How to Spend 48 Hours in Danang, Vietnam

Halfway between Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Danang offers travelers what neither of its big siblings can—nature. Lots of it. Imposing tropical mountains, cloaked in dense blankets of vibrant green, tumble down into the sparkling blue of the East Sea. White sand runs for miles, arching gently into the crystalline bay beneath the pleasant shade of coconut palms. The peaceful sound of the tide creeping higher echoes from the sheer limestone walls of secret beaches and hidden lagoons. This scene is a rarity for Vietnam: a sublime mixture of action and energy set to a backdrop of overpowering natural beauty. If you’ve got only two days to spare, here’s how to spend them.