Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Day Tour from Da Nang

Ba Na Hills: a day trip from Da Nang into the mountains

Ba Na Hills sits on the Truong Son range about 25 km west of Da Nang, with its summit close to 1,500 metres above sea level. The site began in 1919 as a hill station where colonial families escaped the coastal heat, and today it is a large mountain resort reached only by cable car. The temperature at the top is often 15 to 20°C, and visitors joke that you can feel all four seasons in one day as mist, sun and cool breezes pass by.

A Ba Na Hills day trip from Da Nang is one of the most popular excursions in central Vietnam. The drive from the city takes about 45 minutes to an hour, and the guide takes care of tickets and timing so you can enjoy a full day on the mountain without planning anything yourself.

The Ba Na cable car

The ride up is an attraction in its own right. The main line, almost 6 km long, has held world records for length and height difference for a single-track cable car, and climbs over waterfalls, streams and thick rainforest canopy. On a clear day you can see all the way to Da Nang and the sea, and when the cloud is low the cabins glide through the mist in an almost magical silence.

The round-trip cable car ticket is included. Including the transfer between lines, the climb takes roughly 20 minutes. On weekends and Vietnamese holidays queues can form at the base, which is why an early pickup time is a good choice. Travellers afraid of heights should know that the cabins pass high above the valley.

Golden Bridge (Cau Vang)

Opened in 2018, the Golden Bridge is a curving walkway about 150 metres long, painted gold and lifted above the forest by two enormous weathered stone hands. Standing at around 1,400 metres, it seems to float between the sky and the treetops, and in fog it becomes almost dreamlike. It quickly became one of Vietnam's most photographed landmarks.

Your guide gives you time to walk the bridge and find the best angles, followed by a visit to the terraced flower gardens and the hilltop Linh Ung Pagoda with its tall white Buddha statue. The best time to visit the Golden Bridge is early in the day, before the main crowds arrive and when the light is softer for photographs.

French Village and the flower gardens

A second cable car takes you higher to the French Village, a re-created European town with a cathedral-style church, cobbled squares, clock towers and pastel facades. It recalls the hill station's colonial origins and is a pleasant place to stroll, sit in a café and watch the clouds roll over the rooftops.

Nearby, the flower gardens are laid out in themed sections with fountains, statues and seasonal blooms, and paths lead to lookouts over the valleys. The village is busiest around midday, so your guide will suggest the best order of visits. Wear comfortable shoes, as the area is spread over several levels with slopes and stairs, and keep a light layer handy because the village is often the coolest part of the mountain.

Fantasy Park and lunch at the top

Fantasy Park is a large indoor amusement area with arcade games, gentle rides, a drop tower, 4D and 5D cinemas and play areas for younger children, all under one roof, so it works well even in rain or fog. Most indoor games are included with your entry, while the wax museum and the alpine coaster are paid separately.

The default option includes a buffet lunch at Ba Na Hills, with a wide spread of Vietnamese and international dishes, salads and desserts. Buffets include pork dishes, but there are always seafood, chicken and vegetarian choices; halal-certified food is not available on the mountain. If you would rather eat when and where you wish, choose the option without lunch.