Da Nang

Mỹ Khê Beach·Sơn Trà Peninsula·Dragon Bridge

Swim or walk My Khe at 5-6am with the locals (lifeguards on duty from 4:30am in summer, 5am in winter). Then Son Tra Peninsula: the coast road to Linh Ung Pagoda, its Lady Buddha and the Obama rocks is open all day; the forest roads up to Ban Co Peak open 7:30am-6:30pm (until 5:30pm Oct-Feb), some routes don't allow automatic scooters, and roads close after storms - check at the gate. Evening: the Dragon Bridge fire and water show at 9pm on weekend nights (Sat-Sun, often Friday too - check that week), about 15 minutes. Then the Son Tra or Helio night market.

Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)

Marble Mountains from the 7am opening, before tour groups and the heat - about 8km south of the centre, 40,000 VND plus 20,000 VND for Am Phu Cave; the steps are steep and slippery, wear proper shoes. Afternoon: the Museum of Cham Sculpture near the Dragon Bridge (7am-5pm, 60,000 VND), one of the best collections of Cham art anywhere, and the pink Da Nang Cathedral nearby. Seafood on the beach road before you leave.

Mỹ Khê Beach·Sơn Trà Peninsula

Early swim at My Khe. Late morning on Son Tra: Linh Ung Pagoda and the Lady Buddha (free, 6am-9pm) and the Obama rocks on the coast road, then the forest roads if they're open (7:30am-6:30pm, until 5:30pm Oct-Feb) - look for red-shanked douc langurs and don't feed them. Some routes don't allow automatic scooters; check at the gate. Evening at the Son Tra night market.

Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)·Dragon Bridge

Marble Mountains at 7am, then the Cham Museum and the pink Da Nang Cathedral in the afternoon. Sunset from a rooftop bar on the river, then the Dragon Bridge show at 9pm if it's a show night (Sat-Sun, often Friday too). Otherwise walk the riverside to the Love Bridge.

Pick one. Hoi An is about 30km south - best from late afternoon into the lantern evening (see the Hoi An page). Ba Na Hills is a full day: go at the first cable car and leave before the afternoon clouds. Trying both in one day is rushed.

Mỹ Khê Beach·Sơn Trà Peninsula

Check in near the beach. Linh Ung Pagoda, the Obama rocks and the Son Tra coast road in the afternoon (forest roads close at 6:30pm, 5:30pm Oct-Feb). Evening: Dragon Bridge if it's a show night, or the Helio night market.

Bà Nà Hills & Cable Car·Golden Bridge·French Village

Take the first cable car (from about 7:30am) and see the Golden Bridge before the crowds, then the French Village. Clouds often roll in after 2pm. It's 5-8°C cooler at the top - bring a light jacket. Back down in time for sunset on My Khe.

Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn)

Check out, Cham Museum when it opens at 7am, then the Marble Mountains, which are already halfway to Hoi An. Continue south in the afternoon (about 30 minutes from the Marble Mountains by car) and spend the evening in the lantern-lit Old Town.

Walk Hoi An's Old Town at 6-7am before the crowds, then the coconut forest or An Bang Beach - see the Hoi An page for details. Da Nang airport is about 45 minutes away.