A coastal city in central Việt Nam just became the country's only entry on Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2027 list. Đà Nẵng joins 50 destinations and experiences worldwide in the annual selection, published in September, which highlights places expected to offer travellers something unexpected in the year ahead.
Lonely Planet's pitch is simple: Đà Nẵng is where mountains, long sandy beaches, serious food and an unhurried pace all sit in one place. You can spend the morning on the seafront, head up to the Sơn Trà Peninsula for greenery and coastal views, or use the city as a launchpad for day trips.
That last part is the real selling point. Đà Nẵng sits within easy reach of three UNESCO-listed sites: the imperial monuments of Huế to the north, the Champa-era temple ruins at Mỹ Sơn, and Hội An's lantern-lit old town to the south. Few beach cities let you pair a swimsuit holiday with that much history without long travel days.
In town, the Golden Bridge at Bà Nà Hills — the photogenic walkway held up by two giant stone hands — has become the city's most recognisable sight, while Sơn Trà offers a quieter, more natural counterpoint to the beach strip.
The numbers back the hype. Đà Nẵng welcomed over 14.2 million overnight visitors in the first eight months of the year, up nearly 25% year on year, with almost 7 million international arrivals (a 26% rise). Accommodation and food service revenue hit nearly VNĐ47 trillion over the same period.
Why it matters for travellers: Đà Nẵng works for two very different trips. If you want a slow beach break with good street food, it delivers. If you'd rather pack your days with excursions, the UNESCO triangle of Huế, Mỹ Sơn and Hội An makes it one of the most convenient bases in Southeast Asia. The Lonely Planet nod also means expect more flights, hotel options and attention in the run-up to 2027 — which argues for going sooner rather than later.
