Da Nang, Vietnam, info

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO DA NANG, VIETNAM

From LAX, American, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia, JAL, Asiana, Singapore and Eva offer connecting (change of planes) service to Da Nang, Restricted round-trip fares begin at $1,050, excluding taxes and fees.

Visa are required. Apply at your local Vietnamese consulate.

TELEPHONES

To call the following numbers from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 84 (country code for Vietnam) and the local number.

WHAT TO DO

Plan to visit Da Nang as part of a trip to nearby Hue or Hoi An — two of Vietnam’s biggest tourist destinations. Vietnam-based tour operators can arrange travel between the three cities. Hue and Hoi An are about three hours and one hour, respectively, by bus from Da Nang.

To surf at Da Nang’s Non Nuoc Beach, take a taxi to Furama Resort Danang — a landmark that taxi drivers will know. When you arrive, look for Da Boys Surf Shop (0903-88-604, https://www.daboyssurf.com) near the resort’s lobby and ask the staff for advice about board rentals and surf conditions. Da Nang’s surf breaks are best from September to March, but the rainy season lasts from roughly September through January.

You also can take a taxi to Furama and call Le Thi Tam (0905-406-905). Ask Tam for directions to her alleyside pub-cum-surf shop at 38 An Thuong 5, My An, Da Nang. The shop sits in an alley a few hundred yards north on Truong Sa Street from the Furama Resort Danang.

WHERE TO STAY

If you plan to surf, stay at a hotel or guesthouse on the eastern edge of Da Nang near the Furama Resort Danang, about 15 minutes from downtown Da Nang by taxi.

Furama Resort Danang, Truong Sa Street, Khue My Ward, Da Nang; 511-3847-333, https://www.furamavietnam.com. The upscale resort on Non Nuoc Beach offers great sea views, and Da Boys Surf Shop is on the premises. Standard rooms start at $194, including breakfast.

The area west of Furama Resort Danang has more than a dozen guesthouses (nha nghi in Vietnamese). They charge about $10 a night per room. Guesthouse employees in this area speak limited or no English.

WHERE TO EAT

Billabong Pub & Restaurant, 34 An Thuong 1 Street, My An, Da Nang. Surfer Quentin Derrick’s new beach-side eatery. Entrees start at $5. 511-260-2006, https://www.thebillabongdanang.com

Da Nang is a wonderful place to eat. There are beachside seafood restaurants a few hundred yards north of the Furama Resort Danang on Truong Sa Street. You can also take a taxi into downtown Da Nang and try the street food. The blog Danang Cuisine (www.danangcuisine.blogspot.com) is a great resource for visiting foodies.

TO LEARN MORE

Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Danang City, https://www.cst.danang.gov.vn

InDanang.com, https://www.indanang.com