An American expat spends the hottest day of the year hiking and driving through Da Nang's Son Tra Peninsula. He descends a steep jungle trail using ropes to reach a secluded rocky beach, then explores higher roads for panoramic views over the bay and city. Along the way, he encounters a rare red-shanked douc langur, one of the world's most endangered primates, which the peninsula protects as their largest remaining habitat in Vietnam. The video also covers the area's layered history: centuries of use as a natural lookout and defensive point, French colonial bunkers, a US military radar base during the Vietnam War (nicknamed Monkey Mountain), and recent conflicts between resort developers and conservationists. Practical tips include bringing sunscreen, plenty of water, and being prepared for steep climbs with no shade on the south side. The Intercontinental Hotel is noted as the most beautiful hotel in central Vietnam. The creator emphasizes respecting wildlife by not feeding or approaching the monkeys.
Key Facts
- Son Tra Peninsula stretches about 15 km into the East Sea and rises to 600 meters at its highest point.
- The peninsula hosts the largest known population of red-shanked douc langurs in Vietnam, a critically endangered primate.
- During the Vietnam War, the US military built a major radar and communications base on Son Tra, nicknamed Monkey Mountain.
- The south side of the mountain has almost no tree cover; visitors should bring sunscreen and plenty of water.
- A steep trail with ropes leads down to a secluded rocky beach on the peninsula.
