I had planned to use my last Flypass to visit Da Nang (or Danang) and started booking Ba Na Hills and My Son tickets and accommodation. I actually booked the trip for October then changed it to early August when I read that October could be a wet month. I’d been to Danang before (15 years ago come September!) and made side trips to Hoi An and Hue on that trip so I was not going to visit those towns again.
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
I left home at 05:43 and made my way to the airport, stopping en route to perform morning prayers. My flight was due to depart at 08:35 so I planned to reach KLIA T1 before 07:45. I had already checked in online and wasn’t planning to check in my bag so this was no problem. We took off on time and landed at 10:15. Another flight had landed before us so there was quite a queue at immigration.
After clearing immigration, I emerged into the hot Danang morning. I looked for the bus stop first but saw from the board that the bus was not going to Ba Na Hills. Decided to sell off all my Thai Baht to Dong; the first moneychanger didn’t accept the old Thai notes but the moneychanger next door accepted my combination of old and new Bahts. I also asked where I could take the bus to Ba Na Hills and the lady directed me to the domestic airport just 150 metres away.
Alas, the service to Ba Na Hills was temporarily suspended. A Grab driver approached me and offered to take me there. I stopped to check the fare on Grab fare and after discussing, I went with him. I could take a shared bus to Ba Na Hills at a lower price but it would have to be another day as the bus departs from certain pick-up in the city at 08:30 or 10:00.
We arrived at Ba Na Hills 45 minutes later, the driver drove sedately throughout. No one sped over there. We agreed to meet at 16:30.
I hopped on the bus from the car park to the base of the cable car station and walked up to the station. I shared the gondola with a family from Korea. The ride up took 30 minutes, almost as long as the drive from the airport!
I guess I shouldn't be but I was surprised when I saw the crowds after emerging from the cable car station. I was hoping for a smaller crowd, it being a week day and all but I didn’t factor in the summer crowd. I made my way to the cable car station for the Golden Bridge. This was a much shorter ride. Again, I was greeted with a big crowd at the Golden Bridge even at that time of the day when the sun was beating down. I spent about 25 minutes there before taking the cable car back. After walking around, I headed for Bharat for halal buffet lunch (I included the lunch in my ticket).
After lunch, I messaged Khanh, the Grab driver, to request meeting at 16:00 instead. We had to wait before we were allowed to into the cable car station. Again, I shared the ride with a Korean family. This time, the ride took about 21 minutes. I then hurried down to take the shuttle bus to the car park where I waited for Khanh.
We reached Tam’s Homestay at 16:50 and I checked in. This being Vietnam, you’d be lucky if you have an elevator or lift in your building. I climbed up to my room on the third floor and performed prayers.
After evening prayers, I walked out to find the bus stop from where I would depart for My Son. The Google Maps actually showed alleys which I should take. Not to worry, it’s pretty safe in Vietnam even after dark. I was still felling full from the lunch buffet so I didn’t have dinner. It was a warm evening with hardly any breeze even when I walked along the river. I came back at around 21:00 and rested. There are roadworks around the are I was staying which made me glad that I was wearing covered shoes.
Walked 22,400 steps or 15.8 km today.
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
Woke up early because fajar was early in that part of the world. After my shower and breakfast, I walked Arte Cafe to meet the shuttle bus. I asked the driver if I could sit upfront, he said yes. We went to Rom Coffee shop to meet other passengers. One of the Korean men was late and I was getting annoyed at his tardiness.
We reached My Son at 09:15. I didn’t know I had to exchange my Klook voucher for a physical ticket so I had to turn back to the ticket office but thankfully there was no queue. I joined the other visitors and we walked in past the museum and across the bridge then took a shuttle in. We then had to walk about ten minutes to the temples. There was a performance starting at 09:45 but I decided to explore the temple sites first and only stop for the performance and AC relief after. As it turned out, I arrived for the next performance about ten minutes late (it started at 10:30) but no matter, I just wanted to seek refuge from the sun.
I walked back to the hut to take the shuttle and then stopped at My Son Museum.
We left at 12:00 noon. I dozed off and was surprised when we reached Hoi An an hour later as I didn’t expect the shuttle to make a stop there. Everyone except for me went down and new passengers joined us. We reached Danang 45 minutes later and I walked back to my room.
I went out again at 15:15 and made my way to Bliss Spa for a massage. I paid for the session on Klook when I bought Ba Na Hills and My Son tickets.
After the session, I walked to find a bag shop but couldn’t find it. I then went to Han Market but left empty handed. I returned to my room, stopping en route at Thuc Don Vegetarian Restaurant for dinner. The woman who attends to me was gruff and bordering on rude.
Walked 16,200 steps or 11.1 km today.
Thursday, 7 August 2025
After breakfast this morning, I walked to Con Market about ten minutes away from the homestay. I didn’t buy anything and was just content to soak in the atmosphere. After that, I walked all the way to the seafront. Not where the tourists are but Danang Bay. It was deserted. I spent about thirty minutes there before turning back. I stopped to buy some drink from a street seller and she had her husband out to help translate. Turned out the husband worked in Johor for three years previously (but didn’t have good command of BM, unlike the Bangladeshis or Pakistanis). I stopped at Vinh Trung Plaza and browsed the hypermarket there before returning to my room, stopping en route at Bo De, a vegetarian restaurant very near the homestay, for lunch.
I had planned to stay in this afternoon and of course there would have to be a power outage. It lasted for almost four hours and make for an uncomfortable stay. I could venture out again but wasn’t sure whether it’d be hotter in the room or outside. It actually rained after the power was restored and I only saw the message from the homestay advising of the power outage after the event.
After dinner at another nearby vegetarian restaurant, I ventured out to the Dragon Bridge. I don’t like crossing rivers and walking on bridges but at least it was night and I tried my best not to look down. I couldn’t find the night market as stated in Google Maps and that was probably for the best. I crossed back and headed back to my room.
Walked 20,500 steps or 14.4 km today.
Friday, 8 August 2025
This morning, I walked out to Han Market, stopping en route at a stall selling Banh Mi Chay (vegetarian bun). I bought some dried strawberries and dried vegetables at the market before turning back. I then spent time browsing and booking accommodation for an upcoming trip.
I checked out at 12:10 after performing prayers and walked to the airport. It took me 20 minutes, not a hardship at all. I had the vegetarian bun for lunch before queuing for passport control. And my, what a long slow process it was too. Even then, I still managed to browse the duty free shops and even went to check the prayer room. I didn’t come across any local Muslims when I was there (the halal restaurants are too far and mainly serve Indian food) so I appreciate the effort to have dedicated male and female prayer rooms, each with the ablutions area and a shower stall. I then walked quickly to my gate and joined the queue to board the plane.
We took off on time and landed at 18:15. Alhamdulillah. I hope to visit more cities in Vietnam after this, InsyaAllah.
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