Dragon Bridge in Da Nang: 2024 Visitors’ Guide

There are many activities in town for everyone, but if I were to say one that should be on top of your list should be the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang.

Completed in 2013 and designed by a Vietnamese architecture firm, the bridge spans 666 meters across the Han River.

Truth be told, I missed two flights to Da Nang back in 2019 when traveling to Vietnam for the first time, and it wasn’t until 2023 when I moved to Da Nang, that saw the iconic fire show.

Anyway, personal stories apart, on Saturdays and Sundays, you can enjoy dinner and shop for souvenirs at the nearby local market before watching the fire and water show at 9:00 PM.

In this ultimate guide, I’ll take you through everything you must know about the Dragon Bridge, and I highly recommend including it in your itinerary for Da Nang, as it’s so fun to see!

Dragon Bridge in Da Nang – Overview

Before discussing the main topic, let’s learn some absolutely essential tips on Dragon Bridge, from where it is located, fire show time and the like, and some more!

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What is the Dragon Bridge?

The Dragon Bridge is the name of a famous bridge that crosses the Han River in Vietnam. It is 666m in length, 37.5m in width and features four lanes of traffic with sidewalks on both side.

The bridge was inaugurated for traffic in March 2013, and according to announcements it was invested with a total amount of nearly 1.5 trillion VND (approximately 88 million USD).

Every weekend at 9.00 p.m., you can come and enjoy the performance of fire and water, which lasts an impressive 15 minutes and draws both locals and tourists.

Where is the Dragon Bridge?

The fire-breathing Dragon Bridge is located on the Han River in central Da Nang. It is only about 2km away from My Khe Beach and is the largest bridge in Vietnam. The bridge is 666 meters long and 37.5 meters wide.

How to Get to Da Nang Dragon Bridge?

The Da Nang Dragon Bridge is easily accessible by car, taxi, or motorbike – It’s between the tourist area An Thuong (also called My An) and Da Nang International Airport.

It can also be reached by foot from the nearby Tran Hung Dao Street near the city center. It’s a good opportunity for a riverside walk

The first time, I went to the Dragon Bridge by foot from My Khe Beach, but after that, I always took a Grab taxi, which I recommend you do too.

A Grab Taxi will cost you only about 50,000 VND, or $2, and will take you to the local night market, so you can see both sites at once.

When is the Dragon Bridge Fire Show?

The Dragon Bridge Fire Show is on Saturday and Sunday nights at 9 PM. Hundreds of people turn up to watch the fire display and water spraying from the bridge itself.

To enjoy the best positions for amazing pictures, we recommend that you come to the venue around 8:00 to 8:30 PM, take some nice pictures, and make friends.

Is the Dragon Bridge Worth Visiting?

The Dragon Bridge is absolutely worth visiting! What sets this bridge apart from others in the city is the LED lighting, fire and water displays. The bridge represents how far the city has come from its humble beginnings.

The Dragon Bridge Da Nang fire show starts at 9 pm and is only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Then, a second round performance of the dragon, the dragon’s head released a mass of water jets to the sky, with the LED dragon bridge head glimmering in different colors. As I said before, make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before the show to get the best view.

Opening Times and Entrance Fees

The Dragon Bridge stays open all the time so that people can get to each side of Da Nang City via the Han River. However, the fire show’s schedule is from 9.00 pm on to be Saturday and Sunday only.

And don’t worry because there is no entrance fee, which makes the Dragon Bridge one of the best things to do in Da Nang for free.

Impressive Architecture

Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge is a modern masterpiece and the symbol of sustainability in transitioning towards the future. Da Nang is the third largest city in Vietnam, so it makes sense that they wanted an impressive landmark, on top of the Ba Na Hills.

Five huge spans make up the steel dragon on the bridge, all 15,000 meters of steel. This bridge, at 666 meters long it’s impressive and for four lanes of traffic and the dragon with its head raises the whole length of the road. It will breathe fire and breathe water on both sides.

What to Expect at the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang

Now that you know a little bit more on what the Dragon Bridge is, let’s go over the highlight experiences like the nearby night market, the fire show and other events you can attend.

The Son Tra Night Market

PS: Do a bit of shopping at Son Tra Night Market before you see the famous Dragon Bridge, which has even more illuminating lights at night.

You can purchase classic souvenirs (such as seashells, jewelry, and art, among many), food (like the popular Da Nang pancakes that are made from rice flour), and beer at good prices, among many other items available in the market.

Son Tra Night Market operates daily from 6 to 23 hours, it has over 150 stalls, which are quite ideal for anyone looking for top-notch souvenirs, jewelry, clothes, shoes, and delicious local cuisine, and there’s a selection of other forms of entertainment

The best part? There’s no entrance fee and the parking is just 5000 VND/scooter, in case you want to come by motorbike – how amazing is that?

A visit to the Son Tra Night Market is a must for tourists who want to make the most of their nightlife in Da Nang!

The Fire Show

The countdown to the Da Nang Fire Show is on! A highlight in Central Vietnam! and something you certainly won’t want to miss.

To start things off, you’ll see the Dragon blowing fire from its mouth while you and everyone else around you let out a collective gasp in amazement.

At the 10-minute mark, that fire-breathing dragon switches its dragon hood with a jet water shooter routine—so unless you’re determined to get wet, avoid staying near its mouth. Feel free to take photos on the closed roads while the show is taking place.

As soon as the show is over, the road is open to traffic again and you can go back on the sidewalks.

The Best Photo Spots

The best places to photograph the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang are as follows:

• During the night: Near its mouth at the Son Tra Night Market – At this location
• During the day: In Bach Dang Road, with the Dragon Bridge in the background and the Han River – This location is best

All things considered, it is unlikely that you’ll get bored waiting for your turn—have fun taking pictures!

Best Viewing Spots

If there was one factor I didn’t consider before seeing the fire show, it’s the viewing spot. I genuinely thought that 1) there wouldn’t be as many people and 2) there would be several spots to see the show.

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong, as there are a few places to see it.

If you’ve visited the night market as I did, you can head to the right side of the road, take the stairs up to the bridge and stay near its mouth for the show. This is the best location, but bear in mind that you’ll get wet during the water part!

Alternatively, you can cross the road to see the dragon bridge from the night market’s opposite side and have the skyline and night lights in the background.

Another nice way to see it is hopping on a night river cruise and watch the show from a different perspective – The night river cruises are also very fun to join when you visit Da Nang!

Honestly speaking, I really enjoyed the cruise and I would do it again, especially since you can see both Eastern and Western banks, but seeing the fire show up close was way more fun.

Note: The cruise always sells out during the weekend, as it’s the best view for the Dragon Bridge show, so make sure to book as soon as possible – And it’s super cheap!

Bạch Đang Street

Bach Dang Street is the main Downtown street and esplanade along the river. It’s filled with hip coffee or bánh cuốn joints along the Dragon Bridge pedestrian tunnel, and only pedestrians are allowed, which is a massive bonus in Da Nang!

Not only does Bach Dang Street provide stunning views of the city, but it’s also a nice place to see the Dragon Bridge and the Danang International Firework Festival.

Note that it’s too far to see the fire show, so I only recommend coming during the day for relaxing, having a stroll, and taking photos of the bridge from afar.

Where to Stay in Da Nang?

Last but not least, let’s talk about the accommodation options in town, whether you travel on a budget or looking for a boutique hotel in Da Nang.

It’s worth noting that the best area for a tourist is My An, right next to My An and My Khe Beaches, with countless restaurants, bars, and nightlife.

Luxury: Danang Marriott Resort & Spa

Mid-Range: Amunra Ocean Hotel

Budget: Zenta Beach View Hotel

More Vietnam Travel Guides

• All Vietnam Travel Guides
• Awesome Things to Do in Hoi An
• Best Things to Do in Da Nang, Vietnam
• Amazing things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
• Plan the Perfect 3-Day Hoi An Itinerary
• Plan The Perfect 5-Day Da Nang Itinerary
• Plan the Perfect 7-Day Central Vietnam Itinerary
• Ba Na Hills Tour – Complete Travel Guide
• Lady Buddha Da Nang – Visitors’ Guide
• Da Nang Cathedral: Complete Travel Guide

Summary – Da Nang Dragon Bridge

Throughout this guide, we’ve discussed the bridge’s design, the best viewing spots, the unmissable cruise over the mighty Han River, and the amazing night market that I visited countless times!

So, if you haven’t yet experienced the fun of the magnificent Dragon Bridge, I highly encourage you to go while spending a few days in town!