How to Visit Vietnam's Golden Hand Bridge
The Golden Hand Bridge on Ba Na Hills, unveiled back in 2018, has captured the attention of international media. Its design is striking, featuring a massive pair of hands emerging from the mountain to support the golden walkway suspended in the sky. This iconic landmark is a must-visit attraction when traveling in Da Nang, Vietnam.
The Vietnam Golden Bridge, God’s hand bridge, Cầu Vàng, in Vietnamese, located at the Sun World Ba Na Hills Fantasy Amusement Park, it has quickly become a must-see attraction. In this post, you’ll read about best things to do at Ba Na Hills, when to visit for the perfect photo opportunity? The Golden Bridge sits atop a mountain in Ba Na Hills and can only be reached by cable car.
Check list: About Golden Hand Bridge in Danang
- The bridge stretches 150 meters long and 12.8 meters wide, with 8 arches.
- Located at an altitude of 1414 meters above sea level.
- The unique feature of the Golden Hands Bridge’s design is the contrast between the elegant curve & the giant hands holding it formly.
- Walking along the bridge crossing the hands of the God of the Mountain.
What (or where) is the Vietnam Golden Hand Bridge?
A day trip to the God’s hand bridge would probably include in your Vietnam itinerary. The bridge sits in Ba Na Hills, just a 1-hour drive from Hoi An or Da Nang, making it a perfect day trip.
Danang, or Da Nang, known as the “City of Bridges,” features many impressive bridges along the Han River. The Golden Bridge, the newest addition to Da Nang’s collection, has quickly become an iconic symbol of the city and a must-see on any Vietnam tour specially for Asian and Indian tourists.
The Golden Bridge is sits like a crown at the top of the Sun World Ba Na Hills. Located 35 kilometers southeast of Da Nang.
What is Ba Na Hills & How do I get tickets ?
Book a tour that depart from either Danang or Hoi An, or get your entrance ticket to Ba Na Hills through online websites, which lets you enter directly with a QR code. Ba Na Hills, perched atop a hill as the name suggests, is a quirky yet charming amusement park. It’s a unique places as once you enter the park, you feel as if you’ve left Vietnam behind! With grand castles and unique sculptures, the park exudes a distinctly European vibe – particularly French style, since everything is named in French. This fits with the region’s history of French colonization.
Although it called an amusement park, it’s not truly a Disneyland with roller coasters or thrill rides. Instead, it serves more as a cultural destination, featuring a different architecture with restaurants that provide buffet food for visitors.
How to get to the Ba Na Hills (Golden Bridge)
Both Ba Na Hills & Golden Hand Bridge are sat atop a mountain, and can only be reached by cable car. All cable cars depart from Sun World, so to visit the bridge, you must purchase a ticket at Sun World, a popular theme park franchise in Vietnam.
Ba Na Hills is just a 40 minutes drive from both Da Nang and Hoi An. Book a private tour, or just a car from your hotel to Ba Na Hills and back.
Ride a motorbike
The mountain road to Sun World passing through lush surrounding overlooking the ocean and Danang city. Many tourist would like to ride the 40 minutes from Da Nang or Hoi An to the Ba Na Hill.
Many hotels in Danang or Hoi An rent a motorbike on daily basis with prices from 100,000 to 150,000 VND (USD 4 – 7)
By 26 seat Bus
There are way too many buses running from Danang or Hoi An to Ba Na Hills, they usually start from 8 AM and drive you back to Danang around 4 PM. The bus picks up and drops off passengers at hotels. This option is great for those who want to save money, a round-trip ticket costs between 120,000 VND and 150,000 VND, while a one-way ticket costs 100,000 VND. Book your ticket online or at your hotel.
If you depart from Hoi An, a round-trip ticket would costs between 200,000 VND – 250,000 VND (around $8.50 to $10.90 USD).
Book a private car
To get to Ba Na Hills more comfortable yet flexible, consider booking a private car for the entire trip to golden hand bridge at Ba Na Hills and to the famous My Son temples. The car will pick you up at your hotel in Danang or Hoi An and will drive you to Ba Na Hills, then to My Son Temple, and back to your hotel at the end of the day. The private car usually cost around 1600,000 VND (USD75).
Ba Na Hill & Golden Hands Bridge Tour
Book a private guided tour would be the most recommended way to visit golden hand bridge together with Ba Na Hills. It is included all tickets, cable car, buffet lunch, transportation on private modern car, and an experienced tour guide who speaks English and share about the areas and could answers all your questions.
Cable car to reach the Golden Bridge
Take the Ba Na Hills cable car to reach the Golden Bridge, once you arrive at the Ba Na Hills base, head to the entrance to buy the ticket to the park. The Golden Hand Bridge sits at the top of Ba Na Hills, and the only way to reach it is by cable car. Adult tickets cost 750,000 VND ($30 USD), and tickets for children up to 1.3m tall cost 600,000 VND ($25 USD).
FACT: The distance from Ba Na Hill base to the top to reach the golden bridge is around 8km which is considered as the longest cable car in the world.
Once you buy the entrance ticket, it include most attractions at Ba Na Hills, such as the round-trip cable car, Golden Bridge, French Village, Fantasy Park, Linh Ung Pagoda, Debay Wine Cellar, and the Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden.
Best Time To Visit The Golden Bridge
As of when’s the best time of the day to visit Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge: First thing first, the weather is seriously unpredictable, Danang or Hoi An could be sunny and nice but up there in Ba na Hills could be misty, fogy, and windy or even cold.
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:30
- Most crowded hours: 09:00 – 16:00
- To avoid the crowds: Before 9:00 or after 17:00
The best time of the day however would be as early as 7 AM to get on the first cable car and be among the first tourists to walk along the God’s hand bridge and take few nicer photos when there is not many people around. Some traveler also suggest to get there late in the afternoon or around lunch time in order to see the bridge with fewer people and take few nice photos.
The Golden Bridge ranks among the most visited tourist sites in Danang, especially on weekends and during peak season from April to September. The best time to visit is early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Exploring other sites in Ba Na Hills
Ok, so once you done with the Angelina Jolie of the all sites, the golden hand bridge, it’s now time to explore the rest of Ba Na Hills.
1.Le Jardin D’amour Flower Gardens
The amazing garden offers unique variety of flowers. The Le Jardin D’Amour Flower Garden consists of nine distinct sections, each featuring unique architectural designs. These include Suoi Mo Garden, Eden Garden, Mysterious Garden, Couple Garden, Reflection Garden, The Mythical Garden, Memories Garden, Sacred Garden, and Vineyard.
2. 100 year old Wine Collar – Debay Wine Cellar
The Debay Wine Cellar, built by the French in 1923. Here, people stored wine in oak barrels for years, creating a nostalgic atmosphere with the finest wine flavors. Visitors can sample various types of fermented fruits and wines.
3. The French Village
The French Village, inspired by Renaissance European architecture, is a miniature version of Europe in the heart of Da Nang’s Ba Na Hill. With its unique architecture and cool climate, this village transports visitors to a dreamy, nostalgic European setting. It features a complete complex with a church, a fountain square, shops, restaurants, and hotels for an overnight stay.
4. Linh Ung Pagoda
5. Wax Museum
Bana Hills Wax Museum. To visit this unique attraction, purchase a ticket for 100,000 VND. Opened in July 2013, it is the first wax museum in Vietnam, showcasing nearly 50 life-like figures of famous politicians, film stars, and athletes from around the world.
Leaving Golden hand bridge
Once the visit to Golden hand bridge, the Ba Na Hills, garden & an amusement park comes to an end, walk to L’Indochine Station to take the cable car straight down to Suoi Mo Station, to exit the site. The cable car takes around 20 minutes to reach the base of the hills, from where you can take your transfer and back to Danang, or Hoi An.
How to take a photoshoot at the Golden Hand Bridge?
Photography at the golden hand bridge is the only thing you see most people doing. Here are some tips for capturing stunning photos or videos of the Golden Hand Bridge that will get you those viral Instagram shots:
- Capture panoramic views from the right or left side; This angle allow the best perspectives of the Golden Bridge. It’s perfect for snapping a full shot of the bridge or capturing its grandeur in the background.
- Pose inside the frame for a personal touch; Stand in the frame, in between the bridge’s iconic giant hands, and smile. Share the picture with your followers to show off your visit to this incredible landmark, which has inspired so many on social media.
Fly cam or drone at Ba Na Hill & Golden Bridge
FAQ: Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge
Can I stay overnight at Ba Na Hills?
Yes, it’s possible since there is a nice hotel with swimming pool, spa and good restaurant.
You can stay overnight at the Mercure Danang French Village, which gives you early access to the Golden Hand Bridge before the crowds arrive. Ba Na Hills opens at 7:30 AM, so staying overnight lets you visit the bridge at sunrise. So, consider it, if you really need to be at the bridge before everyone else arrive.
Is Golden Hand Bridge Worth the visit?
This is an honest answer, so read on: The Golden Bridge and its surroundings at Ba Na Hill are simply stunning, and the cooler mountain weather would offer a great break specially if you’re visiting in the middle of summer.
In addition, the place felt overly artificial and of course, the name says it all, it’s an amusement park designed to mimic European cities, right in the heart of Vietnam.
Beside the Golden Hand Bridge, the other attractions at Ba Na Hills did not impress many travelers. Many visitors seemed to feel the same, to testimony, the rest of the park wasn’t as crowded as the bridge.
Again, Is it worth to visit Ba Na Hill and golden hand bridge? Overall yes, sure, if you have a half-day to arrange an excursion, go ahead and experience it.
Why was the Golden Bridge in Vietnam built?
The Golden Bridge in Vietnam’s Danang was built to primarily attract more tourists, as a tourism project, could be one way to showcase Vietnam and introduce it to the world;
- Attract tourists: Its unique design and location make it a major tourist draw, symbolizing Da Nang and boosting regional tourism.
- Provide a scenic location: The bridge offers stunning views and easy access from the Marseille cable car station to the Le Jardin D’Amour flower gardens.
- Inspire fashion designers: Its distinctive structure has sparked creativity in fashion collections.
- Host events: The bridge has hosted events like the “A Walk on a Cloud” fashion show.
- Serve as a wedding photoshoot location: Many couples choose the bridge as a backdrop for their wedding photos.
