Da Nang Travel Diary: Son Tra Peninsula & Linh Ung Pagoda (April 4, 2026)
After visiting the Marble Mountains in the morning, we headed straight to the Son Tra Peninsula without taking a break! I’d heard the views of Da Nang from the peninsula were beautiful, so we jumped right into a Grab.
Getting There: From Marble Mountains to Son Tra by Grab
We took a Grab directly from the Marble Mountains to Linh Ung Pagoda. Here are the details, in case it helps you plan:
- Fare: about 264,000 VND
- Travel time: roughly 40 minutes
To save ourselves a bit of walking, we got off at a spot called “in front of the Linh Ung ice cream shop,” which is close to the viewpoint for the pagoda’s Buddha statue. From there, it was only about a 100-meter walk uphill. Since we were traveling with a child, this shorter route was a real relief!
Why We Kept Our Visit Short
We usually only ever book Grab one way. But once we arrived, two things gave us second thoughts:
- It was so hot that sightseeing for long was tough.
- Linh Ung Pagoda was not as enormous as I had expected.
So we looked around for about 30 minutes and headed back down. On the way out, though, there were taxis parked all over the place. That made me a little nervous about whether I’d actually be able to find the Grab driver I’d called.
Tips for Making the Most of Grab ✨
Tip 1. Consider booking a round trip if you’re only staying briefly. If you plan to see this place quickly, it might be worth asking your Grab driver to wait and take you both ways. They may charge a bit extra, of course, but it could save you the hassle!
Tip 2. Take a photo of your location and upload it. In the Grab app, you can take a photo of where you’re standing and upload it. That way, the driver knows exactly where to find you and comes right to you! I could also type messages in Korean and the app translated them automatically, which made communication really easy.
You Can Even Change Your Destination Mid-Ride!
On the way, I suddenly wanted to stop at a seafood restaurant. About a minute after the ride started, I asked the driver if I could change the destination, and he told me I could submit a change request right in the app.
When I opened my existing Grab booking, I was able to re-enter the destination. Thanks to that, I changed our destination once while we were already on the road!
My Honest Take on Linh Ung Pagoda & Son Tra Peninsula
Now for the most important part: my honest review. Well… I have to admit, it was a little underwhelming.
The day I went was humid and overcast, so the scenery wasn’t all that spectacular. That said, the Lady Buddha statue, standing 67 meters tall, was genuinely awe-inspiring! The only catch was that I’d worn myself out at the Marble Mountains in the morning, so I couldn’t fully soak in its grandeur. That’s my biggest regret.
Still, here’s what I liked:
- The wide-open views
- A park you can stroll through near the Lady Buddha statue
- If you’re lucky, you might even spot monkeys (we wrapped up in 20 minutes and didn’t see any!)
A Special Sight You Can Only Catch on a Weekend Morning
Oh! One more thing. We went around 11 a.m. on a weekend, and we got to see the monks chanting sutras at the temple. It was such a unique experience!
If I Ever Go Back
All in all, it was a trip with a few regrets. So if I go again, here’s what I’d do differently:
- Make sure I’m well-rested before heading out
- Pick a day with good weather
Because it sits on a peninsula, Son Tra offers a sweeping view of Da Nang’s My Khe Beach. It was a real shame that the hazy weather kept me from seeing it properly.
That’s all for today’s diary! I hope it helps anyone planning a trip to Da Nang. 😊
This is an honest review based on my own firsthand experience.