Hai Chau

Hai Chau is the historic and commercial heart of Da Nang, occupying the central riverfront area along the west bank of the Han River. As the former District I of the Republic of Vietnam period, it has long served as the city's administrative, cultural, and commercial core. The district covers about 21 km² and was home to over 220,000 residents before its 2025 administrative reorganisation. The municipal hall, the Da Nang Cathedral (the pink "Rooster Church"), the central market, and most of the city's major banks and corporate headquarters are concentrated here.

The climate mirrors Da Nang's tropical monsoon pattern: dry season (Feb–Aug) with temperatures around 25–33°C and wet season (Sep–Jan) with heavier rainfall and occasional typhoons. The best time to visit is March through August. Hai Chau is densely built-up and walkable in patches, though the main thoroughfares — Bạch Đằng, Lê Duẩn, and Nguyễn Văn Linh — carry heavy traffic.

By Plane

Da Nang International Airport (DAD) sits on the boundary of Hai Chau and Thanh Khe districts, about 3 km from the district centre. Taxis cost 80,000–120,000 VND to central Hai Chau. Several local bus routes (including line 1) connect the airport terminal to Hai Chau for 5,000 VND.

By Train

Da Nang Railway Station is just west of Hai Chau, within walking distance (about 1 km from the district boundary). It offers daily Reunification Express services north to Hanoi (15–17 hr) and south to Ho Chi Minh City (17–20 hr). Soft sleeper berths cost 500,000–1,200,000 VND depending on class. Book through baolau.com or at the station.

By Car / Road

Hai Chau is the convergence point for National Highways 1A (north–south) and 14B (west). Driving from Hoi An takes about 40 min (30 km), from Hue about 2 hr (100 km). Local and long-distance buses arrive at the central bus station on Điện Biên Phủ Street, just west of the district.

Hai Chau is the most walkable district in Da Nang, with wide footpaths along the Han River esplanade. Taxis (Mai Linh, Vinasun) and ride-hailing apps (Grab) are ubiquitous; typical inner-district fares run 20,000–50,000 VND. Public buses cover the main arteries. Motorbike rental is widely available for 120,000–200,000 VND/day. The Han River Bridge area can be congested during rush hour.

• Da Nang Cathedral (Rooster Church): A pink French Gothic church built 1923, still an active Catholic parish. Free entry; located at 156 Trần Phú Street.

• Museum of Cham Sculpture: The world's finest collection of Cham artefacts, housed in a colonial building near the Han River. Admission 60,000 VND; open daily 07:00–17:00.

• Han River Bridge: The iconic swing bridge rotates 360° at night to allow ships passage; best viewed from the east bank promenade.

• Da Nang Museum: Exhibits on the city's history from the Sa Huynh culture through the Champa kingdom to modern times. Free entry; at 24 Trần Phú.

• Bạch Đằng Walking Street: A palm-lined riverside promenade popular for evening strolls, street food, and views of the Son Tra Peninsula.

• Ho Chi Minh Museum: A branch of the national museum dedicated to the revolutionary leader, at 3 Nguyễn Văn Linh.

• Walk or cycle the Han River esplanade at sunset for views of the Dragon Bridge and Son Tra Peninsula.

• Take a cooking class at one of several Vietnamese cooking schools in the district.

• Join a free walking tour of the French-colonial architecture in the city centre (several operators depart from the cathedral area).

• Visit the rooftop bars on Bạch Đằng for panoramic Da Nang skyline views.

• Mỳ Quảng 1A: A beloved bowl of turmeric-tinted noodles with pork, shrimp, and crunchy peanuts, served at 1A Hải Phòng. Around 35,000 VND.
• Bánh Mì Bà Lan: A legendary baguette stall near the cathedral with pâté, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables for 15,000–25,000 VND.
• Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ (Hai Chau): Crispy-skinned chicken rice served with a tangy dipping sauce; several eateries along Lê Duẩn.
• Bún Chả Cá: Da Nang's fish-cake noodle soup — try it at the stalls near Han Market for about 30,000 VND.
• Vegetarian option: A number of Buddhist-run quán chay (vegetarian restaurants) on Nguyễn Văn Linh serve filling set meals for 25,000–40,000 VND.

• Cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) is ubiquitous; try any local café along Nguyễn Văn Linh or the riverside.
• Bia tươi (draught beer) is served at street-level bia hơi joints along Hoàng Diệu for around 5,000 VND/glass.
• The riverside offers several cocktail bars and lounges such as Cloud Rooftop Bar and The Sun Rooftop Bar with Han River views.
• Tap water is not safe to drink; buy bottled water (5,000–10,000 VND).

• Budget: The Common Room Project Hostel (96 Trần Phú) — dorm beds from 120,000 VND/night.
• Mid-range: Novotel Danang Premier Han River (36 Bạch Đằng) — rooms from 1,200,000 VND/night, river-view balconies.
• Upscale: Pullman Danang Beach Resort (101 Võ Nguyên Giáp) — from 2,500,000 VND/night, though technically on the border of Hai Chau and Son Tra.

• Han Market (Chợ Hàn): The iconic central market, selling everything from fresh produce and seafood to textiles, souvenirs, and local specialties like dried squid and mung-bean cakes. Bargaining is expected — start at about half the quoted price.
• Big C Supermarket: A modern hypermarket on Hùng Vương Street for packaged goods and Vietnamese coffee.
• Local specialities: Mì Quảng (turmeric noodles), dried squid, and bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo (rice-paper rolls with pork) are good takeaways.

• Son Tra Peninsula (10 km northeast, 30 min by motorbike) — forested hills, secluded beaches, and the Linh Ung Pagoda with its 67-m Goddess of Mercy statue.
• Hoi An Ancient Town (30 km south, 40 min by car) — a UNESCO World Heritage site with perfectly preserved 16th-century merchant houses and lantern-lit streets.
• Marble Mountains (12 km south, 20 min by car) — five marble-and-limestone hills with caves, Buddhist sanctuaries, and sweeping coastal views.
• Ba Na Hills (40 km west, 1 hr by car) — hill station with the famous Golden Bridge, a French village replica, and a cable-car system.
• Hue (100 km north, 2 hr by train or car) — the former imperial capital with the Citadel, royal tombs, and Perfume River.