Son Tra Peninsula Viewpoints in Da Nang
A visual guide from the Da Nang travel guide — see all posters in Visual Guides.
The Son Tra Peninsula — "Monkey Mountain" to American soldiers — is a wall of protected jungle rising straight out of the sea at the north end of My Khe beach. Twenty minutes from downtown you're on empty switchback roads with the whole city glittering below, macaques on the railings, and a genuine chance of spotting the endangered red-shanked douc langur, one of the world's most beautiful primates.
The Loop
Ride or drive the coastal loop past the giant Lady Buddha statue at Linh Ung (visible from the whole bay), then climb to the Ban Co chess-board peak and the thousand-year banyan tree. Every hairpin frames a new angle on the bay — sunrise and late afternoon give the best light over the city.
Practicalities
Some upper roads are steep enough that automatic scooters are restricted — go by car, by semi-automatic bike if you're confident, or with a driver. Keep food zipped away from the macaques, and bring water; there are long stretches with no shops, which is exactly the point.