The Han River is the symbol of Da Nang with beautiful bridges and entertainment activities. The name of the city means ‘a great river,’ which refers to the Han River. It’s also known as “The City of the Bridges” due to numerous bridges spanning the river.
It is an approximately 8 km long river that runs through the heart of the city and flows into the sea. Han River is packed with things to do and see on its two banks. The river has a different atmosphere between day and night.
In this article, I will show you the location of the Han River, the advantages and disadvantages of staying along the Han River, as well as some of the best hotels in this area.
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Where is the Han River Da Nang?
Han River is an 8km long river located in the heart of Da Nang, 1.5 km away from My Khe Beach. It spans from the intersection of three rivers: Cam Le River, Cau Do River, and To Doa River, all the way to Da Nang Bay. The river flows from south to north.
The average width of the river is 400-600 meters, with the narrowest point around 300 meters and the widest point reaching about 1 kilometer. It’s around 4-5 meters in depth.
West bank of Han River is Bach Dang street. East Bank of Han River is Tran Hung Dao street. These streets are connected by beautiful rivers, which includes Dragon Bridges, Thuan Phuoc Bridge, Han River Bridge, and Tran Thi Ly Bridge.
Is Han River a good place to stay in Da Nang?
I have stayed on both the riverside and beach side of Da Nang. In my opinion, Han River is an excellent area to stay in Da Nang, especially for first-timers and visitors who want a local atmosphere, budget-friendly accommodations, authentic food, and a central location.
The hotels along the riverside often offer stunning views of the river and its iconic bridges. It’s also an easy walking distance to the River promenade, iconic markets, trendy cafes, restaurants, and rooftop terraces.
Central Location
Han River has a central location, between My Khe Beach, and Da Nang airport. It’s easy to take a few minutes Grab ride from either Da Nang airport or My Khe Beach to Han River.
On the west bank of Han river (the airport side), you can easily walk to the popular Han Market, Museum of Cham Sculpture, Da Nang Cathedral, Da Nang Museum, Dien Hai Citadel, and APEC Park.
The 1km long Bach Dang Walking Street is also located on the west bank of Han River, spanning from Dragon Bridge to the Tran Thi Ly and the pedestrian-only Nguyen Van Troi Bridges.
On the east side of Han River (the beach side), you can visit the Love Bridge, Son Tra Night Market, and Vincom Shopping Mall. This side is also home to the head of the Dragon, where you can watch the fire & water show on weekend evenings.
Beautiful iconic Bridges
Han River and its bridges are symbols of Da Nang. There are 6 beautiful bridges along Han River, which include Dragon Bridge, Han River Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Thuan Phuoc Bridge, Nguyen Van Troi Bridge and Love bridge.
These bridges look amazing at sunset and even better at night when the lights turn on. The dragon bridge is one of the most iconic attractions in the city. The bridge represents the development of the city.
It has a dragon-shaped design and is a popular spot for taking photos. Don’t miss out on the fire & water show at the Dragon Bridge at 9 PM on the weekend. You can have good views of the Dragon Bridge at the Love Bridge, as well as many rooftop bars along the river.
The 513-meter long Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, located next to Tran Thi Ly Bridge, is an interesting bridge with a rich history. It is the city’s oldest bridge built in 1965 by Americans to transport weapons from Tien Sa port to the city center/ airport.
Since the river has so many bridges, it is now a pedestrian-only bridge, where you can enjoy a peaceful walk over the river.
The Han River Bridge is the second oldest bridge on the Han River. The best part of the bridge is that it is the middle part of the can swing, usually around midnight on weekends and public holidays.
It used to rotate at 2 am to allow big ships to pass through. But, since the Han River port is no longer in operation, the city has continued to operate the bridge rotation for tourists. The swing time has been adjusted earlier to 11 pm on weekends so that everyone can watch it.
Authentic Local atmosphere and affordable foods, drinks, and hotels
There are hundreds of restaurants, trendy cafes, bars, and shops along the west and east banks of Han River. These establishments often have more authentic and cheaper prices than the ones along My Khe Beach.
Some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, and hotels are located along the Han River. I recommend checking out My Quang Co Sau on the east bank and Cong Cafe on the west bank of the river.
Easy access to local markets
There are various traditional markets located along or within walking distance from the Han River. This is convenient for shopping and finding local street food.
The city’s 3 most famous markets are located near Han River, which include Han Market, Con Market, and Son Tra Night Market.
Han Market is a must-see stop for any visitors to Da Nang. It’s named after the Han River. Its two-floor indoor market with hundreds of stalls selling everything from fashion clothes, accessories, traditional Vietnamese souvenirs, and local specialities such as Dry seafood.
Son Tra Night Market, located on the east side of Han River is also a good stop in the evening. You can find reasonably priced seafood and Vietnamese street food in the market. Since it’s close to Love Bridge and Dragon Bridge, you can combine the visit to all of these places in one single trip.
While Han Market is more popular for tourists, Con Market has a more local atmosphere. Take a look at the market if you have time and try the rich and creamy avocado ice cream and smoothies, which are popular at the market.
Lively nightlife, rooftop terraces with river views
The area along Han River has a lively nightlife scene with a night market, walking street, rooftop bars, restaurants, and entertainment shows.
On the east side of the river, you can check out the Bach Dang walking street for a leisure walk, shops, and eat street food. On the west side, there is Son Tra Night Market where you can go shopping and dining.
There are dozens of rooftop bars and restaurants along the river, offering stunning views of the city, the bridges, and the river. Many accommodations along the river are high-rise buildings, so you can easily access their rooftop terrace for free.
The Sky36 rooftop bar at the Novotel Hotel is a popular rooftop bar along Bach Dang street. offering a breaktaking view of the river and city’s cityscape from the 36th floor. I stayed at the Vanda Hotel, they also offer a nice rooftop with straight views down to the Dragon bridge.
The Han River cruise in the evening is also a popular activity where you can see the city and the bridges from the water. You can enjoy the 1 hour river cruise with buffet dinners, and traditional music performances.
My recommended hotels in Han River Da Nang:
- Luxury: Meliá Vinpearl Danang Riverfront
- Mid-range: Vanda Hotel
- Budget: Happy Day Riverside Hotel
The Downside of staying along Han River
The only downside I can think of to staying along the Han River is that it’s not right next to the beach. You need to get a Grab taxi or Bike for around a 5-10 minutes ride to the beach.
This can be a bit inconvenient if you want to get to the beach early in the morning, and you want to spend lots of time on the beach.
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Best Areas to Stay in Han River Da Nang
There are two main areas to stay along Da Nang’s Han River, which include the east bank and the west bank. I personally prefer staying in the west bank because it’s the core of the city where most of the city’s main culture attractions, trendy cafes and restaurants are located.
Staying on the west side of the Han River means I will be within walking distance to the Han Market, Con market, Da Nang Cathedral, or Museum of Cham Sculpture. Staying on the east side means I have to cross the bridge to visit them.
The west bank of Han River is Hai Chau district. It’s home to the administrative center, famous markets, the main Bach Dang street promenade, and some historical and cultural attractions. This area is a bit closer to the airport.
The east bank of Han River is Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son district. Before the bridges were built, the east bank was quiet and underdeveloped, but today, it has rapidly developed into a modern area with high-rise buildings., a night market, love bridge, and Vincom Shopping mall.
The best area to stay along the Han River, in my opinion, is the area between Han bridge and Dragon Bridge. Ideally it is somewhere on the west side along Bach Dang street.
But the area along Tran hung Dao street, between Dragon Bridge and Han Bridge also offers a great range of affordable hotels and apartments and is still in a relatively central location.
Where to stay along Han River Da Nang?
1. Bach Dang Street (Central West Bank)
The area along Bach Dang street on the west side of Han River, between Dragon Bridge and Han River Bridge, is the best area to stay along Da Nang’s Han River. It’s the city core of the city, offering the most central location along the river.
This area is home to Han Market, Con Market, Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, and Da Nang Cathedral, and the wide river promenade with lots of sculptures and activities.
Many popular restaurants and cafes located on this side such as Cong Caphe, Ăn Thôi, Co ba Pho Bo, or Pizza 4P’s Indochina.
Best hotel on Bach Dang street along Han River:
Hilton Da Nang (luxury)
This 5 star luxury hotel located in Hai Chau district of Da Nang, right next to Han River Bridge. The hotel has a central location, close to everything. I recommend booking the river view room for stunning as nice views of the river, the bridges and the sea.
Vanda Hotel (mid-range)
I stayed in this hotel and recommend it for those who want to stay right at the foot of the iconic Dragon Bridge. I stayed in the room with river views and it offered sweeping views of the rivers, and the bridges. They have a nice rooftop area, onsite restaurant, and good breakfast.
Happy Day Riverside Hotel (budget)
This budget-friendly hotel is located very close to Han Market and a range of restaurants, cafes, and shops. It offers spacious rooms with comfortable beds and an onsite restaurant. I recommend choosing a room with a balcony for the best experience.
2. Tran Hung Dao street (Central East Bank)
The area along Tran Hung Dao street on the east side of Han River, between Dragon Bridge and Han River, is an excellent base along Han River. It has a relatively central location and is also closer to the beach compared to the west side of the river.
This part also has a high concentration of hotels, apartments, restaurants, and shops. Some major sights such as the Love Bridge, Son Tra Night market, and Vincom Shopping Mall are located in this part of Han River.
Best hotel in Tran Hung Dao street along Han River:
Meliá Vinpearl Danang Riverfront (luxury)
This 5-star luxury hotel is located on the eastern bank of Han River close to Han River Bridge and Vincom shopping mall.
The hotel has spacious rooms for families and couples. The riverside rooms have a beautiful view of the bridges, especially at night when the lights on the bridge are on. You can walk to Dragon bridge and a range of restaurants nearby.
Wink Danang Riverside, Unscripted by Hyatt (mid-range)
This is a great modern hotel in the central area of Da Nang. The hotel offers a clean room, quality bed, and a lovely rooftop bar. They have a 24 hr checkout policy and great self-service laundry facilities.
Caro Premium Danang Hotel (mid-range)
This 4-star mid-range hotel in a good location of Da Nang city center, easy access to the beachside and other cultural attractions. It has an amazing roof top with a pool overlooking the Dragon bridge.
3. North West Bank
The area on the west bank of Han River, north of Han River Bridge, is home to several luxury hotels such as Novotel, Hilton, or Courtyard by Marriott.
It’s a bit further away from the central area of Da Nang (around Dragon Bridge), but offers a quieter atmosphere and is still within walking distance to major points of interest.
This area is home to Song Han Port, where you can take the river cruises in the evening to explore the river and its bridges for around 1 hour.
Da Nang Train station is also located in this area, which is convenient for those who travel by train. You can easily get to the train station by taking the heritage train to Hue City nearby to see royal palaces and tombs.
Best Hotels along Han River’s West Bank & North of Han River Bridge:
- Novotel Danang Premier Han River (luxury)
- Courtyard by Marriott Danang Han River (mid-range)
- New Orient Hotel Da Nang (budget)
4. North East Bank
The east bank of Han River, between Han River Bridge and Thuan Phuoc Bridge, is a good place for budget travelers and for those who don’t mind being a bit further away from the center of action. This area also offers a more local atmosphere compared to other parts of the Han River.
There are significant attractions in this area, but you can take a short Grab taxi or Bike to get to the center part of the city for sightseeing, shopping, and nightlife. Riding share services in Da Nang such as Grab are cheap and easy to get.
Best Hotels along Han River’s East Bank & North of Han River Bridge:
5. South West Bank
The area on the west bank of Han River, between Dragon Bridge and Tran Thi Ly Bridge, is a great central area to stay in Da Nang.
The area is home to some popular attractions such as the modern APEC Park, Museum of Cham Sculpture, Nguyen Van Troi street, Bach Dang Walking Street, and Ho Chi Minh Museum.
This area is home to a couple of luxury hotels on Green Island along Han River, which include Grand Mercure and The Blossom Resort Island.
Best Hotels along Han River’s West Bank & South of Dragon Bridge:
- Grand Mercure Danang (luxury)
- The Blossom Resort Island Da Nang – Onsen Included (luxury)
- Gold Plaza Hotel Da Nang (mid-range)
6. South East Bank
The east bank of Han River, between Dragon Bridge and Tran Thi Ly bridge, has a good range of budget and mid-range accommodations. This area offers a quiet atmosphere and close proximity to the An thuong area, which is a popular expat district of Da Nang.
If you want riverside accommodation close to An Thuong with a wide range of foreign bars, restaurants, and shops, this area is a good choice. The local Bac My An market is also close by.
Best Hotels along Han River’s East Bank & South of Dragon Bridge:
How to get to Da Nang’s Han River?
From major arrival points of Da Nang such as the airport and train station, you can easily order a Grab taxi or bike to get to your accommodation along the Han River. Grab is similar to Uber in the western countries, but much cheaper, and you can use it to order food.
See more:
- 10 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Da Nang
- One Day in Da Nang Itinerary
- How many days in Da Nang is enough?
I hope you have found some useful information about where to stay along the Han River and some of the best hotels in this city center part of Da Nang. It’s an excellent base for those who want central location, authentic atmosphere, and don’t mind a bit further away from the beach.