Browsing through my neewsfeed, I stumbled upon this magnificent view which I thought was just a manipulated image. Turns out, this one's legit! 

Welcome to the Golden Bridge in Vietnam! This newly opened attraction had instantly drawn hundreds of tourists every day. The Golden Bridge is situated inside Ba Na Hills, a huge amusement park in Da Nang, central part of Vietnam.

Finally, the Golden Bridge

So, where's Da Nang?  Read on. 

As of this writing you can take a direct flight to Da Nang from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, UAE, Taiwan, Hongkong, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Laos. 

If your country is not in the list, you're actually in for a more exciting trip as you'll get a chance to see more of what Vietnam has to offer by exploring other cities. 

Most tourists enter the country through its major cities, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Fortunately, domestic flights from these cities to Da Nang are quite cheap. Promo fares are always available on the major airlines of Vietnam, Vietjet and Vietnam Airlines so this itinerary still jibes the budget. 

You shouldn't miss visiting nearby attractions in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh before flying to Da Nang. 

This option requires ample time. From Ho Chi Minh, it'll take 19-24 hours and from Hanoi, it'll take 16-18 hours. Sounds excruciating? This isn't going to break your purse but it'd somehow break your neck. It's a hyperbole but it's really cheaper to travel by bus. The bus fare is around 400,000₫(16 USD) to 600, 000₫(26USD) one-way. If you enjoy travelling and sleeping on a bus, there are a lot of sleeper bus you can take. The cost varies on the comfort you'll experience. For instance, there are buses that don't have their own toilet inside so you'd probably have to pull up your Google Translate app to tell the driver to stop for a 'pee break'. 

Train rides in Vietnam may be long but the scenic countryside view can ease the boredom away. I personally like to travel by train but only for short distances. When travelling to Da Nang, the travel hours are similar to that of the bus rides. While buses are quite cheaper, some seat options on the train could almost match to that of a plane ticket. Trains have berths that would cost up to 900,000₫ (39 USD one-way) depending  on the type of cabin you'll have. If you don't mind being seated for the entire ride, then there are soft or hard seats which cost the same with sleeper buses. The trains are equipped with toilets and portable food carts. 

Ever since Da Nang has become touristry, cheap youth hostels and inns have popped out everywhere so it's not a challenge to find a budget-friendly hotel in the city for around 7 USD per night. Da Nang also boasts of its luxury hotels and resorts which are still quite cheaper than other five-star accommodation in other countries.

If you plan of getting the most of your time in Ba Na Hills Resort without the flock of tourists, then staying inside the resort would be the best option although you still need to pay for the amusement park ticket for a lesser price. The hotel accommodation may cost up to $200 USD/night for a double room. Booking online would be a smart option to get discounts. 

The currency in Vietnam is called VND: Vietnamese Dong (locals pronounce it as 'dom'). Most business people in Da Nang accept VND but some tour agencies may accept dollars. It's always smart to change your local currency with USD because most money exchange shops in the provinces of Vietnam don't accept any other currencies but USD. 

On a personal note, I had to travel to Hanoi (the capital) and take that 6-hour train ride so I can have my Philippine Peso (PHP) exchanged with VND. I learned my lesson to always have USD in my purse when travelling to other countries. 

Taking a City Tour

By Taxi

As soon as you step out of the terminal in Da Nang (bus, train, or airport), taxi drivers will be on the lookout. They can be a little aggressive but you can just firmly say no if you've got a plan to follow. There are some taxi-hailing app (like Grab) which can be used in Da Nang. Some taxi drivers even offer to check your Grab app and pay the fare as shown in your app. Fair enough.  This is only ideal if you're travelling from the terminal or airport to your hotel. For city tours they will charge differently. You can try to haggle.

By Private Car

In my case, I took a private car which happened to be a Grab car, too.  It was less expensive because it was more of a rideshare. I paid 50,000₫ (2 USD) for a 10-minute ride from the terminal to my accommodation. I met the driver just outside the terminal. No prior bookings were made.

I also hired the same driver to take me and my friend to Ba Na Hills the next day for just 600,000₫ (25USD). He helped us reserve tickets and get a little discount.

By Motorbike

You read it right! If you know how to drive a motorbike and you've got an International Driving Permit, you can rent one where you stay. Can you drive without a license in Vietnam? Although this sounds illegal, I've known a lot of foreigners who drive motorbikes without a license. aw enforcement in this country is also very lenient when it comes to motorbikes.

The staff of the hotel where I stayed offered me a motorbike-for-rent without even asking if I've got a permit or if I even know how to drive.

Weather

Nearby Attractions/Cities

Mui Ne is a perfect holiday destination situated in the southeast of Vietnam. The most common jumping-off point when you're headed to Mui Ne is Ho Chi Minh City. It only takes a four-hour bus ride from HCM to this paradise. 

The tour kicks off at sunrise so you should jump start at 4 AM. In my case, I stayed at Long Son Beach and from there the van left at exactly 4AM for the White Sand Dunes where a crowd of tourists anticipates the magnificent sunrise. Although I'm not a morning person and I just had less than 2 hours of sleep on a 'real bed' (after I traveled on a night bus), I truly enjoyed the trip to the sand dunes. The scenic landscapes in rich orange hues seemed to stimulate my lethargic mood. The car windows were rolled down and the wind surged like it was drowning me.

5 Destinations: 1 Day | Vietnam

The throng of tourists seemed like ants against the overwhelming vastness of the sand dunes. As we arrived, a couple of tour guides or staff greeted us with some sort of offers for going up the sand dunes. For us to see the sunrise, we had to reach the highest point of the desert. Going up is no easy task. The best option was to take the ATV ride. Hiking is an option but we would have missed the sunrise if we took that option.

Sand Dunes | Mui Ne

ATV ride | Mui Ne

There were two options for the ATV ride, each bearing a different price tag.

          Option 1: Take the ATV ride to and fro the highest point of the desert - 500,000 VND / 21USD / 1100PHP good for two

           Option 2:  Take a ride to and fro + get to drive the ATV - 1M VND / 43USD /2200 PHP good for two


To spice up the experience, I tried the sand sledding which was totally invigorating. An old couple was offering a sand sled for 30,000VND.  I thought my facemask could prevent the sand to get in my face but I was wrong. There was sand all over me!

After about 45 minutes of strolling and gliding on the sand, the ATV guy picked us up and drove us down the desert.

the smiles in between struggles

2nd stop: Fishing Village

From the White Sand Dunes, we travelled about 30 minutes to the Fishing Village. If you're a fan of fresh seafood, this is the right place for you. This place is basically a marketplace of seafood situated on the beach. This is where you meet local vendors and fishermen.

Fish Village | Mui Ne

It's just sad to note that most people come there just to drop by or to see the place and not really to buy. Most tourists there are travelling from far places and buying fresh goods wouldn't be an ideal thing to do.

This stop was rather quick. I was actually imagining of dining in one of the restaurants there and enjoying a sumptuous seafood buffet but we had to hasten for the next destination.

Fish Village | Mui Ne

3rd stop: Fairy Stream

The idea of walking barefoot and walking across the stream really delighted me. This is my favorite part of the itinerary. Though it was scorching hot and the streets could have burnt our soles if we walked longer, I (with my friends) left my sandals in our van and crossed the street, walked down to the entrance of the stream, barefoot!

At the main entrance of the stream, there were makeshift shops selling fruits, refreshment, and souvenirs. Entrance fee is at 30,000VND.


The stream seemed unending with its rich orangey colors. The best experience was the squishy feeling of the tangerine mud against my feet. I enjoyed every bit of it! The trail ended with a mini waterfall. Yes, it was literally small unlike the gigantic ones I've seen in the Philippines.

Don't worry, if you forgot to grab a drink at the start of the walk, there are restaurants and cafes alongside the stream so you could take a break anytime. The trail is really easy and safe. The only thing you have to be prepared of is the heat of the sun.

I took my best travel photos here!

Fairy Stream | Mui Ne

4th stop: Red Sand Dunes

The heat of the sun felt like it was on full blast. We couldn't stand the heat for more than 10 minutes.  We had to hurry up as it was unbearable to walk on the desert. It was around 10:30 AM and we couldn't withstand the scorching heat of the sun. We took a few photos and stayed at a refreshment area just along the road.

the scorching hot Red Sand Dunes | Mui Ne

This stop is the nearest to our resort and we made it back to the resort just in time for lunch.

Finally, I'd like to add one more place in the itinerary although this wasn't really part of the tour package. Even though I just stayed there for less than a day, I definitely recommend this not-so-typical beach resort with the coolest island vibe.

5th stop: Long Son Mui Ne Beach - Campground Resort

Definitely a must-visit! I always travel on a budget and looking around some cheap hotels in travel websites has become more of a habit for me. My friend, who travelled with me, found this resort online. Honestly, we booked this place because of the price and its high ratings and not for its features or ammenities - and it didn't disappoint! The vibe and the service, not to mention its affordability, made this resort a top-rated one.

Till our next laag*!