If your year-end break is still unplanned, Lonely Planet has a suggestion you may not have considered: Đà Nẵng, the central Vietnamese coastal city, has landed a spot on its roundup of the 10 best places to travel between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
The guide's pitch is simple. Đà Nẵng packs mountains, a long city beach, fresh seafood and a relaxed pace into one place — and it's a handy base for three World Heritage Sites, so you can stretch a short break into something longer.
Topping the recommendations is Sun World Bà Nà Hills, the mountain theme park where European-style architecture gets reimagined with playful twists. Think stone-paved squares, a French Village of pointed rooftops and castles perched in forested hills — often literally above the clouds. In late December, that alpine-in-the-tropics vibe suits the Christmas mood nicely; the guide even suggests a croissant and hot coffee at the hilltop Eric Kayser. The Golden Bridge, held aloft by two giant stone hands, remains the signature photo, with views over the mountains and, on clear days, the city below. Fantasy Park and Moon Castle give families indoor backups if the mountain weather turns.
Bà Nà easily fills a day, and the city below fills the rest of the week. The Sơn Trà Peninsula offers forested coastal roads and Linh Ứng Pagoda, where a 67-metre statue of the Bodhisattva of Compassion looks out to sea. Closer to town, Mỹ Khê beach runs nearly 10km along the city front, lined with cafés and restaurants — easy for a slow afternoon by the water.
Food gets specific treatment in the guide: a bowl of mì Quảng with shrimp, pork and quail eggs at 75 Châu Thị Vĩnh Tế Street, crispy bánh xèo stuffed with shrimp and pork at Bà Dưỡng, or a proper seafood feast at Bé Mặn. These are everyday local spots rather than tourist showpieces, which is part of the appeal.
Where to stay depends on your style. Novotel Danang Premier Hàn River puts every room facing the river and its bridges, keeping you plugged into city life. For a proper switch-off, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort on Sơn Trà has a private beach at Bãi Bắc — Lonely Planet frames it as a vacation within your vacation, for travellers happy to linger at the resort rather than rush out each morning.
The takeaway: Đà Nẵng works especially well for that awkward in-between week when you want a mix of sightseeing, beach time and good food without a packed itinerary. A day in the mountains, mornings with noodles, afternoons on the sand, evenings by the river — it slots together neatly, and the guide clearly thinks it's worth the long-haul flight.
