My Complete Guide to the Golden Bridge in Da Nang
What to See at the Golden Bridge
Today, I’m taking you to explore the Golden Bridge.
It’s the newest tourist attraction of the Ba Na Hills amusement park in Da Nang. Almost immediately after its opening in June 2018, it went viral worldwide.
You’ve probably already seen it pop up several times on your Instagram feed, especially during your travels to Vietnam. Thanks (or due to, depending on your viewpoint) to social media, the Golden Bridge has made its way onto everyone’s travel list.
Read on to get the most out of your visit to Ba Na Hills and enjoy the best experience on the Golden Bridge.
If you want to discover what else there is to see here, I’ve written a dedicated article on the Bana Hills theme park.
Why visit the Golden Bridge ?
Tourists flock here to take photos at a spot that journalists and travel bloggers from around the world describe as majestic and impressive, worthy of a scene from “Game of Thrones” or “The Lord of the Rings.”
The image of two massive ancient hands (which seem to belong to the mountain god) holding up the bridge like a ribbon of shimmering golden silk, rising towards the blue sky with deep green forests below, rivals scenes from blockbuster films.
The design of the Golden Bridge makes you feel like you are walking in the clouds, between the hands of the gods. It’s this uniqueness that captures everyone’s imagination. However, when you visit, you might find yourself actually walking in the clouds alongside thousands of tourists, all wielding selfie sticks, attempting to capture the perfect photo, which is far from unique, for social media.
And even though you can’t blame them—you also want a beautiful photo to remember the Golden Bridge by—you can definitely avoid the crowd by arriving at opening time as I did.
Where is the Golden Bridge in Da Nang?
Cau Vang (in Vietnamese), or the “Golden Bridge,” is part of the Sun World Ba Na Hills amusement park. The only way to get there is to take the cable car from Ba Na Hills, the longest cable car system in the world.
The cable cars all depart from Sun World, which means the only way to get to the Golden Bridge is to buy a ticket to visit Sun World Ba Na Hills. On the plus side, the Ba Na Hills cable cars are among the best in the world.
If you want to learn more about this, check out my article on the Bana Hills cable cars.
Which Cable Cars to Take to Directly Access the Golden Bridge?
The best way to arrive directly at the Golden Bridge is to take the cable car from the Hoi An station located in Bana Hills Park.
Note that this station has nothing to do with the town of Hoi An, although it shares a similar name. It’s a cable car station.
Best Time to Visit the Golden Bridge
Walking on the Golden Bridge is undoubtedly a breathtaking experience. However, it can also be disappointing if you arrive at the wrong time. Without a doubt, going earlier or later than everyone else gives you a competitive edge and the best experience.
For early risers, head to the station at 7:30 AM. Very few people will be there with you. Moreover, the golden light of early morning makes your peaceful walk even more atmospheric.
My favorite time to visit the bridge is around 5 PM – just before sunset. Most visitors miss the sunset because they are hungry, tired, or have already gone home. This leaves you with a less crowded bridge, sunset colors, and the most flattering light for your photos!
How Long Does It Take to Visit the Golden Bridge?
Once at Ba Na Hills, the Golden Bridge itself takes no more than an hour to explore. However, exploring the entire Ba Na Hills amusement park can take a full day, so plan accordingly.
I recommend visiting the rest of the park given the high price of the ticket (900,000 VND per adult = ~36 €).
How to Get to the Golden Bridge in Da Nang ?
As the Golden Bridge is part of Ba Na Hills, which is only 45 minutes by car from downtown Da Nang and 1h30 from Hoi An, you can easily get there by private car or by scooter and then take the cable car to the top of Bana Hills.
If you decide to go by private car, you can contact Hoi An Transport Service (https://hoiantransportservice.com/) who offers this service from Hoi An or Da Nang. Their prices are affordable, and they respond in English or in French. Additionally, they handle ticket purchases for you at no extra cost.
Their WhatsApp: +841238441732
Where Can I Buy Tickets for the Golden Bridge in Da Nang?
Purchase your tickets directly at the Ba Na Hill ticket counters, by Hoi An Transport Service or online. Three different tickets are available: cable car ride (mandatory), buffet meal (optional), and wax museum (optional).
The Golden Bridge only requires a cable car ticket.
The costs are:
- 900,000 VND (~36€) for adults
- 750,000 VND (~30€) for children (1m – 1.4m tall)
- Free for children under 1m
My opinion
I went there at opening time, so I didn’t have to deal with the crowd of tourists on the bridge that you might encounter if you go later. This is really what I recommend.
Although the Golden Bridge is nice, it didn’t impress me much.
It’s a bit like the Manneken Pis in Belgium: it seems impressive in photos, but in reality, it remains just one attraction among others in an amusement park. It is vastly overrated by Instagram influencers.
