Da Nang Photography Locations: 15 Best Spots for Stunning Shots

Photography in Da Nang is all about timing. The city’s light transforms its beauty every hour.

📷 Ideal time slots:

• Sunrise (5:30–6:30 AM): best for beaches, fishing villages, empty city streets
• Golden hour (5:00–6:00 PM): soft light over rivers and rooftops
• Blue hour (6:15–6:45 PM): perfect for bridges and long-exposure cityscapes
• Night (7:00–9:00 PM): LED bridges, city lights, street scenes

📱 Helpful apps:

• PhotoPills: for sun/moon positioning
• Windy.com: to check clouds for sunsets
• Sun Surveyor: great for location scouting

☀️ Tip: Light changes quickly in Vietnam—plan to be 10–15 minutes early at each spot.

One of Da Nang’s most iconic locations, Marble Mountains blends dramatic limestone cliffs with hidden caves, ancient temples, and panoramic city views.

🎯 What to shoot:

• Huyền Không Cave: sunbeam entering through ceiling hole—stunning contrast
• Xá Lợi Tower: offers skyline + ocean views
• Buddhist shrines carved into rock

🕒 Best time to visit:

• Early morning for soft shadows and fewer tourists
• Weekdays are quieter

📸 Pro tip:

• Bring a tripod for cave interiors
• Use wide-angle lens (14–24mm) to capture temple architecture

🎫 Entry fee: ~40,000 VND + optional elevator ticket
🥾 Be ready for stairs—wear good shoes!

Just a 20-minute drive from the city center, Son Tra Peninsula is a must for sunrise chasers and nature lovers.

🌄 Highlights:

• Linh Ứng Pagoda: tallest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam
• Ban Co Peak (Chessboard Peak): panoramic view over Da Nang Bay
• Ancient Banyan Tree: dramatic roots, great for framing shots
• Wildlife: Red-shanked douc langurs (voọc chà vá) for nature photographers

🕒 Best time:

• Sunrise at Ban Co Peak (arrive before 5:30 AM)
• Golden hour at Linh Ứng for temple shots

🛩️ Gear tips:

• Telephoto lens (100–400mm) for wildlife
• ND filters for sunrise motion blur

🚲 Caution: Road to Ban Co Peak is steep—use motorbike only if experienced.

Ranked among the world’s most beautiful beaches, My Khe is not only a place to swim—it’s also a photographer’s playground at dawn.

📍 What to capture:

• Fishing boats and thúng (round basket boats)
• Locals exercising or casting nets
• Wide shots of the ocean meeting city skyline

🕒 Best time:

• Sunrise (5:00–6:00 AM) — golden rays hit the water just right
• Try weekday mornings for fewer crowds

📷 Suggested setup:

• Wide-angle lens (16–35mm)
• Tripod with polarizing filter to cut glare
• Aperture f/8–f/11 for full depth of field

🌊 Combine this shoot with nearby café stops or street breakfast afterward.

Cầu Rồng (Dragon Bridge) is not just an architectural landmark—it’s a highlight of Da Nang’s night photography scene. With its dynamic lighting and fire-breathing feature, this spot is a must for long exposure shots.

🎯 What to capture:

• Bridge reflections on Han River
• Dragon spitting fire and water (Sat–Sun at 9:00 PM)
• Surrounding city lights and boats

🕒 Best time:

• 8:30–9:30 PM on weekends for the fire show
• Blue hour (6:15–7:00 PM) for ambient lighting

📷 Camera tips:

• Use tripod for long exposure (10–15s shutter)
• ISO 100–200, f/11 for cityscapes
• Best viewpoint: Love Bridge or under the bridge (east side)

🎆 Bonus: Capture Sun Wheel or Tran Thi Ly Bridge in the background for more light trails.

If there’s one photo that screams “Da Nang,” it’s the Golden Bridge—a pair of giant stone hands lifting a golden pedestrian bridge above the clouds.

📸 Top spots:

• Golden Bridge at sunrise (clouds + no crowd = perfect)
• French Village: colorful facades, Gothic churches
• Flower gardens and fantasy-style architecture

🕒 When to go:

• Arrive by 7:30 AM to beat the crowds and haze
• Avoid holidays and weekends if possible

Equipment tips:

• Wide lens (24mm or lower) for full bridge capture
• Tele lens (85mm+) to isolate hands and people
• Use ND filters to remove crowds via long exposure

🎫 Entry ticket ~850,000 VND (includes cable car)

Only 45 minutes away, Hoi An Ancient Town is a goldmine for cultural and street photography—especially during late afternoon and evening.

📍 Where to shoot:

• Lantern-lit streets after sunset
• Japanese Covered Bridge
• Locals in ao dai by yellow walls
• Riverside boat rides with candles (iconic night shots)

🕒 Best time:

• 4:30–6:00 PM for golden hour
• 7:00–8:00 PM for lantern scenes

📷 Pro tip:

• Bring a fast lens (f/1.8–f/2.8) for low-light portraits
• Tripod or mini tripod for riverbank long exposure shots

🧧 Visit during full moon lantern festival for magical lighting.

Da Nang's markets are a vibrant stage of colors, textures, and expressions—perfect for candid, storytelling images.

🛍️ Where to go:

• Chợ Cồn – indoor stalls, food vendors, colorful produce
• Chợ Hàn – souvenirs + natural window light
• An Thượng Area – hipster cafés, street art, expat life

📷 What to shoot:

• Fruit vendors, bánh xèo stalls, flower sellers
• Portraits of locals (ask permission)
• Patterns: hats, noodles, baskets, signs

🕒 Best time:

• 7:00–9:30 AM (natural light, busy atmosphere)
• Late afternoon for softer light and friendly vibes

📸 Use a 35mm or 50mm prime lens for intimate street shots.

Want city lights, bridges, and river reflections all in one frame? Head to a rooftop bar or hotel terrace.

🌆 Best rooftops:

• Sky36 (Novotel) – tallest, vibrant, great for nightlife shots
• Brilliant Top Bar – near Dragon Bridge, relaxed vibe
• Four Points by Sheraton – Horizon Bar – beach + skyline view

📷 Settings:

• Golden hour for warmth, blue hour for color balance
• Tripod, ISO 100, f/8–f/11
• Use manual focus to avoid reflections

🥂 Bonus: Enjoy a drink while you shoot—most rooftops are photographer-friendly!

Beyond the well-known tourist attractions, Da Nang hides underrated natural photo spots perfect for moody landscapes, portraits, and drone shots.

🌿 Recommended locations:

🏞️ Hòa Trung LakeT

• Still water, green hills, long grass fields
• Ideal for sunrise, reflection shots, or creative portraits
• Best with drones for symmetry and negative space

⛰️ Hai Van Pass

• Curving roads with mountain-meets-sea views
• Misty mornings give cinematic vibes
• Perfect for motorbike + landscape combo shots

🌳 Suối Lương (Luong Stream)

• Mini waterfalls, jungle textures, picnic-style shots
• Good for couple shoots or nature portrait sessions
• Less crowded = better control of environment

🧭 Tip: Visit early morning, and check weather to avoid mud or fog that blocks visibility.

Da Nang offers plenty of open-air spots for drone flyers, with dramatic coastlines, wide river curves, and varied terrain from sea to mountain.

🚁 Top drone locations:

• Son Tra Peninsula – rugged cliffs, Lady Buddha statue
• My Khe Beach – smooth waves + sunrise light
• Dragon Bridge from above – symmetrical roads + river views
• Hai Van Pass – switchback road photography gold
• Ba Na Hills cable cars – (fly from distance, not inside park)

⚠️ Flight safety & rules:

• Avoid flying near airports (Da Nang International Airport)
• Stay away from crowds, religious sites, and military areas
• Use low altitude near urban zones
• Check current drone regulations (they may change year to year)

📦 Suggested gear: DJI Mini 3 Pro or Air 2S, ND filters, backup batteries

What you pack affects what you can shoot. Da Nang’s mixed landscape calls for a versatile but lightweight setup.

🎒 Essential photography gear:

• Camera body (DSLR, mirrorless – full frame ideal)
• Lenses:
• 16–35mm for landscapes & temples
• 50mm or 85mm prime for portraits
• 70–200mm for wildlife, distant cityscapes
• Tripod: compact, lightweight, sturdy for long exposures
• ND filter: for smoothing water and reducing glare
• Extra SD cards, power bank, cleaning kit

🧳 Travel tip: Always carry silica gel to fight humidity inside gear bags.

Getting the perfect shot is great—but respecting your surroundings matters just as much.

✅ Do:

• Ask before photographing locals, especially in markets or religious sites
• Keep noise down in sacred or quiet areas
• Follow posted signs and barriers
• Leave no trash, protect nature

❌ Don’t:

• Climb dangerous cliffs for “viral” angles
• Fly drones near crowded events or over people
• Shoot without permission in restricted zones

🌏 Leave the place better than you found it—your lens sees better when you respect the land.

Da Nang is more than a travel destination—it’s a living canvas for every style of photography.

Whether you shoot with a DSLR, a drone, or just your phone, this city rewards curiosity, patience, and creativity. Mix cityscape with nature, golden light with vibrant people, and morning calm with nightlife energy.

🧭 Suggested 1-day itinerary for photographers:

🖼️ Don't just take photos—tell stories with your lens.