Da Nang is a place of such stunning natural beauty that traveling from one town to the next is a scenic tour, with bluewater, white sand and miles of undisturbed beaches dominating the central coast, and the mountains dropping precipitously into the South China Sea. To the north, on the way to Hue, you’ll have spectacular views of the Hai Van pass, or you can take the newly built tunnel pass only two hours away, and then travel beside the crystal-clear turquoise blue lagoon of Lang Co. Just south of the city lies the majestic Marble Mountains. In addition, the important legacy of the Champa kingdom is located in Central Vietnam in the form of brick temples and towers scattered over the coastal lowlands and highlands. The structures date from between the seventh and eighth centuries to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Marble Mountains, located 5 miles (8 km) south of Da Nang, is made up of five limestone outcrops isolated from the surrounding plains, each filled with caves and grottoes, with some made into pagodas and shrines. Each mountain represents one of the five essential elements: water, wood, fire, metal and earth. The main mount, representing water, has a path to the top with two entrances open to tourists. The top offers spectacular views of Da Nang and the surrounding mountains. Another vantage point can be reached through a small hole at the top of one of the caves, with views of China Beach and Cham Island. One of the larger caves has been transformed for religious purposes, and Buddha statues are built within them, along with all the associated guardians. Within this cave there are a number of shrines, temple guards and Buddha statues, and there are still stalactites on the ceiling. At the base of Marble Mountains are a large number of stone carving shops reminiscent of Mahalliburipuram, India.

Hoi An, formerly known as Faifo, lies a mere 20 miles (32km) south of Da Nang. From the 16th century to the late 19tcentury, this quaint riverside town was one of the busiest trading ports on the South China Sea coast. Merchants from Europe, the Middle East, China and Japan used to congregate here to trade. Hoi An was fortunate enough to be on the famous silk route linking India and the subcontinent with China and the Far East. Today Hoi An is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. With its colorful blend of Chinese assembly halls, narrow winding streets and ancestral family homes, the town retains a feeling of ages past. Apart from the obvious historical interest, which led to the entire old quarter being designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the town has a great variety of shops and restaurants serving local delicacies.

My Son was the spiritual center of the Champa civilization and has what is arguably the best collection of Cham art and architecture in its natural setting in

Vietnam. If you are not willing to risk life and limb to visit Angkor in Cambodia, My Son will give you a little taste of what it is like. Though some of the monuments were destroyed during the war or by thieves, what remains is still considerable.

Hue, 62 miles (110 km) north of Da Nang, served as Vietnam’s political capital from 1802 to 1945 under the 13 emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. With its opulent palaces, gardens and mausoleums, its regal serenity still shines today, as brightly as the sun reflects off the waters of the famous Perfume River. Hue’s imperial architectural treasures are known throughout the world. Its palaces, tombs, pagodas and shrines are located in astonishing natural landscapes on both sides of the Perfume (Huong) River.

The Cham Museum is located at the intersection of Trung Nu Vuong and Bach Dang streets in Da Nang. It was built in 1915 and houses the most extensive collection of Cham art worldwide. At one time in the past, the capital of the Champa nation was located in Da Nang. At present, the museum displays approximately 300 sculptures, some of which are made of terra-cotta. The sculptures were collected from Cham temples and towers throughout Central Vietnam. All the sculptures are displayed in 10 showrooms named after the localities where the pieces were discovered. Most of the artifacts are masterpieces of Champa art, and some are considered to be equal to works anywhere in the world.