Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang: things to see and how to plan the visit

From My Khe Beach, Son Tra Peninsula forms the green headland at the northern end of Da Nang's coastline, with the white Lady Buddha visible on its lower slopes. It is close enough to the city centre for an easy half-day trip, yet the landscape changes quickly once the road climbs into the forest.

Son Tra combines several sides of Da Nang in one visit: Linh Ung Pagoda and its 67-metre Lady Buddha, panoramic views from Ban Co Peak, forest roads and the habitat of the red-shanked douc langur. For a first visit, allowing around half a day gives enough time to see the main sights without rushing.

What Son Tra Peninsula is, and why it has three names

Son Tra Peninsula is the headland that closes off the northern end of Da Nang's coastline, with sea on three sides and the city on the fourth. The names cause more confusion than the geography. "Son Tra Peninsula" means the whole landmass: forested hills, rocky shoreline and small bays. "Son Tra Mountain" usually refers to the high ground in the middle, where the upper viewpoints sit. “Monkey Mountain” is the English name commonly used for Son Tra, although “Son Tra Peninsula” is the more precise term for the whole headland. “Son Tra Mountain” usually refers more specifically to the mountainous interior, including the area around Ban Co Peak. Part of that summit area is still military land and closed to visitors, which is why some roads on old maps simply end at a gate.

What sets Son Tra Peninsula apart is how much of it is still forest. Large parts of the peninsula are protected within the Son Tra Nature Reserve, and people in Da Nang often call it the city's green lung. The lower slopes hold resorts and seafood restaurants. Higher up, trees close over the road, the bends tighten and the sea only shows through gaps in the canopy. The combination of Buddhist sights, mountain viewpoints, coastal scenery and endangered wildlife gives Son Tra a very different character from Da Nang's urban beach areas.

Why Monkey Mountain deserves more than a quick photo stop

Plenty of visitors see Monkey Mountain in about an hour: a taxi to the pagoda, a photo with the Lady Buddha, back to the beach before lunch. Allowing a few extra hours gives enough time to combine the pagoda, Ban Co Peak and a short walk without rushing between stops. The road into the hills gives a better sense of how much forest remains on the peninsula, while the views open up across Da Nang Bay. A half-day visit combines nature, views and cultural sights without requiring a full-day excursion outside Da Nang.

Things to do on Son Tra Peninsula

Linh Ung Pagoda and the Lady Buddha

Linh Ung Pagoda sits on the southern slope of Son Tra Peninsula, at a spot called Bai But, facing the sea and the city. The story of the site goes back to the reign of Emperor Minh Mang in the 19th century, when local fishermen are said to have found a Buddha statue on the beach below and built a small shrine for it. The pagoda standing today is far more recent: construction of the present-day pagoda complex began in 2004 and was completed around 2010.

The white statue of Quan Am (Avalokitesvara), the bodhisattva of compassion, is what most visitors come to see. The Lady Buddha stands 67 metres tall on a lotus base about 35 metres across and can be picked out from much of the coast road. The statue has 17 internal levels containing smaller Buddha figures, although the interior is not generally part of the visitor experience. A path of 18 white stone arhats, each with a different expression, leads to terraces looking straight across the bay. Macaques are often seen around the grounds too.

This is an active place of worship rather than a museum. Clothing that covers shoulders and knees is expected, and voices naturally drop around the main halls. Weekends and festival days bring pilgrims and fuller parking lots; an early weekday visit feels much calmer.

One detail catches many travellers out: Da Nang has three pagodas named Linh Ung, one here, one in the Marble Mountains and one at the top of Ba Na Hills. Adding "Bai But" or "Son Tra" to a taxi booking saves a detour.

Ban Co Peak and the view over Da Nang Bay

Ban Co Peak is one of the best-known viewpoints on Son Tra Mountain. The name means "chessboard" and comes from a local legend about immortals who climbed up to play chess above the clouds. On a clear day, the panorama covers the long curve of the coastline, the city grid, the Hai Van Pass to the northwest and the Cham Islands far out to sea.

Older guides sometimes recommend sunrise at Ban Co Peak, but the current managed-route opening hours begin at 7:30 a.m., so sunrise visits are no longer compatible with the normal access schedule. The first hour after opening and the late afternoon can offer softer light and a quieter atmosphere. The road up is steep, and low cloud can sit on the summit while the city below is in full sun. When the peak disappears into mist, the lower parts of Son Tra Peninsula make a good plan B.

Looking for red-shanked douc langurs

The red-shanked douc langur is one of Son Tra Peninsula's best-known wildlife species. It is a leaf-eating primate with a grey body, maroon-red lower legs, white forearms, a pale face framed by white whiskers and a long white tail. Its striking colouring is one of the features that makes the species so recognisable. The species is endangered and lives only in parts of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

How many live here is still debated. Population estimates have varied between surveys. GreenViet has reported more than 1,300 red-shanked douc langurs in Son Tra, although population estimates can vary depending on the survey method and period. Son Tra is considered an important habitat for the species and has one of the better-known populations in Vietnam.

Spotting them takes patience. The langurs live high in the canopy, so the first clue is often a swaying branch or a flash of red. They are often more active in the morning and later afternoon, although sightings are never guaranteed. Within today's opening hours, a slow late-afternoon drive along the upper road is a reasonable bet. Binoculars are more useful than a long lens for spotting animals high in the canopy.

Good wildlife manners matter here: keep a respectful distance and avoid disturbing wildlife with drones or other equipment. Langurs used to roadside food become more exposed to traffic. GreenViet, a Da Nang-based conservation group, runs education programmes about the species for anyone curious to learn more.

The coastal road, small beaches and Tien Sa

The lower road around the southern and western edges of Son Tra Peninsula offers a different experience from the summit, with smaller beaches, coastal views and seafood restaurants. Small beaches such as Bai But, below the pagoda, have clear water on calm days and seafood restaurants nearby. Tien Sa, at the western tip near the port, looks back across the bay towards the city and the Hai Van Pass. The management board has been adding warning signs and barriers along informal paths down to the sea after cases of people getting lost, injured or drowned. Beaches with established road access are easier to reach; unmarked tracks leading to isolated coves can be hazardous.

The heritage banyan tree

The heritage banyan tree on the northern side of Monkey Mountain is a huge old tree with hanging aerial roots and a wide spreading canopy, and a well-known landmark on the headland. Access has changed over the years, including closures after landslides. Under the current access rules, visitors must leave their vehicle at the Bai Bac junction and continue to the tree on foot. If you are driving the one-way route down from Ban Co Peak, the junction is a convenient point to stop before continuing to the banyan tree.

Son Tra Peninsula opening hours and access rules in 2026

The upper roads here are steep, narrow in places and run through protected forest. After storm damage and safety concerns in recent years, Da Nang now manages visitor access on Son Tra Peninsula through designated routes, hours and vehicle restrictions. As of August 2026, the permitted routes are as follows:

The permitted routes normally operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from March to September, and from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from October to February. Individual routes may be temporarily closed for repairs or when dangerous weather is forecast. Visits can be suspended when dangerous weather warnings are issued, and branch roads outside the permitted routes are closed to vehicles.

Some roads that still appear on map apps are no longer open, vehicle restrictions are enforced at access points, and the rules tend to shift after big storms, so check the latest local notice or confirm the route status locally before setting out, especially after storms. The pagoda is on the lower slopes of Son Tra and is accessed separately from the controlled upper routes. 

How to get to Son Tra Peninsula from Da Nang and Hoi An

Reaching the foot of the headland is easy; exploring the upper part is a different question. How to get to Son Tra Peninsula depends mostly on which parts are on the plan. From Hoi An, the drive usually takes around an hour, depending on traffic and the starting point.

Taxi or Grab

For the pagoda alone, a taxi or Grab car is a simple option, especially if you are staying around central Da Nang or My Khe Beach. On the upper road, a ride back down can be hit and miss, so agreeing on a waiting fee beforehand works better than hoping for a pickup at the top.

Private car with driver

For the full loop, taking in the pagoda, the summit, the one-way descent and the walk to the banyan tree, a private car is a convenient option for the full loop. Private cars are allowed on the main route, while vehicles with more than 24 seats are not. It can be particularly convenient for families, older travellers and visitors travelling during the wetter months. 

Guided tours

Half-day tours on Son Tra Peninsula cover the main stops without any need to work out routes or vehicle rules. A local guide can also help with route planning and wildlife spotting, particularly when access rules change after storms.

How long to spend on Son Tra Peninsula

For a first visit covering the main sights, around half a day is usually enough.

Best time to visit Son Tra Peninsula

Season by season

Da Nang's drier period generally runs from around February or March to August, while the wetter season usually falls between September and December. Rainfall is typically highest in October and November, when storms and dangerous-weather warnings can lead to temporary closures of the upper routes.

Time of day

For cooler temperatures and softer light, early morning and later afternoon are generally more comfortable than midday. These periods can also be useful for wildlife observation, although sightings are never guaranteed. 

When the weather turns

When the summit is covered by cloud or the upper routes are closed, the pagoda and lower coastal areas can still be visited, subject to local access conditions.

Small things that make the day easier

Comfortable shoes help with the pagoda steps and the banyan tree walk. Water and snacks are worth packing, since options on the upper road are limited, and sun protection matters at the exposed viewpoints even on hazy days. For the langurs, binoculars matter more than a long lens. Sticking to official routes avoids the tracks that older maps on Monkey Mountain still show.

Fitting Son Tra into a Da Nang stay

A simple way to combine Son Tra with the rest of a Da Nang itinerary is to visit the peninsula in the morning and spend the afternoon at My Khe Beach. For a cultural contrast, the modern Linh Ung complex pairs well with the Marble Mountains south of the city, home to an older Linh Ung pagoda and a series of cave shrines. Allowing a half day gives enough time to see the main sights without rushing between them.

Son Tra Peninsula FAQ

Is Son Tra Peninsula worth visiting?

Son Tra is particularly suitable for travellers who want to combine nature, viewpoints and cultural sights within easy reach of Da Nang. Within a short drive of Da Nang, Son Tra Peninsula combines Linh Ung Pagoda and its 67-metre Lady Buddha, wide views from Ban Co Peak and a forest that is home to the endangered red-shanked douc langur.

Is Monkey Mountain the same as Son Tra Peninsula?

Yes. “Monkey Mountain” is a commonly used English name for Son Tra. “Son Tra Peninsula” refers to the whole headland, while “Son Tra Mountain” is generally used for the mountainous interior around Ban Co Peak.

How many hours are enough for Son Tra Peninsula?

One to one and a half hours covers Linh Ung Pagoda. A half day of four to five hours adds Ban Co Peak, the one-way descent, the banyan tree walk and a slow search for langurs.

What are the Son Tra Peninsula opening hours?

At the time of writing, the upper routes open 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. from March to September and 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. from October to February, with suspensions during dangerous weather.

When is the best time to see red-shanked douc langurs on Son Tra?

They are often more active in the morning and later afternoon, although sightings are never guaranteed. Within current opening hours, late afternoon can be a useful time to look for them. 

Is Son Tra Peninsula open in the rainy season?

Generally yes, but the upper routes may close during storms or dangerous weather warnings, and fog often hides the views. Linh Ung Pagoda and the lower coastal areas may be easier alternatives when the upper routes are closed, subject to local conditions.

Final thoughts on Son Tra Peninsula

Son Tra is easy to visit as a half-day trip from Da Nang, but the route is more enjoyable when planned around the current access rules. Linh Ung Pagoda is the simplest introduction to the peninsula, while Ban Co Peak, the forest roads and the red-shanked douc habitat add a stronger nature element. Before setting out, check the route status and weather conditions, especially during the rainy season.

Planning Da Nang as part of a longer trip

Son Tra Peninsula rarely stands alone. It usually sits within a few days in central Vietnam, alongside Hoi An, Hue or the Hai Van Pass, and that is where timing matters: which morning suits the headland, how the rainy season shapes the route and how many nights the region needs.

Vietnam Today Travel plans tailor-made journeys across Vietnam around each traveller's dates, pace and interests. For help fitting Son Tra into a wider route, the contact form is the place to share travel dates, trip length, group size and the experiences that matter most, and a local specialist will follow up with ideas to shape together.