Golden Bridge in Da Nang: verified facts and why it became a global icon

Picture this: you climb a mountain and a long bridge seems to hover in the clouds, cradled by two colossal stone-like hands as if from a folktale. This is Vietnam’s Golden Bridge, which in just a few years has become one of the world’s most recognizable tourist draws. It captivates not only travelers on the ground but also those scrolling their feeds. What explains its pull? Only verified facts—no embellishment.

Where is the Golden Bridge?

The bridge sits at the Ba Na Hills resort, high in the mountains near the Vietnamese city of Da Nang. You reach it by an exceptionally long cable car—nearly six kilometers. The bridge links one of the cable-car stations to a garden filled with flowers and trees. It’s a practical shortcut as much as a showpiece, sparing visitors a steep uphill walk.

What makes it special?

Opened in 2018, the bridge quickly became a global photo icon. It doesn’t run straight; it curves like a ribbon. The deck is wooden, the railings painted gold. Its signature feature is a pair of giant hands that appear to hold the span. They’re made of fiberglass and metal, finished to look like time-worn stone.

How did it become so popular?

The first big wave of attention came from a photo posted by blogger Jason Goh. The image spread online, and soon major outlets picked up the story. The bridge even appeared in the Netflix series The Sandman and made it into a “100 Best Places in the World” list.

What has the bridge done for Vietnam?

Since opening, the bridge has been a magnet for visitors. In the year after it debuted, arrivals to the resort rose by 31%, and the following year by another 22%—nearly 5 million people annually. Travelers came specifically to see it, and flights into the region increased by more than 22%. Da Nang is now known not as a stopover but as a destination in its own right—a shift that says a lot about the pull of a single, well-conceived landmark.

The bridge is more than a photo op

Fashion shows take place on the span, and it’s a set for commercials and music videos. It has collected several international honors, including being named the world’s most famous tourist bridge by the World Travel Awards—not just once, but from 2020 to 2023.

Why does the bridge remain popular?

Seven years on, it’s still in the spotlight. The design is instantly recognizable—there really isn’t another bridge like it. It’s striking, unconventional, and tailor-made for photos and video. Beyond appearances, it has become a symbol of Vietnam, signaling that the country can surprise and create something genuinely distinctive. Lookalikes have appeared in the Philippines and China, but none has matched its fame—suggesting the winning formula lies in the precise blend of idea, location, and presentation.