DAO NGOC BEACH HOTEL DA NANG

Named after a mystical paradise in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shamballa offers a serene vegetarian escape. Enter through an aged wooden door to discover Tibetan artefacts and a menu rooted in Vietnamese flavours and local techniques. The rooftop garden grows the herbs used in the dishes, and the terrace overlooks the Hàn River, which is stunning at night. Don't miss the woven noodles with piper lolot – a grilled vegan dish wrapped in fragrant local leaves.

Tucked away in a residential neighbourhood, Năm Đảnh provides a golf cart shuttle service from Phan Vinh Street. Seafood is the strong suit of this sprawling restaurant, which boasts a huge number of tables. There is even a hut clad in live fish tanks from which diners can make their pick. Lobster, whether steamed, tossed in cheese sauce, or fried with garlic and chilli, is always tasty. Sea whelks in garlic butter exude spellbinding aromas. Early birds get the most choice...

One of the most famous seafood restaurants on My Khe Beach, Bé Mặn knows how to bring out the best in every ingredient. Start by picking your own live seafood from the rows of tanks and then specify how you want it cooked. From crabs and lobsters to geoduck and snails, whether deep-fried, stir-fried or steamed, everything tastes as good as it looks. Try the steamed squid with ginger and onion, dipping it in the spicy sour sauce for an extra zing.

Bún chả cá (fishcake rice noodle soup) is pivotal to Da Nang food culture. Now run by the second generation, this hidden family-run gem has been serving the city’s favourite noodle soup for over 30 years. Its signature đặc biệt, or special, is topped with crabmeat as well as fried and poached fishcakes. You can also opt for a slice of mackerel or tuna as a topping. The tomato-based broth tastes sweet and mildly sour, with bamboo shoot overtones.

In business for over five decades, it is now run by the third-generation owner. The sign indicates the house speciality – bún chả cá, or fishcake noodle soup. Springy and flavoursome, their house-made deep-fried and steamed fishcakes deserve all the attention they get. But extra tuna, mackerel, crab cake and crab balls make the noodle soup even better. The broth is sweet with a hint of sourness, thanks to pineapple and tomatoes.

A French colonial allure depicts this two-storey restaurant with a blue and yellow façade. A relaxed vibe and its convenient location near the Han River and Han Market make it a popular spot for a meal after shopping. The concise menu features outstanding bánh xèo, boasting crispy, golden pancakes stuffed with carrot, pork, shrimps and squid. Spot-on seasoning, divine aromas and very courteous front-of-house staff.

You can smell the barbecue from a distance. Bún thịt nướng, or rice noodles with barbecue pork, is the must-try. Or go for barbecue with salad and rice paper – choose from pork, minced pork skewers, pork belly, and beef.