Son Tra Night Market: Food, Prices and Tips for First-Timers

What Is Son Tra Night Market?

The Son Tra Night Market (Chợ Đêm Sơn Trà) is one of Da Nang's most visited evening destinations, and for good reason. It sits right at the foot of Dragon Bridge on the east bank of the Han River, entry is completely free, and a full dinner for two rarely costs more than a couple of dollars each. As of October 2026, the market runs more than 150 stalls across a pedestrian strip stretching along Mai Hắc Đế and Lý Nam Đế streets, An Hải Tây Ward, Sơn Trà District. Confirm current hours locally before you go.

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Exactly Where to Find It

The market occupies the east riverbank just after you cross Dragon Bridge heading toward Son Tra Peninsula. The address anchor is the intersection of Mai Hắc Đế and Lý Nam Đế streets. If you are standing on the bridge and looking east, the market is directly ahead of you.

Useful landmarks:

• Dragon Bridge east ramp: 2-minute walk
• Han River promenade: runs parallel to the market
• Closest major road: Bach Dang, one block west across the bridge

Put "Chợ Đêm Sơn Trà" or "Son Tra Night Market Da Nang" into Grab for a pin-accurate drop-off.

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Getting There

Grab or XanhSM is the easiest option from anywhere in the city. A ride from the beach hotel strip on My Khe typically costs 25,000 to 40,000 VND (as of October 2026, confirm with the app). From the city-center hotels near Han Market, budget 20,000 to 30,000 VND.

Motorbike: Parking attendants operate along the side streets. Fees run 5,000 to 10,000 VND per vehicle. Arrive before 7:00 PM on weekends to find a spot easily.

Walking: If you are staying near Dragon Bridge on the west bank, cross the bridge on foot (about 10 minutes from the west-bank promenade) and the market is right there when you reach the other side.

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Opening Hours and Best Time to Go

The market opens around 5:30 PM and runs to midnight daily, with peak buzz between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Weekends (Friday night included) are busier and more festive, with more stalls open and louder atmosphere.

| Time window | What to expect | |---|---| | 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM | Stalls setting up, quieter, easier photos | | 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM | Good arrival window, decent crowd, no chaos | | 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM | Peak atmosphere, all stalls open, busiest | | 9:30 PM to midnight | Thinning crowd, some stalls packing up |

If you plan to watch the Dragon Bridge fire-and-water show, note that it runs at 9:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday nights (confirm the schedule locally, as it has occasionally been adjusted for events). Arriving at the market by 7:00 PM gives you two hours of eating and browsing before the show.

For the full lowdown on the bridge show itself, see our Dragon Bridge Fire Show guide.

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What to Eat: A Stall-by-Stall Walk-Through

The food at Son Tra Night Market skews heavily Central Vietnamese, which means bold flavors, fresh herbs, and a lot of seafood. Prices below are as of October 2026. Confirm with vendors on arrival.

Must-Try Dishes

Bánh Xèo (sizzling crepes) Crispy turmeric-and-rice-flour crepes stuffed with shrimp, bean sprouts and pork. Expect to pay 25,000 to 40,000 VND per portion. Dip in nuoc cham and roll in rice paper with herbs.

Grilled Seafood Look for stalls with live tanks or ice trays at the front. You pick the shellfish, they grill it. Scallops with spring onion and oil run around 15,000 to 20,000 VND each. Grilled squid skewers cost 20,000 to 35,000 VND depending on size.

Bún Bò Huế The spicy Central Vietnamese beef noodle soup. A bowl at market stalls typically costs 30,000 to 50,000 VND and is a better bet here than the tourist-facing versions you find near My Khe.

Bánh Mì Filled Vietnamese baguettes for 15,000 to 25,000 VND. Go for stalls with a queue, that is your quality signal.

Chè (sweet soups and desserts) Multi-colored sweet bean soups, jelly desserts and coconut milk concoctions. Usually 15,000 to 25,000 VND per cup. Great for cooling down after the grilled stalls.

Drinks Fresh lime iced tea (trà chanh) and sugar cane juice cost 10,000 to 20,000 VND. Bubble tea stalls run 25,000 to 45,000 VND. Beer from cooler stalls is typically 15,000 to 25,000 VND per can.

Payment

Almost all stalls are cash-only. Bring small VND notes (10,000 and 20,000 denominations make tipping and paying easy). A small number of stalls now accept QR-code payments via local e-wallets like MoMo or ZaloPay, but do not count on it.

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Shopping: What to Buy

Roughly a third of the stalls at Son Tra Night Market focus on non-food items:

• Lacquerware and wooden crafts: Small painted bowls and chopstick sets make practical souvenirs. Budget 50,000 to 150,000 VND.
• Fabric pouches and embroidery: Locally made bags and coin purses, typically 30,000 to 80,000 VND.
• Printed T-shirts: Da Nang-themed shirts from 80,000 to 150,000 VND. Quality varies, inspect stitching before buying.
• Postcards and prints: Dragon Bridge and beach prints, usually 10,000 to 20,000 VND each.

Bargaining is expected at craft stalls. Start at 60 to 70 percent of the first quoted price and meet in the middle. Food stalls have fixed prices and bargaining is not appropriate there.

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A Suggested 2-Hour Evening Plan

This plan works best on a Saturday, when the Dragon Bridge show is on.

1. 6:45 PM: Arrive and do one full lap of the market before buying anything. This takes about 15 minutes and helps you spot the best-looking stalls.
2. 7:00 PM: Order grilled seafood and a cold drink. Eat standing at the stall or grab a low plastic stool.
3. 7:30 PM: Browse craft stalls and pick up souvenirs. This is the best time before peak crowding.
4. 8:00 PM: Grab bánh xèo or chè for a second round.
5. 8:45 PM: Walk to the riverbank edge near the bridge base for a good viewing position for the 9:00 PM show.
6. 9:30 PM: Head back toward Grab pick-up or walk back across the bridge.

For a broader evening plan across the city, the perfect Friday night in Da Nang guide has route ideas that slot this market in neatly.

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How Son Tra Night Market Compares to Da Nang's Other Markets

| Market | Entry | Best for | Vibe | |---|---|---|---| | Son Tra Night Market | Free | Street food, seafood, Dragon Bridge | Busy, local, riverside | | Helio Night Market | Free | Larger format, more seating, music | More organized, louder | | An Thuong Night Market | Free | International food, expat crowd | Relaxed, neighbourhood feel |

For a full comparison of all three plus others across the city, see our guide to the best night markets in Da Nang.

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Safety and Practical Tips

Son Tra Night Market is a well-lit, busy public area and is considered safe for solo travelers, couples and families. That said, a few common-sense points apply:

• Keep your phone in a front pocket or bag, not dangling in your hand in dense sections of the crowd.
• Wear closed shoes if possible. Food spills on the ground are common, and flip-flops can be slippery.
• If you have young children, keep them close in the 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM window when the market is at its most packed.
• Hydrate. The combination of grilled food smoke, body heat and humidity can catch people off guard.

For a detailed look at nighttime safety across Da Nang, our is Da Nang safe at night guide covers all the practical bases.

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Eating Well Near the Market Before or After

If you want a sit-down meal rather than market grazing, two strong options are close by in Son Tra District. Nhà Bếp Xưa serves traditional Central Vietnamese food in a relaxed setting and is well-regarded for consistent quality. For something vegetarian-friendly and light, Da Nang Vegetarian Bistro 2 is a budget-friendly option also in the district.

If you are extending your Son Tra evening into the following morning, the Son Tra Viewpoint Cafe is the area's top-rated spot for coffee and panoramic views of the peninsula.

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Quick Budget Estimate

Based on October 2026 prices. Confirm all figures locally.

| Item | Approx. cost (VND) | |---|---| | Entry | Free | | Parking (motorbike) | 5,000 to 10,000 | | Grilled seafood plate | 40,000 to 80,000 | | Bowl of bún bò Huế | 30,000 to 50,000 | | Bánh xèo | 25,000 to 40,000 | | Cold drink | 10,000 to 25,000 | | Souvenir craft item | 50,000 to 150,000 | | Total for one person (food + drink + souvenir) | 155,000 to 345,000 |

At October 2026 exchange rates, 345,000 VND is roughly 14 USD. This is one of the cheapest fun evenings you can have in Da Nang.

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Ready to plan your full Son Tra evening and discover more of what the area has to offer? Explore Da Nang on the map to find nearby restaurants, activities and transport options all in one place.