Da Nang

Most cruise ships berth at Tien Sa port in Da Nang, Vietnam. The bus journey to Da Nang is about 30 minutes. Taxis wait at the port entrance, approximately 500 meters from the pier. The dock is industrial, although plans to change it are under way as the cruise market grows quickly.

Some smaller vessels use Han River Port, on the western bank of the lower Han River and much nearer to Da Nang.

Taxis are available at either location; be ready to negotiate.

Da Nang is Vietnam's third-largest city, the main port in the country's central region and the principal port for neighbouring Laos. First called Cho Han (the Market of the Han), it was later renamed Tourane by the French. Unique attractions, spectacular scenery and friendly local people are helping make Da Nang a major tourist destination.

Despite its war-torn past, Da Nang is one of Vietnam's most progressive cities and has taken advantage of free-market principles. Tourism and foreign investment have boosted the local economy. Highlights include the renowned Cham Museum, with close to 300 Cham sculptures, offering history lovers a view of a powerful period in Vietnam's past. Americans may know Da Nang from Good Morning Vietnam and the television series China Beach, which immortalized a popular R&R G.I. destination...

Cao Dai Temple is the Vietnamese sect's centerpiece for more than 20,000 Cao Dai. As in all Cao Dai temples, the Giant Eye image above the main altar represents Cao Daism, and a sign reading "Van Giao Nhat Ly" says that all religions have the same purpose.

Da Nang Cathedral was built by the French in 1923 from pink sandstone and has a single spire; it serves Da Nang's Catholic community. Ho Chi Minh Museum includes a replica of Ho's house in Hanoi and a collection of Vietnam War weaponry.

A cab to Hoi An costs $16 to $25, while a journey to Da Nang is about $10 each way; taxi fares within Da Nang are very reasonable.

Da Nang has 19 local bus lines. The buses are new and air-conditioned, with a 5,000 dong fare per ride. Enter your start and destination in DanaBus to find the correct line: route maps and listed lines at stops are outdated, so follow the app. Every stop has a roadside sign and the app's displayed stop is near the actual one. Local buses operate until 18:00.

Electric bikes are now common in Da Nang and provide an excellent alternative to petrol motorbikes. They can cover most of a day around the city without a driver's license and are easier to use than petrol equivalents. They are not suitable for return trips to Hoi An or Monkey Mountain but work well in town. Check with your travel insurance provider whether e-bike riding remains covered.

Vietnam does not accept international driving licenses, so car-rental firms such as Hertz and Avis etc. are unavailable.

Hoi An, 45 minutes away and formerly called Faifo, was an important international port in the 16th and 17th centuries. Foreign influence is still apparent. Although major shipping moved long ago to Da Nang, its centre remains the Old Town, with winding lanes and Chinese-styled shop houses that become especially atmospheric at sunset.

Almost every shop now serves tourists, but the district remains largely preserved, unusually for Vietnam, thanks to slow, careful renovation. It is mercifully free of towering concrete blocks and karaoke parlors.

Hoi An's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pier souvenir stalls sell a range of goods, notably marble carvings. In town, Cho Con market is known for basketware and handicrafts.

Vietnam's national currency is the dong (đồng, VND); U.S. dollars are widely accepted, with a standard small-quantity rate of 16000 dong to US$1.

ATMs are becoming increasingly common, and are available in most larger cities as well as every tourist destination.

Almost everything in Vietnam can be bargained over.

Vietnamese is the native language, while English is growing in popularity as a second language and is compulsory in most schools.

Internet access is available in all except the most remote towns.

Daily shopping times are 0800/0830-2100/2200.

Tết, or Vietnamese New Year, is by far the year's biggest holiday. It falls between late January and March under the lunisolar Chinese calendar. During its three days, shops shut and everyone goes home to family, making Vietnam difficult to travel around.