What to See at Bana Hills and the Golden Bridge | Complete Guide

A Corner of France in Vietnam

Today, I present to you Bana Hills, a theme park in Da Nang, known for its reconstructed French village, French-style gardens, and especially since 2018, for the Golden Bridge which you have surely seen on Instagram. It is a bridge held up by two giant hands.

Undoubtedly, Bana Hills is one of the must-see attractions in Da Nang.

Come on, follow the guide.

History, Visit, and Attractions of Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is located to the west of Da Nang in the Truong Son Mountains. In 1919, the area was developed by the French, who used it as a cool and temperate playground for colonialists.

It consisted of hundreds of villas, restaurants, and hotel complexes. However, during the war, the urban center of Ba Na was destroyed. Some ruins can still be found, but they are quite the opposite of their once opulent state.

One of the main attractions of the Ba Na Hills resort is the opportunity the park offers for selfies and photos.

It is essentially a well-maintained social media dream for your next profile picture or Instagram post. Walking around and immersing yourself in the experience is a big part of what you’re paying for.

How to Get There?

There are several ways to get to Ba Na Hills from Da Nang and Hoi An. I suggest choosing the one that fits your budget and is easy – save your energy for Ba Na Hills as it’s a full-day affair. New roads have been built from Da Nang to Ba Na Hills, so keep an eye out for signs.

By Taxi

It is possible to take a metered taxi from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills for about 680,000 VND one way. However, given the distance and unless you decide to stay at the hotel, you’ll want to return the same day. It is wise to negotiate a flat rate instead, considering the waiting time for your driver.

Your accommodation in Hoi An can recommend their own driver (but as the hotel takes a commission, it’s rarely cheap), or you can try the options below if you need to look for a better rate.

Taxi Company – Mai Linh taxis 0235 3929292

By Private Car

If you don’t want the hassle, a private car can be a good choice. The driver picks you up from your hotel in Hoi An or Da Nang and drops you off at Bana Hills, and comes back to pick you up at the time you want.

Since the Golden Bridge opened, there are more and more car rentals. I recommend Hoi An Transport Service ( https://hoiantransportservice.com/ ). They speak English and French, the prices are fixed and are cheaper than a taxi. For a round trip, expect 1,050,000 VND for a 4-seater car.

By Scooter

The road to get there by scooter or motorbike is quite simple and well indicated from Hoi An and Da Nang.

To go by scooter, you will only pay the rental price (between 100,000 and 150,000 VND).

Luggage Storage at Ba Na Hills

If you are traveling with large luggage, there is free luggage storage available at Ba Na Hills. The storage facility has no size limit and is located to the right of the ticket office. You will receive a numbered ticket linking you to your luggage, which is locked and monitored by camera at the ticket office. The luggage storage is open from 8 AM to 9 PM.

Where does the name Bana Hills come from?

Do you know where the name “Ba Na” comes from? Although there is debate over the origin, I have three main explanations. The first explanation is amusing since the French named it after what they saw. When this area was discovered, it was filled with banana trees. And “Ba Na” sounds a lot like banana. Coincidence? I think not!

The second way, which was explained by a Vietnamese author, is that “Ba Na” means my mountain in the Katu language. In case you didn’t know, Katu, also called Co Tu, is the ethnic minority that lives in this region.

The last explanation requires a historical examination, from the time when this land belonged to the Kingdom of Champa. The local population paid tribute to the goddess Ponagar, which means Ba Thien YA Na in Vietnamese. In short, they named this land Ba Na to honor her.

What to see at Bana Hills?

BaNa Hills Cable Cars

The cable cars that take you from the bottom to the top at Ba Na Hills are a big part of the entire experience. They hold Guinness World Records for being the “Longest non-stop single track cable car” at 5,801 meters and “Highest non-stop single track cable car” at 1,368 meters. They consist of five lines: the Hoi An – Marseille line, Bordeaux-Louvre, Toc Tien-Ba Na, Debay-Morin, and Susi Mo-Indochine, which traverses a fantastic waterfall.

Between the five lines, there are 201 cars with a capacity of 3,000 passengers per hour. The ascent is simply incredible. A steep but very smooth climb as the cable cars have been intelligently designed and are well-maintained. When you’re not gazing into the distance, try to look at the dense jungle. You might be lucky enough to spot a ruin or two from decades past.

Feel free to read my article on the cable cars of Bana Hills.

Golden Bridge

A Must-See at Bana Hills

Located in the Thien Thai Garden, the Golden Bridge is considered the link between this side of the resort and the French village and the flower garden, Le Jardin D’Amour.

Positioned at 1,414 meters above sea level and stretching along the mountainside above Da Nang is the Golden Bridge. Constructed from July 2017 to April 2018, it opened to the public in early June 2018.

The Golden Bridge was part of a $2 billion investment to boost the tourism level of the region, and it worked! It has captured the attention of visitors by dominating social media pages worldwide.

The bridge looks like a strand of gold in the sky. Held by monolithic hands that the dense jungle seems to struggle to reclaim. The bridge faces east, towards the lush greenery towards Da Nang, and has no obstacles cluttering the view.

Best Time to Visit the Bridge

Visiting the bridge is possible at any time during the park’s opening hours. However, if you choose a time between 11 AM and 4 PM, make sure you have the skills and patience necessary to dodge a multitude of selfie sticks, tripods, and the crowds of tourists that come with them.

I recommend visiting right when the park opens or as it is about to close for a more relaxed experience. Around 5 PM, when the sun is lower in the sky, is the best time to take photos on the bridge. This “golden hour” of light will give the bridge a look and feel that you cannot capture during the harsh direct sunlight of the rest of the day.

Another option, suitable for families or groups, is the small podium at the north end of the bridge. It is free to use for your photographs and provides a great way to get some elevation or gather your group without the crowd. The view of the bridge from this angle is also ideal.

The French Village

The French village is the second must-see at Ba Na Hills.

The French village is an aesthetic recreation of a medieval French town (which I believe is modeled on Carcassonne). The architects designed the village inspired by the journey of Pigneau de Behaine across France. He was the first foreigner to visit Ba Na Hills.

The reconstruction of a French village is truly impressive. It is very well done.

The village consists of a cathedral, a large square with a fountain, cafes, restaurants with French names, street signs in French, vintage cars, and colorful flowers.

As someone who has not returned to France in 12 years, I feel like I’m there. Additionally, French songs are played throughout the village and the entire Bana Hills park.

It is a unique architectural delight that creates a timeless European atmosphere.

However, this tranquility fiercely competes with the many other performances vying for attention. Moreover, this place is full of tourists.

The icing on the cake is the masses of artists that the park employs. Expect to see costumes of circus performers, tribal Africa, Egypt, collective Europe, and the city of Atlantis.

The village square hosts the majority of theatrical performances, as well as a few other places in the park. The schedules and locations can vary and are also subject to weather conditions.

Jardin de l’Amour ( Garden of Love )

The Jardin D’Amour consists of nine different gardens that will tell you nine different stories behind the architecture and flowers.

And don’t forget to stop by the century-old wine cellar nearby. You had better prepare yourself, as you might become intoxicated not only by the beauty of the flowers but also by the finest wine.

Debay Wine Cellar

The Debay Wine Cellar is the only enduring and well-maintained work of the French. Built in 1923 and 100 meters long, this cellar is buried deep within the rocky mountain. The temperature remains between 16°C and 20°C, perfect for wine. The tunnel opens halfway into what was once a luxury entertainment hall. The French used it to enjoy wine, food, and dance in the presence of natural air conditioning.

Once you exit the wine cellar, you will find yourself in a cafe. Here, you can indulge in various beverages such as wine, sangria, cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic drinks.

Ling Ung Pagoda

The most tranquil and peaceful area of the park is located in the northeast. This section contains the Tombstone Temple, Linh Phong Tu Tower, Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple, the bell tower, and the Ba Shrine. The Ba Shrine was originally built in 1931 and has survived many wars. It has been well renovated and restored to its former glory. Visiting the shrine is an excellent way to pay homage or even disconnect from the chaos.

The highest viewpoint is from the Bell Tower. It overlooks the French Village and offers a 360-degree view of the surroundings. Don’t hesitate to ring the four-ton bronze bell while you are there.

Built from 2003 to 2004, the Linh Ung Pagoda is impressively beautiful. Its tiled roofs, dragons, lotus flowers, and Buddhist prayer wheels add to its beauty.

It features a 27-meter tall statue of the seated Buddha Sakyamuni on a 6-meter high round lotus base. One of the most massive seated Buddha statues in Southeast Asia and a striking site that is worth a visit. It’s a peaceful escape from the fantastical world around it, so spend some time here to catch your breath.

Alpine Coaster

The Alpine Coaster is a single or shared speed machine that has the potential to reach 40 kilometers per hour. Each car is equipped with its own braking system in case you want to slow down. Roller coasters don’t have to be about speed if you don’t want them to be. You are free to use the brakes whenever you wish. On the other hand, if you are looking to set a record time, completely ignore the brakes.

Just make sure that while waiting for the green light, you tell the attendant that you need speed. This way, they can ensure that the passenger in front of you travels a good distance on the track before letting you go. There is nothing more disappointing than only partially completing the course, only to end up stuck behind someone moving at a snail’s pace.

The roller coasters are open from 8 AM to 5 PM. A second Alpine Coaster track opened at Ba Na Hills in September 2019. The new track doubles the amount of fun available for thrill-seekers and halves the waiting time for this very popular attraction.

Fantasy Park

This fantastic park is completely crazy entertainment, far from the serenity of the gardens below. It’s the largest indoor video game arcade in Vietnam. Equipped with 3D, 4D, and 5D cinemas, over 90 free arcade games, a free drop tower, bumper cars, climbing, foot massages, and much more. Children will love it. Adults can choose to completely avoid it or revert to their childhood.

The three-level underground family entertainment area is based on the novels “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” by French author Jules Verne. Here is an overview of each level of Fantasy Park.

There is also a wax museum which has an admission fee and is therefore not included in the ticket price.

Combined Night Shuttle

If you are interested in a slightly different experience at Ba Na Hills, the night combo ticket might be for you. Introduced in July 2019, the Ba Na night combo costs only 600,000 VND per person for adults and 425,000 VND for children. This offer includes not only a free round-trip shuttle from the center of Da Nang (making the journey much simpler!), but also admission for cable car rides, a buffet, and a liter of beer or a drink at the Beer Plaza.

The only issue is that this offer only allows entry between 4 PM and 10 PM. This limits the time available to explore Ba Na Hills. However, if you wish to visit Ba Na Hills at a much slower pace, with fewer people and shorter queues, this might be the best travel option for you.

The shuttle leaves from Asia Park in downtown Da Nang at 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM. The drop-off point is located outside the city gate of Ba Na Hills, where the return shuttle departs at 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM. You need to reserve a spot on the shuttle and pay for the night combo ticket when you arrive at Ba Na Hills. Book by phone or email (+84) 905766777 or banahills@sunworld.vn.

My Opinion

I think Ba Na Hills is one of the must-see attractions in Da Nang if you are traveling with children. The park is very popular, especially thanks to its Golden Bridge with the two hands and the French village.

For two attractions, the Ba Na Hills park remains quite expensive (900,000 VND per person). I’ve been there three times for my blog, but personally, I prefer exploring Prao Village of the Co Tu, taking a guided tour of My Son, or doing a trip between Hoi An and Hue. It’s more enriching.

Before the opening of the Golden Bridge, I only encountered Vietnamese tourists. Now, I see more and more Westerners who mostly come just for the Golden Bridge.

Feel free to leave your opinion in the comments.