Journey up the forested slopes of Son Tra Mountain for spectacular views over the Bay of Da Nang and the East Sea. The 696 metre (2,283-feet) peak sits on the Son Tra Peninsula and is home to the rare red-faced monkey, which earned it the nickname of Monkey Mountain.
Reach the summit by rental car, motorbike or by booking a jeep tour. As you make your ascent, stop by the Linh Ung monastery and walk through its large courtyard filled with statues. This is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists in Vietnam. Gaze up at the 67-metre (220-feet) tall statue of the Goddess of Mercy, which is standing on a lotus-shaped platform. Then venture inside the structure to see the 21 Buddha statues on each of its floors. At night, the towering monument is illuminated.
During your time on the mountain, go looking for the red-faced monkeys by hiking along trails. Other animal species in Son Tra's forests are wild boars, deer, reptiles and silver pheasants.
You may also see two radar domes. They belonged to the American military during the Vietnam War and are now operated by the Vietnamese military. There is also a helicopter pad, which was used by the US army to furnish its ground troops with supplies.
Although much of the peninsula is covered by a dense jungle, there are plenty of nice beaches here, such as Bai Bac Beach. Combine your mountain trip with a visit to one of these sandy stretches to sunbathe and swim. Experienced divers will enjoy scuba diving among the corals off the peninsula's coastline. Snorkeling and diving trips for all ability levels including beginners can be found in the area.
Son Tra Mountain and the Son Tra Peninsula are approximately 19.3 kilometre (12 mile) northeast of Da Nang. The journey here takes about 30 minutes by car.
