Why we recommend these 10 addresses
The confusion is frequent: looking for a palace in Hoi An often lands one in Da Nang. The UNESCO-listed old town has no seafront, its 18th-century shophouses do not lend themselves to large resorts. Beachfront luxury has therefore settled on Vo Nguyen Giap, the coastal artery of Da Nang that runs along My Khe beach for 6 kilometres. Between the international airport (8 km) and the historic centre of Hoi An (25 to 30 km), this promenade lines up glass towers, spas facing the South China Sea and infinity pools.
We have selected 10 establishments that play fair with this geography. Four Seasons Nam Hai remains the exception: set halfway between Da Nang and Hoi An, it offers direct access to Ha My beach, calmer than My Khe. The others bet on proximity to the airport (15 minutes by taxi), free shuttles to the old town (30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic) and concierge services that arrange private visits to the My Son sanctuary (50 km) or excursions to the Marble Mountains (8 km). The M Hotel, the TMS, the Prince and the Awaken all stand on the same stretch of Vo Nguyen Giap, between beach and seafood restaurants. The voco Ma Belle and the Radisson RED play the IHG and Radisson lifestyle card, with rooftop bars and beach clubs. The Crowne Plaza City Centre and the Courtyard Marriott target business travellers who prefer a view over the Han River rather than the sea. The Luxury Dana Beach Resort bets on space and calm at Ngu Hanh Son, a residential district between the airport and Hoi An.
What we appreciate: transparency on distances, systematic free shuttles, spas that compensate for the lack of historic charm. What we regret: architectural uniformity (glass towers, marble lobbies), lack of personality compared with the boutique hotels of the old town. Yet for a beach stay with cultural excursions, this Da Nang promenade remains the best compromise.
When to go: seasonality and rates
Central Vietnam's coast has two marked seasons. The dry season (February to August) brings clear skies, a calm sea and temperatures between 28 and 35°C. February-March and May-June are the most comfortable months, before the heavy heat of July-August. The rainy season (September to January) brings short but violent showers, especially in October-November, with typhoon risk. December-January remains workable, with bright spells and a rougher sea.
Rates follow this seasonality. In high season (February-April, July-August), the palaces of Vo Nguyen Giap list between 180 and 350 € per night for a superior sea-view room. The Four Seasons Nam Hai rises to 600-800 € for the villa. In low season (September-November), prices drop 30 to 40 %, with spa offers included. January and June offer the best value: decent weather, intermediate rates (150-250 €), fewer Chinese and Korean tourists.
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Average rate (sea-view room) |
|---|
| February-April | Ideal (25-30°C, dry) | Very high | 250-350 € |
| May-June | Hot (30-35°C) | Medium | 180-280 € |
| July-August | Very hot | High (Asian holidays) | 280-350 € |
| September-November | Rain, typhoons | Low | 120-200 € |
| December-January | Cool (20-25°C), bright spells | Medium | 150-250 € |
Bookings for February-March are made 4 to 6 months ahead, especially for the Anantara Hoi An (on the Thu Bon river, 5 km from Cua Dai Beach) and the Hoiana Hotel & Suites (integrated complex with golf and casino 20 km from Hoi An). The other Da Nang addresses remain more accessible, even in high season.
Where to stay: Da Nang promenade vs Hoi An old town
Geography dictates a choice. Da Nang beachfront (My Khe beach, Vo Nguyen Giap) concentrates the large 5-star resorts: M Hotel, TMS, Prince, Awaken, voco Ma Belle, Radisson RED, Radisson Hotel. One comes for the white-sand beach, the spas facing the South China Sea, the infinity pools and the free shuttles to Hoi An (30-40 minutes). The atmosphere is international beachfront, with seafood restaurants, beach clubs and little local charm. The Luxury Dana Beach Resort stands at Ngu Hanh Son, a residential district between the airport and Hoi An, with Truong Sa beach less crowded than My Khe.
Da Nang city centre (Han River, Hai Chau district) attracts business travellers: Crowne Plaza City Centre on Quang Trung, Courtyard Marriott on Bach Dang Street. View over the Han River, illuminated Dragon Bridge 2 km away, Han market 10 minutes on foot. No beach, but quick access to the airport (10-15 minutes) and the Marble Mountains (15 minutes).
Hoi An old town (Thu Bon River, historic centre) offers charming boutique hotels in French colonial houses or restored shophouses. The Anantara Hoi An Resort (French colonial architecture, 93 rooms) stands on the Thu Bon river, 5 km from Cua Dai Beach. Intimate atmosphere, lanterns in the evening, night market 10 minutes on foot. Yet no large beach: a 15-minute drive is needed to reach An Bang Beach.
Hoiana (20 km south of Hoi An) is a recent integrated complex: Hoiana Hotel & Suites, New World Hoiana Beach Resort, 18-hole golf, casino. Private beach, all-inclusive possible, yet isolated (40 minutes from Hoi An old town).
Our advice: Da Nang promenade for a beach stay with cultural excursions (3-4 nights suffice). Hoi An old town for historic immersion, provided one accepts the absence of a large beach. Hoiana for families wanting an all-inclusive resort without moving.
The addresses we retain on the Da Nang promenade
On Vo Nguyen Giap, the beachfront artery, four glass towers stand out. The M Hotel (5 stars, 280 rooms) bets on the spa facing the South China Sea, with hammam, sauna and ocean-view massage cabins. Free shuttle to Hoi An, My Khe beach 50 metres away, Da Nang city centre 10 minutes. The TMS Hotel (34-storey tower, 394 rooms) plays the family card: kids club, outdoor pool, connecting rooms. My Khe beach 50 metres away, Marble Mountains 8 km. The Prince Hotel (5 stars, 562 rooms) displays understated comfort: infinity pool, spa, Vietnamese and international restaurants. Hoi An 25 km, Da Nang city centre 6 km. The Awaken Da Nang (Vietnamese chain, 5 stars) stands between My Khe beach and Phuoc My district, 28 km from Hoi An and 8 km from the airport.
The voco Ma Belle (IHG, contemporary) and the Radisson RED (Radisson lifestyle) target a younger clientele: rooftop bars, beach clubs, colourful design. The voco stands on Vo Nguyen Giap, 8 km from the airport. The Radisson RED sits on Son Tra beach, 4 km from Da Nang centre and 25 km from Hoi An. The Radisson Hotel (classic chain) remains a safe bet for business travellers: My Khe beach, 30 km from Hoi An, 40 minutes by car.
In Da Nang city centre, the Crowne Plaza City Centre (IHG, 5 stars) stands on Quang Trung, east bank of the Han River. Dragon Bridge 1.5 km away, Han market 10 minutes on foot, Da Nang Cathedral 800 m. Business district, no beach, yet river view and well-honed IHG service. The Courtyard Marriott (Bach Dang Street, facing the Han River) lists Hoi An in its address yet stands 25 km away: Dragon Bridge 2 km, My Khe beach 4 km by taxi.
The Luxury Dana Beach Resort & Spa (Ngu Hanh Son, between airport and Hoi An) bets on space and calm: less frequented Truong Sa beach, 20 minutes from the airport, 15 minutes from Hoi An. Vietnamese resort, no international chain, family service.
Tables and culinary experiences
Da Nang has no Michelin-starred table, yet several addresses hold their own. Madame Lân (city centre, fusion Vietnamese cuisine) serves revisited dishes in a French colonial house: crispy nem rán, fragrant bún chả, Hoi An cao lầu (thick noodles, grilled pork, herbs). Allow 25-35 € per person. Waterfront (Bach Dang Street, view over the Han River) offers grilled seafood, lobster, king crab. Budget 40-60 € with wine. The Deck House (My Khe beach, feet in the sand) serves daily fish, grilled squid, sunset cocktails. 30-45 € per person.
In Hoi An, three addresses stand out. Morning Glory (Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, old town) remains a safe bet for revisited street food: white rose dumplings (steamed ravioli), cao lầu, bánh xèo (Vietnamese crêpe). 15-20 € per person. Nu Eatery (Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, fusion cuisine) offers creative dishes: red tuna tartare, grilled ibérico pork, dragon-fruit desserts. 35-50 € with wine. Maison Marou (Nguyen Sieu Street, chocolate shop-restaurant) serves brunch and lunch with a view over the Thu Bon river: eggs benedict, Marou chocolate pancakes (Vietnamese beans). 20-30 € per person.
The Da Nang palaces have their own tables. The Four Seasons Nam Hai (halfway between Da Nang and Hoi An) offers The Restaurant (Vietnamese cuisine, seafood) and La Sen (fusion cuisine). The Anantara Hoi An (old town) serves breakfast buffet and dinner by the Thu Bon river. The M Hotel, the TMS and the Prince have correct Vietnamese and international restaurants, without particular brilliance.
| Restaurant | Location | Speciality | Budget (per person) |
|---|
| Madame Lân | Da Nang centre | Fusion Vietnamese | 25-35 € |
| Waterfront | Han River | Seafood | 40-60 € |
| Morning Glory | Hoi An old town | Street food | 15-20 € |
| Nu Eatery | Hoi An | Creative fusion | 35-50 € |
| The Deck House | My Khe beach | Grilled fish | 30-45 € |
Cultural experiences: from Hoi An to My Son
The old town of Hoi An (UNESCO-listed) can be visited in half a day: 18th-century shophouses (Tan Ky, Phung Hung), Japanese covered bridge (1593), central market, lanterns in the evening. The concierges of the Da Nang palaces arrange private visits with a French-speaking guide (80-120 € for 4 hours, transport included). The night market (every evening, 18h-23h) sells silk lanterns, made-to-measure clothing (suit in 24 hours, 80-150 €), souvenirs.
The My Son sanctuary (50 km from Da Nang, 40 km from Hoi An) groups Cham temples from the 4th to the 14th century, UNESCO-listed. Visit in the morning (7h-10h) to avoid the heat: red-brick towers, Hindu sculptures, traditional Cham dance performance at 9h30. Excursion organised by the palaces: 60-100 € per person (transport, guide, entry). The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son, 8 km from Da Nang) shelter Buddhist caves, pagodas and stone-sculpture workshops. Visit in 2-3 hours, entry 40 000 VND (1.50 €).
My Khe beach (6 km long, white sand) was ranked by Forbes among the world's most beautiful beaches. Supervised swimming, beach clubs (The Deck House, Shaka Beach Club), water sports (jet-ski, paddle, surf). An Bang beach (5 km north of Hoi An) is calmer, with seafood restaurants feet in the sand. Ha My beach (between Da Nang and Hoi An) remains the most preserved, accessible from Four Seasons Nam Hai.
Budget: what one really pays
For 3 nights in a Da Nang palace (superior sea-view room), allow:
- Accommodation: 180-350 € per night in high season (February-April, July-August), 120-250 € in low season (September-November). Four Seasons Nam Hai rises to 600-800 € for the villa.
- Restaurants: 25-60 € per person for dinner (outside the palace), 15-20 € for lunch in Hoi An. Breakfast buffet included in most palaces.
- Spa: 80-150 € for a 90-minute massage (hot stones, aromatherapy). The spas of the Da Nang palaces are less expensive than in Bangkok or Singapore.
- Excursions: 60-120 € per person for a private visit to Hoi An + My Son (French-speaking guide, transport, entries). 30-50 € for the Marble Mountains.
- Transfers: 8-15 € for an airport-hotel taxi (8 km, 15 minutes). Free shuttles to Hoi An offered by most palaces.
Total budget for 3 nights (2 people, excluding flights): 1 200-2 500 € according to season and hotel standing. The Da Nang palaces remain 30 to 40 % cheaper than their equivalents in Phuket or Bali, with equivalent service.
Practical tips before departure
Visa: visa exemption for French nationals up to 45 days (since August 2023). Passport valid 6 months after return date.
Flights: Vietnam Airlines and Air France offer direct Paris-Hanoi flights (12 hours), then Hanoi-Da Nang connection (1h20). Allow 700-1 200 € return according to season. The Da Nang palaces arrange private transfers from the airport (30-50 € per journey).
Health: no compulsory vaccines. Recommended: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis (if extended stay in rural area). No malaria in Da Nang or Hoi An. Tap water not drinkable: prefer bottled water.
Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND). 1 € = 25 000 VND approximately. The palaces accept Visa and Mastercard, sometimes with a 3 % commission. ATM machines in all districts of Da Nang and Hoi An.
Language: Vietnamese. English spoken in the palaces, tourist restaurants and Hoi An shops. Little French, except private guides.
Time difference: +6 hours in winter, +5 hours in summer compared with Paris.
What to pack: SPF 50 sunscreen (strong sun February to August), mosquito repellent (especially in rainy season), hat, sunglasses, swimsuit, light cotton clothing. The palaces provide hairdryers, bathrobes, slippers.
Bookings: the Da Nang palaces (M Hotel, TMS, Prince, voco Ma Belle) remain available even in high season. Four Seasons Nam Hai and Anantara Hoi An show full 3 to 6 months ahead for February-March. Book directly on the hotel websites or via platforms such as Booking or Agoda to compare rates ✨
