Da Nang

Currency

Gold shops beat the banks here as elsewhere in Vietnam. Da Nang is noticeably cheaper than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for both food and long-stay rentals.

ATMs & cards

Vietcombank, BIDV and Techcombank machines line the beach road and the centre. Expect 20,000-50,000 VND per withdrawal and low caps — TPBank allows more per transaction. Decline conversion.

Same low caps and per-transaction fees as the rest of Vietnam — withdraw the maximum each time.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

One of the calmest and safest cities in Vietnam, with far less traffic chaos than Hanoi or Saigon. Beach rip currents are the genuine hazard from September to November, which is also typhoon season on this coast.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe or North America.

Worth having

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Tetanus up to date
• Rabies for longer stays
• Japanese encephalitis for long rural stays

Getting treated

International hospitals and clinics in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are good, English-speaking and inexpensive compared with Europe. Public hospitals are cheap, crowded and rarely English-speaking. On Phu Quoc the facilities are basic and serious cases go to the mainland.

Dengue is common in the rainy season. Malaria is not a risk in the cities or the usual tourist areas. Traffic injuries are by far the most common reason visitors need a hospital.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

Central Vietnamese food is the country’s spiciest. Mi Quang — turmeric noodles with pork and prawn — is the local dish, and banh xeo here is smaller and crisper than in the south.

Getting around

• Grab — cars and motorbikes, cheap and the default for visitors
• Rented scooter — the local way to move, and the coast road makes it worthwhile
• Walking — the beachfront and the riverside promenade are pleasant on foot
• Taxi — Mai Linh and Vinasun are the metered, reputable operators
• Airport: Da Nang International is 10-15 minutes from the beach, unusually central

Must-see

Things to do

• Swim and surf at My Khe Beach
• Ride the Hai Van Pass by motorbike
• Climb the Marble Mountains
• Cross the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills
• Watch the Dragon Bridge breathe fire at weekends
• Day trip to Hoi An and My Son

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

Vietnamese

• HelloXin chàosin CHOW
• PleaseLàm ơnlam URN
• Thank youCảm ơngam URN
• Yes / NoVâng / Khôngvung / khom
• Excuse meXin lỗisin LOY
• How much is it?Bao nhiêu tiền?bao nyew TYEN
• The bill, pleaseTính tiềnting TYEN
• Cheers!Một hai ba, dô!mot hai ba, yo

Tonal, so the same syllable said flat means something else entirely. Nobody expects you to get it right and the attempt lands well regardless.

Religion

Folk religion and Buddhist, officially atheist state

Most Vietnamese practise ancestor veneration at home regardless of what they call it. Remove shoes and hats at temples, and do not photograph people at prayer.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Cross roads slowly and steadily without stopping — the scooters flow around you, and hesitating is what causes accidents
• Remove shoes entering homes and temples
• Use both hands to give and receive
• Haggle in markets, cheerfully, and accept that a small foreigner premium is normal

Don't

• Do not touch anyone’s head, and do not point your feet at people or altars
• Do not show public affection beyond a hand on an arm
• Do not photograph military sites or personnel
• Do not leave chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice