Da Nang, Vietnam

• Da Nang sits on Vietnam's central coast where the Han River meets the sea. You get beaches and a modern city center in one place. Traffic is calmer than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City - wider roads, less chaos. The beach areas around My Khe and An Thuong feel safe to walk at night, though you'll still need to stay aware.
• This is Central Vietnam, so expect more conservative culture than you'd find in big Western cities. Cover shoulders and knees in temples and away from beach areas. The food scene here is good - Da Nang has Michelin Guide recognition. Street food costs $2-5 USD, or you can pay more for Han River restaurants.
• Tourist areas like An Thuong speak English. Hotels usually have English-speaking staff. Outside those zones, knowing basic Vietnamese helps. The city joined UN Women's Safe Cities program - you'll see decent street lighting and police around tourist spots.
• Grab app works well for motorbike and car rides. It's cheap and saves you from haggling with taxis. Beach neighborhoods have people out late - joggers, families, restaurants open past 10pm.

Vietnamese is the main language. English is spoken in tourist areas like An Thuong, My Khe Beach, and upscale hotels. The emergency services (112) and tourist hotline (1900 1883) have English-speaking operators available. Download Google Translate for help in local areas.

• Cover shoulders and knees away from the beach - temples, local neighborhoods, government buildings. Swimwear is fine on the beach, but change before you head into town.
• Take off your shoes before entering homes or the main hall of temples and pagodas. Not optional - it's seriously disrespectful if you don't.
• Vietnamese people often ask personal questions when you first meet - age, salary, relationship status. It's normal here, not rude. Deflect politely if it bothers you.
• Don't wear expensive jewelry or wave around the latest smartphone in crowds. It's rude to show off wealth, and pickpockets are rare but they do exist. Wear your bag across your body, street side away.

The first hour after landing is when you're tired, carrying everything, and easiest to take advantage of. Three things to sort before you fly:

• Your ride from the airport. A driver who meets you in arrivals, at a price fixed before you fly — no haggling at the taxi rank.

  Book an airport pickup

• Data the moment you land. Maps, ride apps and a way to call for help as soon as you switch your phone on. An eSIM installs at home.

  Get a good eSIM

• The emergency number. National Emergency Response: 112. Save it in your phone, not just on this page.

  All emergency contacts

• Most people use Grab - works for both motorbikes (GrabBike) and cars (GrabCar). Short trips run 10,000-20,000 VND ($0.40-$0.80), cash is fine. Get the app before you arrive or buy a Vietnamese SIM card to use it.
• Public buses exist and they're cheap, but signs aren't in English. You can download BusMap app if you want to figure them out. Most visitors just use Grab because it's cheap enough.
• If you take regular taxis, stick to Mai Linh or Vinasun companies. Make sure they start the meter. Grab has cut down on taxi scams here compared to other Vietnamese cities, but they still happen.
• Beach areas and city center work for walking during the day. At night, side streets get dark. Stay on main roads after sunset if you're walking alone.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, book a private car with a driver rather than driving yourself.

Explore Da Nang with local guides and curated experiences.