Đà Nẵng, Hải Châu District, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam
+43 699 131 88 770
tour@travel-with-henry.com
+43 699 131 88 770
tour@travel-with-henry.com +43 699 131 88 770
tour@travel-with-henry.comThe area around Hoi an opens up many possibilities. The city is located on a river delta whose river flows into the sea – just a few kilometers outside the city. The many small and slightly larger islands, linked by bridges, can be easily explored by motorbike. Rice cultivation, fish farming and fishing are the main sources of income for the people in the villages. It is a rural and very quiet area, very quiet compared to the nearby Hoi An. Especially the bridges, partly modern and concrete or older wood and bamboo constructions, had always impressed me again and again.
In the west of Hoi An lies My Son, the former cultural and spiritual center of the Champa Kingdom from the 4th century AD. My Son is a world cultural heritage and includes a series of Hindu temples which were rediscovered in the 19th century by the French and also restored by them. During the Vietnam War bombardment by the Americans destroyed most of the temples again and so, it is an ongoing process to restore them again fully. I had actually expected more from My Son, mainly because I know a lot of Hindu sites from India and know what beautiful buildings and art works Hindu Temples can be. Perhaps I am just a bit spoiled because of spending a lot of time in the facilities of Angkor Wat recently. I definitely was not impressed by this facility.
About 30 km north of Hoi An lies the funky, glittering city of Da Nang with its seemingly endless beaches. Da Nang is the pulsating, economic center of Central Vietnam and is called the „Silicon City“ of Vietnam on due to the booming Internet business there. Who for a few nights want to let it all hang out, would be exactly at the right place there.
During my motorbike excursions, the temperatures climbed to over 45 degrees Celsius – the heated asphalt was obviously too hot for my rear tyre. Because of the heat, big bubbles had formed and the profile began to break away from this cheap Chinese brand tyre – Da Nang was just the right place to get a new better-quality one. On this occasion, I could also replace an indicator and a rearview mirror, which had broken on my ride through the jungle.
Da Nang itself was for me less of interest, but around the city there are some attractions that you can easily visit on day trips from the nearby Hoi An.
Above the 30 km long China beach stretching to Hoi, rises the marble mountains, which are built with pagodas. One of these mountains can be climbed – or even driven, because in the meantime for the many lazy visitors a huge elevator was erected. Hindu and Buddhist temples can be visited there in caves – if one is suffering from claustrophobia, it would be a big challenge – not because of the narrowness, but because of the many people who want to crawl through at the same time. From the top you have an excellent view of the beach below.
To the north of the city, when you drive towards the monkey mountains lies the Pagode Linh Ung. It is striking for the reason because a giant white Buddha statue is visible from afar, it looks toward the south to Da Nang. On the way there you can stop at the beach having a nice view of the city. Unfortunately, at the same time I stopped there, a bus full of Chinese Tourists had the same idea.
In the end there is the monkey mountain itself – the driveway is nice, the view also and if you are already nearby, you can take it. Provided that you have your own motorbike or are able to rent one in Da Nang. Only because this mountain I would’t get there anymore.
Henry
