Known as the “city’s green oasis,” the Son Tra Peninsula is a precious gem generously bestowed by nature upon Da Nang. With its pristine air and abundant flora and fauna, this enchanting destination has captivated visitors from far and wide. Immerse yourself in the beauty of its stunning landscapes, embark on thrilling adventures, and let us unveil the wonders of Son Tra Peninsula guide through a comprehensive travel guide.
What makes Son Tra Peninsula a captivating tourist destination?
Son Tra Peninsula has drawn visitors to Danang for years, arousing interest and eagerness in everyone who wish to witness its beauties for themselves. Missing the chance to visit Son Tra Peninsula is regretful given the variety of well-known tourist destinations in the area.
Boasting a refreshing and pleasant climate throughout the year, Son Tra Peninsula is adorned with breathtaking virgin forests teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Within these lush forests reside rare and precious creatures like the brown-legged douc langur, wild cat, and chickadee, all of which are included in Vietnam’s Red Book. Moreover, the pristine beaches of Son Tra Peninsula, such as Bac Bac, Bai But, and Bai Nam, retain their unspoiled charm with crystal-clear waters, adding to the allure of this remarkable destination.
Not only that, nature has also favorably endowed this place with magnificent coral reefs not inferior to Phu Quoc or Cu Lao Cham. Here, visitors can also participate in countless exciting activities such as squid fishing, fishing, scuba diving, kayaking, paragliding, windsurfing, etc.
More significantly, when tourists come to Son Tra Peninsula, they will have the opportunity to hear the legend of the fairy chessboard, the love story of Tien Sa or the love story of Bai But which has existed for a long time. More impressive than visiting Monkey Island, feeding the monkeys is an unforgettable memory for every visitor.
Son Tra Peninsula guide: The Best Time to Visit
It is an attractive destination with countless things to discover. To be able to take a complete trip to the Son Tra Peninsula, you need to choose the right time.
Time to go
Son Tra has a cool and cool climate all year round but is still influenced by the whole of Da Nang. Each year here is divided into 2 distinct seasons, the dry season lasts from March to August, the rainy season from September to February the following year.
As a consequence, the dry season weather will be more suitable for starting your adventure of discovery. Da Nang has excellent weather and minimal fog at the moment, making it quite convenient.
Time not to go
Although Son Tra has a peculiar appeal on rainy day, more romantic and lyrical, you should still decide if you should attend. To guarantee safety, avoid visiting sites with challenging terrain such as Ban Co Peak, Rada Station, and the lighthouse on wet days. Instead, explore adjacent, less foggy locations such as Linh Ung Pagoda and beaches.
Location and Transportation Tips for exploring Son Tra Peninsula
Location
Son Tra is located in Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, Danang, about 8 kilometers northeast of the city center. Son Tra covers an area of up to 4,439 hectares, with the highest peak rising 696 meters above sea level.
The Son Tra Peninsula, together with the Hai Van Pass, encircles Da Nang City and Bay. The Thuan Phuoc Bridge, the most beautiful suspension bridge in the world, is located on the other side of this lovely peninsula.
Transportation Tips
If you have booked a shuttle, the driver will be responsible for transporting you to and from, extremely safe and comfortable. As for those of you who travel to Son Tra Peninsula by motorbike , you should take note of the following information. Most city roads lead there, so no matter where you are, it’s still very convenient, no need to worry.
- From Da Nang: From Dragon Bridge – you cross straight across the bridge adjacent to Vo Van Kiet Street, go to the end and turn left to Vo Nguyen Giap. Go straight on Hoang Sa Street, you have reached the bottom of the peninsula. Most tourist sites are located along this route. If you start from Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Song Han Bridge or Thuan Phuoc Bridge, you also go towards the sea and then turn left.
- From Hoi An: You request Truong Sa Street directions, go to Vo Nguyen Giap, and finally to Hoang Sa Street. According to the travel experience of Son Tra Peninsula, you only need to go directly to the coast to Son Tra from Hoi An.
NOTE: Currently, in addition to the route, if visitors have sufficient funds and want a new experience, they can purchase Han River cruise tickets to explore Son Tra. It is an interesting thing, not only takes you to Son Tra by the river, but also comes with many services such as scuba diving, seafood eating, paragliding, etc.
Suggest the most reasonable ways to explore Son Tra Peninsula
Motorbike : The road to Son Tra Peninsula has been extensively and spaciously invested, so it is very convenient to go there by motorbike. Because most places are quite close and crowded with people, you can take the initiative to go by motorbike to explore freely. Along the way, you can stop to take photos and videos anywhere, anytime, for as long as you want.
Shuttle: If motorbikes are suitable for young people who love freedom and adventure, cars are suitable for large groups of guests, or families with adults and children. Certainly, compared to driving a motorbike, this vehicle is quite safe, as long as you say go to Son Tra, the driver will take you to the most popular famous places. The 4 seater car is around 300k and the 7 seater car is around 400k each way.
Note : Currently there is no Son Tra Peninsula tour, so there is only one way to be self-sufficient by motorbike or car. You can rent a motorbike or call a shuttle at the hotel or motel where you are staying, both of which are available to transport passengers to Son Tra at very affordable prices.
Must-Visit Destinations in Son Tra Peninsula
Linh Ung Pagoda
For those embarking on their journey from Hoang Sa Street, the foremost attraction to explore in Da Nang is the renowned temple situated in close proximity to Bai But. Recognized as either Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda or Linh Ung Son Tra Pagoda, this temple distinguishes itself from the Linh Ung Pagoda in the Marble Mountains and another Linh Ung Pagoda nestled in the Ba Na Hills. Serving as the largest, grandest, and most splendid among the three Linh Ung Temples in Da Nang, it beckons visitors with its majestic presence.
Built in 2004 and inaugurated in 2010, Linh Ung Pagoda is not only a sacred temple but also has unique and impressive architecture. In particular, the pagoda built the tallest 17-storey Quan Am statue in Vietnam.
With the design of the back against the mountain, facing the East Sea with the concept of wishing peace and happiness. From here, visitors can catch the whole vast sky in front of them, on the left is the modern and young city of Da Nang which is developing day by day.
The thousand-year-old banyan tree
On the way to check-in at the top of Ban Co, you will have the opportunity to pass by the famous thousand-year-old banyan tree here. Not only has a lifespan of up to a thousand years, this banyan tree also has an odd shape, with many giant roots clinging to the ground, spreading lush branches covering a large area. This has created a great attraction for tourists, when they have the opportunity to visit Son Tra Peninsula.
As a result, this banyan tree was discovered in 1771 and has been almost 800 years old so far. Possessing a trunk circumference of up to 10m, including all 26 sub-roots, all combine to create a giant canopy, covering rain and sun for visitors. Visitors come here often choose to stop for vacation, check in with the thousand year old banyan tree to keep memories.
Ban Co Peak
At the top of Son Tra peninsula, there is a very attractive place for young people, which is Ban Co peak. Here is not only famous for its majestic natural landscape, like a fairyland, but also a chess board with thoughtfully thinking fairy.
Legend has it that in the past there were two fairies playing chess together regardless of winning or losing. Suddenly, the fairy flew out of nowhere to bathe, while unaware a fairy was defeated by the opponent. This beach is now called Tien Sa Beach
You can magnify their eyes to grasp the gorgeous mountains and rivers from 700m above the peak of Ban Co. You should avoid traveling on a wet or foggy day since the path to the summit is highly risky, with just 1 meter visibility without seeing people’s faces.
In particular, the summit of Ban Co is exceedingly chilly in winter, with temperatures falling below 10 degrees Celsius, so you won’t be able to view the city below or inspect anything from here.
Son Tra Lighthouse
Also known as Tien Sa Lighthouse, Son Tra Lighthouse is located at an altitude of 223m above sea level, known as one of the most beautiful old lighthouses in Vietnam. Built by the French in the 1950s, this lighthouse is responsible for observing ships operating in the waters of Da Nang.
From the Son Tra lighthouse, young people can freely admire the landscape and take great virtual photos. From there, all the beauty of the sea, mountains and forests seems to be captured in small eyes, giving visitors the impression of having set foot in a certain fairyland.
Don’t forget, visit Rada 29 station, located 621 m above sea level, you may not know that it can sweep waves with a radius of up to 300 km, and is also known as name of “Indochina God’s Eye”.
Ghenh Bang
Son Tra Peninsula is famous for Bai But, Linh Ung Pagoda, Ban Co Peak, Bai Tien Sa, but there is one destination which has not been enlightened, which is Ghenh Bang. Although it is a beautiful place, few people know about it because the journey to Ghenh Bang is not easy, even dangerous. To come here, you have to return your motorcycle, walk more than 1km on a forest path with lush trees and many steep slopes.
Returning from the hard journey, Ghenh Bang appears with wild and rare beauty, as a worthy reward for those who love adventure. Here, small and large rocks, of different shapes and colors, blend into the clear blue sea, as if taking you to paradise in a certain country.
Tien Sa Ecotourism Area
Located in the middle of a mountainous area on Son Tra Peninsula, Tien Sa tourist area has been a tourist attraction in recent years. The reason why it is named sa fairy, because the setting here is so beautiful, it drew the fairies into the sky to come down and fight. Visitors can opt to stay at Tien Sa Resort when they visit Da Nang.
Here visitors can not only rest, visit the rich vegetation as well as many rare animals such as douc langurs, monkeys, deer but also swim in the sea.
More interesting is to organize overnight camping, participate in sea activities such as boating, snorkeling and beach volleyball. Staying in luxurious and comfortable rooms with sea view will bring you moments of relaxation.
The best beaches located in Son Tra Peninsula
North Beach
Located in the northeast of Son Tra Peninsula, North Beach is also known as Bai Bac. This beach is located between Ganh Dong and Ganh Tay, so Bai Bac has many tourist advantages. Thanks to the charming landscape, as well as the long sandy beach of Bai Bac, the Intercontinental resort was built. It is considered the most beautiful and expensive resort in Vietnam so far.
Visitors can choose Bai Bac as a luxury resort, swim in the sea or check in. Due to its strong investment, Bai Bac is also known as a 5-star beach. Standing from the rooms you can catch all of the beautiful North Beach, extremely luxurious private pools and all of the beautiful mountains of Son Tra.
Bay But
Coming to Son Tra Peninsula , visitors will be introduced to visit Bai But, it is quite a famous beach. Looking down from Linh Ung Pagoda, you can view the wide Bai But, which has a magnificent stretch of sandy beach. Nestled between green mountains and forests, Bai But appears like a Buddha kingdom, adorned with unique and ancient works. In Bai But, there are many sports activities such as windsurfing, parachuting, diving to see the corals.
Obama Rock
Obama’s rock, also known as Da Den beach, from Linh Ung pagoda, continue about 4 km further, you will see this rock, located on the right. This is the hot spot that has been mentioned a lot lately. The reason why it is called Da Den Beach is that there are many impressive black rocks here. Contrarily, the water in this location is clear and blue, contrasting hues that accidentally result in a more attractive setting.
Now Obama’s rocky beach has been invested in an attractive tourist destination. Not only to build huts for people to focus on play and food, but also an ideal wooden bridge for youngsters to live virtually. Couples also choose Da Den Beach to keep the most impressive wedding photos.
South beach
Referred to as Bai Nom or Bai Nom, South Beach stands as one of the most exquisite shorelines on Son Tra Peninsula. Lined with upscale resorts that are visible from the city’s My Khe Beach, it is conveniently located along Hoang Sa Street, a mere 3-4 kilometers away. This beach offers a plethora of captivating activities, including coral diving, swimming, camping, and immersing oneself in the breathtaking natural landscapes that adorn the area.
Exciting Activities in Son Tra Peninsula
Snorkeling
As attractive as diving excursions to see the coral in Cu Lao Cham, snorkeling in Son Tra Peninsula is also an extremely popular activity. A scuba diving excursion will include canoeing, scuba diving, playing games and eating seafood at sea. After being guided by the staff, visitors will be free to explore the world ocean, to admire the coral reefs of various shapes and beautiful colors.
Adventurous paragliding
Possessing a wide and safe sea, so paragliding is very popular in Son Tra Peninsula. Whether you are an adventure lover, or just want to feel the beauty of Da Nang, try a paragliding flight at 600m above sea level, promising to be unforgettable moments within you. Try to imagine, you have just been swinging on a paraglider and floating through the sky, looking down to see everything so small, feeling anxious and nervous. However, there will be a companion, so you can be sure to enjoy it.
See the brown-legged douc langur
Son Tra Peninsula, where many rare animals converge, is included in Vietnam’s Red Book. Among them, the most famous is the brown-legged douc langur, considered the queen of primates. They often have the habit of feeding in groups, early in the morning or at the beginning of the afternoon. You can give them a little fruit, but don’t give too much because they will overflow onto the road, block traffic and be very dangerous.
Enjoying the dawn on Mui Nghe
The Son Tra peninsula’s east coast has a promontory called Mui Nghe, which gets its name from the region’s past. The reason why Mui Nghe is still quite strange, few people know, because to come here you have to go through the forest, quite an arduous journey. However, this place is very attractive for young backpackers, as Mui Nghe is known as the most beautiful sunrise spot in Da Nang.
Culinary Delights of Son Tra Peninsula
Fresh seafood
Covering a large sea and very close to Tho Quang fishing port, when traveling to Son Tra Peninsula, seafood is the real love. There are many eateries and eateries clustered around the island, with countless fresh seafood dishes such as prawns, fish, squid, crabs, octopus, etc. Because the seafood here is freshly caught, always ensure freshness, at an extremely cheap price.
If you don’t want to eat in the restaurant, the young people can go to the market and process the seafood right on the beach. Almost all beaches like Bai Rang, Bai Obama have areas and cabanas for visitors to sit, barbecue and have fun there. Of course, if you already have a lot of experience traveling to Son Tra Peninsula, you should choose this route. Otherwise, just go to the restaurant to order quickly but also variety, the price is also very affordable.
Suggest some popular and cheap seafood restaurants near Son Tra:
- A Ty Restaurant: No. 3 Hoang Sa, Le Duc Tho, Son Tra, Da Nang
- Nam Danh Restaurant: 139/59/30 Tran Quang Khai, Tho Quang, Son Tra, Da Nang
- Eo Bien Restaurant: 94 Ngo Cao Lang, Tho Quang, Son Tra, Da Nang
Wild vegetables, wild meat
When it comes to Son Tra specialities, it’s difficult to overlook wild meat and wild veggies with unique and wonderful tastes. All types of meat are hunted and raised in the forest, such as wild chicken, rabbit meat, wild boar. These ingredients will be grilled, steamed, fried, etc. just like the locals, very rustic and delicious. Of course, if you want to eat wild meat, you have to contact the people here who are not allowed to hunt.
Wild meat is best when eaten with wild vegetables. On Son Tra Peninsula, there are countless types of vegetables growing wild on the mountain slopes such as forest tamarind, coriander, plantain, coriander, etc. The characteristics of these vegetables are that they grow naturally, without watering, very fresh and have a very particular flavor. Clean wild vegetables, boiled and then dipped in fish sauce or to cook a hot pot, cook a sour soup is excellent.
Coconut wine
Although it is a rustic drink, it is delicious and loved by people. To make coconut wine, people pre-treat the coconut husk and then inject the yeast mixture into the coconut. Close the lid, then incubate until the aroma is ready to drink. At that time, coconut wine had a pungent taste, both strange and stimulating to drink. Coconut wine, once enjoyed with wild meat, makes the dish tastier.
Essential Tips for Son Tra Peninsula Day Trip
- If traveling to Son Tra by motorbike, ensure you have all necessary documents, a valid driver’s license, and carefully inspect your vehicle for any potential issues due to the steep roads and lack of repair facilities.
- Tourists are currently not allowed to use scooters from the thousand-year-old banyan tree to Ban Co. Instead, consider renting a reliable car or utilizing the shuttle bus. As the route includes challenging slopes, it’s advisable for experienced male drivers to take the wheel.
- Due to the close proximity of attractions, one day is sufficient to explore the entire Son Tra peninsula. Start early, enjoy until around 3pm, indulge in seafood, and return to your hotel. If time is limited, a shorter visit is still feasible. Remember to pack drinking water and snacks for the journey.
- Don’t forget essential items like sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hat, jacket, and a camera for a complete trip. Binoculars, if available, can enhance your wildlife observation and allow you to appreciate the distant seascape.
With the help of the Son Tra Peninsula guide in this article, you’ll enjoy the most comprehensive day trip experiences possible. Son Tra not only serves as the city’s green lung, but it also connects a plethora of magnificent sights and unique sites that tourists should not miss. Let’s organize a day to see Son Tra’s stunning sceneries, eat excellent cuisine, and take significant images.