Hanoi vs Da Nang: Nightlife, shopping, food, weather, and beaches.

I’m from Hanoi, and I’ve traveled to Da Nang many times. In this post, I will share my opinion about the similarities and differences between Hanoi and Da Nang.

Which city is better to visit and stay in? In this comparison of Hanoi and Da Nang, I will focus on  their nightlife, shopping, food, cost of living, weather, beaches, and cultural attractions.

Both Hanoi and Da Nang are major cities and popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. While Hanoi is the capital city located in north Vietnam, Da Nang is a main city in central Vietnam. They both have an international airport, so easily reachable from many cities in the world.

Is it better to stay in Hanoi or Da Nang?

In general, Hanoi is a bigger city, so it has more nightlife, shopping, and dining options. As the cultural capital of Vietnam, Hanoi has more cultural and historical attractions to explore. The city also has more infrastructure such as hospitals, shopping malls, and universities. 

Da Nang is better than Hanoi if you want a beach holiday with more beachfront resorts, cheaper cost of living, and less pollution. The lifestyle in Da Nang, in my opinion, is more laid back compared to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi.

In my opinion, Hanoi is a more ideal place to visit for first-timers to Vietnam because it gives a complete introduction to Vietnam, with a mix of culture, history, classic Vietnamese food, and modern amenities. It has a large international airport, which is easier accessible from many international destinations.

Another factor to consider when choosing between Da Nang and Hanoi is their location. Hanoi is the hub of North Vietnam and is a better base if you want to visit iconic destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, and Ha Giang. 

Da Nang is the transport hub of Central Vietnam, making it a better place to visit if you want to explore the beaches, visit Hue to explore Vietnam’s last royal family history, visit Hoi An ancient town, Hai Van Pass, or My Son Sanctuary.

If your time is allowed, you can consider visiting both Hanoi and Da Nang in one trip. They are located only 1.5 hours flight apart, and there are many frequent flights between these two cities.

My recommend hotels in Hanoi:

• Luxury: Capella Hanoi
• Mid-range: The Rex Hanoi Hotel 
• Budget: The West Hotel & Spa

My top hotel picks in Da Nang:

• Luxury: Novotel Danang Premier Han River
• Mid-range: Sala Danang Beach Hotel 
• Budget: Wink Hotel Danang Centre

Location and How to get there

Hanoi is located in North Vietnam. Da Nang is located in Central Vietnam, around 700 km away south of Hanoi. Hanoi is not only known for its vibrant old quarter, it is often served as the gateway to North Vietnam to famous places such as HaLong Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, or Ha Giang .

Da Nang is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant markets, beautiful rivers and bridges. From Da Nang, you can easily explore Central Vietnam, visiting Hoi An, Hue, Hai Van Pass, and My Son sanctuary.

Both Hanoi and Da Nang are very well connected by air and by road. They both have an international airport, a major train station, and many bus routes.

Riding share services such as Grab is both widely available in both cities. You can easily explore both cities by Grab, which is a cheap and convenient way to get around.

As a bigger city, Hanoi has more international and domestic flights compared to Da Nang. Many cities in the world don’t have direct flights to Da Nang, you’ll need to first fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City before flying into Da Nang.

Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi is located 30 km away from the city center. Da Nang international airport is located only 5 km away from the city center. From both airports, you can easily use Grab to get to the downtown of each city.

Traveling by train is also a great way to reach Hanoi and Da Nang if you’ve already in Vietnam. Both train stations are located very close to its city center.

Hanoi Main Train Station is located only 2 km away from the old quarter while Da Nang Train Station is 3 km away from the city center and Han River.

In terms of road traffic, I think Hanoi is more chaotic as it has a larger population. Da Nang has lighter traffic and is less polluted by traffic.

Historical influence

Hanoi has been the political and cultural center of Vietnam for over 1,000 years. It became the capital of Vietnam in 1010, and served as the capital for different Vietnamese feudal dynasties for many centuries. 

Hanoi later became the capital of French Indochina under the French colonial government. The city was heavily bombed during the Vietnam American war but much of its historic core (the Old Quarter) survived the war and still exists today.

Da Nang is the coastal port connected to the ancient kingdom of Champa. It was an important military base during the French colonial and Vietnam-American war. 

Both cities were important keys under the French Colonial period (1858-1954) and many French colonial buildings and villas from this period still exist till today in both Hanoi and Da Nang.

Hanoi has many historic sites in the city dating from the feudal period, including the 11th century Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. You can visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, as well as many ancient temples, and pagodas such as Bach Ma Temple, or Tran Quoc pagoda.

The Old Quarter or “36 streets” is a major highlight of Hanoi. The area was formed in the 11th century, outside of the imperial citadel for Hanoi where craftsmen and traders from different villages came to the city to sell goods and make products for the royals.

Each group settled on a different street based on their trade or craft. Over time, the streets became specialized craft streets, such as Hang Vai sells clothes, Hang Tre sells bamboo, Hang Bac sells silver.   

Today, you can explore narrow, winding streets filled with shops, cafes, street food, and the traditional tube houses. The Old Quarter is popular for souvenirs, handicrafts, and local delicacies. The heart of the Old Quarter is Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.

Outside of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, you can explore the French Quarter with wide tree-lined boulevards, and beautiful French architecture style buildings. Some famous buildings include Hanoi Opera House, Hoa Lo prison museum, and Trang Tien Plaza.

Before becoming the paring of Vietnam, Da Nang was the land of the Champa Kingdom before the 15th century. From the 17th-19th century, the city became an important port for international trade  due to its strategic location in the east sea.

In 1858, French and Spanish forces attacked the port of Tourane, marking the beginning of the French invasion of Vietnam. Today, the city is a modern coastal city, with beautiful beaches, rivers, modern bridges, and friendly locals.

You can still find ruins of Cham Kingdom in and around Da Nang such as My Son sanctuary. You can learn about the history of this period at the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture at the foot of Dragon River along Han River.

Ba Na Hill was the hill station, built by the French in 1919 as a mountain retreat to escape the summer heat.  The modern French Village At Ba Na Hill is the replica of a European town with cobblestone streets, churches, cafes, and French architecture.

Some French colonial buildings can be found in Da Nang city center, along Han River, such as Da Nang Cathedral, and Museum of Champa Culture.

Cost of Living

In my experience, Hanoi is a more expensive city than Da Nang to live or stay in. The cost of living is usually higher, especially in the city center of Hanoi.

From my observation, food and apartment rentals are usually cheaper in Da Nang. Many expats and digital nomads choose to live in Da Nang due to its affordable cost of living.

Accommodations

Both city have wide range of accommodations for all budgets. Da Nang has more luxury international beachfront resorts, while the majority of accommodations in Hanoi are budget and mid-range options, with only a few luxury hotels.

Most first-time visitors stay in the old quarter in Hanoi, where you can find many backpacker hostels and mid-range 4-star hotels. There are only a few 5-star options in the French Quarter.

In Da Nang, visitors can choose to stay in the city center along Han River and the beachfront area along My Khe Beach. You can find many choices of accommodations for budget-friendly guest houses and luxury hotels. 

Both cities have an area for long term travelers, digital nomads, and expats. You can find many apartment rentals in Tay Ho in Hanoi and An Thuong/ My An area in Da Nang. Both areas have a wide range of international restaurants, western-style bars, night clubs, and supermarkets.

See more:

• Best areas to stay in Hanoi
• Best areas to stay in Da Nang

Hanoi or Da Nang for Nightlife?

As a bigger city, Hanoi has a better nightlife scene. The old quarter, particularly Ta Hien Beer Street, is packed with bars and clubs where you can enjoy fresh beer and people watch until midnight. You can also find many trendy bars and nightclubs in Tay Ho district.

The weekend night market in the old quarter also adds a lively atmosphere to the nightlife scene of Hanoi. You can shop for souvenirs, clothes, and try street food here.

In Da Nang, you can find many rooftop bars and nightclubs to have a nice night out. The area around the Han River and An Thuong also have a great nightlife scene with many restaurants and bars open until late night. It also has a vibrant night market area. You can check out Son Tra night market or An Thuong night market.

Hanoi or Da Nang for Shopping?

Hanoi is a better place for shopping compared to Da Nang. It has a big city vibe and is home to a selection of modern shopping malls, as well as many family-run shophouses in the old quarter. 

You can find traditional Vietnamese souvenirs, handicrafts, and traditional items at many streets in the old town, at the night market, or Dong Xuan Market.

For high-end shopping with luxury brands, you can check out many shopping centers such as Trang Tien Plaza and Vincom Ba Trieu.

In Da Nang, you can shop at many traditional markets such as Han market, Son Tra night market, or Con Market. For shopping malls, you can check out Vincom Da Nang located near Han River.

The benefit of staying in Da Nang is being close to Hoi An, a great shopping destination in Central Vietnam. The ancient town of Hoi An has everything you need from souvenirs to clothes and local handicrafts.

Hoi An is best known for its custom tailoring clothing services. If you want to have a custom made suite, dress, bags, or shoes, you can have them made in Hoi An within a very short period of time and at good prices.

Da Nang vs Hanoi Weather

Hanoi has 4 different seasons, including summer, winter, spring, and autumn. Summer can be very hot and humid, winter can be very cold. Hanoi has a rainy season from May to September. The city can experience heavy rain and flooding during these months.

Da Nang has two main seasons, dry season and rainy season. It has warm weather all year round.

Just be mindful that in the rainy season, Da Nang can experience tropical storms and flooding, especially from October to December. You might want to avoid visiting the city this period.

The best time to visit Hanoi is ideally in autumn from September to November. The best time to visit Da Nang is in the dry season from March to July.

Hanoi vs Da Nang Food

Both Hanoi and Da Nang have great food scenes. Hanoi is known for classic Vietnamese dishes such as pho, banh mi, bun cha, and banh cuon. You can find many street food stalls and nice restaurants to try these dishes in the old quarter.

Da Nang is known for its Central Vietnamese cuisine with bold, spicy, and sour flavors. Famous regional dishes in Da Nang include Banh Cuon Thit Heo, My Quang, And Com Ga. 

You can find many good places to eat on Bach Dang Street, Tran Hung Dao Street, along the beach, and all around the city. You can find very cheap meals (still delicious) outside of the touristy area.

Da Nang is a famous beach city, it is also a great place to try cheap and fresh caught seafood from the ocean. You can choose seafood from the tank and the restaurant will cook it for you onsite.

Hanoi or Da Nang for Beaches?

Da Nang is a better place to stay to go to the beaches. This coastal city has beautiful white sandy beaches where you can relax, swim, sunbathe, surf, and enjoy other water activities. If you want a sunny beach destination, Da Nang is the place to go.

My Khe Beach is the most famous beach in Da Nang located right next to the city center. Further south, you can explore more tranquil beaches such as Non Nuoc Beach, An Bang Beach, and Cua Dai Beach.

You can easily take the boat trip to the nearby Cu Lao Cham island for more crystal clear water and water sports activities such as snorkeling and diving.

Hanoi doesn’t have its own beaches. If you want to go to the beach, you’ll need to travel 2-3 hours to get to the nearby natural beaches in Hai Phong or Quang Ninh.

Tourist Attractions

Both cities have plenty of things to do and see. As Hanoi is the older city, you’ll have more cultural attractions, museums, pagodas, and temples to explore. 

You can explore the old quarter, visit ancient temples, explore Hoan Kiem Lake, visit museums like Hoa Lo prison, and check out Thang Long Imperial Palace. There are also attractions such as the train street, St Joseph cathedral, Tran Quoc pagoda, and Ho Chi Minh mausoleum complex.

In Da Nang, you have a couple of cultural attractions like the Marble Mountains and Linh Ung pagoda. You can take a day trip to Ba Na Hill. You can enjoy outdoor activities on Son Tra peninsula, Monkey Mountains, and My Khe Beach.

Both cities are excellent bases for day and overnight trips to other destinations in its regions. From Hanoi, you can visit natural wonders of north Vietnam like Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, Cat Ba, Sapa, and Ha Giang Loop.

From Da Nang, you can visit the ancient town of Hoi An, My Son sanctuary, Hai Van pass, the ancient capital of Vietnam – Hue, Bach Ma National Park, and Cham islands.

You can also check these articles:

• Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City
• Da Nang Vs Hoi An
• Hanoi vs Hoi An
• Hanoi or Hue
• Da Nang or Hue
• Ho Chi Minh City vs Da Nang
• Da Nang vs Nha Trang Vs Phu Quoc

So, Hanoi or Da Nang, which is better to stay and visit?

In my experience, Hanoi is a better place to visit for shopping, nightlife, visiting cultural and historical attractions, and trying Vietnamese traditional food. Da Nang has cheaper cost of living, easy access to the beach, more laid back atmosphere, and fresh air.

These are my opinions about the similarities and differences between Hanoi and Da Nang. If I miss anything, please let me know by leaving the comment in the box below.