5 Days in Da Nang & Hoi An

A Laid-Back Escape to Danang & Hoi An

Traveling during the peak of summer can be exhausting, so my friend and I decided to plan a trip somewhere affordable, easygoing, and new to both of us. We wanted a place similar to Bangkok—lively yet relaxed, budget-friendly, and with a good mix of city life and chill spots. Since neither of us had been to Vietnam before, we narrowed our choices down to a few destinations. In the end, Danang won out, mainly because my friend found a great deal on airfare. Plus, with its beachside location and slower pace, it felt like the perfect place to unwind.

Since we were already heading to Central Vietnam, adding a short trip to Hoi An felt like a no-brainer. Hoi An’s famous lantern-lit streets, markets, and rich cultural history made it the ideal side trip.

I’ll admit—I wasn’t the biggest fan of Vietnamese food before this trip. But I was hoping that experiencing authentic local dishes would change my mind. More than anything, this trip was meant to be a much-needed getaway. I had just quit my job and wrapped up two major projects before leaving, so the goal was simple: relax, explore at a slow pace, and just enjoy being somewhere new.

Rather than packing our itinerary with must-sees, we kept things flexible. Our approach? Two main “targets” per day—one area to explore in the morning or afternoon and another for the evening. That way, we could soak in the atmosphere without rushing through checklists. Danang would be our main base, while Hoi An would offer a short cultural escape.

A New Beginning

When we first landed in Danang, it reminded me of Bangkok in a lot of ways—bustling, lively, but with a slightly different vibe. There was this sense of uncertainty that lingered, a feeling that something wasn’t quite right. At first, I had the odd sensation of being “scammed” or maybe even kidnapped. From the airport to the immigration process, it felt a bit more intimidating than I had expected, but it was probably more about unfamiliarity than anything else.

Funny story: Since I hold both a Hong Kong and a US passport, I didn’t realize that the US passport required a different visa for entry into Vietnam. My friend quickly pointed out that the US had a complicated history with Vietnam, and that made me feel a bit on edge. It’s funny how something as simple as paperwork can change the whole mood of the trip, isn’t it?

After getting through immigration, we made our way to our hotel. We stayed in a 4-star hotel for the first night, but the location was a bit remote and, frankly, sketchy. Surrounded by a smelly river and empty land, it didn’t give the warmest first impression. Although the room itself was fine and had a nice little balcony, we couldn’t shake the feeling that we had made a bad choice in booking. But after settling in and freshening up, we were ready to head out and explore.

We didn't have a strict itinerary in mind, just the goal of discovering what Danang had to offer. Wandering around the nearby area, we stumbled upon a handful of small, local restaurants that didn’t even have English menus. With no photos to guide us, it was a gamble trying to order food. We ended up just pointing at other people’s plates, hoping for the best. It was a fun and somewhat comical experience, but it also felt like we were truly immersed in the local culture.

The atmosphere of the city was surprisingly relaxed. Despite the initial unease, the laid-back vibe of Danang started to settle in, and we quickly adapted. It was exactly the kind of low-key trip we were hoping for.

As for the food? Surprisingly good. It wasn’t mind-blowing, but it was much better than what I had expected based on my previous experiences with Vietnamese cuisine. The fresh, local flavors were definitely a pleasant start to our adventure.

A Laid-Back Escape

We scheduled a ride to Hoi An in the morning, opting for a comfortable luxury sedan since Vietnamese Dong is relatively cheap. The plan was simple—relax and enjoy the ride. But in reality, we were so exhausted that we ended up sleeping through the entire trip. By the time we arrived, we felt well-rested and ready to explore.

Our accommodation in Hoi An was labeled as a "5-star" hotel, but realistically, it felt more like a large 4-star resort. While the space was vast, the price was affordable, making it feel like we were getting a luxurious experience at a fraction of the usual cost. From being picked up in a private ride to checking into a massive hotel, we jokingly said we were living like royalty.

However, the hotel stay was a mix of good and bad. While the room was spacious and comfortable, the relaxation was short-lived. It turned out that the hotel was undergoing renovations, and we woke up to the loud sound of drilling at 9 AM. The staff was friendly, but another unexpected moment threw us off. As we were heading out for the evening, one of the staff members waved us over to warn us about pickpockets and tourist-targeted crimes in the area. That was enough to spook me—I even went back to my room to change from flip-flops to boots, just in case I needed to run.

For the most part, our time in Hoi An was spent wandering around, enjoying the charming old town atmosphere. We explored the night markets, walked along the river lined with colorful lanterns, and simply soaked in the relaxing vibes. There wasn’t much to “do” in the traditional sense, but that was exactly what we wanted—a slow, laid-back experience.

When it came to food, nothing particularly stood out in the markets, so we ended up having a simple Western-style dinner at a restaurant bar nearby. However, we did stumble upon an amazing café near our hotel during the day. The Vietnamese coffee there was incredible, and they served a mango dessert that was absolutely delicious. It was the perfect way to embrace the slower pace of Hoi An.

The highlight of our time in Hoi An, though, was the massage. It’s one of the things Vietnam is known for, and we were lucky that the hotel staff personally recommended a nearby parlor and even walked us over to help arrange a session. The massage place was stunning—a luxury-style building in the middle of a less-developed town, making it stand out even more. The massage itself was spectacular. And just like most high-end spas in the Asia Pacific, they ended the session by serving a cup of tea and some simple yet delicious biscuits. It was the perfect way to unwind. My friend even asked for an extra pack of biscuits, and they happily gave it to us for free.

Return to Danang & Final Days

After our visit to Hoi An, we headed back to Danang to wrap up our trip with another day or two in the city. Just as we were checking out of the hotel, one of the managers approached us for feedback. I’ve always believed in giving fair reviews, so I told him that, overall, the stay was great—the staff were amazing, but the ongoing renovation was a downside, though not their fault. I rated them a solid 4 out of 5. To my surprise, the hotel manager appreciated my honest feedback so much that he arranged a free ride back to Danang for us! While the cost wasn’t high, it was still a 1-2 hour ride worth about $40 USD—a pretty nice bonus just for being fair.

Another “5-Star” Experience – But Not Quite

For our final stay in Danang, we booked another 5-star hotel—though, like the one in Hoi An, it felt more like a really nice 4-star instead. The location, however, was much better, right by the famous beach in Danang, a popular area for tourists.

Unfortunately, our experience with this hotel wasn’t the smoothest. We arrived before the standard 3 PM check-in time, so we expected our room wouldn’t be ready yet. We left our luggage at the reception and went out for a few hours, returning only around 6 PM to give them plenty of time. Yet, when we tried to access our room, our key card didn’t work.

After heading back down to the front desk to get it fixed, we finally entered our room—only to realize our luggage was still downstairs. Another trip down, another hassle. But the real nightmare started that night.

As we tried to sleep, we kept hearing knocking noises on our massive window. It was eerie, but we chalked it up to the wind or something outside. But the real frustration? Housekeeping knocking on our door early in the morning—twice! Despite having the Do Not Disturb light on, they knocked once, woke us up, and then came back a second time. Just when we were finally about to fall asleep after a restless night, they made sure we stayed awake.

Capturing the Local Vibes

Despite the frustrating hotel experience, we spent the next two days exploring different parts of Danang, looking for places that truly captured that Vietnamese aesthetic for some memorable photos. It was a lot of wandering, relaxing, and just taking in the local atmosphere, keeping up with the chill vibe of our trip.

Changing My Perspective on Vietnamese Cuisine

While I didn’t have high expectations for Vietnamese food at the start of this trip, these last two days completely changed my mind. We found a Western-Vietnamese fusion restaurant and an incredible steakhouse that really stood out. The flavors were amazing, and the best part? The prices were ridiculously cheap compared to what we’d pay elsewhere.

That night, we enjoyed a delicious steak dinner while watching fireworks—an unexpectedly perfect way to wrap up our final days in Vietnam.

And of course, I finally had an authentic bowl of Vietnamese pho. It made me realize that my previous dislike of Vietnamese food probably came from bad experiences as a kid, eating non-authentic versions. This trip completely changed my perspective, and I left with a much greater appreciation for the cuisine.

A Relaxed Ending to a Laid-Back Trip

For the rest of our stay, we kept things slow—taking in the last moments of our summer getaway before heading back to reality. Well… in my case, back to job hunting.

Final Thoughts on Danang & Hoi An

Looking back, this trip might have been what sparked my "adventurer" mindset—exploring new places with an open mind and even writing reviews, whether good or bad, for businesses that deserve recognition (or a fair warning).

More than that, it completely changed my perspective on Vietnam. Before this, it was just another country in the Asia Pacific region that I knew little about, aside from my general dislike of its cuisine. But after experiencing the food firsthand—authentic and freshly made—it shattered my assumptions. Vietnam quickly became one of my go-to destinations for a cheap, quick getaway, and I realized how much of the country I had yet to see.

I’d definitely love to return to Danang. Despite our relaxing trip, I felt like there was still so much left unexplored, partly because of our exhaustion from the hotel mishaps. Next time, I'd make sure to choose a better place to stay and plan out more spots to visit so I can fully enjoy what the city has to offer.

For anyone planning a trip to Danang or Hoi An, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Check visa requirements—different nationalities require different visas, so don’t assume you can just show up at immigration without issues.

• Research your hotels carefully—even highly-rated ones can have unexpected problems like ongoing renovations or bad service.

• Plan out more locations to visit—especially for a short trip, having a few more backup ideas can help maximize the experience.

Despite the challenges, this trip was exactly what I needed. A simple, laid-back vacation to unwind, reset, and prepare for what was next in life. And in the end, that’s what truly mattered.