guide template · 15 things to confirm before publishing
- Author name for the byline
- Confirm the drive is still 10 to 20 minutes, about 4 km, on a Friday or Saturday night (taken from the best-views guide)
- Cruises: Danaticket lists show cruises only on Saturdays and Sundays at 8PM and 8:30PM, but the show also runs on Fridays. Worth asking an operator
- Duration conflict: bridge company via Tuoi Tre says about 15 minutes; the city portal says 2 minutes of fire then 3 of water; blogs say 12 to 30 minutes
- Weather cancellations are from blogs only (Soc Trang Tourism, Feb 2026). No official channel found
- 30 April and 1 May runs: blogs only, no official 2026 notice found. The Tet 2026 reports give no start time
- The 8:45 to 9:30PM road closure was reported for the National Day 2026 run; blogs describe the same closure on regular show nights
- Sources: Da Nang Fantasticity, The Dragon Show, 14 Mar 2025, https://danangfantasticity.com/en/the-dragon-show
- Sources: Tuoi Tre, six-night National Day run and show format, 24 Aug 2026, https://tuoitre.vn/cau-rong-da-nang-phun-lua-lien-tiep-6-dem-trong-dip-le-quoc-khanh-100260824164014057.htm
- Sources: VTV8, road closure 20:45 to about 21:30, Aug 2026, https://vtv8.vtv.vn/da-nang-cau-rong-phun-lua-phun-nuoc-06-dem-dip-2-9-107260826162322165.htm
- Sources: Thanh Nien, Tet 2026 run 13 to 22 Feb and midnight water on New Year's Eve, 3 Feb 2026, https://thanhnien.vn/da-nang-cau-rong-phun-nuoc-phun-lua-lien-tuc-10-dem-xuyen-tet-binh-ngo-185260203172905743.htm ; Da Nang Fantasticity, 3 Feb 2026, https://danangfantasticity.com/en/kham-pha/cau-rong-phun-lua-phun-nuoc-va-nhip-cau-quay-don-xuan-binh-ngo-2026
- Sources: viewing spots, Vietnam Nomad, 15 Oct 2022, https://vietnamnomad.com/destinations/central-vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge-da-nang/ ; Queen Cafe Bus, updated 21 May 2026, https://queenbus.com.vn/en/da-nang-dragon-bridge (Love Bridge, arrival times, 30 April and 1 May)
- Sources: cruise times and prices, Danaticket, 2026, https://danaticket.vn/han-river-cruise-tickets
- Sources: rain, Soc Trang Tourism, 7 Feb 2026, https://soctrangtourism.vn/cau-rong-phun-lua-may-gio/ ; getting wet and weekend crowds, Jet Set and Forget, 2026, https://www.jetsetandforget.com/da-nang-bridge-fire-show/
- Sources: Son Tra night market hours, Pullman Danang 2026 guide, https://www.pullman-danang.com/discovery/destination/night-markets-in-danang/ (other listings say it closes at 10:30PM)
The Dragon Bridge fire show starts at 9PM every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and on holiday runs, and it is free. The dragon breathes fire, then water, for about 15 minutes. Watch from Tran Hung Dao Street under the dragon's head, arrive by 8:15PM, and know the bridge closes to traffic from 8:45PM.
Guests at The Roof, our bar about 4 km away on My Khe Beach, ask us every weekend what time the dragon breathes fire. Here is the full answer, checked against the city's tourism portal and 2026 news reports.
- 9PM, Friday to Sunday and holidays
- Dragon Bridge, Han River
- About 15 minutes
- About 8:45 to 9:30PM
- Free
- 13 September 2026
When does the Dragon Bridge breathe fire?
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9PM, plus runs of consecutive nights over big holidays. Here is the 2026 schedule.
| Day | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | 9PM | Every week |
| Saturday | 9PM | Every week. Busiest night on the riverbanks |
| Sunday | 9PM | Every week |
| Monday to Thursday | No show | Only during holiday runs |
| Tet, 13–22 February 2026 | Evenings | Ten nights in a row. On Lunar New Year's Eve, 16 February, water only, at midnight, with fireworks over the river |
| National Day, 28 August–2 September 2026 | 9PM | Six nights in a row, Friday to Wednesday |
| 30 April and 1 May | 9PM* | Travel blogs list these holidays too. We found no official 2026 notice |
Holiday runs are announced a few days ahead: the 2026 National Day run was reported on 24 August. The Tet 2026 reports gave dates but no start time. *Unconfirmed.
Where to watch the Dragon Bridge show
The dragon's head is on the east bank, facing My Khe Beach, so that is where the fire is closest. Five ways to see it, grouped by where you stand.
East bank (Son Tra side)
Tran Hung Dao Street
Head‑on
A close, full view of the fire from right under the dragon's head. Not so close that you get soaked, not so far that you miss the detail, and with more room to move than on the bridge.
The full view of the dragon's head, for free
- East bank, Son Tra, the same side as My Khe Beach
- 30 to 45 minutes early on weekends; an hour early on holidays
- Free
Love Bridge and the Carp statue
Free
The riverside pier with the red heart lanterns and the statue of the carp turning into a dragon. It sits by the dragon's head, so you watch the show close up and walk the river afterwards.
A close view with a walk after
- East bank, Son Tra
- Free
West bank (Hai Chau side)
Bach Dang Street
Wide
The whole bridge and the river in one frame, rather than the head up close. Some cafés along the street have upstairs balconies facing the water, which get you above the crowd.
The whole bridge and the river lights
- West bank, Hai Chau
- Free from the street; cafés charge for drinks
On the river and the bridge
Han River cruise
150,000₫
A 40 to 45 minute boat trip that stops on the river for the show, away from the crowds on the banks. Book the departure that includes the show, not just any evening boat.
Skipping the crowd on the banks
- 34 Bach Dang Street, Hai Chau, every 30 minutes from 6PM to 9:30PM
- The 8PM and 8:30PM boats on Saturdays and Sundays, according to the ticket seller's 2026 page. Ask about Fridays
- 150,000₫ adults, 100,000₫ children aged 1 to 6
On the Dragon Bridge
Wet
Cars are stopped during the show, so you can stand on the bridge itself. Stay back from the head: people standing near it get soaked when the water starts.
Standing right under the fire, if you don't mind getting wet
- Pedestrians only while the road is closed, about 8:45 to 9:30PM
How to plan a Dragon Bridge night
- Get there 30 to 45 minutes before 9PM on a weekend, and an hour early on a holiday, to find a clear spot without pushing through the crowd.
- Cars are stopped on the bridge from about 8:45PM until about 9:30PM. Get dropped off before then, or walk the last part from a riverside car park.
- About 10 to 20 minutes by car in evening traffic. The dragon's head is on the Son Tra side, so you don't need to cross the river: ask your Grab driver for Tran Hung Dao Street.
- Son Tra night market, at Ly Nam De and Mai Hac De near the bridge, runs until about midnight. Back on My Khe Beach, DJs play at The Roof until 1AM, and 2AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
8:15PM
8:45PM
4 km
Midnight
Weather, crowds and how long it lasts
RainLocal travel blogs say the show goes ahead in light rain but can be cancelled for heavy rain, storms or big waves.
Local travel blogs say the show goes ahead in light rain but can be cancelled for heavy rain, storms or big waves. That is not official, and we found no official way to check on the night. From September to December, look along the riverbank at 8:30PM: if a crowd is gathering, it is on.
CrowdsWeekends are very busy, and holiday runs busier still.
Weekends are very busy, and holiday runs busier still. Arrive an hour early on a holiday.
How long it lastsSources disagree.
Sources disagree. The Da Nang Bridge Company's director told Tuoi Tre in August 2026 that each show is two rounds of fire, nine bursts each, then three rounds of water, about 15 minutes in all. The city tourism portal says 2 minutes of fire, then 3 of water. Blogs say anything from 12 to 30 minutes. Plan for 15.
Getting wetThe water blast carries.
The water blast carries. If you stand near the head, on the bridge or on the bank, expect spray.
CostFree from the banks and the bridge.
Free from the banks and the bridge. You only pay for a cruise or a café table.
The Dragon Bridge show: questions people ask
What people ask before they head to the river.
What time is the Dragon Bridge fire show?
9PM every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and on nights the city adds for holidays. It is free.
Does the Dragon Bridge breathe fire every night?
No, only Friday to Sunday. The exceptions are holiday runs: in 2026 it ran every night from 13 to 22 February for Tet, and six nights from 28 August to 2 September for National Day.
How long does the Dragon Bridge show last?
About 15 minutes, according to the Da Nang Bridge Company: two rounds of fire, then three rounds of water. The city's tourism portal counts only the bursts, 2 minutes of fire and 3 of water.
Where is the best place to watch the Dragon Bridge show?
Tran Hung Dao Street on the east bank, right under the dragon's head. For the whole bridge, stand on Bach Dang Street on the west bank, or take a Han River cruise.
Does the show run in the rain?
Blogs say it runs in light rain and can be cancelled in heavy rain, storms or big waves. There is no official notice, so check the riverbank crowd at about 8:30PM.
How do I get to the Dragon Bridge from My Khe Beach?
It is about 4 km, 10 to 20 minutes by car in evening traffic. Ask for Tran Hung Dao Street and get there before the bridge closes to cars at about 8:45PM.
Checked on 13 September 2026 against Da Nang's tourism portal (March 2025 and February 2026), Tuoi Tre (24 August 2026), VTV8 (August 2026) and Thanh Nien (3 February 2026), with viewing spots, cruise times and weather from dated 2025–2026 travel guides and a ticket seller. Weather cancellations come from blogs, not the city. Schedules change for holidays, so check before you go.
Plan the rest of your evening.
Walk the Love Bridge and the Carp statue after the show, eat at Son Tra night market until about midnight, or cross to Bach Dang Street for the whole bridge and the river lights.
