Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Sun World at Ba Na Hills in Da Nang, Vietnam. With its lush greenery, beautiful misty weather and European architecture, this is a hidden gem waiting to be uncovered.
Most people know Ba Na Hills for the Golden Bridge – a golden platform “held” by a pair of giant hands. Ba Na Hills is a former French colonial city. Apart from the Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills is home to the world’s record-breaking cable car system, an alpine roller coaster and a replica European village.
I’ve summarised some travel tips below including things to do, a suggested itinerary and getting around. All the resort tickets, transportation and WiFi listed in this article were booked via Klook!
Go on a scenic cable car journey
To reach Ba Na Hills, we had to take a cable car. This is one scenic cable car ride! There are about 5 routes which you can take, depending on the attraction you wish to visit. The cable car infrastructure system in Ba Na Hills is very comprehensive. It is also one of the longest cable car tracks in the world at over 5261 metres! To get one from one end to the other will take around 30 minutes.
Visit the breathtaking and unreal Golden Bridge
You might have seen this all over social media- a golden bridge suspended by giant concrete hands. It was so surreal to see this in real life!
The Golden Bridge affords majestic views of the surrounding mountains and coastlines of Da Nang. It is a hit among tourists, hence I would encourage viewing it from a platform just across the bridge (one of the exits from the cable-car drop-off point).
A blast from the past in Old Hoi An
By day or night, the Old Hoi An garden has a special charm. Wander into the old houses or get lost in the sea of lanterns, every corner is made for photographs! This garden is located near the entry gates of Sun World in Ba Na Hills. For those who have not been to Hoi An, this is as close as it gets to the real deal! It is impressive how they replicated the Hoi An ancient city while preserving authenticity of the architecture.
Take the funicular to Le Jardin D’Amour
The funicular originates from Garaventa (Switzerland). This tram transport you to D’Amour Flower Garden, the Old Debay Wine Cellar and Linh Ung Pagoda. From the funicular, you’ll be able to witness breathtaking views of the mountains.
This gorgeous garden takes me back to when I was in Château de Versailles in Paris. Walk among the flowers, or get lost in the maze, the photo opportunities here are endless!
Be transported to France for a day at the French Village
Another must-see attraction is this lookalike French Village. From flower shops to patisseries, there are many things to see around the French Village quarters. You can also pick up some souvenirs there!
Visit a beautiful cathedral
This cathedral, with its high ceilings, stone walls and colourful stained glass, is a stunning work of art. It is said to be a replica of the one in France. It is no wonder people would travel all the way here for their wedding photoshoots!
Dine with a lovely view of the mountains
One of the dining options available is an all-you-can-eat lunch at Arapang that serves up both Vietnamese and international cuisine. This balcony view takes me back when I was in Switzerland, overlooking the mountains.
Our ticket included a buffet lunch reservation and a beverage option of either wine or fruit juice. If you wish to enjoy this value-for-money lunch deal, you can opt for the lunch voucher add-on before booking your ticket.
Take the alpine coaster
Thrill-seekers, meet your match on this alpine coaster! I’ve always wanted to take sit on one but never got to chance to visit those in Europe or America. The track winds you through loops, curves and turns at high speeds- almost like a roller coaster, but with a refreshing mountain scenery of Ba Na Hills. For those slightly apprehensive about taking rides, you’ll be glad to know that this ride is not too thrilling, as they have a brake system for you to adjust your speed.
Play unlimited arcade games at Fantasy Park
Arcade fans will be delighted to know that the resort ticket grants you complimentary access to the arcade games in Fantasy Park, located at the basement of the resort. Go crazy on the Daytona rides!
Visit the Wax Museum
Here’s your chance to be among the Hollywood stars in the Wax Museum! Take selfies, dance with Michael Jackson, mingle with the A-listers, and so much more. The professionally-crafted wax figurines are so lifelike that it might even send you the chills.
Note: There is a separate entrance fee (approximately S$8) for the Wax Museum.
Rock climb or take a thrilling ride with a 30m plunge
At Fantasy Park, you can challenge yourself to the most thrilling of rides in the whole resort- a 30-metre plunge! And for those up for a sweat, do participate in the rock-climbing activity!
Have tea at a traditional teahouse on top of the hills
Sipping on tea while resting on a tatami and looking out onto the idyllic gardens- the Rain Sheltering Teahouse doesn’t get any more zen than this. This beautiful teahouse is modelled after a traditional mansion of a typical Northern village. This is the perfect hideout for you to rest those tired feet and while your afternoon away.
Visit pagodas and shrines
Ba Na Hills is home to pagodas and shrines. One of the highlights include Linh Ung Pagoda, which rests at the height of 1,500m above sea level. You can also enjoy wonderful unobscured views from the top of the pagoda. The sophisticated and elegant architecture of the pagoda itself is a sight to behold!
Other Tips
Tickets
Our Ba Na Hills entrance tickets were booked via Klook, and I’d highly recommend doing so as you get to skip the lines and enter the resort seamlessly!
We simply presented our mobile e-voucher at the Klook desk located within the Travel Agency Ticket Area (left side of main entrance) to exchange for a physical ticket. Top up for a lunch buffet voucher, which has to be redeemed before 3 PM.
SIM Card
To stay connected, I booked my data SIM card (7GB) from Klook. Good news- you can conveniently pick up the SIM card upon arrival at Da Nang International Airport, and the counter stays open until 2AM!
Weather
The best times to visit will be January to March. It is best to avoid September to December as those are wet seasons.
Getting There
There are direct flight options from Singapore to Da Nang. Ba Na Hills is about a 45-min drive away from Da Nang city center. We stayed in Da Nang city and booked a one-day private city transfer to get to Ba Na Hills. Our driver, Mr Huy, was very pleasant and professional.
Tip: When mapping to Ba Na Hills, use “Ba Na Cable Car Service Parking Lot”. If you key in “Ba Na Hills”, Google Maps will lead you to the top of the hill which is the incorrect way.
The cost of taking a Grab from Da Nang city to Ba Na Hills is 500,000 VND (S$30) one-way, hence it is more cost effective to book via Klook’s private city transfer.
Sun World Ba Na Hills is a resort itself, hence you do not need a car to get around within! The cable car is the main mode of transport, and you can around by foot.
If you would like to experience the benefits of a fuss-free travel, check out this private city transfer service by Klook.
For those who require car transfers to and from the airport, I would recommend Klook’s private airport transfer service. It makes getting around more efficient and affordable too!
Thank you Klook travel for making this trip an amazing one!
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