IS DA NANG’S DRAGON BRIDGE SHOW WORTH A VISIT?
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One of the first things you will see when planning a trip to Da Nang are references to the Dragon Bridge Show on weekends. But is it worth rearranging your schedule just to see it? In my opinion – probably not!
The short water-and-fire show is definitely a big deal in town with massive crowds and a party atmosphere but the actual event is very short and a bit underwhelming. Read on to find out more so you can decide whether you want to see it or not!
Crowds waiting for the dragon bridge show on the weekend in Da Nang
What is the Dragon Bridge Show?
It is a free event held at Da Nang’s iconic Dragon Bridge on weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) nights at 9 pm only. Basically, the dragon head will first spew fire and then water.
My personal Experience
I had read before that the show was maybe not as thrilling as it sounds (A dragon spewing fire is cool!). Of course I didn’t quite believe it without seeing it. And as I was in Da Nang for four weeks it wasn’t that hard to fit it into my plans.
The area did get quite crowded and prime spots were taken early
So one Sunday evening around 8:30 pm I made my way to the riverside at the head of the dragon bridge. The entire area was packed with people! While unpleasant if you don’t like crowds, there was an expectant party atmosphere that I quite enjoyed.
The Riverside Set-Up
Closer to “Show Time” most chairs were occupied
On the southern side of the bridge small plastic chairs had been sat up (I assume for a fee but did not check) and the top of the bridge was full of people. The bridge was illuminated in changing colors, there were light installation along the river banks, the buildings along the Han River were blinking, and little boats with lights were all over the river. It was absolutely stunning and quite romantic (aside of the crowds)!
The Night Market
After a quick look-see I crossed the street to a night-market. I am not quite sure if this night-market is open every day or just on weekends. It offered the usual souvenirs and lots of street food.
The aisles were very narrow and crowded though (even for a night-market) and the vendors somewhat pushy so I didn’t buy anything. However, that was more a me problem – there definitely were plenty of options.
The Show itself
After looking around a bit, it was getting close to “show-time” so I crossed back to the river side which was now even more crowded. There were no seats to be had but I easily found a place to stand a little bit north of the bridge with a decent view. While not a prime spot at first glance it actually turned out to be an excellent choice!
So after waiting a couple minutes, the show started right on time at 9 pm. What happened?
- The dragon spewed a cloud of fire 3 or 4 times in a row
This was kind of cool to see (obviously – a dragon! breathing fire!) but maybe not overwhelming. There are people on the bridge so obviously the flames can’t be too huge. - After this, the dragon spewed water, again 3 or 4 times, each time more
And that’s it! I am not sure what else I expected but – something?
There was no accompanying music. No fireworks. Just some fire and some water. The entire production took 5 minutes and then people dispersed (or had already fled – see below).
The water spray came as quite a surprise to many!
The Big Highlight – watching others scramble
The show did have one big highlight – at least for me. Make sure to read on so you won’t be the main attraction at the show!
Many years ago I took my kids to SeaWorld in Orlando. Misguidedly, I chose a seat up front in what was called the “Soak Zone”. I thought it was just a different way to name a “Splash Zone”. It was a hot day and a little splash of water actually sounded quite welcome.
Well, it turned out “Soak Zone” actually did mean you would get soaked – with buckets and buckets of fishy smelling water. We ended up fleeing our seats just minutes into the show, trying to find drier seats!
What does SeaWorld Universal have to do with Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge Show you ask? Well, if you get there early and get one of the prime spots on top of the bridge near the dragon’s head YOU will also be in the soak zone!
Top Tip: Do not stand near the dragon’s head
Honestly, the best part of the show was watching the water cloud get bigger and bigger, absolutely soaking the people standing there – or more accurately fleeing from the dragon!
So if you don’t want to get soaked (hopefully at least the water here doesn’t smell like fish?) do not stand on the bridge near the dragon’s head or anywhere too close to it! Best also check the wind direction to see whether the area north or south will more likely get wet!
Are you planning your trip to Da Nang and wondering which area of town would be best? Check out my recommendations for areas and hotels!
Tips for Seeing Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge Show
Brightly illuminated tourist boats line up on the Han River for the show
Of course there is still a good chance you will want to see the dragon bridge show – either because you just happen to be in Da Nang on a weekend or because you never believe what you read (I get it).
This is what I would do:
- Come early and find a seat in one of the cafés or restaurants with a good view of the bridge
That way you will not spend a long time standing around just waiting for the show to start but can lean back and enjoy a tasty drink (or dinner) - Watch the Show from a Boat
I did not take a night-time Han River boat cruise but would do so on my next visit. While I am not sure how good the view of the bridge is (they were parked some distance away), I think the view of the other boats and the river bank would be wonderful making it a great experience, much better than the show on its own. - Do as I did
Just come about 30 to 45 minutes before show start, maybe get a snack at the night market, admire the illuminated bridge and the riversides, and then find a good place to watch the show. Just make sure to stay well away from the dragon’s mouth!
My recommendation
As you can probably tell from my review, I thought the dragon boat show a bit underwhelming. It is very short and there is no music or anything else to make it more engaging.
However, the riverside area is stunning at night – a must see. So I absolutely recommend you check it out but preferably not on the weekend. There will be significantly less crowds, making it more romantic and easier to enjoy the colorful lights.
So if the Dragon Bridge Show is just so-so – what are the real highlights of Da Nang? Check out my one-day Da Nang itinerary to find out which attractions you should not miss!
