Da Nang Travel Attractions
Tourist attractions in Da Nang
Area: 1,257.3 sq. km
Population: 788.5 thousand habitants (2006)
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Co Tu, Tay…
Districts: Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Son Tra, Ngu Hanh Son, Lien Chieu, Cam Le.
Rural districts: Hoa Vang, Hoang Sa.
Geography
Da Nang City is located in middle of Central Vietnam, between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, separated from Laos by the western Truong Son Mountains. It is surrounded by Thua Thien-Hue along the northern border and Quang Nam on the southern border. It is embraced by the East Sea with 150km of seacoast.
Topography is rather complex. The south is impressive Hai Van Pass with Mang Mountain 1,708m, Ba Na Mountain 1,487m. The east is Son Tra Peninsula, an ideal site of yellow sand beaches, historical remains, and rare bird and animal species. The south is Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains). The seashore is Hoang Sa archipelago with a large fishery.
Climate
Da Nang is located in the zone of typical tropical monsoon, temperate and equable climate. The city's weather bears the combination of the north and the south climate characters with the inclination to the former. There are two seasons: the wet from August to December and the dry season from January to July, cold waves are occasional but they are of average and short lasting. Average humidity is 83.4%.
Average temperature is about 26ºC, the highest is 28-30ºC in June, July, August, the lowest is 18-23ºC in December, January, February. In Ba Na Mountain, the temperature is 20ºC. Average rainfall is 2,505mm per year that concentrates during October and November.
Tourism
Da Nang is an ancient land, closely related with the Sa Huynh cultural traditions. Many imposing, palaces, towers, temples, citadels and ramparts, the vestiges from 1st to 13th are still to be seen in Cham Museum
Da Nang has other various interesting attractions as Ba Na Tourist Resort, Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) as well as the Linh Ung Pagoda, Han River, and My An, Non Nuoc beaches, stretching on dozens of kilometers…
Festivals
Quan Am Festival
Time: From the 18th to the 20th day of the second lunar month, the main festival day is on the 19th day of the second lunar month.
Location: Avalokitesvara Pagoda, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang City.
Objects of worship: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
Activities: The procession of the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisttava, floating lamps on the river and other philanthropic activities.
Quan Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival on Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang is organized on the 19th day of the second lunar month. Like other traditional festivals, Quan Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival on Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang consists of two parts: the religious ceremony and the festival itself. The former takes Location with the rituals of Buddhism.
The ceremony to worship spring with full rituals is usually held on the evening of the 18th of the second lunar month. The notables of Hoa Hai, Hoa Quy and Bac My An Wards perform the rites of worshipping, reading oration and praying for safe and sound to everybody.
The ceremony of beginning sutra chanting occurs on the early morning of the 19th of the second lunar month. This ceremony is to pray for peaceful country and prosperous people. It is held in the sanctuary of Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara) Pagoda and conducted by the monks. This ritual shows the solemnity the belief of Buddhism.
The ceremony of giving alms to the wandering souls is held on the afternoon of the last day of the festival. The ceremony is dedicated to patron saint, god of earth and spirits of the death. The monks pray the Buddha for peace and happiness to the living and for freedom from suffering to the souls of the death. Normally, the Buddhist bereaved gives the list of the deceased to the pagoda in advance. The master of ceremonies must be a superior bonze.
The preaching sessions about culture, arts, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and the association between the Buddhist culture and traditional culture in the history of the nation is also part of the festival.
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue procession is held on the morning of the 19th day. Four people carry a palanquin that contains a stone statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisttava standing on the lotus-shaped throne. She has a look of refined beauty with a gentle smile like the image of a mother. The palanquin goes first and is accompanied by Buddhist followers.
Transportation
Road: Da Nang is 108km from Hue, 130km from Quang Ngai, 763km from Hanoi, and 947km from Ho Chi Minh City.
Air: The Da Nang International Airport is 2.5km south-west of the city center. There are domestic flights to some cities. There are direct flight from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Siem Riep, Taipei and Singapore to Da Nang City by Vietnam Airlines, PB Air, Siem Riep Air way, Far Transportation and Sil Airway.
Train: Thong Nhat Express train, which connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, stop in Da Nang.
Water: There are marine routes to international and domestic ports. Tien Sa and Han River ports are located in a very wonderful position.