Da Nang, Hoi An, or Hue: which one should you pick if you only have three days (and who will be mad at you)

These three places sit along a 100 km stretch of road. Everyone tells you to visit all three. Everyone is wrong — unless you actually enjoy sitting in a car.

If you love BEACHES and FOOD → Da Nang.

The beach is right in the city, you can walk there. The food is the cheapest and most varied of the three places. There's an international airport, so it saves you one leg of travel. Downside: it's a new city with few historical sites, and at night the places to hang out close up pretty early.

If you like WALKING, PHOTOGRAPHY, ANCIENT SPACES → Hoi An.

The old town is compact, you can walk through the whole thing in one session, and the lanterns at night are truly beautiful, not just pretty in photos. Getting clothes tailored is quick. Downsides: it's very crowded, prices are higher than in Da Nang, and after two days you'll have already seen everything.

If you like HISTORY and don't mind slow → Hue.

The imperial city, royal tombs, pagodas, and royal court cuisine. Drawbacks: it's the farthest away, has the most unpleasant weather (lots of rain, hot and humid), and the pace of life is so slow that people used to big cities will find it boring.

The most realistic three-day plan:

• Day 1: Da Nang — the beach in the morning, Son Tra, then out to Dragon Bridge in the evening • Day 2: Hoi An — go in the afternoon through evening to see the lanterns, either stay overnight or head back • Day 3: Pick one: Ba Na Hills (if you like scenery) OR My Son (if you like historical ruins) OR Hue (if you're okay with spending the whole day on the road)

Who else would be upset with you? People from Hue, if you skip Hue. People from Quang Nam, if you go to Hoi An but skip My Son. People from Da Nang won't be upset — they're pretty easygoing, and besides, you'll be flying home from their airport anyway.