Ban Co Peak Da Nang : Ban Co Peak review from our experience
Our plan was simple. Take a Grab up to the gate, rent a scooter at ban co peak, then ride up to catch the sunset. It didn’t go exactly like that, but we still made it to the top of Ban Co Peak Da Nang. This blog provides a Ban Co Peak Da Nang review to give you more information. It should help you decide if it’s worth adding to your Da Nang trip. Well, as I said, Ban Co Peak isn’t just about the view. There is a legend, a chessboard, and a few things you should know about transport before you go, trust us on this one.
What is Ban Co Peak Da Nang
Ban Co Peak sits on top of Son Tra Peninsula. It’s around 9 kilometers from Da Nang city center, at about 700 meters above sea level. Locals sometimes call it the “Da Nang Rooftop.” That’s because it’s the highest point tourists can reach on the peninsula. There is also Son Tra Mountain nearby, which some people call Monkey Mountain. Yes, you may actually see monkeys along the road if you are lucky. Or unlucky, depending how close they get to your bike.
The name “Ban Co” means chessboard in Vietnamese. There is a stone chessboard at the top with a statue sitting beside it. The story goes that a fairy came down to the peninsula and fell in love with the scenery. He carved a chessboard out of rock to play against another fairy named De Thich. They played for days and nobody won. It’s a nice story to think about while you are standing there trying to catch your breath.
Ban Co Peak from our experience
For this article, we will talk about our real experience going up to Ban Co Peak for sunset. Our plan was to take a Grab car to the gate, then rent a scooter to ride up to the sunset spot. That part sounded easy on paper.
When we got to the gate, the scooter rental didn’t have enough bikes for our whole group. So we changed the plan. We asked our Grab driver if he could keep driving us up instead, and offered to pay extra for it. He agreed, but asked for 100,000 VND more on top of the original fare. Fair enough, we said yes.
The scary part: no Grab to get back down
Here’s the funny, and a bit worrying, part. Before he dropped us at the sunset spot, our driver asked if he should wait for us until we came back down. We told him it was okay, he could go, thinking we’d just order a new Grab later.
Big mistake.!!
Once the sunset was over and we tried to book another Grab down from the mountain, nobody accepted the ride.
Not one driver!!.
We ended up asking our friends, who came and rode us down one by one on them own scooter. Without them, we would have had to walk down for several kilometers in the dark.
Our tip: if you’re going up for sunset, arrange your ride down before you go up, either ask your driver to wait, or agree on a pickup time and place in advance. Don’t assume you can just order a new Grab at the top, because at that hour, drivers often don’t want to make the trip.
Is there an entry fee for Ban Co Peak?
No, there is no entrance fee to visit Ban Co Peak. You just need transport to get there and back, that’s it.
Ban Co Peak opening hours The area is open 24 hours. Going in full darkness isn’t recommended though, because of the road. Sunrise or late afternoon before sunset are the best windows.
Ban Co Peak location: Son Tra Peninsula, Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang City, Vietnam
How to get there
- By scooter (our choice): rent one from any shop near Da Nang city center. Expect around 120,000–150,000 VND for the day.
- By private car or Grab: easier if you don’t feel comfortable riding, but pricier.
- By organized tour: some Son Tra Peninsula half-day tours include Ban Co Peak. They often add Linh Ung Pagoda and the Lady Buddha statue too.
Also you can combine the trip with other spots on the peninsula. They are all along more or less the same road.
One more thing, whichever option you choose, sort out your ride back down before you go up. Grab drivers can be hard to find at the top once the sun goes down, as we learned the hard way.
Best time to visit
- February to May moderate weather, less rain. Generally the most comfortable months.
- Sunrise quiet roads, cooler air, dramatic light over the sea.
- Late afternoon good for sunset. But the road gets busier with other tourists around the same time.
- Rainy months (Sep–Dec) the road can be slippery and foggy at the top. We don’t really recommend it unless you’re an experienced rider.
Things to do at Ban Co Peak
- Take photos with the chessboard statue. This is basically the main photo spot.
- Watch sunrise or sunset over Da Nang city and the coastline.
- Grab a coffee or grilled snack at the small stalls along the road up.
- Continue on to Linh Ung Pagoda or Tien Sa Beach nearby, since you’re already on the peninsula.
- If the weather is clear, some visitors even try paragliding from a nearby launch point.
Is it worth it?
We think yes. It’s not a hard hike since you can ride most of the way up. The view genuinely is one of the best in Da Nang. Just don’t underestimate the road. Go slow, wear a helmet, and don’t ride up there right after heavy rain. Bring a jacket too. It can get surprisingly windy and cool at the top, even when the city below is hot.
Here, you can check out our video to see more of what the ride and the view actually look like.
Feel free to DM me here on IG @fj.at.pattaya or @snny.travel.blog.
Related Articles
You must be logged in to post a comment.