Delightful Danang 峴港市樂活遊

Vietnam's 3rd largest city, Danang is situated midway between Hanoi in the North and Ho Chi Minh in the south. Although Danang serves as a significant economic hub to Vietnam and being the largest city in Central Vietnam, it's primarily used by tourists as a transit point onto favourable destinations of Hue and Hoi An. Nevertheless, Danang is well worth a visit if you've never been there before; for Danang has its own unique charm!  

Recently, Danang unveiled 'The Largest Dragon Bridge in the World' on 29th March 2013. The whopping VND1.7 trillion/USD85 million dragon bridge is 666 meters in length, 37.5 meters in width and have six traffic lanes stretching half a mile over the Han River.The Dragon head spews plumes of fire and water on special occasions.

At night, the bridge is lit up by 2,500 LED lights that changes colours from time to time.  

The beautifully paved Riverfront Promenade with its extraordinary art collection of stone/marble statues and sculptures is a good place to hang-out in the evening and the best spot to view the majestic Dragon Bridge as well.

It's fun strolling around the promenade looking for different statues and sculptures, figuring out what it is and taking pictures of them while enjoying the cool breeze.

Beautiful nightscape with the colourful Han River Bridge dazzling in between the west and east sides of Danang. Han River Bridge was solely designed and built by the Vietnamese, thus it's a significant symbol and pride of the Danang people. The cable suspension bridge is closed to road traffic everyday at 1a.m whereby the central part of the bridge swings its axis at 90 degrees to allow larger ships to pass by.  

Local market(s) is a MUST-Go on my travel plans to see their local products and how people do business. Of course, to shop and try authentic local food. There are about 50 local markets in Danang, the top 2 popular ones are: 

Officially known as Danang Commercial Center, Con Market (Chợ Cồn) is the largest local market of Danang with more than 2,000 stalls. Various selections of Vietnamese specialties and products are available. Plenty of delicious local food and drink stalls too. Con Market is located near Big C in the heart of the city at 290 Hung Vuong street. 

There are shops inside the main building and outside along clean and spacious walkways.

  

My instinct took me to this cold drink stall. Indeed, i had the most delicious drink i ever had in Vietnam! Not knowing what to order nor able to converse in Vietnamese, what i did was; Putting my right thumb up, stuck my tongue in out while saying 'yumYumYUM. 

She read me, nodded and put pieces of strawberry, avocado, mango, banana, guava, papaya, pineapple, sapodilla, kiwi, yellow bean paste, milk, and ice into a blender like an octopus! Then she poured it into a tall glass and topped it with crispy sapodilla chips. Done in less than a minute. Smile and hand over to me, waiting to see my face light up in delight.

I'll never forget this fruity lip smacking smoothie AND that shockingly cost me Only VND20,000/USD1. And after everyone of us finished our sweet sweet drinks, she offered us free flow of fragrant iced Vietnamese tea. Wish her stall was in Miri!    

About 1km away from Con market is Han Market, (Chợ Hàn) near Han River. This market is easy to locate as it encompasses 4 separate streets. The arrays of goods on sale here are similar to Con Market but Han Market is more popular with tourists.

Enclosed in a two-floor buildings- Foodstuffs are located on ground floor while fabric, footwear, clothes, bags, hats and souvenir shops are on second floor. 

Walking two blocks south of Han market is Danang Cathedral. Built in 1923 for the French Catholics during the French colonial times. This candy pink cathedral is known locally as 'Nhà Thờ Con Gà' or The Rooster Church because of the copper rooster weather vane atop the church steeple. (sermons in English every Sunday at 9am.)

Back to back of Danang Cathedral is the Convent St Paul of Chartres. A convent maintained by the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres to provide education, health and social care to children and adolescents who had suffered from the war.

Across the road is Truong Vuong Secondary School. Wonder why the students are still outside the school at this hour -10am!?    

If you've noticed, mini water meters are embedded in concrete floor on the city sidewalk in front of shops. That's interesting! 

And mobile petrol station at city sidewalk near the road. That's Lagik (more) interesting!  

NOTE:

1. Most of the local people are somewhat 'unfriendly' to tourists but they are harmless. 

2. Like any other cities in Vietnam, there is a problem with language barriers- Some may get irritated. Some may replied 'yes yes' and repeat what you're saying, which in actual fact, they have NO ideal (at all) what you want! Get someone who knows English to translate or write in Vietnamese for you.

3. Like any other local markets in Vietnam, shopping can be stressful. Bargaining is a skill and getting off the hook is a mastery shoppers have to be prepared when shopping in a local market. They can be aggressive like pulling you back by grabbing your hand or clothes, even if they're unsuccessful, they'll ask their neighbouring stall keepers to do it. If you're successfully off the hook, they'll swear and curse at you! So if a deal went sour, remember: Close your ears and run! :) 

4. Dine in restaurants/cafes with proper menu/prices shown to avoid being rip off. There are local prices and foreigners menu/prices.   

5. Accept a country's culture. Don't complain.