When last I left that city things were a LOT different than they are now. This was back in 1973 and I remember standing on China Beach and thinking what a great vacation destination the place could be. And now it actually is. I am seriously thinking of returning perhaps in April of 2024 and wondering where to stay. I would prefer a beachfront property but that is not set in stone. I assume getting around for sightseeing will not be a problem. And and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks for any help.

Yes, I think you will notice a few changes . The good news is that April will see great beach weather in Central Vietnam. The bad news is the sheer volume of hotel development along that stretch of the coast - maybe 15-20kms of the main highway to Hoi An is given over to mega hotels and condos. Many used to be populated by large Chinese tour groups but I am not sure if that is still the case. I have to say Da Nang is not my favourite location in Vietnam but if you are seeking a luxury beach hotel stay then this is the place .

The top place to stay IMHO would be the Four Seasons, always superb. Hyatt have a nice property there as do Accor and most of the large chains.

Getting around should be a problem - hiring a car and driver would be the easiest option (though probably v expensive via any of the hotels. The main areas of interest would be Hoi An and Hue, the Marble mountains. There are lots of other small beaches around and out of the way places, whose names I cant remember but I am sure a good guide would.

Several times we have done the Reunification Train from Hanoi to Saigon or vice versa and have usually chosen to stay in Hue or Hoi An. Hue is one of my favourite cities in the country. The Imperial Citadel, tombs and the Perfume River are all worth some time. Some photos and detail of some of our travels in Vietnam over many years. Plenty on Hue and Hoi An but little on Da Nang https://accidentalnomads.com/category/vietnam/

I'm sorry I don't have a good recommendation for you as we spent the day around Da nang but we moved on the Hoi An to sleep. I imagine that area will be hard to recognise these days from your experiences there. It reminds me of places like the Florida Atlantic coast or Gold Coast in Queensland. Going south, there were some massive walled resorts just built or being built around five years ago, running side by side all the way to Hoi An (locals told me those specialised in the tourist trade from China). It was pretty easy to enlist a driver when we were in the area.

All the best returning after 50 years of change. Hope you have a good visit this time and enjoy yourself.

Agree with CC above. The beach highway strip between Da Nang and Hoi An is now jam packed with mega resort type hotels, perhaps 15-20 kms. They mainly catered fro the large Chinese tour groups but whether that is still the case post pandemic, I am not sure. I have to say Da Nang is not my favourite location in Vietnam but we dod look at a few hotels there for friends. The Four Seasons is the best of the bunch but at a significant price! Hyatt have a place there right on the beach as do many of the large chains like Intercontinental, Pullman etc.

Da Nang is a huge city and sells itself as having the best lifestyle of all Vietnamese cities. It is more modern than most but for me, lacks and sort of heart that you will find in Saigon or Hanoi.

It is well located to visit places like Hue and Hoi An , the Marble Mountains, Hai Van pass, Ba Na Hills etc. It is fine if you are just seeking a luxurious beach resort but I much prefer Hue which is packed with sites to see like the Forbidden City/Imperial Citadel, The Imperial Tombs , Perfume River and the best food in Central Vietnam. Hoi An has a few beach resorts and was a place I loved 40 years ago but the last time there I found it to be overrun with large tour groups.

It is very easy to get around by hiring a car with a driver guide. Any hotel will source one for you though you will certainly pay a high price if booking through one of the lux hotels. Perhaps better to engage a local agency.

No photos of Da nang but plenty of Hue and Hoi An on our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/category/vietnam/ . If you haven't been back to Vietnam since 1973 then do try and visit Hanoi and Saigon. Both have changed immensely since I first went there some 40 years ago. Saigon had no cars, very few motorbikes, no street lighting hard to imagine now! Hanoi Old Quarter is much less changed.

Clif, thanks for your response Right now I am trying to wade through the visa request and figuring out what airline to use for the flights. And yes the place has changed remarkably from the city I knew the two times I was there both in 1965 and again in 1973.

Dukey, for what it's worth if you can get good connections and rates with them, we thought Cathay was comfortable and worked out pretty well for Vietnam. (AA their partner for the US connecting bit). Connecting in Hong Kong meant not having to go too far out of our way and their subsidiaries connected directly to several cities in VN, including Danang. (last time, we flew into Hanoi, return from Danang with a few days extra in HK)

Dukey, we flew from JFK to Saigon on Singapore Airlines last February and doing the same at the end of January. The flight is nonstop to Singapore wit a few hours layover and on to Saigon. We used points for our business class flight last February, this time we paid $3693.00 per person in business, JFK-SGN, BKK-EWR. Singapore business class is very nice, good food, comfortable seat/bed and lovely service.

Unless you’re set on Da Nang and China Beach, we had a lovely beach break on Phu Quoc, an island off of Cambodia (but is part of Vietnam). We stayed at the Regent Phu Quoc for three nights and are going back for 5 nights in February. My husband and I agreed that it is our favorite hotel we’ve ever stayed at. Absolute luxury, beautiful beach. If you do go to Da Nang, do listen to Crellston and stay a few nights in Hue and Hoi An, both lovely little towns with an abundance of charm and lots to see.

Enjoy your return to Vietnam! And the visa process seems more daunting than it is.

Thanks for all the comments. I am familiar with the various locales mentioned and my motivation for visiting is driven by a variety of both happy and painful memories. The various descriptions and recommendations are deeply appreciated.

Ouch! US$900 per night a bit much for me. I'll try the 2 Seasons!

Danang is in a beautiful setting, but itis a big city. Stay in Hoi An at the VINH HUNG HOTEL (Emerald), perfectly located just across the old bridge. I recommend that you eat at the superlative Madame Kieu restaurrant, on the river just next to the hotel.. Also marvelous is the Dao Tien restaurant, with i terrace on the river and the Co Mai of famous chef Didier Corlou, 2 Nguyen Thai Hoc St