Fun Facts About
  DA NANG

APEAR 2027 will mark the first time the APEAR Conference has been held in Vietnam. Since the first conference in Singapore in 2003, APEAR has travelled across the Asia-Pacific region — and Da Nang becomes the newest city to welcome the APEAR community.

Da Nang is often called Vietnam’s “City of Bridges.” A series of distinctive bridges cross the Han River, each with its own design and character, and they have become an important part of the city’s identity.

One of those bridges actually breathes fire! The famous Dragon Bridge is shaped like a giant golden dragon and puts on a fire-and-water show on weekend evenings.

The Han River runs right through the heart of Da Nang. Its riverfront promenades, bridges, cafés and evening lights give central Da Nang much of its character — and the APEAR conference hotel sits directly on its west bank.

Da Nang has kilometres of sandy coastline. The city's beaches stretch from the Son Tra Peninsula toward Hoi An, with My Khe Beach among the best known.

The Marble Mountains are actually five mountains. The limestone and marble peaks are named after the five elements — metal, water, wood, fire and earth — and contain caves, pagodas, shrines and viewpoints.

Da Nang has some very unusual neighbours. The forested Son Tra Peninsula is home to the endangered red-shanked douc langur, one of the world's most distinctive primates.

The Lady Buddha overlooking Da Nang is 67 metres tall. Located at Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, the enormous white statue looks out across the sea and city.

Da Nang is home to the world's largest collection of Cham sculpture. The city's Museum of Cham Sculpture preserves works from the civilisation that once flourished throughout Central Vietnam.

Mì Quảng is one of the dishes you shouldn't leave without trying. This Central Vietnamese speciality combines rice noodles with herbs, peanuts and a flavourful broth, with different versions featuring pork, chicken, shrimp and other ingredients.

Coffee is a serious part of everyday life here. Da Nang has a thriving café culture, ranging from traditional Vietnamese coffee shops to modern speciality cafés — perfect for discovering a cà phê sữa đá, Vietnam's famous iced coffee with condensed milk.

The Hải Vân Pass literally means “Ocean Cloud Pass.” This spectacular mountain road climbs between the sea and jungle-covered mountains north of Da Nang and has long been one of Central Vietnam's most scenic routes.

Those giant stone hands you've probably seen online are near Da Nang. The famous Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills stretches approximately 150 metres and appears to be held above the mountains by two enormous hands.

Da Nang puts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites within easy reach. Hoi An Ancient Town and the ancient My Son Sanctuary can both be visited from Da Nang, making the city an excellent base for exploring Central Vietnam. My Son was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

The airport really is unusually close to the city centre. Da Nang International Airport sits just a few kilometres from central Da Nang, making arrival considerably easier than in many major Asian cities.

The beach comes alive early in Da Nang. Visit around sunrise and you're likely to see locals swimming, jogging, playing football or volleyball, alongside fishermen bringing in the day's catch — long before many visitors have finished breakfast.

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Motorbikes rule the road. Like much of Vietnam, Da Nang has a huge number of scooters and motorbikes, and the flow of traffic can look chaotic at first. In practice, it follows its own rhythm — especially at intersections and pedestrian crossings — and is part of the everyday experience of the city.