Son Tra peninsula and the Lady Buddha: how to get there, what to see, reserve rules
The Son Tra peninsula is 10 km from central Da Nang: Linh Ung pagoda and the 67 m Lady Buddha, the banyan and Ban Co peak, mountain road hours, the automatic scooter ban, autumn landslides, and how to behave around langurs and monkeys.
The Son Tra peninsula (Sơn Trà) is a nature reserve 10 km north-east of central Da Nang. It has Linh Ứng pagoda on Bãi Bụt beach with the 67 m Lady Buddha statue, a heritage banyan tree and Bàn Cờ peak with a view over the whole city. The pagoda is reached by the coastal Hoàng Sa road; the mountain roads to the banyan and the peak are open only at set hours (7:30–17:30 from October to February, 7:30–18:30 from March to September) and closed to automatic scooters. In autumn the roads are shut after landslides, so check the peninsula management's notice before you go. Company cards: Son Tra Peninsula and Linh Ung Pagoda and Lady Buddha.
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What is Son Tra, and how far is it from the centre?
Son Tra is a mountainous peninsula that juts into the sea and shelters Da Nang from storms; it is about 10 km north-east of the centre. The Da Nang tourism portal calls it a nature reserve, with a highest point of 696 m and a length of about 15 km east to west. That is why the mountain roads run to a management scheme rather than being open to anyone anywhere.
Where is the Lady Buddha and how tall is it?
The Lady Buddha is a 67 m statue of the bodhisattva Quan Am at Linh Ứng pagoda on Bãi Bụt beach, on Hoàng Sa road, facing the sea. The 67 m figure comes from the Vietnam Airlines guide and MIA.vn (page of 21 Aug 2026). Construction began on 4 July 2004 and the pagoda opened on 30 July 2010 (Da Nang portal). Do not confuse it with Linh Ứng pagoda on the Marble Mountains: Da Nang has several pagodas with that name.
When is Linh Ứng pagoda open, and what should you wear?
Sources disagree: MIA.vn says 8:00–18:00, Vietnam Airlines says 6:00–21:00. Come during the day, and ask on site if you want early morning or evening. Dress modestly: MIA.vn advises against shorts and revealing tops, and shoulders and knees are best covered because it is a working pagoda. Entry to the grounds is free (Vietnam Airlines).
What is the heritage banyan, and what is Bàn Cờ peak?
The banyan (cây đa di sản) grows in the mountain part of the peninsula; the Da Nang portal gives its age as over 800 years and its height as 22 m. It is often called thousand-year-old, but the source says 800-plus. Bàn Cờ peak ("chessboard") is a viewpoint at about 700 m with a view over all of Da Nang; from where vehicles stop, a steep staircase leads to the top on foot.
Can you go up to the banyan and Bàn Cờ peak, and by what vehicle?
Yes, but only on three routes, and not on automatic scooters or buses over 24 seats. The routes under the peninsula management scheme (city letters of 14 Dec 2022 and 6 Feb 2025, as summarised by the Da Nang portal): from the Hoàng Sa junction at Bãi Bắc to the banyan; from Yết Kiêu street to Bàn Cờ peak; from Yết Kiêu to Suối Ôm. From the peak to Bãi Bắc traffic goes one way only. Each route has a checkpoint. Individual visitors get a green card that must be returned the same day (Vietnamplus, 16 Sep 2025). Other roads and side tracks are closed.
Are the Son Tra roads closed by landslides?
Yes, and often in recent years. After the floods of October 2022 the routes stayed shut for nearly three years and reopened on 16 September 2025 (Vietnamplus). On 4 November 2025 the peninsula management halted traffic and visits on all roads because of heavy rain and Typhoon Kalmaegi (Báo Văn Hóa). From 7:30 on 8 November two routes reopened: Yết Kiêu – Bàn Cờ peak – Bãi Bắc and the Bãi Bắc junction – banyan. The Tiên Sa – Suối Ôm – peak route stayed closed (Báo Văn Hóa, 7 Nov 2025). We could not find its current status, so check the notice before you go.
When should you go to Son Tra?
March to September: the Da Nang portal recommends the dry season, with less rain, clear skies and long views. From October to February the roads are slippery, fog can be thick, and routes close in heavy rain. In September to December keep a backup plan in the city.
How should you behave around langurs and monkeys?
Son Tra is home to the red-shanked douc langur (voọc chà vá chân nâu): the Da Nang portal counts about 300 here. If you meet langurs or macaques, do not feed or tease them, do not litter, and watch quietly from a distance. The official rules give no safe distance, so simply do not approach.
Which beaches are on the peninsula?
Son Tra has several quiet beaches; swim only where lifeguards are on duty and never in a storm. Bãi Bắc is on the north side, and one of the mountain routes starts there. Tiên Sa is a sandy beach by the port: the Da Nang portal describes fine sand and blue water. Bãi Bụt on the south side is 10–15 km from the centre, as sources give different figures; VinWonders says about 35 minutes. Bãi Rạng is 2 km from Bãi Bụt along Hoàng Sa road, with rocks and gentle waves (Vietnam Airlines). We did not check Bãi Nam. For city beaches see beaches of Da Nang.
How do you get to Son Tra from the centre?
The simplest way is Grab, Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) or a taxi to Linh Ứng pagoda: about 10 km from the centre along Hoàng Sa road. See taxis in Da Nang. Official sources give no travel time, so allow some margin: VinWonders gives about 35 minutes to Bãi Bụt. For the mountain routes a car is simpler than a scooter.
Can you go by motorbike?
To the pagoda along Hoàng Sa road, yes; on the mountain routes automatic scooters are not allowed. Rental details are in motorbike rental in Da Nang. The city announced the ban on automatic scooters on 15 Oct 2019 after accidents (Báo Văn Hóa), and it is part of the scheme the Da Nang portal published in 2025.
Where can you have dinner after Son Tra?
The Son Tra night market is not on the peninsula but in Son Tra district, at the corner of Lý Nam Đế and Mai Hắc Đế streets, by the bridge over the Han. Entry is free: food, souvenirs, clothes. Hours and what to buy are in markets and shops of Da Nang.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Son Tra peninsula? A nature reserve 10 km north-east of central Da Nang: mountains up to 696 m, forest, Linh Ứng pagoda with the Lady Buddha, a banyan and Bàn Cờ peak.
How tall is the Lady Buddha? 67 m. The statue of the bodhisattva Quan Am stands at Linh Ứng pagoda on Bãi Bụt beach, facing the sea.
When are Bàn Cờ peak and the banyan open? 7:30–17:30 from October to February, 7:30–18:30 from March to September. Outside those hours the barriers are locked.
Can you go to Son Tra by scooter? To the pagoda along Hoàng Sa road, yes; automatic scooters are not allowed on the mountain routes; cars are.
Are Son Tra roads closed by landslides? Sometimes: on 4 November 2025 all roads were closed, on 8 November two routes reopened, and the Tiên Sa – Suối Ôm – peak route stayed closed. Check the peninsula management's notice before you go.
Can you feed the monkeys and langurs? No. The peninsula management asks visitors not to feed or tease wild animals and not to litter.
What should you wear to Linh Ứng pagoda? Modest, covered clothing: no shorts or revealing tops, shoulders and knees covered. Entry is free.
Sources and checking
Distance, height of the peak, banyan, routes, road hours, ban on automatic scooters and buses, animal rules, pagoda construction dates — Da Nang tourism portal danangfantasticity.com (peninsula page, citing city letters of 14 Dec 2022 and 6 Feb 2025). The 2019 scooter ban — Báo Văn Hóa (16 Oct 2019). Route reopening on 16 Sep 2025 and the green card — Vietnamplus; closure on 4 Nov 2025 and partial reopening on 8 Nov 2025 — Báo Văn Hóa. Statue height of 67 m, hours and entry — Vietnam Airlines and MIA.vn (21 Aug 2026). Pagoda hours differ between sources, 8:00–18:00 and 6:00–21:00, so the text says to ask on site; the distance to Bãi Bụt also differs, 10 and 15 km. Beaches — Da Nang portal, Vietnam Airlines and VinWonders. We do not list prices. All pages opened on 22 October 2026. Text updated 22 Oct 2026.