While planning our trip to Vietnam, we made sure we'd skip any guided tours. Nothing beats exploring at your own pace! But when it came to visiting Sun World Ba Na Hills and the famous Golden Hand Bridge, we had no choice. Turns out you can’t just walk up to the bridge, and it's part of a massive theme park up on the mountains. So we booked a Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Hoi An, and we want to share our experience!
Is it really worth it? Before we get to our experience, here are things we wish we knew before;
Read other articles on our Vietnam Trip:
How long is the Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Hoi An?
The Ba Na Hills private tour from Hoi An lasts about 8-9 hours, including the travel time between Da Nang and Hoi An. It starts at 8 a.m. when the driver picks you up and ends at 5 p.m. when you are dropped off at your hotel in Hoi An. It's safe to say that the whole tour takes up a full day.
Is Ba Na Hills close to Da Nang or Hoi An?
Sunworld Ba Na Hills is a luxury theme park resort in Da Nang. It's located on the remote hills, and the travel times between Da Nang and Hoi An are quite long. If you're travelling from Da Nang, it would take about 45 minutes to get to Ba Na Hills, and if you're travelling from Hoi An, it would take 1 Hour and 30 Minutes.
Can I visit Da Nang on a Day Trip from Hoi An?
Absolutely! One day is more than enough to explore Da Nang, but you'll need a separate day for Ba Na Hill. If you're on a tight schedule, you can visit the main sites like Marble Mountain, Lady Buddha, Da Nang Downtown and Cho Con Market. If you also want to visit Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Mountain), you will need about another day.
If you're based in Hoi An, we would suggest you move to Da Nang on your last day like we did without booking a hotel. Wake up early in the morning, pack up and take a Taxi from Hoi An to GO Da Nang Supermarket for about 300,000 VND. Leave your luggage at the supermarket (You can leave it for free for up to 3 days). Visit the places you want to go to.
What to wear for Ba Na Hill?
It depends on the time you visit. Generally, it's pretty cold up in the hills, so if you're travelling during Summer (March to August), a thin jacket, light clothing, and shoes would do.
But if you're travelling during the rainy season from October to February, Ba Na Hills is filled with mist and rain, and it's super cold. Make sure you take a waterproof jacket and shoes, and bring an umbrella so you don't get wet and freeze to death. You'll find raincoats at the base of the mountain. While it's more effective than an umbrella, the raincoat is not photo-worthy.
What is the best time to visit the Ba Na Hills?
March to August is the best time to visit Ba Na Hills as the sky is much clearer. When we went during the rainy season, most buildings and statues of the theme park were not visible. Many activities were also temporarily halted due to the heavy mists. But the mist did give an eerie feel when in the castle and the funicular.
Can you bring your own food to Ba Na Hills?
While Ba Na Hills has its own restaurants, pubs and a five-star hotel up there, you can still bring your own food. There's a public eating area on the first stop of the Cable Car. Note that if you're with a tour group, a buffet lunch will be included in the package. If your travel group has Indian nationals, you'll be given the option to pick between the international spread and the Indian one. Go with the International spread; it's amazing.
Can I visit Ba Na Hill at night?
Yes. There's a special tour called 'Ba Na by Night'. You can get the shuttle from Downtown Da Nang at 3 p.m. and get to Ba Na Hills to experience the magical night view. However, the Cable Cars stop at 10 p.m., so make sure you come back before 10 p.m. Alternatively, if you have some extra money to spare, you can book a night at the resort so you can fully experience 'Ba Na Hills at night'.
How to Spend Time in Ba Na Hill?
The Golden Hand Bridge isn't the only icon in the Ba Na Hills. There are many photo locations and activities for both children and adults. Starting from the Cable Car ride to the Medieval Fair, French Village, Lunar Castle and even the Wax Museum, you'll have many places to be in a short time, and the set up is quite confusing.
But don't worry, when you enter, you'll be given a pamphlet with the whole map and the cable car stops so you don't get lost. Plus, if you're on a Ba Na Hills private tour, your guide will explain the pathway.
Is Ba Na Hills good for a Family Trip?
Ba Na Hills is ideal for families. Apart from the bar and the festivals, most other activities and places are made for kids and young adults. If you're not easily impressed by little things, you may find Ba Na Hills to be a bit underwhelming.
How much does it cost from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills by Taxi?
On Grab, it would cost about 400,000 VND one-way to Ba Na Hills. The biggest challenge is coming back from Ba Na Hills cause you'll have trouble finding a taxi from the mountain. Private taxis would cost bout 1,430,000 two-ways, and it's way too much. We booked our Ba Na Hills private tour for 1,670,00, including entrance tickets and a buffet lunch with a tour guide.
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Can I go to Ba Na Hills on my own?
Yes, you can! While private tours are convenient, you can totally go solo. If you're staying in Da Nang, the shuttle is your best bet - it’s cheaper, and you’ll have company along the way. Just make sure to research which hilltop spots need separate tickets and which cable car lines to take so you don’t end up going in circles!
Our Experience of Ba Na Hills Tour from Hoi An 2025
We booked our Ba Na Hills tour from our hotel in Hoi An (Hoianese Old Town Boutique) through Venus Travel just one day before the tour date. It cost us 1,670,000 VND (65$), and that's the regular price. This included cable car rides and a buffet lunch.
We were picked up at 8 a.m. along with about 10 people. Our guide, Mr. Bean (he calls himself) was nice and funny, he kept us entertained the whole tour. We had one stop at a jade carving warehouse. A tip we learnt from our Green Tour in Turkey is not to spend too much time in these stopovers and avoid buying anything like the Zultanite from Cappadocia.
Tour Schedule & Time
Within 1 hour and 30 minutes, we were at Ba Na Hills. Although we went during the rainy season, the queues for the cable car were super long. Generally, private tour groups get quick access, so if you're a solo traveller, prepare for the wait times too.
The cable car ride took 20 minutes one way, bringing us to the famous Golden Hand Bridge - once again, packed with tourists. The misty view was one to capture on camera. After a quick stop for photos, our guide hurriedly led us to a few other scenic spots. This was when we wished we had come on our own - we barely had time to take it all in and had to rush to keep up.
By 12:30 p.m., we were given free time until 3 p.m. to explore and grab lunch. We also received free beer coupons from the brewery. However, with the thick mist and rain, we struggled to speed through our sightseeing and missed a couple of places too.
At 3 p.m., we took the cable car back down. Since the funicular lines were overcrowded, our guide led us to the furthest one, meaning a lot of fast walking. By 4:30 p.m., we were back at the hotel.
And that brings us to the burning question,
Is the Ba Na Hills Private Tour worth it?
Taking all aspects like transport, food and convenience into account, yes, the Ba Na Hills Private Tour is worth it. However, if you're short on time, only want to see the Golden Hand Bridge, or love exploring things at your own pace, going on your own makes more sense. Just be sure to do some research beforehand, as mentioned earlier.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it - the Ba Na Hills Tour experience from Hoi An! Was it worth it? For us, yes! We had a full day set aside for it and enjoyed the food as well.
Planning to take a Ba Na Hills private tour? Share your experience with us and our readers - drop a comment below!
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