For a glimpse into eight centuries of history, head to the My Son Sanctuary, which is filled with sculptures from across the ages. For a truly authentic and exciting experience, go on a motorbike tour of the villages and towns in the area with your own personal guide to give you plenty of colourful history and background information. 

The Cham Museum documents the rise and fall of the Cham civilisation – one of the most important societies to occupy this part of Southeast Asia. A little further out are the Marble Mountains, each of which represents an element (such as water, earth, fire and wind) and are filled with caves and grottos to explore. 

For a spectacular night-time photo opportunity, head to the Dragon Bridge that sits on the Han River. This bridge has a huge metal dragon incorporated into its design, which changes colour at night and even breathes fire during the weekend, making it an exciting attraction for the whole family. Get there early for the best spots. 

Just outside the city is the Ba Na Hill Station, reachable by a cable car system through one of the longest one-way cable rides in the world. The cable car takes you to the top of the hill, where you have fantastic panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains.

Travel to Da Nang and you have the perfect combination of a city break and beach holiday. Da Nang has three main beaches – Pham Van Dong, My Khe (China Beach) and Holiday Beach, which is particularly popular with surfers. If you’re looking for less crowded spots then head up to the eastern peninsula of Son Tra, which caters for tourists but is decidedly less busy than the beaches closer to the city centre. 

Massage and spa treatments are plentiful in Da Nang, and a spa visit is a great way to unwind. There are various types of massage on offer, designed to rejuvenate your body and relax your mind.

Take a snorkelling tour to Cham Island, travelling by wooden boat and guided by an experienced local diver. The water around the island is very clear and warm, and there’s a good chance you’ll see sea turtles and other large aquatic wildlife swimming through the reefs.

Learn to cook Vietnamese food by taking a culinary class or two. Food lovers can also join food tours of the city, where you’ll get the chance to try dishes you wouldn’t normally see in the more tourist-centric restaurants.

Vietnamese food is delicious, full of flavour and very spicy. Da Nang’s restaurants range from five-star luxury contemporary spaces where you need to book well in advance to get a table, to small, roadside shacks where you’ll taste local specialities.

For seafood restaurants head to My Khe beach and try the grilled cuttlefish or Vietnamese hot fish soup. There are some crossovers, with Thai-style cuisine intermixing with local recipes. Farmed turtle is also a feature on many local menus (wild turtles are protected and no longer hunted), and you can even try a crocodile steak if you’re feeling adventurous.

If you prefer something a little more European, then Da Nang is home to La Maison 1988, Michel Roux’s Michelin-starred eatery serving French/Asian fusion dishes.

A trip to Da Nang will introduce you to the chaotic joys of Vietnamese markets. There are several dotted around the city, along with some shopping centres where you can buy perfume, clothes, jewellery, and trinkets. Look out for Hung Vuong, Hoang Dieu, and the streets around Phan Chu Trinh for bargains galore.