Nui Son Tra is a beautiful island nicknamed Monkey Mountain by the American soldiers. Sited on Vietnam’s south central coast, this landmark is just a short drive from downtown Da Nang.
Until recently, there was a military base on the back of Nui Son Tra but the armed forces have been gradually loosening their grip. A superb new road has been constructed that winds around the southern rim of the mountain and various resorts have been created mostly catering to Vietnamese tourists.
Located on the remote eastern side, the large Nui Son Tra Resort is a particularly foreigner-friendly establishment. The no-less isolated Bien Dong Resort presents several tidy bungalows scattered around the periphery of the jungle as well as two swimming pools, a restaurant and a bar. Appealing to backpackers, the Bai Rang provides thatched roof shacks, a ramshackle restaurant and a bar placed in a boat on poles, all set in a peaceful bay.
Classified as a national park, the Son Tra peninsula features outstanding beaches, charming rapids and dense primeval forests and is surrounded by over 20 pure streams. The alluvial plains are exceptionally scenic, while the beaches of Bai Nam and Bai But offer some delightful coral sites. The area is also home to a diversity of flora and fauna, including various species of monkeys and sea turtles, and has a high potential as an eco-tourism destination.
Getting There & Away
Da Nang International Airport is served daily by planes arriving from Ho Chi Minh City (1 hour, 10 minutes) and Hanoi (1 hour, 15 minutes), and there are three flights per week from Bangkok, Singapore and Seoul.