There are now flights from coastal Mumbai to the year-round seaside destination of Da Nang, Vietnam. Mumbai's turn arrived along with New Delhi&rsquos. The holiday season is upon us, and the new connections will boost tourism in both countries.

This development has occurred due to the aim of the Vietnam government to showcase cities other than Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The choices of holiday destinations in Southeast Asia have gone up a notch with the addition of Da Nang on the direct flight routes from India. As of now, the four-hour flights between Mumbai and Da Nang are scheduled for every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This access to the seaside city, one of the biggest in Vietnam, will open it up for tourists to absorb its culture via visits to Da Nang's bar, craft beer hotspots, and beaches such as white sand My Khe beach, resorts, nature reserves, and museums.

Bridge The Gap

Now only a short flight away, the best time to visit Da Nang is between March and May, and then from September onwards. Move into the city across the River Han on the iconic engineering marvel that is the Dragon Bridge. The 1,864-foot-long bridge connects the airport and the city. The arches of the bridges are like the moving body of the Asian dragon, while the head is made to spew actual fire and water thrice a week. Da Nang is sometimes called the 'City of Bridges, as it has seven over-the-water structures. Plan your tour of the Golden Bridge/Giant Hand pedestrian bridge in the Ba Na Hills, which runs across two mountains instead of any water body. Then there is the Central Heritage Road connecting Hue, My Son, and Hoi An. Visit the revered pagodas on the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone hills. Situated off the coastal road, each mountain is dedicated to the five elements. However, remember that Thuy Son Mountain is the only one where tourists are allowed. A must-see in Da Nang is the nature reserve on the Son Tra peninsula. It is the habitat for more than 200 animal species, including 29 rare and endangered animals. Most of the world's remaining red-shanked douc langurs are found here. Take a motorcycle ride up the mountain to reach the Lady Buddha statue, visible from across the waters.

Well-Preserved

The history of Vietnam and Da Nang has been preserved and showcased in its museums such as the Cham Museum of Sculpture dedicated to the art of the indigenous Cham people. It displays a collection of over 300 pieces, comprising statues and carvings of sacred deities displayed in sections for sandstone, terracotta, and bronze. The museum was built in 1915 by the French School of the Far East. Then there is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, dedicated to the life of 'Uncle Ho'. The University of Fine Arts students in Hanoi developed the museum's main exhibition hall. Pay a visit to The Museum of Ethnology, which displays the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Here you can enjoy free performances of the Vietnamese water puppet shows.