Son Tra Peninsula — Linh Ung Pagoda, red-shanked douc langurs, and 5 check-in spots you can't miss

Son Tra Peninsula is just 10km from the center of Da Nang — you can ride a motorbike there and back on your own in half a day. It is famous for its primeval forest, the rare red-shanked douc langur (only ~1,300 individuals left), Linh Ung Pagoda, and the 6-star InterContinental resort.

5 check-in spots on Son Tra: (1) Linh Ung Pagoda — the 67m Guanyin Buddha statue, the largest in Vietnam. Free admission, open 6am-9pm. (2) Ban Co Peak — the highest point of Son Tra, a famous photo spot with "fairyland" scenery. (3) Thousand-year-old banyan tree — a 1,000-year-old heritage tree with a diameter of 10m. (4) Bai But — an unspoiled beach with white sand and few tourists. (5) Tien Sa Lighthouse — a 360° view of Da Nang Bay.

Spotting red-shanked douc langurs: The douc langurs only appear early in the morning (6–8 AM) or in the late afternoon (4–6 PM). Where they are often seen: the stretch of road from Linh Ung Pagoda up to Ban Co Peak, near the thousand-year-old banyan tree. Note: do not feed, do not touch, keep a distance of 10m. Bring binoculars/a zoom lens for observation.

Getting around Son Tra: A motorbike is the best option — beautiful roads and plenty of photo spots. Rental costs 120-150k/day. A car works too, but it's hard to stop for photos. Group tours cost 350-500k/person and include a guide. Not recommended: walking — the roads are too long and the slopes are steep.

Half-day itinerary: 6:30 AM departure (early to avoid the sun and spot douc langurs). 7:00 AM Linh Ung Pagoda. 8:30 AM head up to Ban Co Peak and take photos of the sea of clouds (in winter). 10:00 AM the thousand-year-old banyan tree. 11:00 AM swim at Bai But Beach. 12:00 PM return to Da Nang for lunch. Full-day: add Tien Sa Lighthouse in the afternoon.

Important note: The road up to Ban Co Peak has many steep sections of 15-20% — low-powered semi-automatic motorbikes struggle to climb, so it's best to rent a manual clutch bike. There are no gas stations on the island — fill up your tank before heading up. Bring drinking water, a hat, and sunscreen. Don't bring strong-smelling food (it attracts langurs + snakes).

👉 Explore Da Nang's F&B scene: After your Son Tra trip, try seaside restaurant deals with ocean views on VietSpots for a perfect dinner.

Son Tra — the green jewel of Da Nang, where half a day is enough for an unforgettable experience.