Da Nang’s Son Tra Peninsula rises sharply from the coast just north of the city — a forested mountain reserve that most visitors only see from below. This three-hour jeep tour takes you up its winding roads in an open-top military-style jeep, stopping at viewpoints and hidden landmarks that are impossible to reach by tour bus.
The peninsula is home to Da Nang’s best-kept secrets: the photogenic Lau Vong Canh (Scenic House) perched on the hillside with a coffee stop and sweeping sea views; the overgrown ruins of the American old airport at the Son Tra summit — a Cold War–era installation now swallowed by jungle; and Ban Co Tien peak (Fairy Chessboard), the highest point on the peninsula with 360° views across Da Nang Bay, the Marble Mountains, and the Hai Van Pass. The tour descends through the forest to the Linh Ung Pagoda, home to the iconic 67-metre Lady Buddha statue that watches over Da Nang from the sea, and continues to the Pearl Island viewpoint before finishing with a panorama of the Hai Van Pass.
Your guide handles photography at every stop — bring your camera for some of the best shots available anywhere in Da Nang. The tour runs flexibly between 08:00 and 13:00 departure, returning between 11:00 and 17:00, making it easy to combine with an afternoon at the beach or an evening in Hoi An.
Pickup: Your open-top jeep collects you from your Da Nang hotel between 08:00 and 13:00 (flexible start to suit your schedule).
Lau Vong Canh — Scenic House: The first stop is this hilltop terrace café perched above the tree line, with a complimentary coffee and unobstructed views over Da Nang Bay and the city below. A favourite spot for sunrise photography.
American Old Airport — Son Tra Peak: Wind higher up the mountain to the ruins of a US military airfield built during the Vietnam War and abandoned in 1975. The concrete strips and rusted infrastructure have been slowly reclaimed by jungle, creating an eerie and photogenic scene at the peninsula's summit.
Ban Co Tien Peak — Fairy Chessboard: The highest accessible point on Son Tra, named after a local legend of fairies playing chess on the flat rock formations near the top. On a clear day the view spans the full arc of Da Nang Bay south to the Marble Mountains and north to the Hai Van Pass.
Linh Ung Pagoda & Lady Buddha: Descend through the forest to one of Vietnam's largest Buddhist pagodas, set in manicured gardens on the peninsula's southern face. The 67-metre Lady Buddha (Quan The Am Bo Tat) statue — completed in 2010 — rises above the pagoda and can be seen from anywhere in Da Nang. Walk the grounds, visit the main hall, and take in the coastal panorama.
Pearl Island Viewpoint & Hai Van Pass Panorama: The tour finishes with two final viewpoints — the rocky Pearl Island outlook over the bay, and a sweeping look back at the Hai Van Pass mountain road threading along the coastline to the north.
Return: Drop-off at your Da Nang hotel between 11:00 and 17:00 depending on your chosen start time.
Note: This tour is self-guided by design — your driver handles navigation and photo assistance; narration is from your driver in English. No separate guide fee applies.
