Love Kitsch? You’ll Love Ba Na Hills SunWorld
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If an attraction is kooky, offbeat, or kitschy, Steve and I are all in—so it’s no surprise we fell in love with Ba Na Hills SunWorld in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Ba Na Hills, as it’s commonly called, is a theme park with a heavy French flair. It’s also home to the iconic Golden Bridge, the one that looks like two giant hands are holding it up.
We originally joined a group tour with one goal: to see the Golden Bridge. But once we got a glimpse of everything else the park had to offer, we knew one day wasn’t enough. So, we came back and spent two more days exploring on our own.
The park is a mix of charm and quirk, from the serene beauty of the Garden of Love and the Spiritual Zone to the wonderfully weird faux-French architecture, hilariously bad wax figures, pig statues promoting food and drink, and even animatronic dinosaurs.
If you love uncovering the offbeat in your travels, read on to find out what makes Ba Na Hills a must-visit.
All money is in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
What is Ba Na Hills?
Ba Na Hills is an amusement park sitting 1,487 meters (4,878 feet) above sea level in the Trường Sơn Mountains of Central Vietnam. It offers a mix of entertainment and stunning views.
Originally built as a French resort in the 1920s and 1930s, it was abandoned for decades due to war. In 2008, Sun Group began constructing the first cable car and officially opened Ba Na Hills in 2009.
The park blends old and new, with structures dating from 1910 to today. The oldest is the wine cellar.
Layout of Ba Na Hills
Ba Na Hills is divided into two areas:
Area A is the Land of the Sun
Area B is the Land of the Moon
Area B is further divided into two parts: B1 and B2.
You can walk between Areas A and B1 or take the Lava Train.
You can get to Area B2 via cable car from the entrance or from Zone A.
It sounds complicated, but it isn’t. If in doubt, ask a staff member. They were all very helpful.
Be sure to pick up a map at the entrance. They are available in different languages.
Things to See and Do in the Land of the Sun – Area A
Alpine coasters
There are three alpine coaster tracks where you can race down the rails along the mountainside. A single ride is just under $3.00. Steve and I went twice. Our first run on Alpine Coaster 1 was over way too quickly. The second time, we tried Alpine Coaster 3, which was better. Unfortunately, the wait for that one was pretty long.
Beer Plaza
If you’re a beer lover, make sure to stop by Beer Plaza Square. That’s where you’ll find the Ba Na Brew House, home to Sun KraftBeer. You can grab a drink and a bite to eat at the Brew House or check out one of the nearby restaurants.
On our first visit, we were each given two tickets for free beer samples (about 8 oz. each). We didn’t get any on our second trip, but there are plenty circulating around the park, so keep an eye out, and you might just score a few!
I’ve heard that you can take a tour of the brewery but couldn’t find any information about it. If you are interested, you can ask a park employee.
Fantasy Park
This area has the alpine coasters, thrill rides, games, theaters, a climbing wall, and more. For something extra-kitschy, check out Back to Jurassic with its animated dinosaurs. You can read about all the amusements here.
Helios Waterfall
If ancient gods are your thing, check out the Helios Waterfall, where statues of twenty gods stand watch. Climb the stairs on either side for different viewpoints. At the top, you’ll find a garden and several restaurants.
Mercure Da Nang French Village Ba Na Hills Hotel
This is the only hotel in Ba Na Hills. It’s made up of seven buildings, each named after a French city. We spent one night there in a top-floor room at Hotel de Marseille and weren’t impressed.
Despite costing $130, the room was basic, the hallway leading to it was dark and poorly maintained, the elevator didn’t go up to our floor, and strangely, you couldn’t turn on the bathroom light without turning on the main room light first.
Another downside was the 10:30 a.m. check-out, which was surprising since every other hotel we stayed at in Southeast Asia had a noon check-out.
On the plus side, the staff was great, and they securely stored our luggage both before check-in and after check-out.
Even though we don’t feel we got our money’s worth (they do have a monopoly, after all), we’re glad we stayed overnight. There was plenty to do for two full days, and we loved having the park almost to ourselves in the evening after most visitors left by 6:00. It was also nice to have a little breathing room in the morning until the tour groups started rolling in at 7:00.
Medieval Fair
This area is tucked away in a far corner and features three rides: a flying swing, a carousel, and spinning flowers, plus a few games.
Steve and I embraced our inner kids and hopped on the spinning flowers.
Pop Mart
Before visiting Ba Na Hills, we hadn’t heard of Pop Mart, but we loved checking out the funky products. The experience was even better thanks to the building itself, which features a winding staircase and stained-glass-style windows.
St. Denis Church
Standing beside the main building of the Mercure Hotel and making a striking impression is the faux St. Denis Church. Its Gothic design draws inspiration from the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Paris.
Lively shows are often staged in front of the church, but unless you’re near the front, you won’t see much.
The French Village
The French Village is a large section of the Land of the Sun that brings the beauty of French architecture to Vietnam. While you won’t be fooled into thinking you’ve teleported to Paris, it does make for a charming background to all the activities. To be honest, I can’t tell you where it starts and ends, but it doesn’t really matter. Just enjoy the ambiance.
The Spiritual Zone
As you climb the stairs to the spiritual zone, you’re surrounded by colorful flowers and charming animal decorations. Then comes the massive dragon staircase. From there, your peaceful journey winds through paths and stairways, leading to an array of Buddhist buildings and statues.
Wax Museum
I’m not sure if this is the worst wax museum in the world, but it definitely has some flops.
We were told not to expect much, but it was fun to see which celebrities were well done and which ones completely missed the mark.
Wax figure hits:
And misses:
Things to See and Do in the Land of the Moon – Area B1
The Land of the Moon is split into two sections: B1 and B2.
B1 connects to Area A, and you can reach it by walking through Eclipse Square or taking the Lava Train.
B2 stands alone. The only way to get there is by cable car, but strangely, you have to go back to Area A first to board it.
Eclipse Square
Two curved porticos frame a glass pyramid, reminiscent of the Louvre. The ceiling, painted in the most stunning shade of blue, is adorned with sun and star motifs.
It’s the perfect spot for golden hour photos.
The “Pink Palace”
There’s a charming pink palace-like building between Eclipse Square and Lunar Castle. It’s not labeled on the map, we didn’t see any activity inside, and I couldn’t find anything about it online, so I am referring to it as the “Pink Palace.”
Perched on a rock with an Atlas-like figure carved into it, it makes for some great photos. I can only assume there are plans for it.
Lunar Castle
At the far end of B1 stands the Lunar Castle, complete with a charming garden. The castle has four levels which are beautiful to admire, though not packed with attractions.
The Flying Eyes Theater
For a change of pace, head to the Flying Eyes Theater on the third level of the Lunar Castle and embark on a virtual reality tour of the world. Fair warning: there’s a splash of water involved, so stash your electronics. Lockers are available.
Things to See and Do in the Land of the Moon – Area B2
Debay Wine Cellar
If you love wine, history, or both, don’t miss the 100-year-old Debay Wine Cellar. It was built by the French during their occupation of Vietnam.
A tour with a glass of wine costs around $4. For a bit more, you can get a premium pour.
The Golden Bridge
For many visitors, the pièce de résistance is the Golden Bridge. It’s hard to believe that a bridge leading nowhere draws so much traffic.
If it were empty, you could walk it in minutes, but it’s rarely empty. For the best chance at a serene experience, arrive first thing in the morning or stay overnight.
Le Jardin D’Amour (The Garden of Love)
How can you not love a place called the Garden of Love? With seasonal flowers and whimsical topiaries, it’s a pure delight.
Venture beyond the main garden and to the right to find another one, perched above a valley. From here, you’ll get a stunning alternate view of the Golden Bridge.
Linh Ung Pagoda
From Le Jardin D’Amour, you’ll see a towering white statue. This impressive figure is a 27-meter (88-foot) tall representation of Sakyamuni Buddha, majestically seated atop a 6-meter (20-foot) high base.
As you leave the garden and venture further, you’ll step into another serene space dedicated to Buddhism. Here, you’ll see the Buddha statue from the front, allowing you to take in its full grandeur and presence.
Besides this pagoda, there are two more Linh Ung Pagodas in Da Nang, one nestled in the Marble Mountains and another perched on the Son Tra Peninsula. You can learn more about them in this article.
A Few More Things You’ll See
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a lot to do at Ba Na Hills. To learn more, check out our related post: “Is Ba Na Hills SunWorld Right for You?, with a cost breakdown and FAQ.
If you’ve been to Ba Na Hills, Steve and I would love to hear what you thought about it. Just drop a comment below.
Happy traveling,
Linda
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