Discover the highlights of Da Nang, a coastal town situated on the Han River and surrounded by beautiful bays, long stretches of pristine beaches and towering mountains.
Da Nang has a colorful history reflected in its many cultural attractions and colonial architecture, remnants from the days when the French and Spanish occupied the area during the 17th and 18th centuries. As a major US Marine base during the Vietnam conflict, Da Nang was a strategic air and seaport, and the scene of some of the most brutal fighting of the war. Today, Da Nang sports a scenic river embankment, tree-lined boulevards with sidewalk cafes and old colonial villas.
Your first visit on this tour is to the renowned Cham Museum, exhibiting the most extensive collection of Cham art in the world, dating back to the fifth through 16th century. Following a guided tour of the museum, drive to the lively Han Market. After strolling through the market with its eclectic variety of fresh foods, handicrafts and clothing; re-board your coach and drive outside the city limits to the fascinating Marble Mountain. The mountain is made up of five hills, each representing one of the five elements of the universe: water, wood, fire, metal and earth. Both the Vietnamese and the Cham used these mountains to build their shrines, making Marble Mountain a picturesque spot with numerous grottoes, caves and pagodas.
Proceed to Non Nuoc Stone Village, a marble carving village at the base of the mountain. Built in the 18th century, Non Nuoc is the home of master stone carving artisans. See the carvers at work with the white and rose-colored marble quarried from the mountain. Before returning to the ship, you'll make photo stops at Marble Beach, best known as the beach used by US soldiers as an R&R camp during the Vietnam War, and the Buddhist Temple at Fairy Mountain.