We left our Hoi An hotel at 9:30 am via bus for a 45 minute trip to Da Nang airport. The plane was to take off at noon for a 1.5 hour flight to Saigon.

Da Nang is one of the major port cities in Vietnam and is situated on the coast of the Eastern Sea, at the opening end of the Hàn River. It is the commercial and educational centre of Central Vietnam, with a well-sheltered, easily accessible port; its location on the path of National Route 1A and the North–South Railway makes it a hub for transportation. It is located within 100 km of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Imperial City of Hue, the Old Town of Hoi An, and the My Son ruins.

The Marble Mountains are rocky limestone outcrops jutting out of the beach just south of Da Nang. Paths lead to the top of the forested cliffs, affording spectacular views of Non Nuoc Beach and the South China Sea. The caves nestled in the cliffs were originally inhabited by the Cham people. There are numerous pagodas among the caves. The Marble Mountains are home to various artisans producing sculpture and artwork at its base at Non Nuoc Village. Non Nuoc Beach is a white sandy beach on the outskirts of  Da Nang is renowned for both its spectacular beauty and for its history as an R&R destination for American troops during the Vietnam War, when it was known as "China Beach".

Da Nang International Airport, located at the center of the city, is the third largest international airport in Vietnam.  The airport was known as Da Nang Air Base during the Vietnam War, during which time it was described as the world's busiest airport.