Da Nang, Hoi An & Ba Na Hills: Local Guide Day Tours with Lunch

Summary

Explore Da Nang’s ancient sites, bridges & nearby wonders in a day

You’ll taste fresh Vietnamese food by the river, climb Marble Mountains with a local guide who knows every shortcut, wander ancient pagodas above My Khe beach, and cross Da Nang’s famous bridges as scooters zip past. Expect laughter over lunch and quiet moments among centuries-old sculptures — this day tour leaves you feeling like you’ve actually lived here for a while.

What’s the experience like?

"You ever seen a dragon breathe fire?" That’s what our guide, Minh, asked as we stood by the Han River in Da Nang. I’d barely finished my iced coffee when he pointed at the Dragon Bridge — apparently it really does spit fire on weekends. The city felt alive even early in the morning: scooters buzzing past, vendors setting up baskets of fruit that smelled sweet and sharp. We started at Marble Mountains, which honestly looked more like giant stone islands than mountains. The elevator up was smooth (thankfully — I’m not much of a climber before 9am), and Minh told us about the caves used as hideouts during the war. You could still feel the coolness inside, almost damp against your skin.

After wandering through Non Nuoc village (I tried to carve my name into soapstone — failed miserably), we made our way to the Cham Sculpture Museum. It’s quieter than you’d expect for such an important place; just this soft echo of footsteps and the faint scent of incense from somewhere nearby. Minh explained how these sculptures survived centuries of storms and wars. I kept thinking about those hands that carved them so long ago. Lunch was at some spot near the river — crispy pancakes with herbs I couldn’t name but loved anyway.

The afternoon was a blur of bridges (the Love Lock bridge is less cheesy than it sounds), markets where old women laughed at my attempts to bargain in Vietnamese, and finally Son Tra Peninsula where monkeys sometimes dart across the road if you’re lucky (we weren’t). Linh Ung Pagoda sits there looking out over My Khe beach — white sand, blue water, and that huge Lady Buddha statue watching everything below. The breeze up there smells faintly salty and green at once. By late afternoon we were tired but happy — not sure if it was all the walking or just soaking up so much in one day trip from Da Nang city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Da Nang city and Son Tra Peninsula tour

• Pick up from hotel at 8 AM
• Visit Marble Mountains and elevator ride
• Visit Linh Ung Pagoda on mountain
• Visit Non Nuoc Marble Village
• Visit Cham Museum at 10 AM
• Lunch at top Danang restaurant
• Visit Han Market
• Visit Love Bridge and three famous bridges
• Visit Love Lock Bridge at 3 PM
• Visit Son Tra Peninsula and Linh Ung Pagoda
• Enjoy My Khe Beach
• Drive back to hotel

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for Da Nang day tours?

Yes, hotel pickup in Da Nang is included for all day tours.

Are entry fees covered on these tours?

Yes, entry fees are included unless otherwise specified for group tours.

Is lunch provided during the full-day tour?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included in your tour.

Are these tours wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation and most areas are wheelchair accessible.

Do I need to pay extra for cable car tickets to Ba Na Hills?

If not pre-booked with your tour, you may need to pay separately for cable car tickets.

How long does a typical Da Nang city day tour last?

The full-day tour usually starts around 8:00 AM and ends by late afternoon.

Can infants join the tour? Are strollers allowed?

Infants can join and strollers/prams are allowed on these tours.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Da Nang, all entry fees (unless noted otherwise), an English-speaking local guide who’ll share stories along the way, air-conditioned transport between stops like Marble Mountains and Son Tra Peninsula, plus a traditional Vietnamese lunch before returning you back to your hotel in the evening.