Fairy-Tale Ba Na Hills Day Trip: Things to Know Before You Go

Ba Na Hills is one of the most magical out-of-Da Nang day trips. It’s a French-looking resort on the top of Chua Mountain, just a 20-kilometers drive from Da Nang. Below, a full guide: Ba Na Hills itinerary, where to get your tickets, things to do, and everything else you need to know before you go!

In a very unexpected, but fascinating way, day trips from Da Nang to Ba Na Hills can be either a relaxation opportunity, pure thrill, or a spiritual journey – or all three at the same time.

For me, it was more than I had ever imagined, even without a thoughtful plan beforehand. However, a well-planned Ba Na Hills itinerary, along with knowing how to get there, where to get your admission tickets and what awaits you at the top (Ba Na Hills Map), ensures you’ll experience all the highlights, from the iconic Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands to the charming French Village and the legendary, once dragon-inhabited Luna Castle.

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Ba Na Hills French Resort, Birds Eye View

The French Resort seen from above

Ba Na Hills is partly resort, partly themed park located at 1500 m above sea level, way beyond clouds, on the peak of Truong Son Mountains. It was built by the French colonists back in 1910, but it is constantly growing with new and entertaining additions.

It is connected to the base of the mountain through a record-breaking cable car system, one of the longest and most complex in the world.

Somehow, due to the heights and spiritual-fairy-tale setting, Ba Na Hills is embraced in a completely mystical atmosphere.


🗺️ SunWorld Ba Na Hills Map


Ba Na Hills Da Nang Map

Ba Na Hills Guide Map


🎟️ Where to get your Ba Na Hills tickets?


  • Opening hours: 08:00 am to 05:00pm;
  • 🎟️ Cable car packages:  approximately 900,000 VND or 1,250,000 VND (with lunch), Book now. An amazing experience with more than 600K tickets booked. 4.7⭐with 21K reviews.
  • 📌 Main Gate: Google Maps;
  • 🚍 Shuttle bus ticket: 150,000 – 200,000 VND roundtrip; Book now. Just the bus taking you from Da Nang to Ba Na Hills ticket counter.

What to Do & See in Ba Na Hills

The way I see it, Ba Na Hills is split into three main levels, following the mountain slope. Plenty to explore not just for one, but for many days in a row. But, as long as one day is all you can spare for the resort, that can work, too.


🚡 Ground Level: Ba Na Hills Tickets, Gardens, Cable Car Stations


The Main Entrance for Ba Na Hills resort, Da Nang

Ba Na Hills Entrance, Vietnam, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

The ground level of Ba Na Hills is where you get your tickets, enjoy a walk in the lush gardens, and explore hallways that recreate the traditional setting of the old village of Hoi An. From here, you can take the cable car up the hill to various levels.

This area, at the foot of the hill, is primarily hosting multiple buildings, each housing a different cable car station. They are connected through open-air walkways and stairs, all lavishly surrounded by stunning gardens often overlooked by visitors.

A considerable part of the ground level charmingly replicates the lovely Vietnamese village of Hoi an (for the real deal, you can read: Hoi An Day Trip from Da Nang), serene paths with koi fish ponds and tiny bamboo forests.

Ba Na Hills Cable Car Stations
Ba Na Hills Ground Floor Gardens

Ba Na Hills Ground Level Gardens, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

Added to that, there are also some magical-vibe stone bridges that rise above the tiled roofs, reminding me of the fantastical landscapes I’ve seen in Chinese immortal movies.  These almost secret passages replicate that unmistakable connection between the mortal and immortal realm. Such a peaceful escape among orange trees and above all those tourists rushing towards the cable cars.

However, the most fascinating parts of Ba Na Hills are the other two upper levels, They are located well above the clouds, offering magnificent views of the surrounding otherworldly natural landscape.


🚡 Middle Level: Golden Bridge, Gardens, Linh Ung Pagoda, Wine Cellar


Ba Na Hills Day Trip from Da Nang - Golden Bridge
Ba Na Hills Gardens and flower sculptures

Golden Bridge & Gardens & Ba Na Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

The middle level of Ba Na Hills is all about nature and striking scenery.

A 15-minute cable car journey from Hoi An Station, over the mountain greenery, lands you at the Marseille station. Which is just steps away from the place where Da Nang’s symbol, the Golden Bridge, is lifted by two giant stone hands above the clouds. This alone makes your day trip to Ba Na Hills worth it.

What gives the bridge an even more stunning atmosphere is that it is placed against the theatrical setup of Jardin d’Amour.

Jardin d’Amour is a collection of nine exquisitely-manicured gardens, scattered with almost-living flower statues and classical sculptures. From towering tree walls of lush labyrinths to mesmerizing reflective play spaces, the gardens are a bit mystical, and equally glamorous.

My favourite three out of the nine gardens:

  • The Mythical Garden – a grid of magnificent columns and a gateway for entering the world of ancient Greeks. Inspired by Olympus and the slopes of Athens.
  • Love Garden – located in the heart of Le Jardin D’Amour, has amazing flower sculptures, being inspired by the romantic and delicate nature of the French.
  • Secret Garden – a green, lush maze, with small walkways surrounded by tree walls.
Debay French Wine Cellar at Ba Na hills Da Nang

Debay Wine Cellar, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

There is also the Vines Yard, a peaceful and idyllic place dedicated to the celebration of grapes. Most probably, it aims to imitate a vineyard landscape of Southern France.

This place is associated with the 100-year-old Wine Cellar, made up of a series of caves, still preserving French wines from the colonial era. Additionally, it features a lovely bar for a quick wine tasting or a delicious steak.

Linh Ung Pagoda View at Ba Na Hills Resort

Ling Unh Pagoda Gate View

On the same Ba Na hills level, last, but not least, is the Linh Ung (wishes answered miraculously) Pagoda with a 27-meter white Shakyamuni Buddha statue, sitting on a huge lotus. Another spot you can’t take your eyes off.

Down the stairs adorned with bell-shaped peach blossoms, the main Buddha Hall is located. In front of it, a Tree-Arched Gate opens to an immense and breathtaking vista. Statues of meditative monks and surrounding alleys are soaked in a dense mist. And mystery.


🚡 Top Level: French Village, Castle, Fantasy Park, Linh Phong Stupa


Ba Na Hills French Village day trip from Da Nang

French Village at Ba Na Hills, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

The very top level has the resemblance of a charming, colonial French village. Narrow, cobblestone streets are margined by old inns and 4-star hotels under the Mercure brand, reuniting themselves in a main square with a Gothic-style cathedral, and even a castle.

If you arrive to Morin or Louvre stations, you will be right in the middle of the fun. From here, you can explore the vintage alleys soaked in the aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee. Plenty of restaurants serve all kinds of cuisines.

Linh Phong Monastery Complex at the top of Ba Na Hills
Linh Phong Monastery Complex at the top of Ba Na Hills

Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

More to the right, on the outskirts of the French Village, on the highest grounds, stands a small, Buddhist temple complex (Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple) with pagodas, statues and lily ponds. Nice observation point over the whole Mount Chua and resort.

In the center of the French Village, not far from the main square and the Cathedral, there is a lovely greenhouse-like, delicate dome masking the Drop Tower of an underground, indoor amusement park.

The amusement park hidden inside the mountain slope at Ba Na Hills, Da Nang Vietnam

Underground Fantasy Adventure Park at Ba Na Hills, Vietnam, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

Therefore, the next best thing you can do at Ba Na Hills after taking lots of Instagram-worthy pictures, is to have fun in the many attractions, well hidden inside the mountain. The Fantasy Park seems like an work of art inspired by Jules Verne and his famous ‘Journey to The Center of The Earth’. There are also a Wax Figures Museum, a Dino Park and 5D cinemas.

Moon Castle inside Ba Na hills resort

Moon Castle

And, if you turn to left, at 0.5 km from the French Village central plaza, stands the mighty Luna Castle, an incredible medieval fortress wannabe, just a bit more fancier.

This is a new fairy-tale corner in the Ba Na Hill where worlds of legends of mighty fire dragons and guardian wolves come to life. A 4D cinema, live performances and ancient magic books. Lots of hidden rooms where you can get lost.

Getting Around Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills Cable Car Stations On the Ground Floor - View From Above

Ba Na Hills Cable Car System & Buildings Housing Multiple Ground Floor Stations, Da Nang, Vietnam, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

An advanced cable-car system with 6 routes connects the 3 levels at different touchpoints up the hill, taking you from the ground level up to the top of the hill or to the intermediary level.

If you want to see first the Golden Bridge and the Gardens, you should take the cable car from Hoi An Station, which first of the four stations at the ground level, heading towards Marseille. And from there, after you’ve visited everythinf, you can choose one of the two: Bordeaux – Louvre or Debay – Morin to take you further to the French Village.

If you want to go first to the French Village, Toc Tien Station from the ground floor is connected to L’Indochine Station, at the post office, in the center of the village. If you want to go from ground floor to the highest peak to see the Buddhist complex, there is a new line from Champa to Taiga.

After that, you can come down on one of the 4 routes, depending on your position.

Separately, from the cable car system, there is a train connecting the French village and the Lunar Castle at the top level. And a funicular connecting the Golden Bridge to the Wine Cellar Area at the lower level.


🚡 Cable Car System


Usually, this operate from 08:00 to 17:00. However, you must check in advance because sometimes, due to weather conditions, some routes might be stopped.

  1. Hoi An Station (1st of the 4 ground level stations) – Marseille Station (middle level, next to Golden Bridge)
  2. Bordeaux Station (next to Marseille Station, at the middle level ) – Louvre Station (top level, next to restaurants area )
  3. Suoi Mo Station (2nd of the 4 stations at the ground level) – Ba Na Station (middle level – Debay Cellar & Jardin D’Amour Area)
  4. Debay Station (next to Ba Na Station, at the middle level ) – Morin Station (top level, next to Fantasy Park & Main Plaza )
  5. Toc Tien Waterfall Station (3rd of the 4 stations at the ground level) – L’ Indochine Station (Hotel, restaurants and Buddhist Complex area)
  6. Champa Station (4th of the 4 stations at the ground level) – Taiga Station (highest peak on the top level, next to Buddhist complex)

One Day Itinerary for Ba Na Hills

With so many attractions and activities to experience, it can be overwhelming to plan a visit to Ba Na Hills. Having a pre-determined itinerary like the two ones below can help ensure that you make the most of your time there, check all the things you want to check, and avoid missing out on any must-see sights or experiences.


📌 Optional Itinerary 1


  • 08:00 – 08:45 – leave from Da Nang;
  • 09:30 – check in at Hoi An Cable Car Station (ground level) and transfer to Marseille Station (middle level).
  • 10:00 – explore Golden Bridge;
  • 10:30 – have a stroll around the gardens of Le Jardin D’Amour, visit Linh Ung Pagoda & Debay Wine Cellar;
  • 11:45 – check in at Debay Cable Car Station (middle level) and head up to Morin Station (top level) for lunch;
  • 12:00 – Vietnamese lunch buffet at Arapang Restaurant (if you bought the combo ticket with lunch included); if not, any restaurant you like at the open food court;
  • 13:00 – Explore the French Village and get to the Buddhist complex on the highest peak;
  • 14:30 – Play games at the Fantasy Park, buy some souvenirs; OR visit the Lunar Castle;
  • 16:30 – head towards the closest Cable Car Station and back to the gates.

📌 Optional Itinerary 2


  • 08:00 – 08:45 – leave from Da Nang;
  • 09:30 – check in at Toc Tien Station (ground level) and transfer to L’Indochine Station (top level).
  • 10:00 – explore the French Village & get to the Buddhist complex on the highest peak;
  • 11:30 – Vietnamese lunch buffet at Arapang Restaurant (if you bought the combo ticket with lunch included); if not, any restaurant you like at the open food court;
  • 12:30 – Play games at the Fantasy Park OR visit the Lunar Castle;
  • 14:30 – check in at Louvre Cable Car Station (top level) and head down to Bordeaux Station (middle level);
  • 14 45 – visit the Golden Bridge; have a stroll around the gardens of Le Jardin D’Amour, go to Linh Ung Pagoda
  • 16:00 – visit Debay Wine Cellar and stop for a drink at the bar – “glasses of bubbly buoyant wine are served with grilled pork skewers“;
  • 16:30 – head towards Ba Na Cable Car Station, transfer to Suoi Mo Station and back to the gates.

Ba Na Hills Restaurants

Le Petrin Bakery and Restaurant Ba Na Hills

Le Petrin Bakery, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

Regarding food, there are lots of vintage-air restaurants and bakeries to choose from inside the French Village. Thai, Vietnamese, American, Italian, French cuisine, you name it. One fascinating sight is at Le Petrin where their huge windows allow you to see how they make the bread inside.

Depending on your ticket type, you can have lunch included at specific restaurants in this area – Arapang Restaurant is one of them. In case the lunch is not included with your ticket, the buffet costs around 300,000VND.

On the lower level of Ba Na Hills, Jardin D’Amour area, there are multiple fast-food stalls.

Where to spend the night in Ba Na Hills

Mercure Hotel Ba Na Hills Danang

Ba Na Hills Architecture, Courtesy of Ba Na Hills

In case you’re looking for a place to stay overnight in Bà Nà Hills, the only hotel on the premises is the Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village. A 4-star luxurious and very romantic accommodation. The colonial-style hotel, a replica of the old French villages from the 19th century, has elegantly decorated rooms with classic furnishings. And the atmosphere is quite unique as guests can enjoy views of the French Village or the surrounding Ba Na mountains from their rooms.

It is split in in 7 majestic buildings, each named after renowned cities of France such as Hotel de Paris, Hotel de Lyon, Hotel de Bordeaux, and so on.

Choosing a hotel outside the resort means paying each day the ticket for the cable car to get to the top.

How to get to Ba Na Hills

How to get to Ba Na Hills Vietnam

Ground Level Parking at Ba Na Hills, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

When you’re traveling from Da Nang to Ba Na Hills for day trips, you can comfortably get there by taxi (Vinasun or Malinh Group) or Grab. Always be careful on scams and significantly higher fees when using the taxi.

But, the safest and cheapest alternative to get to Ba Na hills is riding the shuttle. You can book your roundtrip ticket here.


🚘 By Private Car


The first and most preferred option to arrive at Ba Na Hills Main Entrance is to book a private car. One way takes around 50 minutes. You can either drive a rented car (600,000 VND / day) if you have an international driving permit.

Or you can hire a Vietnamese driver with a car. This offers many benefits such as flexibility in managing your time better, round trip (pick you up and return you to your hotel), free water. But does not include the tickets for the cable car taking you up on the mountain.

The private car service will wait until you have completed your exploration.

Tip: A private car hired through an agency is much cheaper than what the hotels are asking for this trip.

  • 🚘  Most private cars w/t driver: 600,000 VND one way; 1,200,000 VND roundtrip. Optional: Klook.
  • 🚡  Cable car ticket:  900,000 VND or 1,250,000 VND (lunch included); discount for children; Book now;

🚍 By Tour Operator Shuttle Bus / Mini Van


A second and more price convenient way is to join an agency tour minivan.

I booked a driver through a local Da Nang agency. I randomly chose Da Nang Green, as they were first option in search, and contacted them on WhatsApp. They knew a bit of English which was a plus. I chose a combined ticket with shuttle bus and cable car included (this one). In fact, when we got there, the driver skipped the normal cue and got the tickets for us. This saved us of the hassle of getting into the crowds and also came with a small discount.

Overall, the service was satisfactory: the minivan was clean, they took care of our ticket, explained the options. They did come to pick us up, but only because we were located next to My Khe Beach. Otherwise, we should have went to their pickup point.

However, many more packages and options are available HERE. Almost 600K tickets for the experience already booked, plenty of reviews and good ones.

And it comes with:

  • multiple pickup points, leaving from the the closest location to your accommodation and returning you there too;
  • an English speaking hotline;
  • a QR-code voucher that you receive immediately after booking and that can get you in directly, skipping the ticket cue.

I would recommend choosing the best option that suits you.

  • Pick-up hours: 08:00 – 08:30; 
  • ⏰ Drop-off hours: 16:30 – 17:00;
  • 🎟️ Combo ticket van & cable car: ~ 940,000 VND. Just minivan booking: ~150,000VND round trip.

🚖 By Taxi


Taxi Da Nang

Da Nang Taxis, Copyright © Mai Linh Taxi

As expected, the costs for booking a taxi (from Da Nang to the foot of Chua Mountain) are higher than those of the other mentioned means of transport. About 350,000 VND – 450,000 VND one way. Or for up to 900,000 VND for a round trip, which includes a long waiting time.

Local trusted taxi companies:

  • VinaSun taxi – Phone: 0236.3.68.68.68
  • Mai Linh taxi – Phone: 0236.3.56.56.56

In the case of a round trip, you should check in advance how many hours are included in the package.

When to Visit Ba Na Hills

Best Time to Visit Ba Na Hills March to May

Buddhist complex on the top level | Picture taken beginning of May, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

The best time to visit Ba Na Hills is between March and the middle of October. At this time, temperatures are mild, ranging between 21°C and 26°C. It is advised to avoid the rainy season, which runs from mid-October to mid-February. This period can experience heavy rainfall due to its high altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level.

However, the most beautiful time for a visit to the mountain resort is from March to April. The place can become crowded during the peak season starting in May. To bypass long wait times, try to avoid national holidays such as Lunar New Year and Reunification Day, as well as weekends. Lastly, the months of June to August can become quite hot and obviously coincide with summer holidays..

I planned my trip on a weekend around Reunification Day. Unluckily, a time when many Vietnamese take time off and rush to Da Nang for sea and fun. So I found myself waiting for more than 40 minutes in a massive cue.

Go to Ba Na Hills early in the morning and try to choose a clear-sky day. Obviously, not like the day in the picture.

🌦 Weather at Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills View from the Top Level Above the Clouds

Above the clouds at Ba Na Hills, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

Spending a day in Ba Na Hills will make you feel you experienced all seasons in just hours. Being on top of the mountain, the resort has the moodiest weather in the area.

If 15 minutes ago the mist, followed by a light rainfall, had enveloped the entire resort, now the sun shines again. And the Buddha at the top didn’t even stop smiling. Hot sun, chilly rain, misty pathways. Be ready for anything: a jacket, an umbrella, maybe a hat, sun cream.

Quick Tips on Visiting Ba Na Hills Resort

Crowded Golden Bridge, first days of May, 02:00 p.m., Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

And to wind up, here are some great tips to help you have the best possible experience while visiting Ba Na Hills:

  • Book tickets in advance: If you don’t choose a tour, book your tickets online for a specific date, as the ticket line can be long. The ticket includes access to the cable car, train rides, wine cellar, French village, and most games in the Fantasy Park.
  • Arrive early: To avoid long wait times for the cable car, aim to arrive by 8 am.
  • Avoid peak season and national holidays: With almost 20,000 visitors per day during peak season, the crowds can be overwhelming.
  • Pack light & wear comfortable shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so try not to carry much r choose shoes that will hurt your feet.
  • Dress appropriately: It’s not too cold on the hills, a light jacket or coat will suffice. Many Vietnamese women visiting are really elegantly dressed. No matter what you choose, it will be perfect.
  • Don’t forget your umbrella and your sunglasses!!
  • Opening hours: Mon.-Sun.: 08:00 am to 10:00pm (can vary depending on the season);
  • 📌 Main Gate: Google Maps;
  • 🎟️ Cable car ticket:  approximately 900,000 VND or 1,250,000 VND (lunch included); discounted for children; Book now;
  • 🚍 Shuttle bus ticket: 150,000 – 200,000 VND roundtrip; Book now.

We strongly hope that our day trip to Ba Na Hills guide has been helpful in planning your adventure. Don’t forget to share your, questions impressions and experiences with us in the comments below!

2 Comments

  • Cindy Chimonides 2024-08-03

    We are going to Da Nang nest month and staying in the French Village. Do we need to buy tickets for cable car in advance?

    Reply
    • Irina Alexandra

      Hi Cindy! I bought in advance a package with return transport from Da Nang and Ba Na Hills cable car tickets included.

      Depending on the season, there might be big crowds waiting to buy their tickets. We were there in May. Having the tickets bought in advance, we managed to skip the first cue – the tickets cue. That helped us because to get in the cable car we had to wait for another 40 minutes.

      Still, it shouldn’t be so crowded in February.
      It’s up to you. But it’s much easier booking in advance.

      Reply

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