Da Nang + Hoi An in 6 Days

This route splits evenly between central Vietnam's two most complementary bases: three days in modern, beach-facing Da Nang, then three in the lantern-lit Ancient Town of Hoi An, with a half-day excursion to the Cham ruins at My Son along the way. Starting in Da Nang keeps things simple after landing, and finishing in slower-paced Hoi An with a day trip to My Son Sanctuary. If you have more time check the Vietnam 7-day itinerary, the Vietnam 10-day itinerary, or the Vietnam 12-day itinerary.

Da Nang

Route at a glance

A focused central Vietnam route based in just two cities, roughly 30–45 minutes apart by taxi: Da Nang for beaches and city sights, and Hoi An for heritage streets and a half-day excursion to the Cham ruins at My Son.

  • 1 Da Nang Days 1–3
  • 2 Marble Mountains & Cham Islands Day 3 · Half/full-day excursion
  • 3 Hoi An Days 4–6
  • 4 My Son Sanctuary Day 5 · Day trip

Where this trip comes to life

A quick visual preview of the two bases on this route.

Day-by-day plan

Planning tips for this Da Nang + Hoi An itinerary

Practical tips for Da Nang & Hoi An

Get an eSIM and use Grab

Grab is the easiest way to move between Da Nang and Hoi An and around each city. Mobile data also helps with maps, translation, and booking rides.

Book the My Son shuttle ahead

Shared or private transfers to My Son Sanctuary fill up, especially early morning slots that beat the heat—reserve at least a day in advance.

Carry cash and check fees

Vietnam's currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). Many local spots only take cash, and some hotels or restaurants add a surcharge for card payments.

Don't drink tap water

Tap water isn't safe to drink in either city. Stick to bottled or filtered water throughout the trip, including on the My Son day trip.

Book a tailor early if wanted

Hoi An is famous for fast custom tailoring, but fittings and adjustments take time—visit a tailor on your first Hoi An day, not your last.

Cross streets with care

Traffic can look chaotic in both cities. Walk at a steady, predictable pace and let cars and motorbikes move around you.

Where to stay on this itinerary

  • Da Nang 2 areas
    My Khe Beach area The most comfortable base, with beach access, modern hotels, and easy taxi rides to the rest of the city.
    Most practical
    Hai Chau District More central and closer to the Han River, museums, and markets, a short ride from the beach.
    More central
  • Hoi An 1 area
    Ancient Town The most practical base, keeping you close to restaurants, the market, and the My Son shuttle pickup points.
    Most practical
Two hotels, one relaxed transfer

You'll change hotels once, between Da Nang and Hoi An, on day 4. The transfer is short (about 45 minutes), so there's no need to rush that morning.

Best time to visit Da Nang & Hoi An

A quick seasonal view for this Da Nang + Hoi An route.

Jan
Cool · Some rain
Feb
Best
Mar
Best
Apr
Best
May
Warm
Jun
Hot · Beach
Jul
Hot · Humid
Aug
Hot · Humid
Sep
Rain risk
Oct
Rain · Storms
Nov
Rain · Storms
Dec
Cool · Drier

February to April is the most comfortable window for this route, with mild, dry conditions in both Da Nang and Hoi An—ideal for beach time, the Marble Mountains, and the more exposed My Son Sanctuary excursion. Summer works well for the beach but gets hot and humid, while September to November brings the highest chance of heavy rain and occasional typhoons across central Vietnam.

Details

Da Nang + Hoi An 6-day itinerary overview

This itinerary splits six days evenly between Da Nang and Hoi An, the two most complementary bases in central Vietnam. The first three days cover Da Nang's beaches, river views, museums, and a half-day excursion to the Marble Mountains with an optional Cham Islands boat trip. Day four is a short transfer to Hoi An with an afternoon exploring the Ancient Town. Day five is dedicated to a half-day round trip to the My Son Sanctuary ruins, with the afternoon and evening free back in Hoi An. The final day adds a relaxed stop at An Bang Beach before a later-evening transfer back to Da Nang International Airport.

Route at a glance

  • Da Nang (Days 1–3), based near My Khe Beach or Hai Chau District
  • Marble Mountains and optional Cham Islands boat trip (Day 3)
  • Transfer to Hoi An and Ancient Town introduction (Day 4)
  • My Son Sanctuary day trip from Hoi An (Day 5)
  • An Bang Beach and a later-evening departure from Da Nang Airport (Day 6)

Day-by-day highlights

  1. Day 1 (Da Nang): Arrival, Han River walk, Dragon Bridge, Da Nang Cathedral, and a seafood dinner
  2. Day 2 (Da Nang): Museum of Cham Sculpture, Han Market, My Khe Beach, and an evening at Asia Park and the Sun Wheel
  3. Day 3 (Da Nang): Marble Mountains caves and pagodas, optional Cham Islands boat trip, and dinner at Madame Lan
  4. Day 4 (Hoi An): Transfer from Da Nang, Ancient Town walk, Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, and riverside dinner
  5. Day 5 (My Son Sanctuary day trip): Guided tour of the Cham ruins, lunch near the site, return to Hoi An, and free time at An Bang Beach or the hotel
  6. Day 6 (Hoi An & departure): Central Market, coffee, checkout, an afternoon at An Bang Beach, and a later transfer to Da Nang International Airport

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Complete 6-day Da Nang + Hoi An itinerary (day-by-day plan)

Full written version of the 6-day Da Nang + Hoi An itinerary, including the My Son Sanctuary day trip, transfers, meals, and highlights for each day.

Want to keep exploring afterward? See the Vietnam 10-day itinerary, the Vietnam 12-day itinerary or the Vietnam 14-day itinerary.

Day 1: Da Nang (arrival)

Arrival in Da Nang with a relaxed afternoon exploring the Han River area and sampling local cuisine.

  • 10:00 — Arrive at Da Nang International Airport
  • 11:00 — Taxi to hotel and check-in in Hai Chau District
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Bún Chả Cá Bà Lữ
  • 14:00 — Walk along the Han River and visit the Dragon Bridge
  • 15:30 — Visit Da Nang Cathedral
  • 17:00 — Coffee break at Cong Caphe Han River
  • 19:00 — Dinner at Nhà hàng Bé Mặn

Transport: Taxi transfer from the airport to the hotel, walking and short taxi rides within Da Nang city center.

Day 2: Da Nang (culture, beach & markets)

A fuller day exploring Da Nang's cultural sites and beach, with plenty of street food and local markets along the way.

  • 08:30 — Breakfast at Bánh Mì Bà Lan
  • 09:30 — Visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture
  • 11:30 — Walk to the Love Lock Bridge and Han Market
  • 12:45 — Lunch at Mì Quảng Bà Mua
  • 14:00 — Relax at My Khe Beach
  • 16:30 — Coffee break at 43 Factory Coffee Roaster
  • 18:30 — Evening visit to the Sun Wheel and Asia Park
  • 20:00 — Dinner at Bún Bò Huế Ba Diệu

Transport: Walking and short taxi rides within Da Nang, including the beach and amusement park areas.

Day 3: Da Nang (Marble Mountains & Cham Islands)

A day mixing culture and nature: caves and pagodas at the Marble Mountains, plus an optional boat trip to the Cham Islands.

  • 07:30 — Breakfast at the hotel
  • 08:30 — Taxi to the Marble Mountains
  • 09:00 — Explore the Marble Mountains' caves and pagodas
  • 11:30 — Return to the city, quick snack at a local street vendor
  • 13:00 — Optional half-day Cham Island boat tour (weather permitting)
  • 16:30 — Return from the Cham Islands and rest at the hotel
  • 19:00 — Dinner at Madame Lan

Transport: Taxi transfers to the Marble Mountains and Cham Islands, walking at each site and around the hotel.

Day 4: Hoi An (transfer & Ancient Town)

A short transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An, followed by an afternoon walking tour of the Ancient Town and a riverside dinner.

  • 08:00 — Breakfast at the hotel in Da Nang
  • 09:00 — Da Nang → Hoi An by shared shuttle (~45 min)
  • 10:00 — Check-in near the Hoi An Ancient Town
  • 11:00 — Explore the Hoi An Ancient Town
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Cargo Club Hoi An
  • 14:00 — Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge and Tan Ky Old House
  • 16:00 — Coffee break at Reaching Out Tea House
  • 17:00 — Stroll along the Thu Bon River and lantern shopping
  • 19:00 — Dinner at Morning Glory Restaurant

Transport: Shared shuttle transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An, walking within the Ancient Town.

If you want an itinerary focused on the city, consider our Hoi An 3-day itinerary and our Hoi An 4-day itinerary

Day 5: My Son Sanctuary day trip

A half-day round trip to the Cham temple ruins at My Son, with the rest of the day free back in Hoi An.

  • 07:30 — Breakfast at the hotel in Hoi An
  • 08:00 — Hoi An → My Son Sanctuary by private transfer (~1h15)
  • 09:30 — Guided tour of My Son Sanctuary
  • 12:00 — Lunch at My Son Garden Restaurant
  • 13:30 — Return transfer to Hoi An
  • 15:00 — Relax at the hotel or explore An Bang Beach
  • 17:30 — Coffee at The Espresso Station
  • 19:00 — Dinner at Cargo Club Hoi An

Transport: Private car transfers between Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, walking in Hoi An and at the nearby beach.

Day 6: Hoi An, An Bang Beach & departure

A relaxed final day that closes out the trip with the market, a beach afternoon at An Bang, and a later-evening transfer to the airport.

  • 08:00 — Breakfast at the hotel
  • 09:00 — Morning walk in the Hoi An Central Market
  • 10:30 — Mid-morning coffee at Rosie's Cafe
  • 11:30 — Hotel checkout and luggage storage
  • 12:00 — Light lunch at Bánh Mì Phượng
  • 13:00 — Transfer to An Bang Beach (Taxi, ~15 min)
  • 13:15 — Relax at An Bang Beach
  • 16:30 — Return to the Ancient Town and collect luggage (Taxi, ~15 min)
  • 17:30 — Hoi An → Da Nang International Airport (Taxi, ~45 min) for a 21:00 departure

Transport: Walking and short taxi rides within Hoi An, a taxi to and from An Bang Beach, and a private taxi transfer to Da Nang Airport.

FAQ

How many days should I spend in Da Nang and Hoi An?

6 days works well as a 3-and-3 split: 3 days in Da Nang for beaches, Marble Mountains, and city sights, then 3 days in Hoi An for the Ancient Town and a My Son Sanctuary day trip.

Should I visit Da Nang or Hoi An first?

Da Nang first, then Hoi An. Da Nang International Airport is the arrival point for both cities, so starting there avoids an immediate transfer after landing, and ending the trip in quieter Hoi An before a short ride back to the airport is a more relaxed way to close out the trip.

Should I add a My Son Sanctuary day trip to a Da Nang + Hoi An itinerary?

Yes, if you have 3 days in Hoi An. My Son Sanctuary is a half-day excursion, about 1 hour and 15 minutes each way, so it fits into one morning-to-afternoon block without needing a dedicated extra day.

Where should I stay for this Da Nang + Hoi An trip?

In Da Nang, the My Khe Beach area or Hai Chau District both work well. In Hoi An, the Ancient Town is the most practical base, keeping you close to restaurants, the market, and the My Son shuttle pickup points.