12 Experiences You’ll Love in Da Nang and Hoi An

Behind these buttery walls, the most fashionable tailors are ready to help you design a gorgeous new wardrobe. Yaly may take an extra day or two for your items to be perfect, but it’s worth the extra appointments... and the price. Sure, you can go to any number of tailors in Hoi An to get a blazer made in less than 24 hours, but as with most things, you get what you pay for. Eighteen months later and the items I designed here are still most coveted pieces in my closet. Don’t know where to start? Take a stroll through thousands of fabric bolts in everything from wool to the finest locally made silks, or sift through pages of designer books as you sip on cucumber juice. And, be sure to bring photos of your desired item...Yes, even that DVF dress you swooned over in Vouge Italia last month!

The Old Quarter of Hoi An is incredibly well preserved and photogenic. Head there at nightfall when the lanterns are lit and begin snapping some incredibly beautiful photos. Between the lanterns, the gorgeous architecture, the boats, and the bridges, there are an endless amount of perfectly composed photos to be taken. Don’t forget to bring a tripod of some sort to handle the long exposure shots.

A 13-mile section of Vietnam‘s National Route 1A between Da Nang and Hue, the Hai Van Pass might be short in distance, but it’s long on views. Rising up and down the Truong Son range, and with a name that translates to “Ocean Cloud” Pass, the road travels through an area freighted with historical and meteorological significance—it once formed the border between the ancient Dai Viet and Champa kingdoms, and still divides the weather patterns of south and north Vietnam. The pass was often crowded with traffic for years, but a tunnel that opened nearby in 2005 drew away many of the cars and trucks, making it relatively tranquil these days. Expect coastal vistas that will leave you speechless.

A UNESCO World Heritage site in a mountain valley about 40 miles west of Da Nang, My Son is a vestige of the Champa kingdom, a culture that was heavily shaped by Hindu beliefs and practices. Built between the 4th and 14th centuries, the temples pay homage to the god Shiva, though the deity is often referred to here by different names. While some of the shrines are partially restored, and others overgrown with greenery or showing their age (many were destroyed by American bombing during the Vietnam War), the sheer scope of the ruins are proof of the reach of Hinduism and the lofty ambitions of the Cham kings.

No sight defines Danang more than its impressive “dragon bridge”. The structure, which spans the Han River, was built at great expense and opened to traffic in late 2013. It is an impressive sight at all times, but especially so on Saturday and Sunday nights at 9pm when the dragon breathes fire.

A journey to Son Tra Peninsula is a must for many reasons, not least the opportunity to visit Linh Ung Pagoda. The temple is the largest in Danang and is spectacularly located on a knoll with fantastic views back towards China Beach and the Marble Mountains. It is impossible to miss the pagoda as it is located right next door to the giant white Goddess of Mercy statue.