Da Nang

Perched on the private forested peninsula of Son Tra, my heavenly penthouse at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort ($1,200 USD per night) was an architectural masterpiece designed by Bill Bensley. Cascading down the jungle cliffside across four levels—Heaven, Sky, Earth, and Sea—connected by a private funicular tram called the 'Nam Tram', black-and-white Vietnamese temple motifs framed jaw-dropping views of a private turquoise bay where endangered red-shanked douc langurs swung through the treetops.

My day began with a morning drive up into the Truong Son mountains to Ba Na Hills to witness the Golden Bridge (Cau Vang). Walking across the 150-meter curving pedestrian walkway, seemingly lifted high into the mist by two colossal moss-covered fiberglass hands emerging from the cliff face, felt like traversing a fantasy realm high above the clouds.

Returning to the coast, I explored the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son, 40,000 VND entry), climbing stone steps into hidden limestone grottoes where sunlight poured through collapsed ceilings onto serene Buddha altars and Buddhist sanctuaries. For lunch, I visited a bustling street stall on Hoang Dieu for Mi Quang (45,000 VND)—flat turmeric-stained rice noodles with tender pork, shrimp, roasted peanuts, quail eggs, and crispy sesame rice crackers bathed in rich, savory broth.

Evenings in Da Nang revolve around the Han River waterfront. On weekend nights at 9:00 PM, crowds gather along the banks to watch the monumental golden Dragon Bridge (Cau Rong) roar to life, breathing massive bursts of actual fire followed by fountains of water across the river. Dinner at La Maison 1888, Pierre Gagnaire’s three-Michelin-starred outpost at the InterContinental, paired exquisite French gastronomy with vintage wines, providing an unforgettable conclusion to a luxurious central Vietnamese escape.