Vietnam, Da Nang
In late June 2025, I visited five countries in Southeast Asia. The first country I visited was Vietnam. And on the first day, I visited Ho Chi Minh, and after sightseeing there, I flew to Danang at night. Check out my blog about my trip to Ho Chi Minh City here.
Da Nang is located in the middle of Vietnam. The reason why I decided to go to Da Nang was that I wanted to see the Lantern Festival in Hoi An. A few years ago, I watched a video of walking around Hoi An on YouTube, and I was so moved that I absolutely decided to go there. Also, it is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One thing to be mindful of is how to ride a motorcycle in Grub, because the Grub rider may attempt to negotiate. When they spot a tourist, they try to get the tourist on their motorcycle without using the Grub App. This means you will need to negotiate the price to your destination, and pay in cash. The benefit for the rider is that the taxi fare doesn’t have to go through Grub, so there’s no Intermediate margin, and they can decide the taxi fare. And, some riders also asked for gasoline money when traveling long distances. Negotiation is a hassle, and using cash is a pain, so you should definitely use the Grub app when you use a motorcycle taxi.
Main tourist spots where I visited
And below is the Google Maps of the places I visited in Vietnam(Ho Chi Minh’s tourist spots are also included).
1. The Marble Mountains
The first place I visited was the Marble Mountains in Danang. There are many gorgeous temples in the mountains, and I could see magnificent views there. The most beautiful scene was the view from the top of the mountain. The destination was Hoi An, so I just happened to drop by the Marble Mountains without research, but it was more amazing than I expected, and I’m glad to go there.
Since it’s like a hike, sightseeing takes a fair amount of time. Even rushing through the sights took about two hours. However, it is worth visiting and seeing, so I recommend visiting there. And later, upon looking into the Marble Mountains, it is apparently well-known as the location where Sun Wukong was imprisoned in the renowned Chinese novel “Journey to the West.”
2. Hanh Coconut
The next place I visited was Hanh Coconut, where I got on the Coconut Boat. This was a lot of fun. The guide looked tough to row the boat. I actually tried rowing it myself, but it was extremely tough.
There are some coconut boarding areas, and the boarding fee varies considerably depending on the boarding station. The boarding station I got on was called “Hanh Coconut,” and the price was very affordable. I forgot the price, though. And my guide was very kind and polite; he politely asked me for a tip, so I gave him one.
3. Hoi An, Old Town
Some part of Hoi An apparently still retains its townscape dating back to the 16th century. I think this is probably one of the places where you can feel Vietnamese culture the most.
There are numerous tourist spots around there, and you would enjoy them all day. I walked a lot here. I definitely walked over 15,000 steps. There were many cafes, so I dropped by a cafe and took a break. Vietnam is well-known for its coffee, and I tried it, which was nice.
As the sun set, more and more people came to see the lantern festival, and it was extremely lively. I had always wanted to see that scenery, so I was satisfied with that, and I was moved by the beautiful sight of the lanterns. I’m sure you would be satisfied with it if you went there. I really, really recommend Hoi An, Old Town.
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