Vietnam Short Trip – Part 2: Da Nang – Ba Na Hills

After spending a couple of days in Hoi An, I headed to Da Nang. The vibe there was really different. Hoi An was all quiet streets and slow walks, while Da Nang felt bigger and a bit more modern, though it didn’t have that overwhelming city rush either. What I really wanted to see was Ba Na Hills. I’d seen the photos everywhere, the famous Golden Bridge with those giant hands holding it up, and I was curious if it would look as impressive in real life. Honestly, it did. Even more than I expected.

The journey up already felt like part of the adventure. To reach Ba Na Hills, you take a cable car that climbs straight up the mountain. It’s not just a short ride. It’s actually one of the longest in the world. As soon as the cabin started moving, I was glued to the window. Below me were endless stretches of green forest, waterfalls peeking through the trees, and patches of mist drifting across the mountains. 

When the cable car finally reached the top, the whole feeling shifted. The air hit me first, it was much cooler than down in the city, even a little chilly, and it felt good to just breathe it in.

One of the highlights for me was the entertainment area. I wasn’t expecting much, but it turned out to be full of games and rides, and the best part was that most of it was free once you got inside. I spent hours just wandering around, playing arcade games, trying out random attractions, and honestly laughing at myself when I lost at something silly. It reminded me of being a kid again, without having to worry about time or schedules.

Of course, with the chilly mountain weather, I started looking for something warm to eat. That’s when I found the gold coin cake. At first it looked pretty simple, just a round little pastry, but when I took a bite the middle was warm and soft, almost like it was melting in my mouth. Standing there in the cool air with a hot cake in hand was one of those small but perfect travel moments. I could’ve easily gone back for a second one, but I decided to hold off, because I had already planned a big lunch.

And what a lunch it was. I went to NL Ve Buffet Trua Bharata, which turned out to be a feast. It was one of those buffets where you don’t even know where to start. There were Vietnamese dishes, Indian curries, grilled meats, salads, western-style pasta and bread, you name it, they had it. I tried to be strategic, taking just small portions of different things so I could taste more, but after a few plates I was already full. Still, the food was really good, and the variety made it even more enjoyable. Sitting there, with tired legs from walking all morning and a full stomach, I felt completely content.

Of course, no trip to Ba Na Hills would be complete without seeing the Golden Bridge. Even though I had seen it in so many photos, standing on it was a different experience. The bridge curves gently through the mountains, with the giant stone hands holding it up as if they’ve been there forever. The view from there was incredible. It was crowded, yes, but it was still worth it.

By the time I was heading back down, it hit me that Ba Na Hills wasn’t just about seeing the Golden Bridge. The whole day felt packed with little moments—the long cable car ride that made me feel like I was floating through clouds, wasting too much time in the game zone, grabbing that gold coin cake to warm up in the chilly air, and then eating way too much at the buffet. When I think about it now, it wasn’t one big thing that stood out, but more like all of it put together that made the place stick in my memory.

Leaving Ba Na Hills, I felt like I had lived a whole day that was more than just sightseeing. It was a little bit of adventure, a little bit of indulgence, and a lot of small, happy memories.

Vietnam Short Trip – Part 1: Hoi An

When people talk about Vietnam, most of the time it’s about Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. I get it, those are the big names. But for me, the place that really stuck in my head was Hoi An. It’s not huge, not loud, but it has this vibe that makes you slow down without even noticing.

Beautiful old building

Funny thing is, I didn’t even plan on loving it that much. Hoi An was more like “oh, I’ll just stop there for a couple of days.” But somehow it ended up being one of those places I still think about after coming back. During the day it feels calm, maybe even a little sleepy. The old yellow houses with peeling paint, wooden shutters half-open, bicycles parked against the walls—it’s simple, but it pulls you in. There’s a river cutting through the town, moving at its own lazy pace, and you sort of fall into the same rhythm.

I liked just wandering without a plan—sometimes I’d stop for coffee, sometimes I’d duck into a shop. The streets are narrow, so cars don’t really dominate, and that makes it nice to walk around without rushing.

But once the sun goes down, Hoi An changes its face. Lanterns light up everywhere, strung across streets, hanging in front of shops, reflected in the water. The whole place glows. I’ve seen pictures of it before, but standing there in the middle of it felt different. It’s busy, yes, full of tourists and sellers, but also strangely magical.

Like everyone else, I ended up taking the little boat ride on the river. It’s almost impossible to say no when you see the boats lined up, with their small wooden seats and people calling out offers. So I went. The lady rowing handed me a paper lantern with a candle inside. I lit it, placed it gently on the water, and watched it float away. I was supposed to make a wish, but honestly I was just thinking how pretty it looked surrounded by dozens of other little lights. It was fun, almost childlike, though at the back of my mind I also wondered—what happens to all these lanterns afterward? Hopefully someone goes out to clean them, because otherwise the river must be filled with them by morning. That thought didn’t ruin the experience, but it did sit with me.

After the boat ride, I spent hours just walking the streets. Hoi An is full of shops—lantern makers, tailors, souvenir stalls. What stood out most for me, though, were the leather shops. Bag after bag after bag, all handmade, all displayed in these little stores. The smell of leather hit me the moment I stepped in. The quality looked solid, and the prices were surprisingly good.

Somewhere in the middle of all that wandering, I came across a small museum. The entrance was free, and since I was already nearby, I went in. It wasn’t big—just a couple of rooms with photos, old clothing, and some cultural displays. Still, it was a nice reminder that Hoi An isn’t just a pretty lantern city. There’s history and heritage behind those glowing streets.

By the time I finally left the old town that night, I felt like I had lived two versions of Hoi An in one day. The slow, almost timeless town under the sun, and the vibrant, glowing festival of lanterns at night. Both are equally beautiful, just in different ways.

Hoi An might be small, but it left me with big memories. Sometimes travel works like that—the places you don’t expect much from end up surprising you the most.