Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is Vietnam's third-busiest airport after Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat (SGN) and Hanoi’s Noi Bai (HAN), and is the main airport for Central Vietnam. If you want to get to Hoi An, Hue, Ba Na Hills, and others, DAD is the most suitable airport.
The airport is located just 3 km from Da Nang’s city center. Rides to the Han River waterfront or the famous Dragon Bridge take under 10 minutes. The beachfront, including the popular My Khe Beach, is within a 20-minute drive.
Da Nang has seen a massive increase in tourism since the 2010s, and its airport has benefited immensely too. A new international terminal opened in 2017; since then, Da Nang has introduced direct flights to more than 15 countries.
Major Airlines - Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air
Vietnam Airlines is unsurprisingly the largest carrier at Da Nang Airport. The flag carrier offers domestic flights to the country’s largest cities, including the second and third busiest routes in Vietnam, to Ho Chi Minh City and to Hanoi, respectively. The airline also offers direct flights to several countries in the region, such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
VietJet Air is the largest low-cost airline in Vietnam. It flies from Da Nang to cover a dozen cities domestically, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Hai Phong. With over 1300 flights per month, it is the airline with the most flights at DAD.
Bamboo Airways is another Vietnamese carrier that operates from Da Nang Airport, offering flights to HAN and SGN.
Internationally, Da Nang receives flights from many cities in Northeast and Southeast Asia. The most prominent airlines are Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and EVA Air.
Click here to see all airlines at Da Nang Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Da Nang Airport has two terminals. They are right next to each other in adjacent buildings, and walking between them takes just 2 minutes.
Terminal 1 handles domestic flights. Older and smaller. Open from 6 AM to 11 PM. Has 11 gates.
Terminal 2 handles international services. Opened in 2017. Open 24/7. Has 10 gates.
Both terminals are quite small and very easy to navigate.
Transfers are also very easy:
For international-to-international layovers, just remain within the transit area. You won’t need a visa if the two tickets are booked under the same reservation (PNR).
For domestic-to-international transfers, leave Terminal 1, walk the 100 meters to Terminal 2, clear Security and Immigration, and proceed to your gate.
For international-to-domestic transfers, go to Clear Immigration at Terminal 2, walk 100 meters to Terminal 1, clear Security, and proceed to your gate.
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Free WiFi is available throughout both terminals via the “#Wifi@DanangAirport” network. When you select it, a pop-up window will open. Press “Connect”, and you will be able to use the network without any limitations.
Other passenger services at DAD include:
ATMs: Several Vietnamese banks have cash machines in the Arrivals Hall of each terminal.
Currency exchange: There is one desk in Terminal 1 and 8 desks in Terminal 2 (one of which is in Departures, airside).
Medical assistance: Available on the Ground floor in Arrivals in T1 and on the second floor of T2 (public area).
Children’s areas: Available on the ground and first floors of T2.
Breastfeeding rooms: One in each terminal, both airside.
Baby strollers: Available airside in both terminals.
Free baggage trolleys: Both terminals.
Baggage packing and wrapping: Both terminals.
Baggage storage: Available on the Ground Floor, Arrivals, T2, in a glass building near the car park. Costs 80.000 VND per item per day.
Lost & Found: The office is located on the Mezzanine Floor of T2, landside.
Information desk: One is in the public areas of each terminal, and one additionally in the airside area of Terminal 2.
Prayer room: Located on the second floor of T2, airside.
Smoking areas: Several throughout the airport, including airside.
Massage chairs: Available airside in both terminals.
Workstations: Desks, chairs, and charging outlets are available near the gates in T2.
Foosball table: Available to play for free near Gates 5 and 7 in T2.
Lounges at Da Nang Airport
Lounges are definitely a surprisingly good side of Da Nang Airport. Both terminals have their fair share of lounges, suitable for both premium passengers of the flag carrier and any other airline, too, including low-cost ones.
In the Domestic Terminal (T1), available are:
PVcomBank Premier Lounge: Located near Gate D3, open from 7 AM to 8 PM. Exclusive to priority customers of the bank.
Business Lounge: Located on the Mezzanine Floor. Open from 4 AM until the last flight of the day. Available to premium passengers of Vietnam Airlines, as well as holders of various lounge membership passes. Everyone else can enter by paying 360.000 VND at the door for a 2-hour pass.
SH Premium Lounge: Located on the Mezzanine Floor. Open from 4 AM until the last flight of the day. Available to holders of various lounge membership passes. Everyone else can enter by paying 450.000 VND at the door.
Nam A Bank Premier Lounge: More of a premium hotel at the airport than a traditional lounge, although it also functions a lot like one, too. Located on the 2nd Floor. Opens 2 hours before the first flight of the day and closes after the last one. Only available to internal customers of the Nam A Bank.
Vietcombank Priority Lounge: More of a premium hotel at the airport than a traditional lounge, although it also functions a lot like one, too. Located on the 2nd Floor. Opens 2 hours before the first flight of the day and closes after the last one. Only available to internal customers of Vietcombank.
InterContinental Sun Peninsula Lounge: The famous resort on the Sơn Trà Peninsula in Da Nang also maintains a premium lounge for its guests. It’s located on the 3rd floor and open from 7 AM to 7 PM daily.
The International Terminal (T2) has these lounges:
Orchid Lounge: This lounge is a mixture of a boutique hotel and a private club. It’s located on the Mezzanine Floor and open throughout the day while there are flights at the airport. The entrance fee is 29 USD for a 3-hour stay, plus 5.50 USD per 30-minute block after that.
Vanda Lounge: Located on the Mezzanine Floor. Opens 2 hours before the first scheduled flight and closes after the last one. Costs 29 USD for a 3-hour stay, plus 5.50 USD per 30-minute block after that.
Orchid Lounge 3: More of a premium waiting area than a traditional lounge. Thus, the lower price of 5 USD to enter and stay for 1 hour, plus 1 USD per 15 minutes thereafter. Note that it doesn’t offer complimentary food or drinks. Located on the Ground Floor and open from 8 AM to midnight.
Dining Options at DAD
Both terminals of Da Nang Airport have a lot to offer in terms of food variety, dining, and coffee. There are several bakeries, coffee shops, fast food outlets, and restaurants serving Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese cuisine.
In the Domestic Terminal (T1), the best-rated places include:
Banh Mi Pho: Offers freshly made banh mi sandwiches with authentic local flavors. Located on the second floor. Opens at 5 AM.
Highlands Coffee: Vietnam’s largest and most popular coffee chain has 2 locations in the Domestic Terminal, both before and after Security.
Big Bowl: An easy and safe choice if you want a Vietnamese meal such as pho, bahn mi, spring rolls, etc.
Heineken Bar: Despite the international branding, the food options are very much Vietnamese. The drinks menu is extensive.
In the International Terminal (T2), the best dining options are:
Crystal Jade: Serves Cantonese cuisine on the second floor of the terminal.
Apricot Bistro: A classy restaurant for Vietnamese and Korean cuisines. Located on the second floor and open from 8 AM to 2 AM.
Shilla Noodles: A specialist in authentic Korean cuisine. Located on the first floor (airside). Open while there are flights.
Burger King: A familiar fast food option if you need a quick meal or crave a burger.
Star Coffee: A coffee shop in the public area of T2.
Transport to and from the airport
Da Nang Airport is practically within the city. If your accommodation is within the Hai Chau District or anywhere west of the Han River, you can even walk to it, as the distance is under 3 km.
Local public buses connect DAD with many downtown areas. They are cheap, but their routes are not direct, and they make many stops along the way. Thus, journey times can stretch to an hour even for relatively short distances.
Line 3: Connects the airport with the lower cable car station of Ba Na Hills. Runs every 30 minutes between 7 AM and 9 PM. Tickets cost 30.000 VND.
Line 6: Connects DAD with An Thuong and Non Nuoc beaches. Runs every 30 minutes between 5:45 AM and 6 PM and costs 8.000 VND.
Line 10: Connects the airport with Tho Quang Beach with a route that goes through Da Nang city center. Runs every 45 minutes between 5:45 AM and 6 PM and costs 8.000 VND.
Line 12: Connects DAD with the southern suburbs of the city with a route that goes through the historic centre. Runs every 20 minutes between 5:30 AM and 7 PM. Tickets cost 8.000 VND.
Tickets are purchased from the driver when boarding or sold by the bus attendant on board.
Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful, waiting around the clock in front of both terminals. There are 7 certified taxi companies, including the largest in Vietnam, Mai Linh Taxi and Vinasun Taxi. All certified taxis are metered, so if the driver refuses to use the meter, just take another one. The approximate rates for a 5-seater car are around 17.000 VND per kilometer.
A trip to downtown Da Nang generally costs around 100,000 VND, while rides to My Khe Beach cost around 150.000 VND. A taxi ride directly to Hoi An will set you back around 400.000 VND for the 30-kilometer journey.
Grab is Vietnam’s most popular ride-hailing app. It is often cheaper than airport taxis by about 20 percent. Pickup spots at both terminals are signposted. As an example, a Grab ride to Hoi An costs around 350.000 VND.
Talking of Hoi An, the UNESCO heritage site is one of the main reasons to fly into Da Nang Airport. Its Cua Dai Parking Lot bus station is connected to DAD by a suburban bus route that runs between 7:30 AM and 4 PM daily and costs 120.000 VND.
Parking at Da Nang Airport
Da Nang Airport offers parking facilities directly opposite each terminal building. Walking between the parking lots and their respective terminals takes less than 3 minutes.
Both parking lots are split into a section for cars and a section for motorcycles.
Car parking costs 10.000 VND for the first 10 minutes, then 5.000 VND per 30-minute block.
Motorcycle parking costs 3.00 VND for the first 4 hours, then 1.000 VND for every 2 hours after that.
Bicycle parking costs a flat 1.000 VND fee.
The payment booths are located at the exits of either parking lot and accept only cash.
Hotels near Da Nang Airport
Given how close the airport is to the city, there is little reason to seek an airport hotel.
Despite that, there are several guesthouses and smaller hotels within walking distance of the terminals.
For example, the aptly named Airport Homestay and the La Maison Des Délices Hotel & Apartment are both considered good 3-star hotels, worth the money for the quality. Best of all, they are less than 10 minutes ok foot from either terminal.
The closest major hotel is the Samdi Hotel, about a 12-minute walk to the Domestic Terminal. It’s a 4-star hotel with superb service and premium amenities.
Da Nang, Viet Nam
