Ba Na Hills Day Trip from Hoi An, Vietnam -

If you’re spending a few days in Hoi An, Vietnam and want to experience something completely different, a day trip to Ba Na Hills is a must. Located about an hour away in the mountains outside of Da Nang, Sun World Ba Na Hills is a resort and theme park known for its mountain views, whimsical themed lands, and of course, the famous Golden Bridge held up by two giant stone hands.

Even though it’s often described as a theme park, Ba Na Hills is much more than that. It’s perched high in the mountains and you must take a cable car ride to the top. It’s one of the longest cable cars in the world and offers panoramic views of the lush green hills and the coastline far below.

My friend and I decided to visit Ba Na Hills during our stay in Hoi An. We had a very fun and unique day, very different than everything else we did during our 10 days in Vietnam and our 2 months total in Asia. We spent the day wandering through the colorful French Village, taking loads of photos on the Golden Bridge, and riding the alpine coasters a couple times. It’s definitely a touristy place, but as sometime who loves going to theme parks in America, it was really interesting getting to visit one in Asia.

Ba Na Hills day trip from Hoi An — French Village at SunWorld Ba Na Hills

If you’re planning your own day trip to Sun World Ba Na Hills, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from how to get there, the best things to do, and practical tips so you can have the best visit possible! At the end, I give my opinion on whether a Ba Na Hills day trip is worth it during your time in Hoi An.

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Table of Contents

How to get to Ba Na Hills from Hoi An

Getting to Ba Na Hills from Hoi An is simple, and you have a few different options depending on your budget and how much flexibility you want during the day. The drive takes about one hour, and the road is well-paved and scenic.

Private Car or Grab

This is the easiest and most flexible option. You can book a private transfer from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills here ahead of time. Or simply order a Grab car (Vietnam’s version of Uber). The price should be around 500,000 VND ($20 USD) each way, depending on the time of day and demand.

We decided to take a Grab both ways which worked out great for us. Since we were splitting the price between the two of us, it was the cheapest way to get there and allowed us to explore at our own pace. We left Hoi An in the morning, spent as much time as we wanted at Ba Na Hills, and came back to Hoi An before dinner.

Guided Tour

If you prefer not to worry about logistics, you can book a guided tour from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills. This tour includes round-trip transportation, the cable car ride, the entrance ticket, and you can add lunch if you want.

Taking a guided tour is the best option for solo travelers going to Ba Na Hills, as it is cheaper and safer than taking private transportation both ways. And you can possibly make friends with other travelers who you can spend the day with!

Although you’ll have a bit less flexibility and free time than if you were going on your own, the tour still gives you 1 hour of free time at the Golden Bridge, and 3 hours of free time in the theme park. This is enough time to walk around the whole park and do a few attractions.

From Da Nang

By the way, if you’re staying in Da Nang instead of Hoi An, Ba Na Hills is even closer and easier to get to. It’s only about a 30-minute drive away. You can easily hire a Grab or join one of the many tours departing from the city.

Entrance Fees and Tickets

Entrance to Ba Na Hills costs around 100,000 VND, or $40 USD, for foreigners. This includes the cable car ride, access to all of the amusement park, and many of the rides inside the park (except the alpine coaster, which is the best ride). This is as of October 2025, and prices can change slightly depending on the season.

You can buy your tickets online in advance here or at the entrance when you arrive. I recommend purchasing them ahead of time if you’re visiting on a weekend or holiday since it can get busy. By the way, if you book a guided tour, your ticket will usually be included in the tour price, so you won’t need to worry about it.

Although $40 is reasonable by American standards, for Vietnam, this is a very expensive excursion. It was by far the most expensive day we had in Vietnam, especially with the food we purchased, which was much more expensive than everywhere else. Keep reading till the end and I’ll tell you if I think the experience was worth it for the price!

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Best Things to Do and See at SunWorld Ba Na Hills

The Cable Car Ride

The cable car ride to the top of Ba Na Hills is of course required to get there, but it’s also one of the best parts of the entire experience. It’s known as one of the longest and highest cable car systems in the world. The main cable car, which takes you to the Golden Bridge, takes around 20 minutes. The views are absolutely incredible, with green valleys, cliff faces, and glimpses of the ocean in the distance. It feels like you’re floating above the clouds as you rise higher into the mountains. Each cable car seats about 8 people, so you’ll likely take the ride up with others.

Keep in mind that there are multiple cable car lines you can take to different parts of the resort. So once you get to the Golden Bridge and explore that area, you’ll have to get on another cable car that takes you to the actual amusement park. This one also has great views of the French Village as you approach the station.

The Golden Bridge

The Golden Bridge is the most famous landmark at Ba Na Hills and the main reason most people visit. It’s a bright gold walkway held up by two massive stone hands that appear to lift the bridge out of the mountain. It looks just as magical in person as it does in photos. The bridge is surprisingly short, but the view overlooking the mountains is breathtaking.

The Golden Bridge can get very crowded with people taking pictures, so try to visit early in the morning for fewer people. My friend and I spent at least half an hour just walking back and forth, taking pictures, and soaking in the view. Make sure you also walk along the pathway at the base of the bridge. I actually liked the pictures I got from there better than the ones on the actual bridge!

The French Village

After you take the second cable car, you’ll find the French Village, a whimsical, European-inspired area with cobblestone streets, pastel buildings and castles. It almost feels like stepping into a little movie set. There are cafes, small restaurants, and souvenir shops scattered around, so it’s a great place to wander and take photos. My friend and I stopped at one of the cafes to get a delicious mango sorbet.

If you keep walking through the French Village, you’ll find a series of landscaped gardens on a hill, filled with colorful flowers, fountains, and statues. The top of the hill features a pagoda, and if you walk all the way up you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the park and mountains below.

The Alpine Coaster

If you only try one ride at Ba Na Hills, it should be one of the alpine coasters. The tracks wind down the mountainside with stunning views and a good amount of thrill. It’s no rollercoaster, but I still thought it was really fun, and I loved that you could control your own speed, so it can be as fast as you want.

Keep in mind that this is the one attraction that isn’t included in your entrance ticket. It costs around 70,000 VND (~$3 USD), and you can simply buy the extra ticket at the entrance of the ride.

Other Rides and Attractions

Most of the other rides at Ba Na Hills can be found inside, in a section called Fantasy World. They have a bunch of small, carnival-type rides and walkthroughs that are great for kids. My favorite was the free fall tower, which dropped 3 stories. It wasn’t super intense compared to other free-fall rides I’ve done, but it was still fun. There are also arcade-style games and 3D movie experiences in this section.

Tips for Visiting Ba Na Hills

Here are a few helpful tips to make the most of your day trip from Hoi and to Ba Na Hills:

Prepare for cold, cloudy weather. Since the park is so high in the mountains, the weather will be different than it is in Hoi An. The day I went was sunny and warm, but on a cloudy day the park can get cold, so bring layers that you can use to stay warm. Check the weather before you leave for the day!
Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking a lot between attractions, and sometimes up hills, so wear sneakers or other comfy shoes.
Arrive early. The park opens around 8 AM, and if you’re one of the first to take the cable car up, you can have the Golden Bridge almost to yourself. If you’re looking to get perfect pictures with no crowds, getting there early is a must.
Bring water and snacks. Food options at the top can be expensive compared to local prices in Hoi An, so if you want to save money, bring your own snacks.
Bring your fully charged phone or camera. You’re going to take a lot of pictures, especially at the Golden Bridge, so be prepared!

Is a Ba Na Hills Day Trip Worth It?

So, is Ba Na Hills worth visiting? I’d say yes, but it depends on what you’re expecting. If you’re a fan of American-style theme parks like Disney or Universal, you’ll probably love Ba Na Hills for its creatively themed lands and details. At the same time, it’s important to set your expectations reasonably. It’s not the same as those parks in terms of caliber, food, shows or thrill rides, but it has its own unique charm.

If you’re looking for big rollercoasters or intense rides, this isn’t the place for that. The attractions are pretty mild, including the alpine coaster. The main appeal of Ba Na Hills lies in the cable car, the Golden Bridge and the scenery, not the rides. But if you love aesthetic, insta-worthy photo spots and themed areas, you’ll have an amazing time here. Every corner is designed to be beautiful and photo worthy.

The price is definitely high for Vietnam, but considering it includes the incredible cable car rides, the mountain views, and access to the Golden Bridge (one of the most famous landmarks in Vietnam), I think it’s worth it. The theme park and rides are not what makes Ba Na Hills special. It’s the overall experience of being up in the clouds, surrounded by breathtaking scenery that makes this day trip so memorable and worth it!

If you’re looking for more Vietnam travel inspiration, be sure to check out my other Vietnam posts:

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Ba Na Hills Day Trip from Hoi An, Vietnam