Vietnam Royal Tourism

Da Nang Overview

While most tourists neglect Vietnam's fourth-largest city in favour of nearby Hue and Hoi An, Danang has considerable charm in its own right. The economic powerhouse of central Vietnam, it combines the buzz of a bigger city with beautiful beaches and great restaurants. A lot of money has recently been poured into tree-lined boulevards, bridges and beachside resorts. Back in the heady days of the American War, Danang was referred to as the 'Saigon of the North'. This held a note of both praise and condemnation; like its big .southern sister, Danang was notable for its booming economy, fine restaurants, busy traffic and glittering shops. Entertaining the soldiers from the nearby American base was a profit able business - bars and prostitution were major industries, and that sleazy legacy lingers. Men travelling together or alone may find themselves (or more accurately, their-wallets) subjected to unwanted attention in even the ritziest of bars. Danang marks the northern limits of Vietnam's tropical zone and boasts a pleasant climate all year round.

Sights & Activities

MUSEUM OF CHAM SCULPTURE

The leading sight in Danang is the internationally renowned Museum of Cham Sculpture (Bao Tang Dieu Khac Champa Da Nang). Founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, this collection is the finest of its kind in the world. Many ofthe sandstone carvings - including altars, lingas, garudas, Ganeshas, and images of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu - are exquisitely detailed. Allow yourself at least a good hour to soak it up. The museum's artefacts, which date from the 7th to 15th centuries, were discovered at Dong Duong (Indrapura), Khuong My, My Son, Tra Kieu and other sites, mostly in Quang Nam and Danang provinces. The museum's rooms are named after the localities in which the objects displayed were found. A trilingual (Vietnamese, English and French) guidebook about the museum. Museum of Cham Sculpture - Danang, was written by its director, Tran Ky Phuong, who is Vietnam's most eminent scholar of Cham civilisation. The book provides excellent back-ground on the art of Champa and details on the museum's exhibits. It's usually on sale at the entrance. Guides (some better than others) wait at the entrance of the museum to offer their services, but agree on a price before you begin.

HO CHI MINH MUSEUM

There are three sections to the Ho Chi Minh Museum - a museum of military history in front of which US, Soviet and Chinese weaponry is displayed; a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s house in Hanoi (complete with a small lake); and, across the pond from the house, a museum solely about Uncle Ho. It's easy to tire of Vietnam's numerous military and Ho Chi Minh museums. This one isn't bad, but don't bother if you're visiting the larger incarnations in Hanoi or HCMC.

DANANG WATERPARK

The enormous water park is lots of fun - and not just for kids - with slides, pools and the like. It's on the riverbank.

DANANG CATHEDRAL

Known to locals as Con Ga Church (Rooster Church) because of the weathercock on top of the steeple, the candy-pink Danang Cathedral ( Đ Tran Phu) was built for the city's French residents in 1923. Today it serves a Catholic community of 4000 - it's standing room only if you arrive late for Mass. Mass is usually held from Monday to SAT Turday at 5am and 5.30pm, and on Sunday at 5.00am, 6.15am, 7.30am, 3.30pm and 5.00pm,

CAO DAI TEMPLE

Built in 1956, Cao Dai Temple is the largest such structure outside the sect's headquarters in Tay Ninh. There are 50.000 Cao Dai faithful in Quang Nam and Danang provinces - 20,000 in Danang itself, As with all Cao Dai temples, prayers are held four times a day: at 6am, noon, 6pm and midnight. The left-hand gate to the complex is for women; the right-hand gate for men. The doors to the sanctuary are similarly segregated, although priests of either gender use the central door. Behind the main altar sits an enormous globe with the Cao Dai 'divine eye' symbol on it. A sign reading van giao nhat ly (All religions have the same reason) hangs from the ceiling in front of the altar. Behind the gilded letters is a picture of the founders of five of the world's great religions. From left to right are Mohammed, Laotse (wearing Eastern Orthodox robes), Jesus (portrayed as he is in French icons), a Southeast Asian-looking Buddha and Confucius (looking as Chinese as could be). Portraits of early Cao Dai leaders, dressed in turbans and white robes, are displayed in the building behind the main sanctuary.

Phao Lam Pagoda

Built in 1936, Phap Lam Pagoda has in its grounds a brass statue of Dia Tang (the King of Hell), a large yellow Happy Buddha and a giant pink Buddha with a swastika (a common Buddhist symbol) on his chest. A massive new pagoda was being built here at the time of research.

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