The Dragon Bridge, and where to stand when it breathes fire
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The Dragon Bridge in Da Nang is a working road bridge that, on two nights a week, becomes a show. At nine the head breathes fire, then sprays water over the crowd below it. Where you stand decides whether you see a dragon or the back of one.
When does the Dragon Bridge breathe fire?
The Dragon Bridge fire show runs at 9pm on Saturday and Sunday nights, and on some public holidays, for about twenty minutes. The head breathes fire in a series of bursts first and then switches to a spray of water. It is free, there is no ticket, and nobody collects anything.
Traffic is stopped on the bridge shortly before nine, and the riverbanks fill from about half past eight. On weeknights the bridge does nothing but light up, which it does every evening in colours that cycle through the night.
Where should you stand to watch the Dragon Bridge?
The best place to watch the Dragon Bridge is on the east bank near the head, along Tran Hung Dao street. The dragon faces east toward the sea, so the fire comes out on that side of the river. Stand fifty metres back from the head and you see the whole thing and stay dry.
| Spot | What you see | Wet? |
|---|---|---|
| East bank, under the head | The fire overhead, not much else | Soaked in the water phase |
| East bank, fifty metres back | The head, the fire and the spray | Dry |
| On the bridge deck | The dragon from behind | Dry |
| West bank promenade | The whole bridge lit, the head far off | Dry |
People do stand on the closed deck, and it is the worst of the four. The head points away from you, and the fire is a glow over the heads of everyone else.
How big is the Dragon Bridge?
The Dragon Bridge is 666 metres long and carries six lanes of traffic across the Han River, with the steel body of the dragon rising and falling in arches along its length. It opened on 29 March 2013, the anniversary of the day in 1975 that Da Nang came under northern control.
The Dragon Bridge is one of several the city has made a point of lighting. The Han River Bridge, the Tran Thi Ly bridge with its sail-shaped pylon and the Dragon Bridge sit within a walk of each other, which is why the river rather than any one bridge is the evening.
What else is on the river after dark?
The Han River after dark holds three things within a short walk of the Dragon Bridge. Just south of the head on the east bank is the carp statue, a fish turning into a dragon that spouts water, and beside it the Love Bridge pier hung with padlocks and fairy lights.
River boats leave from the Bach Dang side for an hour on the water, and the operators time weekend departures to pass the bridge during the show. A seat runs roughly 150,000 to 200,000 dong, depending on the boat and the drinks.
The west bank promenade along Bach Dang is where the city walks in the evening, and the cafes and bars on that side look straight across at the lit bridges.
Is the fire show worth planning an evening around?
The fire show is worth one weekend evening if you are staying in Da Nang, and a hard sell from anywhere else. It lasts twenty minutes, and from Hoi An the round trip is 60 km and well over an hour in a car.
Pair it with dinner on the east bank or a seafood meal near My Khe and it earns the evening. The Da Nang things to do page treats it as exactly that: a spectacle to fold into a night already in the city.
How do you get to the Dragon Bridge and back?
The Dragon Bridge sits about two to three kilometres from My Khe beach, a few minutes in a Grab car. Getting there is easy. Leaving is the problem, since thousands of people call a car at the same moment at twenty past nine.
Walk two or three blocks away from the river before booking and the wait shrinks. A motorbike taxi through the traffic is faster still, and the motorbike taxi guide covers which app to open. Anyone coming from Hoi An should book the return before the show rather than after it, which the Da Nang to Hoi An guide prices.
FAQ
What time is the Dragon Bridge fire show?
At 9pm on Saturday and Sunday nights, and on some public holidays, for about twenty minutes. The dragon's head breathes fire in bursts first and then sprays water. It is free, there is no ticket, and the bridge closes to traffic shortly before it starts.
Where is the best place to watch the Dragon Bridge?
On the east bank near the head, along Tran Hung Dao street, standing back far enough to see the whole head rather than directly beneath it. The dragon faces the sea, so the fire comes out on that side of the river. The bridge deck itself is the worst view, since you see the dragon from behind.
Do you get wet at the Dragon Bridge water show?
Close to the head, yes. The water phase sprays a fine mist over the crowd on the east bank for several minutes, and people directly under the head get soaked. Fifty metres back is dry and still close enough to feel the heat of the fire.
How long is the Dragon Bridge?
The Dragon Bridge is 666 metres long and carries six lanes of traffic across the Han River. It opened on 29 March 2013, the anniversary of the day in 1975 that Da Nang came under the control of northern forces, and it is lit in changing colours every night of the week.
Is the Dragon Bridge worth visiting from Hoi An?
Only as part of an evening already in Da Nang. The show lasts twenty minutes and Hoi An is 30 km away, so the round trip is well over an hour in a car for a short spectacle. Staying in Da Nang, it is an easy weekend evening.