Wanting to get away from the bustle of the city and spend some time amid nature? Visit Son Tra Peninsula, which is only a few kilometers away from the center of Da Nang. This peninsula is an excellent hideaway, particularly for those seeking white sand beaches, picturesque landscapes, primeval forests, and beach activities.
1. Where is Son Tra Peninsula?
Son Tra Peninsula is in Tho Quang ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang city. This peninsula is located about 10 kilometers northeast of the city center. It has an elevation of 693 meters above sea level and covers an area of 60 square kilometers with a length of 13 kilometers and a width of 5 kilometers.
This peninsula is a primeval forest with stunning landscapes and the greatest diverse ecosystems. Most visitors to the peninsula are interested in exploring the Son Tra Nature Reserve's flora and fauna, especially the unique beauty of the red-shanked douc langurs, birds, trees, and flowers,...
Standing on top of Son Tra Peninsula, tourists can get a bird's-eye of the breathtaking panoramic Da Nang city views. Also, you can enjoy the fresh cool breezes from the sea and the vast space of luxuriant greenery.
2. How to get to Son Tra Peninsula Da Nang?
There are many ways to get to Son Tra Peninsula, including renting a scooter, taking a taxi, or booking a tour through a travel agency.
If you take a tour, you don’t have to drive yourself. And you will see the highlights of Son Tra. The drawback can be that you have less freedom unless you book a private tour.
An alternative to taking a tour is to rent a car with a driver for the day. It takes about twenty minutes to drive from Nguyen Tat Thanh street to Son Tra Peninsula.
However, the best way to fully appreciate this natural wonder is to rent a scooter in Da Nang or Hoi An and travel to the peninsula's various marvels. Then you will have the independence and freedom to go wherever you want to unwind. Renting a motorbike in Da Nang is very affordable, costing around 100,000 VND for the whole day.
How to get to Son Tra:
- From Hoi An: Take Truong Sa street - Vo Nguyen Giap street - Hoang Sa street - Son Tra Peninsula.
- From the center of Da Nang city: Take the bridges such as the Dragon Bridge, Han River Bridge, and Tran Thi Ly Bridge to get to the coastal road and head northeast on Vo Nguyen Giap street to begin your journey to discover the peninsula's hidden beauty.
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3. The best time to visit Son Tra Peninsula
The weather on this peninsula is mild year round. As a result, you can come here at any time of year. But, the best time to visit this place is from March to September, when the weather is dry, gorgeously sunny, and the sea is calm enough to enjoy without fear of a storm.
Especially, Son Tra is most beautiful from April to June, when the forest blooms with a plethora of colorful flowers.
If you come here in the winter, stay healthy and safe because it will be foggy and difficult to get around.
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4. Son Tra Peninsula highlights
During your stay on Son Tra peninsula, you can visit many interesting places. Here are the top eight must-see destinations for the most exciting experiences:
4.1. Beaches on Son Tra Peninsula
It is easy to find a nice, quiet beach in Son Tra. The beaches surrounding Son Tra peninsula that you should visit include But Beach, Tien Sa Beach, Da Den Beach, South Beach, North Beach.
Generally, they are blue, clear, and safe, so you can swim, snorkel, or paraglider at one of these beaches. You can also go fishing, catch sea snails and shells with the locals.
- Bai But:
But Beach is one of the most tranquil beaches on the peninsula. With clear blue water and a long stretch of white sand, But beach is an ideal location for visitors to admire the scenery, swim, and take part in a variety of other exciting activities such as diving to see the colorful coral reefs, skydiving, or windsurfing…
- Tien Sa Beach:
The beach is located on Son Tra Peninsula and offers peaceful and pristine views. If you come here, you can immerse yourself in nature with the blue sea, white sand, and golden sunshine or enjoy services such as kite flying, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, outdoor karaoke, rollerblading…
- Da Den Beach (Black Stone Beach):
Da Den beach, on the north shore of Son Tra Peninsula, is incredibly pristine despite being only about a one-hour-boat-trip away from Da Nang city. This beach has many large black rocks which are intertwined or stacked together, creating stunning views.
Especially, there are many beautiful artificial lakes in the reef area that are shielded by large boulders, keeping the water green year round. Furthermore, the waves here are very soft, making them ideal for tourists to swim or take part in fishing and snorkeling in groups.
- Bai Nam Beach (South beach):
The name comes from its position on the Peninsula. Nam Beach, also known as Nom Beach, is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Son Tra Peninsula Resort. If you go a few hundred meters offshore from Nam beach, you will see some stunning coral reefs. Besides, you can also take part in professional diving services.
- Bai Bac (North Beach):
Like South beach, North beach is named after its location on the Peninsula. From October to November, there are a lot of dark green seaweeds clinging to the rocks here. With the prominent green seaweed on the rocks, the beach is a charming place to visit.
4.2. Linh Ung Pagoda
This pagoda is on a 20-hectare plot of land on Son Tra Mountain which has several structures, including the main hall, the lecture hall, the ancestral house, the library, the lunchroom, and the Arhat statue garden. Linh Ung pagoda is a hybrid of contemporary and traditional Vietnamese temple architectures.
The Lady Buddha statue, the tallest statue in Vietnam (67 meters tall), is the most important and visible feature of Linh Ung pagoda. It is supported by a 35-meter-high lotus-shaped foundation, making the total height of the statue over 100 meters. Inside the statue, there are 17 stories. Each storey has 21 Buddha idols. The Lady Buddha statue, which took 6 years to build, maintains the peace and spiritual life of the city, protects the local fishermen, and gives them the strength to fight the waves and wind.
From the pagoda, you will see a blue sea and sky, a long white sandy beach running around the road at the foot of the mountain glistening under the soft sunshine in the peninsula.
4.3. Ban Co Peak (Chess Board Peak)
Ban Co Peak is nearly 700 meters above sea level. This peak is known for its Confucius statue. This bronze statue of the great philosopher playing chess is a tribute to the man who had a significant influence on Eastern culture.
The road to Ban Co peak is narrow and winding, making riding to Ban Co peak a challenging experience. However, while going up to Ban Co Peak, you can enjoy the fresh air and the spectacular view of the coastal city and the peninsula.
4.4. Douc Langur at Son Tra Peninsula
Son Tra is a haven for rare animal species such as the Red-shanked Douc (Douc Langur), known as the "Queen of Primates."
Red Shanked Douc, which lives in Son Tra National Park, is a very rare monkey that is shy and dislikes human interaction. Here, you can see that special ropes are hung over the road to make it easier for the monkeys to cross without being hit by a passing vehicle.
They feed in the early morning and early afternoon and always in flocks. The food comprises young leaves that grow wild on the tops of tall trees. Remember to go quietly and keep a safe distance, so they know you are not a threat. Bring binoculars if you want to get a better look at this animal.
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4.5. The thousand-year-old banyan tree
This Banyan tree is located 17 kilometers away from the city center. According to locals, the tree is now at least 1,000 years old. This tree has a 10-meter circumference and 26 new trunks that are almost 25 meters tall. Its root clusters have grown into new trunks that support massive structures from the center.
This is a popular destination for tree lovers, especially during the hot summer months. On clear days, you can also see Da Nang, Cham Island, and the whole Son Tra peninsula from the location of this tree.
4.6. Radar Station 29
This radar station is regarded as "Mat Than Dong Duong" – "Indochina's Miraculous Eyes." This radar station is used for civil aviation, the air force, and the navy. Standing in the radar observation room, you can take in the breathtaking view of the East Sea while also observing the Vietnamese army on duty.
You cannot go to the radar station because it is a military area and is still used for territorial sovereignty protection, but there are many places on the mountain roads where you can see it from.
In addition, you can visit Vong Canh’s House, which is only a few hundred meters away from the Radar Station. This place was originally a stopover for tourists on the way to explore Son Tra peninsula. From here, you can have a panoramic view of Son Tra peninsula, Lang Co Hue, and Hai Van pass.
4.7. Son Tra lighthouse
This French-style lighthouse is at an elevation of 223 meters above sea level. It has been named one of the most beautiful lighthouses in Vietnam, and one of the eight oldest lighthouses in the country.
Because the road is also smooth, this place attracts a lot of young people who go to visit often. From this lighthouse, you can see the beautiful colors of Son Tra, such as the white of the clouds, the blue of the sky and sea, the green of the forest, and the pale yellow of the stretches of sand. This location is ideal for taking nostalgic and romantic photoshoots.
4.8. Cape Nghe at Son Tra Peninsula Da Nang
Cape Nghe is on the Son Tra Peninsula's southeast coast. This should be the first place that comes to your mind if you want to watch the sunrise. Not only is it a beautiful location with blue lakes overlooking the sea, it also has the most beautiful sunrise view of Da Nang.
With over 42 different rare coral reefs, tour designers chose Cape Nghe to deploy sea diving services and this place has become one of the most appealing destinations in the tour around Son Tra peninsula. Furthermore, based on the many advantages of Cape Nghe, tour designers have incorporated fishing with local fishermen into their tours. As a result, Cape Nghe is one of the most appealing destinations on Son Tra Peninsula.
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5. What to eat at Son Tra Peninsula Vietnam?
A day trip around the beautiful Son Tra Peninsula would be incomplete without enjoying delicious food. There are some specialties on this peninsula that you should try:
- Seafood
When visiting Son Tra Peninsula, you should not overlook the seafood. Fresh seafood such as grouper, lobster, eel, prawn, octopus, and red sea snail,... are available for your meals. The seafood here is abundant and diverse, but it is only available seasonally to ensure the dish's freshness.
- Wild vegetables
Wild vegetables grow wildly around the mountains on Son Tra Peninsula. You should try some dishes that use these vegetables. To get the best taste of wild vegetables, eat the boiled vegetables with fish sauce which enhances the flavor of the dish and leaves you impressed.
- Coconut wine
Considered a tourism brand of Son Tra peninsula, coconut wine is made from sticky rice and yeast brewed in a small coconut. Because of this unique brewing method, it still has the sweet taste and natural aroma of the fermented coconut juice.
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6. Tips to have a wonderful trip to Son Tra Peninsula
Important tips for a memorable vacation to Son Tra Peninsula include:
- It is recommended that you bring sunscreen and wear shoes rather than flip-flops because you may have to climb over sand and rocks to photograph the breathtaking views.
- Mobile signals are not strong around Son Tra Peninsula. It is best to bring a map, plan your trip, or hire a local tour guide.
- Around 6 pm, you can see the entire city light up and take some scenic photos while standing at the corner of Linh Ung Pagoda and the Radar station.
- A trekking tour through the forest in Son Tra Peninsula is a must-try experience.
- Clear all garbage to keep the peninsula green and clean.
Finally, there are not many hostels or hotels on Son Tra peninsula. As a result, for moving conveniently between attractions, visitors should book a hotel room in Son Tra district or Da Nang city center. Vinpearl Da Nang is one of the best choices.
There are 3 options at Vinpearl Da Nang for you to choose from:
This resort is near the romantic Non Nuoc Beach and Ngu Hanh Son Mountain. Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang takes you to a world of tranquility and signature Indochine luxuries. While staying at the resort, you can take part in yoga services, enjoy pampering treatment, or swim in the 1,185-square-meter infinity pool.
This is a modern apartment-hotel complex with panoramic views of Han River, Dragon Bridge, and My Khe Beach. You can easily go to heritage attractions like Linh Ung Pagoda, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and Hue citadel from the hotel. The hotel is especially popular with young families looking for a cozy, comfortable stay.
This resort is on Non Nuoc beach, only a 15-minute drive away from the airport and 800 meters away from Marble Mountains. The location of Vinpearl Resort & Spa Da Nang makes it easy for tourists to visit nearby famous attractions such as Marble Mountains, Hoi An ancient town, VinWonders Nam Hoi An amusement park, Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An course, and so on.
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Son Tra Peninsula Danang is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. Come here at least once in your life to experience the beauty of this land! And do not forget to book voucher, combo, tour to Da Nang to have a memorable trip.
