Situated in the centre of Vietnam, the modern Da Nang International Airport is developing into one of the country’s most convenient aerial hubs. A decade ago, almost all visitors to Vietnam had to land in the north at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, or the far south in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Da Nang International has frequent flights to destinations across Asia and is ideal for visiting the highlights hidden in the heart of the country, such as the beaches of Da Nang, historic Hoi An, Ba Na Hill Station and many traditional villages dominated by sweeping rice paddies.
Although built as a military airport used for the French Indochina and U.S. Vietnam wars, the airport underwent significant redevelopment in 2006, giving it its modern feel and facade. Destinations serviced from the single terminal include Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Bangkok, Siem Reap, Hong Kong, Tokyo and various destinations across China. Daily flights to Vietnam’s other airports help passengers see different areas of the country in a short space of time, as there are over 200 weekly departures to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
The airport is located within the city, barely a ten-minute taxi journey to the centre of Da Nang. Taxis are obliged by law to use the metre, although some taxi drivers will try to negotiate a price in advance. Almost all passengers use the ubiquitous taxis although there are bus services that stop on the road just outside the airport.
While Da Nang has a military history, it was also a major base for Air Vietnam from 1951 to 1975. The airline ran domestic and international civilian flights to destinations across Southeast Asia.