My Khe is Da Nang's city beach: a long, wide sweep of pale sand running along the east side of the city, with the green hills of Sơn Trà Peninsula at the northern end. It is beautiful all day, but the first hours belong to the locals, and they have it right. The sea is calmer, the sand is cool, and the light is soft gold.
Then you get hungry. Here is the plan.
The sunrise plan
- Be on the sand early. Sunrise in Da Nang is roughly 5:15 in early summer and just after 6:00 in December. Aim for half an hour before.
- Swim near a lifeguard post. Look for the flags and the lifeguard towers along the beach, and stay in the marked zone.
- Dry off in the sun. Ten minutes on the sand and you are ready.
- Walk inland. Cross the beach road, Võ Nguyên Giáp, and head into An Thượng. Mai Thúc Lân is roughly ten minutes on foot from the sand.
- Coffee first. A cold coconut coffee or a hot egg coffee, then food.
What My Khe is like in the morning
Before 7:00 the beach is a city gym. Groups do aerobics to loud music, older couples walk the waterline, swimmers head out past the break, and toward the northern end the round basket boats (thúng chai) of local fishermen sit on the sand. It is one of the most joyful scenes in Da Nang and it costs nothing to watch.
By 8:30 the sun is already strong and the beach empties out until late afternoon. That is your cue for breakfast.
Beach safety at My Khe
- Swim only in the guarded zones and follow the flags. Red means no swimming.
- The sea changes with the season. Roughly April to August it is usually calm and warm. From September to December, in the rainy season, waves get big and currents strong. Many days are not safe for swimming.
- Sun protection matters even at 7:00. Sunscreen, a hat and water.
- Keep valuables light. Bring only what you need to the sand.
Walking into An Thượng
An Thượng is the neighborhood directly behind this stretch of beach. On the walk in you will pass bánh mì carts, juice stands and noodle shops alongside guesthouses and cafés. If you want a fast local breakfast, grab a bánh mì on the way. If you want to sit down for an hour, keep walking. Our An Thượng guide maps out the area.
What to order after a swim
After salt water you want something cold, something fresh and something with eggs. At Oh la la!:
- Properly hungry: English Breakfast, 145,000 VND
- The classic: Avocado Eggs Benedict, 130,000 VND
- Light and cold: a Smoothie Bowl, the Fruit Salad or the Granola and Yogurt Bowl
- Early bird: the Breakfast Combo, toast and a fresh juice for 99,000 VND, 08:00 to 10:30 only
- To drink: fresh juice, coconut coffee, salt coffee or egg coffee
Our terrace is open to the street under a bordeaux awning, with rattan chairs and plenty of plants. It is sunny and lively, and in the middle of summer it is warm, so a cold drink first is the move. We take cash or QR bank transfer.
Make a day of it
The beach-and-breakfast morning is the backbone of a great Da Nang trip. Add Marble Mountains or Hội An in the afternoon and you have a full day. See our 3-day Da Nang itinerary and the wider best breakfast in Da Nang guide.
