Ba Na Hills in Vietnam is one of those love-it-or-hate-it destinations. People who dislike it say it’s too crowded, dreary, and has too many people. People who love it say it’s charming, exciting, and different from the rest of Vietnam.
We spent an entire day at Sun World Ba Na Hills and honestly loved it. From the magnificence of the Golden Hand Bridge, to the views on the gondola, to the quirkiness of the French Village, it made for an entertaining day.
If you’re traveling in Da Nang, you honestly have to visit Ba Na Hills and the Golden Hand Bridge (only skip it if you’re on a super tight shoe-string budget), and here’s everything you need to know for that journey, including how to get there and what to do there.
What is Ba Na Hills?
Ba Na Hills is a famous tourist attraction about 30 minutes from Da Nang. It’s an amusement park, of sorts, located on top of Chua Mountain within the Truong Son Mountains.
It has some beautiful French architecture, a dash of Disneyland, a touch of Buddhist pagodas, and a sprinkle of Alice in Wonderland. If that seems like it doesn’t make sense, don’t worry, it’s not supposed to. The main idea is that it’s an adventure park with tons of different activities, none of which feel like your typical Vietnamese holiday.
It’s known as Sun World Ba Na Hills. Sun World is the same owner of the famous Ba Den Mountain in the south, as well.
Top Attractions at Ba Na Hills
There are three main layers to Ba Na Hills: the gondola ride to the top, the Golden Bridge (an iconic image of Vietnamese tourism) at the first stop on the mountain, and the French Village at the summit. Let’s take a look at the three layers so you know exactly what to expect.
The gondola ride itself
We took three cable car rides. The first one was about 30 minutes from the base of the mountain to the Golden Hand Bridge stop. From the Golden Hand Bridge, we hopped on a 20-minute gondola ride up to the French Village on the summit.
We took a third gondola about 30 minutes back down to the base of the mountain.
For me, the gondola ride up (and down) was the highlight of the trip. We got lucky with the weather; it was a beautiful morning on the way up, with very few people and clouds. We had a clear view of the mountain and the surrounding region. We even saw a big family of monkeys crossing a big rock about halfway up the mountain.
The views from the gondola are amazing and make the entire trip worth it if you get good weather.
Coming down the mountain was just as fun, if not slightly more spooky. We came down later in the day, and it was super misty – like we went through clouds for 5-10 minutes at a time. You couldn’t see anything but white clouds. It gave it such an eerie feeling, but then the cloud would open up and you’d get an incredible view.
The gondolas felt extremely safe, sturdy, and well-made, too. I’m a bit afraid of heights, but these gondolas were enclosed and stable.
Stop #1: The Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills
First, you’ll ride a gondola from the base of the mountain to the Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills. This is where the super famous Golden Hand Bridge is, but there are other things to do around here, too. Here’s what to expect:
The famous golden hand bridge
Of course, head straight to the famous bridge. If you’ve seen pictures or videos of Vietnamese tourism, you’ve seen this bridge. It’s a moon-shaped bridge encased in two gold hands that appear to be holding the bridge up.
It’s a super beautiful design and a fun place to walk. Just be prepared, there are always a ton of people on the bridge.
You can get a better view of the bridge from up above, near one of the gondola stations.
Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Gardens
Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Gardens, or Ba Na’s Flower Garden of Love, is a series of beautiful gardens surrounding the bridge. There’s a total of nine gardens, each with its theme and each worth visiting:
- The Garden of Myths
- The Garden of Memories
- The Garden of Thought
- The Garden of Love
- The Garden of Romance
- The Garden of Eden
- The Garden of Paradise
- The Garden of Scents/Aromas
- The Secret Garden
My personal favorite was the Secret Garden, which is like a large labyrinth or maze that you can explore. But the Garden of Thought was also very unique with its massive chessboard. The Garden of Love is another good one; you can’t miss it with its gigantic ballerina dancers in the middle of the flowery garden.
Stop #2: Ba Na Hills French Village
Once you’ve visited the famous Golden Hand Bridge and the nine gardens, it’s time to hop on another gondola right up to the French Village. I loved this ride because you can see the marvelous French Village in the distance, looming closer and closer. It’s a good replica of French architecture, so it looks a bit mystical and magical, at least to my American eyes.
European-Inspired Architecture
The very first thing you’ll notice, before even getting off the cable car, is the French-inspired architecture. It’s built up like a castle, so you’ll see it right away. One of my favorite parts of the day was honestly getting lost and walking through the streets and alleyways, and seeing where
Going in, I thought the French Village would be more like a movie set: lots of dead ends and “fake” buildings, but everything was as real as it could be. So, I was pleasantly surprised.
Ba Na Hills Brewery
We spent a few hours at the Ba Na Brewery (they gave us free beer coupons at the base of the mountain, so we wanted to put them to good use). We ended up not only having a few drinks but also having some light food here, and it was pretty good all things considered. I enjoyed the soft pretzel the most, but the chicken bites were good, too.
The inside of the brewery was nice; it was about five stories high, with massive brew tubs. Even though we don’t drink, our friend said the beer was good.
We sat near a window and looked out over the mountain.
Street Performances
In the center of the French village, right in front of the cathedral, there were live performances that were super impressive. When we were there, they had an upper-level show featuring skaters performing to Grease, as well as a can-can show. All were equally impressive, though the puppet show exceeded expectations.
There was a large bulletin with the show times. Each show lasted around 5 to 10 minutes, with short breaks in between. Try to catch them all if you can.
Fantasy Park Indoor Amusement Center
There’s a large indoor amusement park with classic rides, games, and even some good snacks (I found butter-salt popcorn here, something I hadn’t seen anywhere in Asia, and I was excited).
We didn’t ride any rides or play any of the games, but enjoyed walking around. Entrance is included with your ticket, but I think the rides cost extra.
Alpine Coaster
Just outside the indoor amusement park, there was an alpine rollercoaster. This seemed to be one of the most popular attractions on this level of Ba Na Hills. It was rather large, well-made, and looked like a lot of fun. Again, we didn’t ride the coaster, but enjoyed watching it. The ticket is separate from your entry ticket.
Wax Museum
The Ba Na Hills Wax Museum is another popular attraction on the summit. It’s the first wax museum in Vietnam and features essential figures, such as Michael Jackson, Kung Fu Panda, Einstein, and others. It’s small compared to other Wax Museums, but cute to explore.
We didn’t go to the Wax Museum. It’s not included in the entry, so you’ll have to buy tickets separately.
Where To Eat At Ba Na Hills SunWorld
There are numerous places to eat throughout Ba Na Hills, most of which are centered around the summit and the French Village. We ate at the Ba Na Brewery, and while it was a little pricey for what it was (nothing outrageous, though), it was good enough. Here are some places to check out:
- Buffet Experiences
- Ba Na Brewery
- Le Terroir Restaurant (French)
- Arapang Restaurant
- Street Food Stalls
If I were to go back, I’d probably stick to eating at the small Vietnamese carts around the main square. I don’t think any of the food is out of this world, but you don’t come here for the food, so that’s okay.
How to Get to Ba Na Hills
Ba Na Hills is 12.8 miles (20.5 km) from Da Nang City, and the drive takes about one hour, depending on traffic and road conditions. You can get there by motorbike, car, taxi, or with a guided tour.
By motorbike/private car
We drove to Ba Na Hills with our motorbike and thought it was the best way to get there. We arrived right at 8:00 AM, so we were there before most of the other tours and didn’t have to battle crowds at all.
I honestly think the fact that we beat most tours there made a huge difference in how much we enjoyed our day.
The drive itself is very easy. From Da Nang City, take Nguyen Van Linh Street and continue on Highway 14 B. From there, follow QL14B until you reach the Ba Na Hills entrance.
Once you leave the city, the drive is quite nice, especially as you get closer to Ba Na Hills.
By taxi/Grab
The next easiest option is to go with a taxi or Grab. This is likely the most expensive option when you factor in the ticket price and other costs, but it’s convenient because you can avoid tour groups and have a bit more freedom.
A Grab probably costs around 400,000 – 500,000 VND ($16 – $20 USD) each way. It might be difficult calling a Grab back because the area is a bit isolated, so you might want to work something out with your driver to pick you up at a specific time.
With a guided tour
Most people opt for a guided tour, and honestly, I don’t recommend it. Almost every tour arrives around the same time, making it super chaotic, and you’ll be rushed through the attractions without much freedom to enjoy what you’d like to enjoy.
The only reason to join a guided tour is if you 1. can’t drive in Vietnam and 2. can’t afford a Grab or private driver. These are both valid reasons, which is why many people visit Ba Na Hills on a tour. However, I think you won’t have as much fun going on your own.
That said, going on a tour is better than not going at all, in my opinion. If you have to go on a tour, go with one like this: From Da Nang/Hoi An: Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills Full-Day Tour. It’s a full-day tour dedicated to Ba Na Hills, leaving you plenty of time to explore the Golden Hand Bridge and the French Village, so it’s less rushed than most.
Ba Na Hills Ticket Information
As of 2025, these were the ticket prices for Ba Na Hills (for a foreign adult, there are different prices for children and locals):
- Standard Ticket (Cable Car, Golden Bridge, Fantasy Park, French Village, etc): 950,000 VND ($37 USD)
- Combo Ticket (Standard + Lunch Buffet): 1,250,000 VND ($48.75 USD)
- Alpine Coaster (Bought Separately): 70,000 VND ($2.70 USD) per ride, discounts when purchasing multiple rides
- Wax Museum (Bought Separately): 1000,000 VND ($3.90 USD)
- Parking: Free
- Estimated Tour Cost via GetYourGuide (Transportation, Water, Guide, Standard Ticket): 1,800,000 VND ($70 USD)
Keep in mind that these were just the latest prices when we went from Da Nang. The prices may change. If they do, we’ll do our best to update this information as soon as possible, but it’s not set in stone.
When To Visit Ba Na Hills
The weather can make or break a trip to Ba Na Hills since it’s entirely outdoors. Here’s some information to help you plan the perfect trip:
Best time of day to visit Ba Na Hills
We went to Ba Na Hills first thing in the morning and took one of the first gondolas up to the Golden Hand Bridge. There were only a handful of people when we got there. It was super cloudy at first, giving it an eerily romantic feel, but it cleared up before we even left the bridge.
I recommend keeping an eye on the weather forecast and trying to go when it’s supposed to be sunny, or at least not too rainy.
Best time of year to visit Ba Na Hills
The best time to visit Ba Na Hills in Da Nang is from February to May, when the weather is dry, cool, and not too rainy. Also, flowers are in bloom, so the gardens are extra vibrant, although they do a great job of maintaining them year-round.
The second-best time to go is between September and November. It’s not too rainy and there are fewer crowds.
We went in February and thought it was perfect. We got fortunate with almost no rain, only a slight mist in the morning, and very few crowds. You just have to be careful because there can be a lot of surprise rain showers in February, so plan around that.
How long to stay at Ba Na Hills
Some tours visit Ba Na Hills along with other popular attractions, like the Marble Mountains. However, I recommend spending a full day at Ba Na Hills. We arrived around 8:00 AM and left around 4:00 PM, and I honestly thought it wasn’t enough time.
“Insider” Travel Tips For A Perfect Visit To Ba Na Hills
We’ve met a lot of people who haven’t enjoyed Ba Na Hills, and sometimes, that’s avoidable. So, based on our experience visiting the adventure park, here are some expert tips to make the most of your day:
Try to plan around the weather
The weather makes a difference. You might think a little rain won’t get you down, but it will when you’re so high up and there’s almost no cover outside the cable car, and you’re cold. I highly recommend planning around the weather. If you only have one day to go and it’s supposed to be raining the entire time, you might want to reconsider and come back during better weather.
Get there early and stay all day
As mentioned, the best way to experience the famous Golden Hand Bridge is if you can beat all the crowds. That means you need to arrive well before the tour buses, usually around 9:00 or 10:00 AM. If you do so, you’ll always be one step ahead of them in the park, and things won’t feel so crowded.
Bring layers
It’s at a much higher elevation than Da Nang and doesn’t have a tropical feel. It can get cold, and mist or rain is quite likely; the weather can change at a moment’s notice. I highly recommend bringing layers, such as wearing long pants, a light sweater, and possibly an umbrella, just in case.
Be positive with reasonable expectations
Don’t go in expecting the world. We went in with no expectations, maybe even slightly low ones, because many people we met didn’t enjoy it, and we were pleasantly surprised. Don’t expect too much, have an open mind, and try to appreciate the uniqueness of the attractions.
There’s nothing wrong with being a little positive while on vacation.
Don’t let the crowds bother you
The number one complaint I hear about visiting Ba Na Hills is that it’s crowded. You need to expect a lot of tourists because it’s a major tourist attraction. If you get anxiety in large crowds, make sure to go early and move about at your own pace. You need to expect the crowds.
Don’t rely solely on the map
We picked up a free map (and there are maps scattered around the park) and tried so hard to use it to get around. However, although it looked in-depth and detailed, it didn’t seem to make much sense. Some of the gondola stations aren’t open, so I think that confuses everything. I wouldn’t spend too much time trying to read it, just walk around and enjoy.
Stay the Night At Ba Na Hills Resort
There’s a super unique hotel in the French Village at the top of Ba Na Hills called Mercure Danang French Village Bana Hills. The hotel itself is nice and unique, as it’s built right into the heart of the French village. It’s styled like a medieval European town, with cobblestone streets and Gothic-style architecture.
The coolest thing about staying here is how you get access to the park before and after all the tourists leave. You can be the first one on the Golden Bridge and the last one wandering the streets of the French Village.
It’s not like anything else you’ll find in Vietnam. Some people don’t like it for precisely that reason; it’s not very Vietnamese-like, but it’s still unique if you want to visit Ba Na Hills without the crowds.
Does Ba Na Hills Live Up To All The Hype?
Yes, I think Ba Na Hills is worth the hype. Yes, it’s super crowded. Yes, it’s more expensive than other touristy activities in Vietnam. Yes, it doesn’t “feel like Vietnam” at all.
But it’s crowded because it’s a popular tourist spot, it’s expensive because a lot of money goes into the attractions, and it’s extremely well-maintained. It’s also purposefully designed to have a more European feel. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun.
We enjoyed it. We wouldn’t go every week, all the time, but it’s very different from anything else we’ve done in Vietnam, and honestly, the views from the cable car alone are worth it.
What do you think, is Ba Na Hills worth the hype? Let us know in the comments if you’ve been there, or if you’d like to visit.
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