Getting Around & Parking on Da Nang Fireworks Nights: Beating Traffic

No matter how beautiful the fireworks are, the joy fades if you're stuck for hours in traffic or scrambling for parking. On DIFF nights, tens of thousands flock to both banks of the Han River — here's how to travel smart and keep the fun intact.

Roads that are usually closed

On fireworks nights, authorities typically restrict or close vehicles on the riverside roads around the grandstand and the Dragon and Tran Thi Ly bridges. Some bridges across the Han River also close temporarily before and during the show for safety.

Where to park?

Areas near the grandstand have almost no parking left at peak time. Some options:

• Mall and hotel parking a few hundred meters from the river — safe but fills up fast.
• Improvised roadside lots — convenient, but prices are often jacked up on fireworks nights and bikes can go missing.
• Park far and walk in — less gridlock on the way out, but a longer walk.

Tips to beat the traffic

• Arrive early, leave late: Come 2-3 hours before the show and linger at a café afterward to dodge the exit rush.
• Walk the last stretch: Get dropped 1-1.5km from the viewing spot and walk in, enjoying the streets while avoiding gridlock.
• Avoid the junctions around the Dragon Bridge right after the show — this is the worst bottleneck.

Why is hiring a car with a driver the best option?

On a fireworks night, a car with a driver solves nearly every worry:

• No parking hunt — the driver drops you at the nearest permitted point and handles waiting elsewhere.
• No exit gridlock — agree on an open pickup point and skip the bottleneck.
• Safe late at night — especially if you've had a few drinks while watching.
• Comfortable for families, kids, and elders — no long walks.

At last year's DIFF finale, hiring a car with a driver got my whole family back to the hotel in just 20 minutes, while many people were stuck for over an hour.