Welcome to Vietnam’s third largest city. Trailing behind Saigon and Hanoi in population and located pretty much halfway between the two, Danang does offer its fair share of character. Being one of Vietnam’s more important port cities, you can very well head out to the ocean for some scenery soaking. And the town itself has her own fair share of sights and is near some incredible ones, like My Son and Hoi An.

The city’s history blends Champa influences in the early stages of the A.D. era along with Khmer, Vietnamese and Chinese flavor in the 15^th century. Its seaside location made it an important port town Spanish, French and Americans during their time in the area, which also led to the rapid growth of the city.

Tourism is an important sector in Danang’s economy. It is not hard to see why. We already mentioned its seaside location and its outside influences throughout history. What needs to be mentioned as well is Marble Mountains. If you like limestone formations, you’ll love these pieces of nature. There are five of them, filled with caves and marble crafts depicting mystical creatures and images of Buddha. Climb one for excellent views of the city. And if you want to learn more about the previously mentioned Champa civilization, just head over to the Cham Museum.

Danang is also your base to not one, but two UNESCO Heritage Sites. Since we are on the topic of the Champa, let’s mention one of their masterpieces, My Son. Over there is a set of abandoned and partially ruined temples. The over 70 ruins are clustered in a valley in between two mountain ranges. A visual and atmospheric treat is waiting for you here.

And the other UNESCO site is…Hoi An. It’s like walking back in time during the 1700’s in Vietnam (if you remember how things were like back then). The Old Town of Hoi An is full of lanes and boulevards housing old Chinese style shop houses. Not much restoration work was done here, so it looks just as it did a couple hundred years ago. And may we suggest a viewing of the town during sunset? Classic in every sense of the word!

Danang is a great hub for Central Vietnam. If you need to experience UNESCO sites, this is the town you need to be in. Explore those sites with A Day Hoi An and My Son tour and discover the cultural significance of these two destinations. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to tweak any of the programs in our Vietnam tours page.

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