Nha Trang is a coastal city in Vietnam surrounded by mesmerizing blue water, mountainous islands and some of the best seafood in Vietnam. Now, 10 hours up north, Da Nang is also a coastal city in Vietnam…also surrounded by magnificent blue water, mountainous islands and some of the best seafood in Vietnam. EEK! Travelemma much?
Now, I don’t know you, and I know nothing about your travel plans…BUT. When you come to sunny, tropical Vietnam, something tells me you might wanna escape the hustle and chaotic bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi for a few days and spend some time kickin’ at a tropical beach with a coconut under a palm leaf. I get it!
But where do you go? Therein lies the problem. Nha Trang has a population of about 420,000, where Da Nang has a massive population of 1.5 million (although it definitely doesn’t feel that big!). Da Nang is much cleaner than Nha Trang, but Nha Trang has far less construction. Nha Trang has a nicer beach promenade, but Da Nang has a beautiful river walk. It really just depends what’s more important to you in a destination! Let’s break it down, shall we?
(Disclaimer: I live in Da Nang, so I promise I’ll try not to be biased!)
The beaches
OK. WOULD YOU RATHER…
HAVE THIS
OR THIS.
Impossible to decide? I know. Let’s talk about it.
Nha Trang
First thing’s first, the city beaches. Nha Trang has a stunning city beach – bright blue water looking out to the mountains, a beautifully landscaped promenade, and countless swanky-lookin’ beach bars to indulge yourself with a fancy schmancy cocktail on a plush lounge chair in the sand. You don’t feel like you’re at a city beach, thanks to the well-developed promenade that separates you from the chaos of the city – it’s truly an oasis. Although the thing that really sold me was the Louisiane Brewhouse, a beachside brewery complete with a free-to-use pool and in-house made craft beers for 50K (a reasonable $2.50)! Now THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about Nha Trang!
Break away from the city, and you’ve got a number of stunning islands with breathtaking crystal clear water to explore, easily accessible by boat. Just go to the Nha Trang port, tell them you want a boat to explore the islands, and voila! Smooth sailin’. The big con? While the water is absolutely jaw-dropping with its 100 shades of blue, the islands can get pretty littered, so buyer beware.
Da Nang
Now, Da Nang’s city beach has less stunningly clear water (con), yet has much finer, silkier sand (pro!) but less cool beach bars (con). While the city beach is right next to the main road with only a sidewalk separating the beach from the fast-moving traffic and very loud sounds of construction, the beach scenery itself is really stunning – with remote neighboring islands in the distance and Son Tra mountain’s buddhaful Lady Buddha looking back at you. While there isn’t an impressive selection of beach bars like in Nha Trang, you’ve got what you need – a few cabanas selling coconuts, the Holiday Beach hotel bar that’s right on the sand, and the chilled out beach bar that all the expats living in Da Nang go to (myself included), The Village. It ain’t the Louisiane Brewhouse, but it’ll do!
The real beach gold awaits only a 10 min motorbike ride away, on Son Tra mountain – no need to hop on a boat! Rent a motorbike (or if you’re not feelin’ so ballsy take a Grab – Southeast Asia’s version of Uber), and drive to close-by Son Tra mountain, where quiet, hidden beaches sit ever-so-calmy at the bottom of the mountain. Or, if you still want your island fill, take a short boat ride out to the secluded Cham Islands!
THE WINNER: Drum roll, please… NHA TRANG! With its jaw-dropping water, dozens of beach bars and surrounding islands to explore, Nha Trang takes the prize for this one.
City culture
Nha Trang
Here’s where Nha Trang gets a bit weird. Part of the local culture is…Russian? I mean, the city center is FULL of Russian tourists. Which isn’t a bad thing at all! Just…well, shocking. Menus are in Russian, storefronts are in Russian, the waiters even speak Russian. So…why go to Russia when you can go to tropical Russia! JK… anyway, the Russian tourists were really nice, so embrace learning a new culture! As for the local atmosphere, breaking away from that touristy beach neighborhood, I found the local vibes to be much less friendly and welcoming than in Da Nang.
Da Nang
If you’re not looking at a Vietnamese local, you’re probably looking at 1 of 2 scenarios: a Korean tourist in a sun hat, or a free-spirited life-lovin’ expat that has moved to Da Nang to pursue something artistic or entrepreneurial (did I mention the expat community here is like, really impressive? Anywho…). As for the locals, the local atmosphere in Da Nang is just wonderful. While the language barrier is real, the locals are always incredibly kind, helpful, friendly and always eager to say “hello!!!” to you with an ear-to-ear grin. A smile is the universal language in Da Nang, and it’ll get you quite far.
THE WINNER: Gotta love the Russians, but…this one goes to DA NANG!
Food
Nha Trang
Let’s cut to the chase. I mean isn’t food the real reason we all travel? Nha Trang is known for its grilled beef and of course, it’s seafood. There was one BBQ restaurant that just BLEW me away. It’s called Bo Nuong Lac Canh (pic above), and it’s a local institution that specializes in grilled beef. But it doesn’t just serve up incredible beef, but grilled vegetables, grilled oysters, grilled squid, grilled…well anything you can dream up! Tucked away in a little alley far from the central tourist area of Nha Trang, the minute you step foot onto the tiny street you’ll be hit with smoky aromas of grilled godliness. I’ve gotta say, it knocks any other BBQ restaurant I’ve been to in Da Nang outta the park. A reason in itself to go there? YES.
Da Nang
I can’t point to one single thing to try in Da Nang…it’s all just so good! It’s like, how do you pick your favorite child? You wouldn’t dare! Sure, there are local specialties like Mi Quang and Banh Xeo, and then there are incredible family-style restaurants like Bep Hen, and then there are those fresh seafood restaurants that align the beach, and OH! You can’t forget that real local street food fish spot, that grills up a whole fish in teriyaki sauce on a tiny grill right in front of you for less than $6 (128 Yen Bai, City Center)…see what I mean? Prepare to eat yourself to foodcoma.
THE WINNER: It’s a TIE! Let’s face it. No matter where you are in Vietnam, you’re gonna eat good food.
Location & accessibility
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is located in the central- southern region of Vietnam, a very short flight from Ho Chi Minh City (or an 8-hour-drive). Note, the airport is pretty far outside the city in the middle of nowhere, about a 45-minute drive from the city limits.
Da Nang
Da Nang is smack dab in the middle of Vietnam – right in between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It’s conveniently awesome airport is surprisingly in the city, and from any point in the city it won’t take you more than 20 minutes to get there. Most travelers go to Hoi An, and must pass through Da Nang’s airport anyway…so why don’t ya get comfy and just stay a while!
THE WINNER: Of course, this depends on your travel itinerary. Butttt, Da Nang’s airport is way more convenient, and due to its central location right next to popular Hoi An, this one is for you DA NANG!
And while you’re at it, here are a couple hotels I can recommend for each:
Nha Trang Hotels:
Da Nang Hotels:
How come that there are so many Russian tourists in Nha Trang? :O
As always such an interesting article, saving it for when I will travel to Vietnam…one day… hopefully!
That’s a really good question Sophia! I was wondering the same thing! I’d guess because there are convenient flights, and over time the city has just become so Russian friendly – menus in Russian, locals speak Russian, so it’s become a comfortable place for them to travel. Anyway, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! You will get here one day, I have full confidence 🙂
Happy wandering!!
Casie (AWC)
It is because the Russians helped them out during the war years, Russians are allowed to own property out right in Vietnam.
Until the wall came down, Vietnam and Cuba were pretty much the only really nice beach places Russians could freely travel to… all part of the Communist family. So, longstanding familiarity and travel relationship to Vietnam, unlike say Philippines or Indonesia (ex Bali).
Really interesting point! That makes total sense. I don’t know how I didn’t that of that reason sooner! Thanks for sharing your insight. 🙂
-Casie (AWC)
There was a Russian naval and air presence at Cam Ranh Bay (Nha Trang’s airport now) for many years in the 80’s. I would guess that lead to a natural development of Russian tourism along the beaches of Nha Trang.
My guess is that Russia is quiet close to Southeast Asia. For Siberians isn’t that the closest southern seaside if you look at the map? They are all package tourists on charters and because Vientnam was communist, the two countries developed connection during the times of Soviet Union.
Most of Russian tourists coming to Vietnam are from Central and Easter parts of Russia. The price is very competitive plus direct flights are two deciding factors to make Vietnam their choice. The last thing based on observation might be a source of fresh fruits available year round that Russian tourists like.
Ohhh, that’s very interesting! That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing your insight!
-Casie (AWC)
Hello Quesodilla I’m Zac. From Australia. I am moving to Da Nang at the end of August. Planning on doing basically the same as yourself though possibly in a different direction. Vietnam-China-Mongolia-Russia. Etc. Are you on couchsurfing? Thankyou
Hi Zac! How exciting that you’re coming to Da Nang soon. I hope you love it here as much as I do! No, I’m not doing Counchsurfing right now.
Happy wandering!
Casie (AWC)
Hello again Casie! I have a critically important question for you! I have come to VN to write a novel, and also do some volunteer work teaching English. Im in Saigon right and thinking of flying either directly to Na Trang or Da Nang. Which city has more going on? Im leaning towards Da Nang, because a lot of people here in Saigon have told me that Na Trang is literally crawling with Russians and Chinese (and of course this is not a bad thing but I am in VN after all)
I basically want to live, spend a lot of time in the ocean diving and swimming, have access to a good gym etc and plug myself into some kind of business and expat networks, .. I know you cannot choose for me, but in a nutshell which city is more liveable in the medium to long term?
Thanks, Zachary 🙂
Hey Zachary,
Of course, it totally depends what you’re more into. That being said, I would TOTALLY choose Da Nang. Da Nang has a much livelier local scene, with also a really incredible and active expat scene for when you want to hang around some familiarity. Within the expat community, there’s just sooo much to get involved in, and everyone is here working on their passion project while teaching English, so I think you’d fit in really well! I mean, there is SO much going on here! And overall, the city of Da Nang is just way nicer, cleaner, and less overrun by tourists (although there’s a fair share of Korean tourists, it’s not so bad). I might be biased because I live in Da Nang, but I adore this place, as does everyone who moves here!
If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. 🙂
Cheers from Da Nang!
Casie (AWC)
I’ve just arrived in Da Nang for a month long or more visit. Where do you suggest going first to meet expats?
Hi Tricia! Sorry for the delayed response! There are tons of places to meet expats, but really it depends what your interests are. The Village on the beach always is full of expats, and it’s a nice place to grab a drink on the beach. There are also various clubs, like Drama Club and art workshops at “The Workshop”. If you haven’t already, I also recommend joining the “Danang Hoi An Expats” page, where expats are always posting events. I hope this helps!!
-Casie (AWC)
Thanks for sharing this. I want to visit Da Nang for 3 days. What are the interesting places would you recommend? Can I do self tour if I have Vietnamese friends go with me? I heard some people said join the group travel tour would be better, but I don’t want to pay for the travel tour company $300 to $400. Would be cheaper if we go by ourselves tour around? Thanks!
Hi Steven! I definitely recommend exploring the city on your own. It would be WAYYYYY cheaper to do it on your own! And in my opinion, way more satisfying. I’m happy to help you figure out an itinerary. First of all, would you rent a motorbike? That’s definitely the best way to see the city. Things I recommend seeing are: Son Tra Mountain – see Lady Buddha and the pagoda. Then drive all the way up Son Tra for beautiful views and monkey sightings! Next, go to Marble Mountain – a mountain full of Buddhist shrines where marble is made (hence the name). Also, see the Dragon Bridge breathe fire on a Saturday or Sunday night. And finally, food! There is SO MUCH good food to be had! Here is my food guide: http://awanderingcasiedilla.com/2018/08/24/da-nang-food-guide/
Hi. Would you think its a difficult task to open a small lounge bar in either da nang or na trang and which would be better to cater to tourists? Are these places like a 12 months a year busy destination?
H! I think it’s a very attainable task. Opening up a busy in Vietnam is quite easy, I know many people who have done it! And between Da Nang or Nha Trang, it depends – Da Nang is an up and coming city, with a rapidly growing expat scene. The majority of the tourists are Korean, and there is certainly demand for more bars. Nha Trang gets mostly Russian tourists, with lots of Korean and Chinese tourists in the mix as well. I’d say Nha Trang gets more tourism, but Da Nang is a much nicer city (if you ask me!) and as I’ve said, is rapidly growing. Let me know if you have any more questions!! Good luck! Casie
Thanks for taking the time to share this wonderful information. I have asthma and I am always interested in knowing about the air quality of any city I am interested in visiting. What city in Vietnam is the cleanest and has the lowest levels of air pollution? Thank you.
My pleasure, Floyd! While Da Nang and Nha Trang are both much cleaner in terms of air pollution compared to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, because of motorbike traffic there still is a level of pollution. However, Da Nang’s air is very clean considerably speaking, especially at the beach! In the heart of the city you might feel it a bit more, but overall it’s not bad. I recommend bringing a face mask if it’s something you are very sensitive too. That being said, I lived there for a year and never had any problems! Generally speaking, the smaller city it is, the less pollution there will be (Check out visiting Cat Ba island – an island next to Ha Long Bay! Small, no pollution, and beautiful.). I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions!
-Casie (AWC)
So – if you were looking to have a small intimate (< 50 people) beach wedding (45+ older crowd – second go-round for each of us) which would you choose Da Nang or Nha Trang?
Hi Dave,
First of all, congrats on the wedding! That’s a good question. While I like Da Nang better as a whole, I think the Nha Trang beach would be much nicer for a wedding. The beach is more separated from the road, where in Da Nang it’s right next to busy street which might take away from the ambience. There’s also more beach in Nha Trang, so i think it would be more comfortable. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Happy wedding planning!!
Casie (AWC)
no question. da nang
but actually hoi an or hue even better.
Hello Casie,
Loved the article. I am a US citizen and have been wanting to come to SE Asia for several months and get some quiet while studying for an intense exam in June. I am also very eager to experience and learn about the Vietnamese culture. After encountering uncertainties about the internet speeds and reliability in Vietnam, I thought I would have to settle for Bali instead. Can you give me your opinion on how good the internet is in Da Nang and whether I may be imagining a problem that doesn’t exist?
By the way, as beautiful as Nha Trang seems, Da Nang appears to have an advantage for US expats for longer term.. maybe?
Thanks so much,
Greg
Hi Greg,
Thanks for stopping by and reaching out! Those are really good questions and totally understandable concerns. You totally DON’T have to worry about internet in Vietnam! I ran my online business/blog from Da Nang without a single issue. Da Nang and the other major cities in Vietnam (Saigon, Hanoi, Nha Trang) have tons of cafes, all with decent wifi. Also, your accommodations will have wifi, and probably good wifi! As far as Da Nang vs. Nha Trang, you’re exactly right. Da Nang is definitely a better place for expats, where Nha Trang is a nice place to visit for a weekend. The Da Nang expat community is really amazing!
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions!
PS – check out this article about Da Nang’s amazing expat community- you might find it interesting! http://awanderingcasiedilla.com/2018/02/09/da-nang-expats-passion/
Happy wandering!
Casie (AWC)
Casie,
Many thanks for the reply, and so prompt too! I am excited to hear this. I don’t want to belabor the question. I was set up to go to Bali because an old friend is there and I also thought the internet would be vastly superior. Are you saying that decent internet speeds (min. 6 or 7 mbps) and limited interruptions are possible? And, would you recommend using a local agent to secure an apartment that may have better service than other places?
Sorry to trouble you, but I am sitting on go and thinking about applying online tonight for my one-year visa. Many thanks,
Greg
Happy to help! Having been to both Bali and Da Nang (and throughout Vietnam), it really depends on the cafe you’re at and wifi you’re using – both places have really good wifi available, but you can also run into poor wifi depending on the individual connection and provider. It’s really not about the city you’re in, but the provider that is used by the business. About finding an apartment with good wifi, that totally depends on the apartment. I lived in two different apartments, and both had completely sufficient wifi. Regardless of the wifi, I recommend using a local agent to find an apartment! But don’t worry about finding an apartment until you’re there, it’s very quick turnaround and I would recommend seeing places in person before committing.
thanks so much, Casie
Dear Casie,
Nice succinct article. Thanks for sharing.
I am tying to decide between opening either a food establishment (café, bar, or restaurant) [or] simply buy a couple of apartments and rent them out à la Airbnb.
So far my limited research tell me that taxes in VN are less than taxes in the US.
On the other hand, a food establishment might produce a higher net income (but I’m not sure yet).
So, based on your experience in VN what type of business would you recommend? I do realize that real estate is more hands off but I also wouldn’t mind working hard if I opened the food establishment.
Also, between Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ha Long Bay, which do you think would be best for renting out an apartment with Airbnb?
I do realize mine is a broad question but any insight will help narrow it down.
Thanks and greetings from Houston!
Hi Harvey! It’s certainly cheaper and easier to open up an establishment in Vietnam than in the US.I’m not sure about taxes, but I’d imagine it’s way lower.I know many expats who opened up businesses in VN and it seemed pretty painless. As for the type of business, I’d think Airbnb might be more lucrative more in a more immediate sense. However there are tons of opportunities for western-style restaurants and a pretty big market of people who want them, plus they’re not yet saturated, so it could definitely be a successful endeavor.
Have you thought of doing both? Because the Airbnb would be pretty hands off, I think it would be very doable to balance both.
I would go for Da Nang – it’s a rapidly growing tourism destination. However Nha Trang has a huge existing market of Russian, Korean and Chinese tourists already. (Personal preference, I like Da Nang WAY more as a city).
I hope this helps – let me know if you have any more questions, happy to help!
Hi Casie,
Thanks for all of the helpful information in your blogs! I’m traveling to Vietnam next week for 3 weeks, and thinking of ending the trip with a relaxing 4 days at the beach. My friend and I generally rent a place with a private pool to get the most out of our relaxation time after running around foreign countries. We aren’t much for the bar/nightlife scene, but we like clean beaches, good nature hikes/walks, and private accommodations. Another consideration is the weather at the end of August. I know it’s fairly last-minute (we aren’t good with advanced planning!), but would you recommend Nha Trang or Da Nang as a place to spend the last few days of our trip?
Thank you from a New York traveler!
How exciting that you’re going to Vietnam- I’d 100% recommend going to Da Nang! Son Tra is a beautiful jungly mountain literally 5 minutes from the city, and there’s a really nice, secluded and affordable bungalow resort with a pool right in Son Tra mountain with a private, clean beach area and gorgeous pool. It’s never busy, so it feels very private. It’s called Son Tra resort.Let me know if you decide to go with this and what you think – and have an amazing trip!
Hi Casie,
Which place has the best weather and nearby places to visit? Looking at Wikipedia Nha Trang seems to have a longer dry season. I visited Danang in December 2018 and couldn’t do much because it rained a lot. Also, Danang has Hoi An nearby but Nha Trang has the amazing-looking mountain top city of Da lat a short bus journey away.
Hey Dom, what time of year will you be visiting? Da Nang does have a pretty long wet season that generally lasts through late February/ early March. However once wet season is over the weather is usually beautiful and sunny! Both cities have amazing places to visit nearby. Da Nang has Son Tra Mountain (literally 10 minutes from the city), Hai Van Pass, Hue, Hoi An, Cham Islands, and more. Nha Trang also has lots of beautiful places close by, but to be honest I’m less familiar with them. While I’m certainly biased to Da Nang, I’d choose based on which city is supposed to have better weather the time of your visit. Hope that info helps!
Hi there, I’m looking to host a conference for 60 people in either Nha Trang or Danang. There would be families, so we would like a location that is conducive to some lovely beach time, activities for young families as well as hotels that have great options for meeting rooms/game rooms for youth/kids rooms… any suggestions?
Thanks so much.
HI there, I’m trying to decide which location of Nha Trang or Danang would be better to host a conference of North Americans in August. There are families so we are definitely looking for an area that is family friendly with activities for young kids as well as teenagers. Any suggestions of which location is better suited with hotels for conferences and diverse activities? My assumption would be Danang with the larger expat community possibly they are more used to the North American expectations on venues? Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.
Hi Debra, hope I’m not too late to respond to this! Because Nha Trang’s beach area is more built up with big hotels, I’d actually recommend Nha Trang for a family friendly place. The beach is also more developed, bigger and family friendly (the beach in Da Nang is right next to the main road so it could be more dangerous for the little ones). That’s my recommendation, but either you decide to go with should be great!
Heading to Da Nang in a month to escape CM burning season. This article helped me decide.
Awesome, so happy to hear it helped! Heads up, February is the tail end of Da Nang’s rainy season, so come prepared with rain gear!
Hi Casie,
That is a superb read. We are cruising various Asian ports from December 23rd 2020 through to January 13th where we finish in Tokyo – HK, All three main Vietnam including Ho Chi Minh and the two you so eloquently write about, Malaysia, Philippines, Taipei, Singapore, 3 Japanese places ending Tokyo. We are away right over Christmas and New Year and as we are spending so much time there we decided to go back to Vietnam to spend a week there at the end… being relatively cheap etc we thought we could do this.
Your blog has made me eliminate Ho Chi Minh but I’m still not sure about the other two with winning elements to both… I’m leaning towards Da Nang but I wonder if I could ask you just a couple of things that might help us decide?
Weather in January is one consideration – we would like to avoid monsoons and Da nag talks about them via Google – so I’m assuming Nha Trang might be better weather-wise?
The other thing is I love markets, watching people make things, shops etc and my hubby loves beaches, food and drink, and we share each others loves of the other things to a great extent…. so walking, shopping, stop, food, walk to the beach… you know the typical English tourist really in some respects. I’d love to see a floating market for example.
From my little list.. is there one you think is better than the other for us?
Sorry to bombard you – it is just so obvious you know your stuff so well being lucky enough to live there too.
Many thanks
Faye xx
Hi Faye, I’m so glad to hear my blog has helped you! I hope I’m not responding to this too late! While I am biased towards Da Nang, the internet has told you correct regarding the weather in January. Going to Da Nang in January is definitely a gamble, as it’s in the heart of rainy season. Weather wise it’s definitely safer to choose Nha Trang. Nha Trang has plenty in terms of good food, nice beaches, etc. I think you two will keep plenty Busy there! Let me know what you decide and if you have any more questions 🙂
hi casie, has danang/vietnam opened up from covid restrictions fairly fully by summer 2022 or do social norms if not government policies make it a bit impolite not to be masking everywhere, even if no more quarantining. also, is there paddleboarding/paddleboard surfing (local rentals) in danang or another beach you would recommend (perhaps within taxi distance of danang?) thank you, r
Hi,
I know I am super late to the comment section, but I am from Nha Trang and I just want to say that I am really glad you enjoyed your time in my city, back in 2018. FYI: The city changed completely now, the reason why you see so many Russian street signs back in 2018 is because there was a huge wave of Russian tourists back then. The city was full of Chinese toursits for a while pre-COVID, but after the pandemic, there is now a lovely mix of people from literally everywhere (and a lot of Koreans).
If you have time, come and visit Nha Trang!
Hey Hieu, this is great insight! Super helpful information for readers coming to this page now. I will have to visit again! It was so beautiful 🙂
I think nha trang is beautiful, I can have enjoy in beach and delicious food
Yessss, glad to hear you enjoyed it! It certainly is beautiful. 🙂