Holidays To Da Nang

These five marble and limestone hills are a place of significance for local people. Each 'mountain' is named after one of the five elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth) and has its own caves and tunnels, some of which were Buddhist sanctuaries and hideouts for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. In the quarries at their base you'll find statues of animals, folk tales and Buddhist figures carved from the rock.

With works ranging from the 4th to 14th centuries, this is the world's largest collection of Cham art. The 300 or so sandstone sculptures and decorations are relics of Champa, the powerful Hindu civilisation that once ruled large parts of Vietnam. Decorations include the snake god Naga, and elephant-headed Ganesha. Visit Cham Sculpture museum as part of our half day Da Nang City tour

Around 30 minutes drive south of Danang, it is quite easy to feel like you've stepped back in time as you walk through the winding alleyways of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic trading port. The town was visited by merchants from Japan, China and Arabia from the 15th to 19th century, and their influence lives on in the eclectic architecture, streets and temples. Spend the day wandering around the quaint streets, have some clothes hand made for you at one of the many tailor shops and enjoy the glow of the paper lanterns as you enjoy a delicious Vietnamese dinner at one of the rooftop restaurants overlooking the river.

Take a journey across to Hoi An and the Red Bridge Restaurant and Cookery school to discover the secret of Vietnamese cuisine on our half day group tour.

China Beach is a famous postcard-perfect beach which stretches its white sands for 20 miles. Named China Beach by the American troops who visited during the Vietnam War, its local name is Non Nuoc. Loved by sun-seekers and surfers, this stunning spot was popular with backpackers before it became host to the collection of luxurious beach hotels it has today. Although most of the hotels offer a selection of watersports, the beach retains a peaceful atmosphere where days are spent relaxing with a good book or observing the local fisherman as they bring in their catch.

Da Nang hosts the International Fireworks Festival Competition on Han River every year around April or June. If you're lucky enough to catch this, the sky will be lit up with colourful displays and rousing music as the teams battle it out for two nights with different themes each night.

Fresh seafood is central to Da Nang culture. Treat your taste buds to grilled mussels with a tasty peanut sauce, steamed clams, baby squid fried in fish sauce, fried battered crab or prawns and spring onions in a sweet, tangy sauce.

The delicious local specialty is my quang noodles, which are made from rice flour, cut into long strips and combined with broth from chicken, shrimp, crab, fish, pork or beef bone. Lime, green chilies and rice crackers are also added for a freshly spiced flavour.