What if I sent you to a bridge to see all three of these things? Well right here in Da Nang, you can indeed have this unique experience. Its one of the most special things to do, especially on a weekend evening. See Fire! Dragons! And a night market in Da Nang Vietnam.
Dragon Bridge
The Dragon Bridge came to life in March of 2013 for the very first time. This spectacular undulating golden dragon, stretches across the Han River, reaching for the East China Sea. By day, walk right up and onto the bridge, head across the river and into the downtown core. Explore authentic markets and city life. See just how large that dragon is.
By night, well now its time for the magic to happen! Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at precisely 9pm, this dragon lets loose and breathes huge bursts of fire into the night sky!
The show continues for 10 minutes ending with a massive spray of water! If you dare, stand up on the bridge to watch the show, but be prepared for a good drenching. 😂
There will be a crowd but there is so much open space down at the foot of the bridge for visitors to stand and see the show. I can tell you, having enjoyed this multiple times now, that fire is so hot you can feel the heat on your face from quite far back.
Son Tra Night Market
This market opens at 5:30pm every day and lasts until midnight. Perfectly located near the base of the dragon on the beach side of the river. Before the dragon show or after, experience Vietnamese food, culture, entertainment and shopping. What’s not to love?
Street Food
The air will be heady with all of the tantalizing smells of barbecue and a plethora of street food being cooked right before your eyes. Have a walk around, and try and decide what to taste. Each little stall will have its own menu and set of chairs and tables.
There is a large variety of seafood here, many vendors selling fresh lobster that is cooked before your eyes over the open flames.
This night I chose a mixed platter because I could not decide what to have. It included crispy spring rolls, pancakes (Vietnamese style), salad rolls, and an assortment of friend snacks each topped with a different item.
Sweet Treats
Don’t worry if you have a sweet tooth, there are ice cream vendors, fruit sellers, loads of fresh juices and smoothies and so much candy!
Shopping
Needing a souvenir or two? This is your spot. Many vendors are selling knock off branded T-shirts, shorts and jackets from all of the popular sports brands. These shirts are going for 75,000 dong which is about $4 Canadian.
Find handbags, jewellery, so many shoes especially crocks. Toys galore, electronics and gobs of knickknacks that are so cute and really quite irresistible.
If you are in Da Nang for a weekend, definitely try and spend one of the evenings down here. Even though its quite touristy, you will get a feel for Vietnamese food and culture. Enjoy a foot massage, sit and have a beer or three and generally relax into the vibes that are Da Nang. Its marvellous.
