Da Nang

City of DanangThành phố Đà Nẵng Coordinates: 16°04′10″N 108°12′35″E / 16.06944°N 108.20972°E / 16.06944; 108.20972Country VietnamRegionSouth Central CoastSeatHải Châu wardSubdivision23 wards, 70 communes, 1 special zoneGovernment • TypeMunicipality (Class-1) • BodyDanang People’s Council • Secretary of the PartyLê Ngọc Quang • Chairman of People’s CouncilNguyễn Đức Dũng • Chairman of People’s CommitteePhạm Đức ẤnArea11,859.59 km2 (4,579.01 sq mi)Highest elevation2,598 m (8,524 ft)Lowest elevation0 m (0 ft)Population3,065,628 • Density258/km2 (670/sq mi) • Urban1,660,122 • Rural1,405,506 • DialectQuảng NamDemonymDanangeseGDP[3] • Municipality (Class-1)VND 279.926 trillionUS$ 11.4 billionTime zoneUTC+7 (ICT)Postal codeArea codes236ISO 3166 codeVN-DNLicense plate43HDI (2022) 0.800[4](5th)Websitewww.danang.gov.vn

Da Nang or Danang[nb 1] (Vietnamese: Đà Nẵng, pronounced [ɗà n̪ɐ̌ŋˀ] ⓘ) is the fourth-largest city in Vietnam by municipal population and the largest by geographical area.[5] It lies on the coast of the Western Pacific Ocean of Vietnam at the mouth of the Hàn River. As one of the country’s six direct-controlled municipalities, it falls under the administration of the central government.

The city was known as Cửa Hàn (Hàn River Estuary) during Đại Việt settlement, and as Tourane (or Turon) during French colonial rule. Before 1997, the city was part of Quang Nam-Da Nang Province. On 1 January 1997, Da Nang was separated from Quảng Nam Province to become one of the centrally controlled municipalities. Da Nang is designated as a first class city,[6] and has a higher urbanization ratio than any of Vietnam’s other provinces or centrally governed cities.

Da Nang is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam and is the largest city in the region. Its sheltered port and its location on National Route 1 and the North-South Railway makes it a transport hub. It is within 100 km (62 mi) of some UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Imperial City of Huế, the Old Town of Hội An, and the Mỹ Sơn ruins. APEC 2017 was hosted in Da Nang.[7] Da Nang has a Human Development Index of 0.800 (very high), ranking fifth among all municipalities and provinces of Vietnam.[4] In a proposal announced in April 2025, which came into force starting 1 July that year, the new Da Nang City was formed by incorporating the neighbouring Quảng Nam Province whilst maintaining its political and administrative centres.[8][9]

Most of the names by which Da Nang has been known make reference to its position at the Hàn River estuary. The city’s name is generally agreed to be a Vietnamese adaptation of the Cham word da nak, which is translated as ‘opening of a large river’.[10][11]

Other Chamic sources, with similar definitions, have been proposed. Inrasara (aka Phú Trạm), a researcher specializing in Champa, suggests Da Nang is a variation of the Cham word daknan (lit. ‘the large water’); Sakaya (aka Văn Món), another Champa researcher, claims a connection with the Raglai word danang, meaning ‘river source’.[12]

Another name given to Da Nang was Cửa Hàn (lit. ‘mouth of the Han [river]’). The name used by the French, Tourane, is said to derive from this name, by way of a rough transliteration.[13] This name (spelled Cua han) appears on maps of the area drafted by Alexandre de Rhodes in 1650. The name Kean (compare Kẻ Hàn, roughly ‘Han market’) was another name purportedly used during the 17th century to refer to the land at the foot of the Hải Vân Pass.[10]

Other names referring to Da Nang include:[10]

• Vũng Thùng, a colloquial name which survives in folklore.[nb 2]
• Trà Úc, Trà Áo, Trà Sơn and Đồng Long Loan, literary names used by Confucian scholars.
• In Chinese, Danang is known as Chinese: 峴港; pinyin: Xiàngǎng), this is derived from the older name 蜆港 (‘clam harbor’).
• In chữ Nôm, used until 1945, Đà Nẵng is written as 沱灢, a simplified form of 沱㶞.
• Thái Phiên, a name used after the 1945 August Revolution, commemorating Thái Phiên, the leader of revolts during the 1916 Duy Tân Resistance.

Da Nang is surrounded by mountains to the west, and the South China Sea to the east. The central city is bisected by the Han River. Da Nang borders Huế across the Hải Vân Pass to the north. It is 764 km (475 mi) south of Hanoi, and 964 km (599 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City.[14] The city has a total land area of 1,283.42 km2 (495.53 sq mi).[14]

Geologically, Da Nang is at the edge of a Paleozoic fold belt known as the Truong Son Orogenic Zone, whose main deformation occurred during the Carboniferous period.[15] Da Nang’s topography is dominated by the Annamite Range to the north and north-west, which features peaks ranging from 700 to 1,500 m (2,300 to 4,900 ft) in height, and coastal plains with some salting to the south and east, with white sand beaches along the coast.[14]

Da Nang has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: a typhoon and wet season from September to December and a dry season from January to August.[14] Temperatures have an annual average of around 26 °C (79 °F).[14] Cold waves can occur.[14] Temperatures are highest between June and August with mean temperatures of 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F), and lowest between December and February (mean temperature of 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F)).[14] In Ba Na Hills, the temperatures are lower with an annual average of 20 °C (68 °F).[14] The annual average for humidity is 81%, with highs between October and January (reaching 84-86%) and lows between June and August (reaching 75-77%).[16] On average, Da Nang receives 2,205 mm (86.8 in) of rainfall. Rainfall is highest between September and November (ranging from 550 to 1,000 mm (22 to 39 in)) and lowest between February and April (ranging from 23 to 40 mm (0.91 to 1.57 in)).[14] Da Nang receives an average of 2162 hours of sunlight annually, with highs between 234 and 277 hours per month in May and June and lows between 69 and 165 hours per month in November and December.[14]

The city’s origins date back to the kingdom of Champa, established in 192 AD. At its peak, the Chams’ sphere of influence stretched from Huế to Vũng Tàu. The city of Indrapura, at the site of the village of Dong Duong in Quảng Nam Province (about 50 km (31 mi) from Da Nang), was the capital of Champa from about 875 to about 1000 AD. Also in the region of Da Nang were the Cham city of Singhapura (“City of the Lion”),[19] the location of which has been identified with an archeological site in the village of Trà Kiệu, and the valley of Mỹ Sơn.[20]

In the latter half of the 10th century, the kings of Indrapura came into conflict with Đại Việt, who were then based at Hoa Lư.[21] As an independent kingdom, Champa found itself needing to defend its territory to contain the threat posed by the Khmer Empire in the west, and expand its territory to the north, hoping to conquer Đại Việt. In Đại Việt, with the kingdom in turmoil following the assassination of Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Champa made an unsuccessful attempt to invade Đại Việt in 979 possibly with diplomatic encouragement from China, and failed due to the defence of Đại Việt territory under the command of Lê Hoàn. In 982, escalating tensions led to Champa detaining three ambassadors sent by Emperor Lê Hoàn of the Đại Việt (founder of the Early Lê dynasty) were detained in Indrapura. Lê Hoàn decided to go on the offensive, sacking Indrapura and killing the Cham King Parameshvaravarman I. As a result of these setbacks, the Cham eventually abandoned Indrapura around 1000 AD.[22]

The Điện Hải Citadel was first built in 1813 as an earthen fortress located to the north of its later position, with An Hải citadel on the east bank built by Emperor Gia Long to protect the port, and by 1819, both Điện Hải and An Hải citadels had been rebuilt in brick. In 1823, Gia Long’s son and successor Minh Mạng rebuilt the original Điện Hải fortress on a mound at the later location, being upgraded from a fortress (đồn) to a citadel (thành) in 1835.[23]

One of the first Europeans to visit Da Nang was Portuguese explorer António de Faria, who anchored in Da Nang in 1535. Faria was one of the first Westerners to write about the area and, through his influence, Portuguese ships began to call more regularly at Hội An.[24] Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, French and Spanish traders and missionaries made landfall at Hội An. An American, John White, arrived at Da Nang (then called Turon) on 18 June 1819 in the brig Franklin of Salem, Massachusetts, and was advised that the country was recovering from devastating wars, and that what little goods had been produced in the area was already allocated. Other American ships arriving after were the Marmion of Boston, and the Aurora and Beverly of Salem.[25][26]

Conditions were such due to the wars that they were unable to conduct trade, and the subsequent missions of East India Company agent John Crawfurd in 1823[27] and the two missions of Andrew Jackson’s agent, American diplomat Edmund Roberts, in 1833 and 1836 were unable to secure trade agreements due to the “exceptionally poor quality” of the port.[25]: pp.19-40  Following the edict of Emperor Minh Mạng in 1835, prohibiting European vessels from making landfall or pursuing trade except at Đà Nẵng, its port superseded Hội An as the largest commercial port in the central region.[28]

In 1847, French vessels dispatched by Admiral Cécille bombarded Đà Nẵng, ostensibly on the grounds of alleged persecution of Roman Catholic missionaries. In August 1858, once again ostensibly on the grounds of religious persecution, French troops, led by Admiral Charles Rigault de Genouilly, and under the orders of Napoleon III, landed in Đà Nẵng as part of the punitive Cochinchina Campaign.

The French overpowered the Vietnamese stationed in Da Nang, occupying the city and Tiên Sa peninsula. The occupying forces were placed under siege by the Vietnamese army under the command of Nguyễn Tri Phương, and were eventually forced to retreat in March 1860. The French were able to invade the southern stronghold of Saigon and, in June 1862, some provinces of southern Vietnam were ceded to the French as Cochinchina with the signing of the Treaty of Saigon.

Through two more decades of conflict, the French gradually strengthened their hold on Vietnam, culminating in the establishment of French Indochina in October 1887.[29] Two years later, in 1889, the French colonists renamed the city Tourane, placing it under the control of the governor general of French Indochina.[30]

In 1903, the colonial government authorised Société des docks et houillères de Tourane to proceed with the tramway construction, with its preliminary 9.5-kilometre stretch (between Observatory Point and Tourane Mỹ Khê) being opened on 9 November 1905. Under the state management, “Tramway de l’Îlot de l’Observatoire” opened to the public on 1 October 1907, stretching to Faifo (Hoi An) via Montagne de Marbre (Marble Mountains), operating until 31 December 1915.[31]

During the Vietnam War, what is later the Da Nang International Airport was the air base used by the South Vietnamese and United States Air Forces.

The base became “one of the world’s busiest aircraft hubs” during the war,[32] reaching an average of 2,595 aircraft traffic operations daily, more than any other airport and airbase in the world at that time.[33]

Marble Mountain Air Facility, constructed in 1965, was located in Da Nang.[34][35]

Since the establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Đà Nẵng has had more educational institutions and economic sites.[36]

On October 24, 2024, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 1251/NQ-UBTVQH15[37] regarding the reorganization of district- and commune-level administrative units in Da Nang City for the 2023-2025 period (the resolution takes effect on January 1, 2025). Accordingly, a portion of the natural area and population size of Lien Chieu District was adjusted and incorporated into Thanh Khe District.

Da Nang is the fifth-most populated city in Vietnam, with an area of 1,255.53 km2 (484.76 sq mi)[38] and a population of 1,269,070 according to the update in 2024.[39] Women make up 50.7% of Da Nang’s population.[40]

Da Nang’s population has been growing at rates of between 2.5% and 3% during most of the years between 2005 and 2011, exceeding the national average of 1% to 1.2%.[41] The growth rate rose to 3.6% in 2010 before returning to its long-term trend with 2.68% in 2011. This is the third fastest growth rate in the country after the two southern manufacturing centers Bình Dương Province (4.41%) and Đồng Nai Province (3.5%).[41] Migration has been the dominant factor in the city’s population growth at least since 2009, contributing 1.6% to 2.7% (2010) between 2009 and 2011.[41] Out-migration in 2011 was at 0.79% compared to 0.34% and 0.55% in previous years, while the in-migration rate has been exceeding 2% since 2009 and was at 2.28% in 2011.[41] Đà Nẵng’s crude birth rate was recorded at 18 live births per 1000 persons. The crude death rate was measured at 6.7 per 1000 persons in 2011.[41] Life expectancy at birth was estimated at 77.4 years for women and 72.4 years for men, or 74.8 years overall in the 2009 population census. The infant mortality rate was measured at 9.9 infant deaths per 1000 live births.[41]

The city has the highest urbanization ratio among provinces and municipalities in Vietnam, containing 11 rural communes, the fewest of any province-level unit in Vietnam.[42] As of 2009, 86.9% of Đà Nẵng’s population lived in urban areas; average annual urban population growth was 3.5%.[40]

There are over 37 ethnicities and foreigners living together in the city.[43][44] Among them, the Kinh ethnic group is the largest with 883,343 people, followed by the Chinese with 2,974 people, the Co Tu ethnic group with 1,198 people, and other minority ethnic groups such as the Tay with 224 people, the Ede with 222 people, the Muong with 183 people, and the Gia Rai with 154 people. The smallest ethnic groups are the Chơ Ro, Hani, Si La and Ơ Đu with one person each.[45][46]

As of 1 April 2019, there are nine different religions in the city, with a total of 77,029 people.[47] The largest group is Catholicism with 42,690 people, followed by Buddhism with 37,220 people, Protestantism with 3,730 people, Cao Dai with 3,249 people, and other religions such as Minh Su Dao with 53 people, Bahá’í with 34 people, Hoa Hao Buddhism with 25 people, Islam with 19 people, and the smallest group, Brahmanism, with 9 people.[48] Da Nang is home to the first Protestant church in Vietnam, established in 1911 by missionaries from the United Evangelical Missionary Alliance (CMA).[49]

Da Nang’s GDP per capita was 19 million VND in 2007.[50] By 2009, this had increased to 27.3 million VND.[51]

Da Nang led the Provincial Competitiveness Index rankings in 2008, 2009, and 2010 (and was second after Bình Dương Province in the three years before that), benefiting mostly from infrastructure, performance in labour training, transparency, proactive provincial leadership and lower entry costs.[52] In the 2023 Provincial Competitiveness Index, Đà Nẵng received a score of 68.79, marking an improvement from its 2022 score of 68.52. In 2023, the province achieved its highest scores in the criteria of ‘Informal Charges’ and ‘Law and Order,’ while receiving its lowest scores in ‘Policy Bias’ and ‘Access to Land.’[53]

Exports million US$ (2007)[54] Imports million US$ (2007)[54] Total 469.6 Total 522.1 Textiles 139.8 Machinery, equipment 237.2 Aquatic products 75.2 Materials for garments 77 Handicraft products 51.6 Iron, steel 41.6 Coffee 47.6 Medicaments 24.9 Footwear 17.7 Chemical fertilizer 22.5 Rice 8 Motorbikes 0.45

Exports increased to US$575 million in 2008, and fell back to US$475 million in 2009.[51]

37,800 people in Da Nang were employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing as of 2007, producing 45,000t of rice and 41,000t of fish.[54] Gross output has been decreasing during the second half of the decade.[51] Given Da Nang having less agricultural land (9200ha as of 2007) and its location at the coast, fishing has been contributing more to the economy than agriculture, with a gross output more than twice that of agriculture.[54]

Da Nang is a diversified industrial center, including industries such as machinery, electrics, chemicals, shipbuilding, and textiles.[55] Specific industrial products include aquatic products, fabric, clothes, bricks, fertilizer, cement, soap, paper, and medical tablets.[54] EADS is planning to set up an industrial park focused on the aviation industry in Da Nang.[56] Da Nang Hi-Tech Park (DHTP), established in 2010, is one of Vietnam’s three national hi-tech parks. It focuses on biotechnology, microelectronics, automation, renewable energy, IT, and environmental technology.[57] As of 2007, Da Nang industry was dominated by the state sector, which made up 57% of gross output. This is about the same as its share in 2000.[54] Over 80% of the state industry is centrally managed (in other words: belongs to state corporations headquartered in Hanoi).[54] Almost half of the rest is contributed by the foreign-invested sector. Industry grew by an average of 14.8% per year from 2000 to 2007, making it the main engine of economic growth. It has the second lowest industrial growth rate in the South Central Coast (behind Khanh Hoa Province). Employment has grown at an average of 5.75%, reaching 118,900 in 2007.[50]

Historically, Da Nang’s main marketplace has been the Hàn Market, which is downtown near the west bank of the Hàn River, between Tran Phu and Bach Dang Streets. This market offers a variety of goods such as clothing, silk, jewelry, flowers, foodstuffs such as dried fruit and fish, and coffee, tea and wine (including snake wine).[58]

Construction projects are underway in Da Nang, including beachfront resorts such as the US$130 million Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa, and the Beach Resort complex (including Ocean Villas and Marriott Hotel) in Ngu Hanh Son.[59] Another project, the US$250 million Da Phuoc International New Town aims to construct an entirely new urban area on reclaimed land on the city’s north sea coast. Plans for the Đa Phước project include the erection of a hotel and smaller resorts, a 33-story apartment block and 60-story office block, an 18-hole golf course, a marina, villas and international schools.[60]

Non Nuoc Beach is a white sandy beach on the outskirts of Đà Nẵng that is known for its history as an R&R destination for American troops during the Vietnam War. The beach, along with Mỹ Khê beach to the north, has resorts, surfing, and entertainment facilities. Ba Na Hills is a mountain resort with a 5 km-long cable car system which carries guests up to Ba Na’s peak at 1487m above sea level. Son Tra Mountain, miles away from the city centre with some wild streams and resorts along the seaside.[61]

The central city earned over VND19.4 trillion (US$853.96 million) in revenue, an increase of 20.6% from 2016. Statistics show that the city witnessed an increase in the number of visitors by air which stood at over 1.58 million, up 74.4% while by-car visitors via Thailand and Laos was estimated at 14,120.[62]

In 2016, Da Nang was voted one of the top 10 resort destinations in Asia by readers of Smart Travel Asia magazine.[63][64] In 2018, Da Nang was listed as one of the destinations to visit before it became too famous on the Business Insider website.[65] According to the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, in the 2018 ranking of tourist destinations by Airbnb, Da Nang ranked 5th globally and 1st in Southeast Asia in terms of attracting tourists.[66] Also in 2018, the Golden Bridge phenomenon became a focal point on some newspapers.[67] In 2019, the American newspaper – The New York Times praised Da Nang as “the Miami of Vietnam”, ranking 15th in the list of 52 places to visit in the world.[68][69]

Dishes in Da Nang include Mì Quảng, Bún chả cá (fish ball noodle soup), Bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo (rice paper rolls with pork), Bún mắm nêm (vermicelli with fermented fish sauce), Cao lầu, Nem lụi (grilled minced pork skewers), Ram cuốn cải (fried spring rolls wrapped with mustard greens) and Bánh xèo.

Vietnam Television has a studio located in the Hải Châu district of the city which broadcast local news and television programmes for the Central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam that broadcast on channel VTV8.[70][71]

There are universities located in Da Nang, with campuses in locations throughout the city, and satellite campuses in surrounding regions.

• University of Da Nang, with a number of member colleges:
  • Technology
  • Technology and Education
  • Economics
  • Pedagogy
  • Foreign Languages
  • Information Technology
  • Kon Tum campus
  • English Language Institute
• Da Nang University of Medical Technology, Medicine and Pharmacy
• Da Nang University of Sport
• Duy Tan University, private university
• Dong A University, private university
• Da Nang University of Architecture
• The American University of Vietnam (AUV), private university

There are overseas education representatives in Da Nang, including Campus France,[72] a French-government agency in Da Nang, which promotes the learning of the French language and supports students in the location of study opportunities in France, and the English Language Institute.

Da Nang’s healthcare system includes a growing network of public and private hospitals that provide specialized medical services. Institutions include Da Nang Hospital, C Hospital, and Hoan My Da Nang Hospital.[73] Da Nang is estimated to account for around 20% of Vietnam’s medical tourism market, valued at approximately USD 700 million.[74]

Da Nang is said to possesses the necessary resources and infrastructure[75] to become a regional hub for advanced medical services.[76] In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Da Nang fourth among twelve of Asia’s best cities for retirement.[77]

Đà Nẵng is at the end of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), which stretches over Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.[78][79] The city Department of Transport has asked the city of Yokohama, Japan, to cooperate in transit-oriented development.[80]

Da Nang International Airport, located at the centre of the city, is the third largest international airport in Vietnam. It is a gateway to access central Vietnam. The airport was known as Da Nang Air Base during the Vietnam War, during which time it was described as the world’s busiest airport.[32] As of November 2015, Da Nang International airport has been undergoing renovations.[81]

Beginning 16 December 2011, Air Asia, a Malaysian low-cost carrier, began offering four flights a week between Đà Nẵng and Kuala Lumpur. An international terminal opened in December 2011[82] allowing further connections to destinations such as Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia.[83]

Da Nang is a station along the North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express.[84]

National Highways 1 and 14B run through the city, providing road connections to Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south, and the Central Highlands and Laos to the west. The Hai Pass is a mountain pass separating Da Nang and Huế, where Highway 1A passes through. To cut down on transit time and the danger to motorists from navigating the twisting mountain road, the Hải Vân Tunnel was built, opening in 2005. It is the longest tunnel in south-east Asia at 6.28 km, and allows motorists to save between 30 minutes and an hour on traveling times over the old Hải Vân Pass route.[85] An expressway between Da Nang and Quang Ngai has completed its construction in 2018.[86][87]

Bridges cross the Han River and its tributaries in Da Nang, including the iconic Han River Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, Tuyen Son Bridge and Thuan Phuoc Bridge, which is the longest suspension bridge in Vietnam.[88]

Da Nang’s port system is the third largest in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City and Haiphong. In 2008, Da Nang’s port handled 2.7 million tons of cargo, of which 1.2 million tons were exports, 525,900 tons were imports, and 985,600 tons were domestic cargo. Over 29,600 passengers passed through the port in 2008, an increase over previous years.[89]

The port system consists of two areas: Tiên Sa Seaport, and Song Hàn Terminal. Tien Sa Seaport has a navigation depth of 11 m (36 ft), and is able to receive medium range tankers of up to 45,000 DWT, and container ships and cruise ships. The approach to Song Hàn Terminal is 12 nmi (22 km) long with a navigation depth of 6-7 m (20-23 ft), and can accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 DWT. Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) is the port authority for Đà Nẵng’s port system.[90][89]

While the port’s infrastructure is not specifically designed to accommodate cruise ships, the number of cruise ships docking at Da Nang Port has increased.[91] In the first two months of 2010, 12 cruise ships docked in Da Nang, carrying 6,477 passengers.[92]

Cruise ships also dock at Chân Mây Port.[93][94]

Da Nang is twinned with:[95]

In addition to its twin towns, Da Nang cooperates with:[95]

• Kawasaki, Japan[99][100]

• China[101]
• Japan[102]
• South Korea[103]
• Laos[104]
• Poland[105]
• Russia[106]
• Spain[107]

• Đà Nẵng government portal Archived 28 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine
• Geographic data related to Da Nang at OpenStreetMap
• Da Nang at Encyclopedic Dictionary of Vietnam
• Da Nang at the Encyclopædia Britannica
• House Rental Danang
• Bản đồ thành phố Đà Nẵng năm 1969 trên website Thư viện Đại học Texas tại Austin (The University of Texas at Austin), Hoa Kỳ.