Is Da Nang Safe in May 2026?

Some Da Nang taxis use tampered fast-running meters or take unnecessary detours on routes to My Khe Beach or the Marble Mountains. The fare ends up well above what it should be.

How to avoid: Use Grab, Be, or Xanh SM apps for all rides — the price is fixed before you start. If you must use a street taxi, choose Vinasun (white) or Mai Linh (green) and watch the meter. Open Google Maps to track the route and flag any detours immediately.

Scammers at Da Nang International Airport pose as Grab drivers, approaching tourists in the arrivals hall and offering rides. They are actually unlicensed private drivers charging far above the app rate, sometimes 3 to 5 times more.

How to avoid: Book your Grab ride inside the terminal using the app before walking outside. Your driver's name, photo, and license plate will be shown in the app — verify all three before getting in. Ignore anyone who approaches you offering a ride.

Along the My Khe Beach strip and near the Dragon Bridge on Tran Hung Dao street, motorbike taxi (xe ôm) drivers quote a low price — typically 20,000–30,000 VND — then on arrival demand 150,000–300,000 VND, claiming the agreed price was per kilometre, per person, or one-way only. Refusal leads to loud confrontations in crowded areas designed to embarrass tourists into paying.

How to avoid: Agree the total fare in full before boarding and confirm it covers the complete journey, not per kilometre. Use the Grab app instead — prices are fixed, the route is tracked, and payment is cashless. Avoid xe ôm drivers who approach you near the Dragon Bridge or beachside bars late at night.

At the Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn) ticket booths on Huyen Tran Cong Chua street, locals approach tourists posing as volunteer guides who offer to show them hidden caves and temples for free. After a 30-60 minute tour they demand large payments — typically 300,000–500,000 VND per person — and become aggressive or block the exit path if refused. The "guide" has no official identification and is not affiliated with the site management.

How to avoid: Decline all unsolicited guide offers at the ticket gate. Official licensed guides must wear an ID badge issued by the Marble Mountains Management Board and are booked at the official kiosk inside the entrance, not approached outside.

Fraudulent Facebook pages and Instagram accounts impersonate legitimate Da Nang tour operators, offering Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge packages, Hoi An day trips, and cooking class bookings at steeply discounted prices. Tourists pay a deposit via bank transfer or Momo wallet and receive no confirmation, or show up on the day to find the booking does not exist. The accounts vanish shortly after payment.

How to avoid: Book Ba Na Hills tickets directly through the official Sun World website and use only tour operators with verified Google Business profiles showing recent reviews. Never pay a deposit via personal bank transfer to a social media contact — legitimate operators use invoiced payment systems or reputable booking platforms like Klook or GetYourGuide.