Getting There
By Plane -- You can fly to Danang from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Vietnam Airlines office is at 35 Tran Phu St. (tel. 0511/382-1130). A taxi to or from the airport costs about 60,000 VND.
By Bus -- If you're traveling on the "open tour" ticket, Danang is not a specified stop anymore, but the budget tourist cafes can drop you off at the Cham Museum on the southern end of the city. You'll have to call the office in either Hue or Hoi An for pickup when you're ready to leave, or contact An Phu Tourist (20 Dong Da St. in the far north end of town; tel. 0511/381-8366; anphu_cndn@yahoo.com), which is the only traveler cafe with an office in town. Catch local buses at the Interprovince Bus Station at 33 Nguyen Luong Bang, which is not a bad option for a short hop to Hoi An or Hue (note that these local buses have hourly departures as opposed to traveler-cafe buses, which leave only twice a day). Travelers planning to take the rigorous bus journey onward to Laos should say a little prayer and contact An Phu Tourist for buses to Savannakhet. Expect to pay about $25 and expect a long, harrowing journey (honestly, fly if you can).
By Car -- Danang is about 3 1/2 hours by car from Hue, and the route passes Lang Co Beach (good for a stop and a rest) and crosses the very scenic Hai Van Pass. You'll pay $40 to take the trip by rented car with driver. From Hoi An, it's about an hour and costs $25. This ride makes a good day trip along with the Marble Mountains. From either Hoi An or Hue, contact local traveler cafes or travel agents; from Danang, contact An Phu Tourist, or your hotel can make arrangements.
By Train -- All trains stop at the Danang Railway Station, at 202 Hai Phong St. (tel. 0511/382-1175).
Getting Around
Danang has the usual contingent of motorbike taxis and cyclos whose operators are quicker to find you than vice versa. Haggle and expect to pay as little as 5,000 VND for trips in town and about $1 for a ride out to Furama Resort or My Khe Beach. Taxis can be called or hailed anywhere, and the initial cost is 10,000 VND, with 6,000 VND for every kilometer after that. Contact the following: Airport Taxi at tel. 0511/382-5555, or Dana Taxi at tel. 0511/381-5815.
Visitor Information & Tours
There are few tour offices in Danang because most major tour operations are based out of nearby Hoi An or Hue. Any hotel can help with onward travel, either by private car, by minivan, or through budget cafes. Tours can also be booked with any concierge.
An Phu Tourist (20 Dong Da St., in the far north end of town; tel. 0511/381-8366; anphu_cndn@yahoo.com) is the local budget tourist cafe and can arrange any low-budget connections (they also have offices in Hoi An). Their office is in the north end of Danang near the Saigon Tourane Hotel, but they can arrange pickup from your hotel and are generally pretty accommodating.
Fast Facts
Banks & Currency Exchange -- Vietcombank is at 140 Le Loi St. (tel. 0511/382-1955).
Hospital -- The Family Medical Clinic of Danang offers high-end emergency and general medical services to expatriates and travelers. Their office is at 50-52 Nguyen Van Linh St., Hai Chau District (tel. 0511/358-2699; danang@vietnammedicalpractice.com).
Post Office -- The post office is at 47 Tran Phu St. (tel. 0511/382-1134). At the time of writing, they had temporarily relocated to 38 Yen Bai St., but they should be back at their old location by the time you read this. Call ahead just in case.
Telephone -- The city code for Danang is 0511. You can make international calls from the post office. Danang hosts the usual contingent of budget dial-up Internet shops. Look along Dong Da Street adjacent to the An Phu Tourist office (9 Dong Da St.).
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
