Danang is the largest city in central Vietnam and one of
the country's most important ports. Ringed by mountains
on one side and the East Sea on the other, Danang has
numerous sites of natural beauty and historical
interest.
The
city’s origins date back to the ancient Champa Kingdom,
established by Indonesian settlers in 192AD. At its
peak, the Cham’s sphere of influence stretched from Hue.
The expansion of the Chinese, Vietnamese and Khmer led
to the decline and fall of the Cham by the mid-15th
century.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, French and Spanish
traders and missionaries made landfall at Hoi An, just
south of Danang. By the 19th century, Danang had
superceded Hoi An as the most important seaport in the
central region.
The presence of the French in the 19th and early 20th
centuries and the Americans in the 1960s, led to
continued growth of Danang, and it is now Vietnam's
fourth largest city.
NON NUOC BEACH
This white sandy beach on
the outskirts of Danang is renowned for both its spectacular beauty and
for its history as an R&R destination for American troops during the
War. Today, the beach is home to luxurious resorts, surfing and
entertainment facilities.
CHAM MUSEUM
Established by the Ecole
Francaise d’Extreme Orient in 1915, the Cham Museum houses the world's
finest collection of Cham art. Many of the statues, sculptures and
reliefs were discovered at the nearby former Cham capitals of Dong
Duong, Khuong My and Tra Kieu as well as My Son which is now a UNESCO
designated World Heritage site.
Dating from the 7 th to the 15th
centuries, the sensual artwork depicts daily activities as well as Hindu
and Buddhist religious artifacts. The museum itself is housed in a
beautiful French colonial style villa with open-air courtyards, fruit
trees and bougainvillea.
