doesn’t look like much, but it’s a good opportunity to try the specialities without spending too much.
• Bao An Macrobiotic : a vegan menu, a cute setting, adorable staff and low prices. What more could you ask for ?

• Bravo Pizzeria : as with all my travels, I had a sudden craving for pizza! And I’ve come to the right place 🙂 The owner, who’s a real sweetheart, runs his little business all by himself. The products are fresh, the dough is good, the cooking is done over a wood fire and the terrace is quiet.
• The Gypsy Rooftop : undoubtedly the hottest rooftop in Da Nang! The terrace and pool overlook the city. The food is excellent, the cocktails very well made and the service is excellent 👌🏼.

Where to stay in Da Nang ?

Here is a selection of 3 hotels that I have tested and approved :

• Thanh Hien HB Hotel : for very small budgets, this hotel, which I paid €6 a night, does the trick for the price. Be careful to get the upgrade on Booking, as there’s a huge gap between the €5 room and the newly renovated €6 room with a 3.20m bed 😆. Yes, yes, they’ve stuck 2 160 cm beds in there !
• Dolphin Hotel and Apartment : Excellent value for money ! For €20-30 a night, you can rent a beautiful, modern studio apartment. Ideal if you want to cook for yourself. I have to admit that I love to cook and it’s nice to be able to prepare a little dish while travelling. The hotel has a rooftop swimming pool and is just a few metres from the beach.
• Intercontinental Da Nang : Clearly one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve stayed in to date. Ultra luxury in the middle of nature and a feeling of being alone in the world. In fact, this hotel is located away from the city, in a national park where the only inhabitants within a few kilometres are monkeys ! Everything is perfect: food, pool, infrastructure, staff, bedding… I wouldn’t change a thing ! So yes, it’s not cheap, but you know why you’re paying that price 😊.

What to do in central of Vietnam in Hoi An ?

Ah… Hoi An… So much to say about this little town, but I’ll try to be as concise as possible and get straight to the point. Hoi An is located on the coast, 40 minutes from Da Nang. You can book your transport here. The town is renowned for its preserved architecture, colourful lanterns, bustling markets and delicious cuisine, offering an authentic immersion in Vietnamese culture.

Visit the old town of Hoi An :

Of course, you’ll want to head to the city centre to wander these colourful little streets. It is a historical marvel. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An has a rich cultural heritage of colonial houses, Buddhist temples, Chinese pagodas and Japanese bridges. I love the narrow cobbled streets with their many traditional craft shops. You’ll also find quaint restaurants and colourful lanterns on every corner. Day or night, the atmosphere of Hoi An’s old town is magical 🤩.

Mini night cruise :

At nightfall, around 6pm, I recommend you take a boat trip from the Cau An Hoi bridge. Take 2 or 4 people on board a small wooden boat with lanterns. It’s a magical 45-minute experience! It costs around €6 per person.

Coconut boat :

The coconut boat ride is a must-do activity in Hoi An. It’s great fun, cheap, the setting is magnificent and it costs just €4 for 2. Allow an hour for the ride through the banana trees. Be careful, though, as you’ll be approached by a number of vendors offering higher prices. I met a local who had his own coconut boat. He’s a sweetheart who laughs whenever you tell him something and he’ll take you anywhere you want to go! I’ll leave you his number: +84 935 828 981.

Tra Que :

You can’t visit Hoi An without going to Tra Que, which is a 10-minute scooter ride away. I love this picturesque little village, famous for its organic gardens. Tra Que offers an authentic experience of rural Vietnamese life. The locals grow a variety of herbs and vegetables using traditional, eco-friendly methods 🍃.

Taste the Hoi An MOT and street food :

You absolutely must try the MOT ! It is THE emblematic local drink of Hoi An. For the record, the creator of this drink started selling it on the city’s pavements before taking up residence in his parents’ front shop. The recipe remains a secret, but it is dominated by lemon juice, tea and cinnamon. You must also try the street food, very good and very cheap ! Just like everywhere else in Vietnam 😊.

Lantern making and art :

As you can imagine, Hoi An is synonymous with lanterns. This is your chance to discover this craft and create your own lantern to take home ! It costs just €5 for a small one and €6.5 for a medium-sized one. I also spent many hours browsing the shops to buy a painting. You’ll see lots of shops, so don’t rush! It was hard to choose because the Vietnamese are so talented 🤩.

Where to eat in Hoi An ?

Honestly, the food in Hoi An is very good ! I’m writing this article from the Philippines and I can tell you that I’m feeling nostalgic. I’ve tried out several places, but here are my 3 favourites :

• A Little Kitchen Restaurant: for a taste of Hoi An’s speciality, the famous Cau Lau ! What’s more, the prices are low, the service is great and it’s very quiet. In fact, it’s in a small pedestrian street, away from the hustle and bustle, and that’s really nice.
• Strawberry Garden Homestay : I’ve been here for lunch and dinner several times because of their melting aubergines with peanuts – incredible ! Attractive prices and a very warm welcome from the manager. Nice to eat in this little garden.
• Tok : for lunch in the middle of the rice paddies, this is the place to go ! The cocktails and dishes are excellent. I stayed for 2 hours because the setting is so magnificent.

Where to stay in Hoi An ?

For this trip to Hoi An, I stayed in a hotel 10 minutes east of the city : Serene Nature Hotel & Spa. The price was better than hotels in the centre, it was much quieter and I loved the swimming pool overlooking the rice fields ! I haven’t regretted my choice, the staff are adorable. You can hire a scooter or bike on site to take you around Hoi An. Expect to pay around €20-25 a night including breakfast.

Trip to central Vietnam : what to do in Hué ?

To finish this little itinerary in central Vietnam, I spent a day in Hué. I think that’s enough. It’s a 3-hour drive from Hoi An or a 2-hour drive from Da Nang. It’s best to book your transport in advance to make sure you have enough room.

Visiting the Imperial City :

Let’s start with the city’s main attraction. The Imperial City of Hue is an impressive historical complex that was once the seat of Vietnam’s imperial power. You can explore the city’s ancient palaces, temples and fortifications. The tour costs around €8 per person and takes 1 to 3 hours.

Tasting local cuisine :

Don’t miss the opportunity to sample the delights of Vietnamese cuisine in Hué. I recommend trying local dishes such as :

• bún bò Huế (fragrant beef noodle soup)
• banh khoai (rice pancakes stuffed with prawns and vegetables)
• bánh bèo (shrimp rice cakes).

I also tried out a superb address where you can try local dishes at very good prices : House Trang. To get there, take the pedestrian street (evenings only), which has a really pleasant atmosphere.

The incense village :

Located 20 minutes from the centre, head for “Thuy Xuan Incense-making Village“. I’ll leave you the MAPS details. This village is renowned for its ancestral incense-making tradition. Local craftsmen perpetuate techniques handed down from generation to generation, using natural ingredients to create high-quality, fragrant incense. As well as buying traditional incense, don’t hesitate to find a workshop to see the activity.

Explore the abandoned water park :

For an atypical experience, you can head to Ho Thuy Tien, also 20 minutes from Hué. Frozen in time and overgrown, the slides and empty pools tell a forgotten story, providing a striking backdrop for urban explorers. I recommend you go early to enjoy this place alone and with soft light that gives even more emotion to this place. There’s a guard on site who asked me for €2, but I’m not sure you’re obliged to give it to him. He looks as much like a guard as I do an astronaut.

I hope this article will help you find out what to do in central Vietnam during your trip. After this trip, I headed for the north of Vietnam. Enjoy your trip ❤️. If you like Asia, take a look at our articles on Thailand or my 10-day itinerary in Laos !

This article contains affiliate links. If we’ve helped you organise your trip or you’d just like to support us, please consider booking your activities and hotels in Vietnam by clicking on our links. We’ll earn a small commission and the price stays the same for you of course. 🤍