Vietnam – Primal Tennis

The city of Da Nang in central Vietnam has become an increasingly popular destination for travelers looking to play tennis. I was so impressed with Da Nang, in general, that it quickly became one of my favorite cities in the world. With a tropical climate and a range of tennis facilities from high-end resorts to cheap public courts, Da Nang offers visitors ample opportunity to get out on the courts. Why did I love Da Nang? I found a nice apartment only 5 blocks from the beach for under $400. They have wonderful food, incredibly nice people, and a beautiful world-class beach. When you compare what you get for the price, it's hard to beat Da Nang. Though not yet a premier tennis destination like Hua Hin in Thailand, Da Nang has seen growth in terms of interest and development of tennis among both tourists and locals alike. The city is home to a few public tennis clubs, and many resorts have high-quality hard courts and clay courts available. For travelers passionate about tennis, Da Nang provides convenient access to well-kept courts, professional coaching, and an enthusiastic community of players. This guide will highlight the best facilities and resources for enjoying a tennis getaway in Da Nang. *Please note that I played tennis in Da Nang for two months. Anecdotally, it seemed that the two most popular tennis facilities among expats are Pullman Danang Beach Resort and Tuyen Son Sports Complex. Also see: A Helpful Guide to Tennis in Cebu City, Philippines: Best Courts and Equipment Top Hotels for Tennis Da Nang has several hotels with tennis facilities available for guests. Four of the best options for travelers looking to play tennis are: Pullman Danang Beach Resort https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDlcdc02jRg&ab_channel=PullmanHotels%26Resorts In the expat community, Pullman Danang Beach Resort tennis courts are a very popular spot to play tennis throughout the week. Although Pullman is a luxury resort, the tennis courts are open to reservations to the public and are often considered the best tennis courts in Da Nang by the expats I met. They have 2 well-maintained hard surface tennis courts and offer tennis equipment rentals. The drawback is that often the courts are fully booked during popular morning and after 4 pm times. Courts can be booked through the hotel recreation desk. Located on the beachfront, this luxury resort often hosts tennis tournaments and activities. Furama Resort Danang With 2 hard tennis courts surrounded by manicured gardens, the Furama Resort Danang tennis is another good choice. The resort has a pro shop for equipment rentals and provides access to teaching pros for lessons. Courts are complimentary for hotel guests. Their website advertises that they additionally have some artificial grass courts next to the hotel. Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa The Hyatt Regency Danang has 2 tennis courts and offers private lessons with certified coaches. Ball machines are also available to rent for solo practice. Located on the sandy beach, it's one of the few resorts in Danang with nighttime lighting on the courts. Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort With dramatic views of the East Sea coastline, the Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort has 2 tennis courts open to hotel guests and also accessible to external players for a fee. USTA/ITF certified coaches are available for lessons. Also see: Tennis in Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Ultimate Guide Public Tennis Courts For travelers looking to play tennis in Da Nang without booking a hotel court, there are several good public court options. The top public facility option is the Tuyen Son Sports Complex. Tuyen Son Sports Complex https://youtube.com/shorts/iRhXKJXMpH8?feature=share I played the majority of tennis at Tuyen Son Sports Complex, which is a large sports facility with several recreations like football (soccer) and basketball. With 9 tennis courts in total, they have 7 outdoor hard courts plus 2 more with a covered roof. The two covered courts have a higher price per hour but allow for tennis when it's raining and provide nice shade for when it gets hot. Euro Village/Grand Mercure Another public court option is Grand Mercure in the Euro Village, which can be found on Google Maps. They have two public hard tennis courts that we played on just by showing up without a reservation. A coach approached us and asked our group to pay a small, reasonable court fee. Tennis Lessons and Coaching Da Nang has a small but growing tennis scene which offers a variety of options for travelers looking to take lessons or coaching while visiting. Private and group classes are available through local academies and expat coaches. The Danang Tennis Academy provides lessons for both kids and adults at varying levels. Their progressive lesson plans can be adapted based on age and ability. Group classes start at around 200,000 VND per hour while private lessons are around 500,000 VND. Many of the major hotels also have resident pros available for private or group lessons using the on-site courts. Rates are comparable to hiring an independent coach. Also see: The Ultimate Bangkok Tennis Guide: Courts, Players, and Equipment Tennis Culture Tennis has become an increasingly popular sport among both expat and local residents in Da Nang. The city has a small but thriving tennis scene, thanks in large part to the numerous high-quality tennis facilities that have been built in recent years. Many expat residents are avid tennis players and there are several coaches available for lessons and training. The Da Nang Tennis Open was held annually up until 2016 and drew competitors from across Vietnam. The tournament took place at the Da Nang Tennis Club and offered both singles and doubles competitions across multiple skill levels. While the Da Nang Tennis Open is currently on hiatus, there are still regular tournaments and events held for club members and tennis enthusiasts in the area. Many hotels also host weekly social play events and round robin tournaments for guests during high season. For travelers interested in tapping into the local tennis community and meeting players, joining up with a coach for lessons or training is a great way to make connections. Expat forums like Expat.com are also useful for finding tennis partners and upcoming events and tournaments while visiting Da Nang. Weather Da Nang has a tropical monsoon climate with two main seasons - a hot, dry season from January to August and a warm, wet season from September to December (Da Nang, Vietnam Forecast). The average daily high temperature ranges from 77°F to 95°F throughout the year. The best times of year for tennis in Da Nang are during the dry season from January to August. This period has consistently sunny, hot weather ideal for being outdoors on the tennis courts. The temperatures are very pleasant during the cooler months of January-March, making it peak tennis season. While April to August is hotter, the consistent sunny skies still provide great tennis conditions if you don't mind the heat and humidity. Mornings and evenings during this time have more comfortable temperatures. The wetter months from September to December can see frequent rain showers that may interfere with tennis plans. The courts may become temporarily wet and slippery. However, there are still many nice days mixed in, so visiting tennis players shouldn't rule out these months entirely. Equipment Rentals Many hotels in Da Nang offer tennis equipment rentals for guests who want to use their courts. For example, the Pullman Danang Beach Resort, and Furama Resort Danang have on-site rental shops with a selection of rackets, balls, shoes and other gear available. Rates are typically affordable at around 2-5 USD per hour. The public Tuyen Son Sports Complex can also provide racket rentals for players who book their courts, however, you will need to ask one of the coaches on site. Travelers who brought their own equipment or prefer more choice may want to check out larger sport shops in the city as well. With multiple hotel and public court options, getting tennis gear on a short visit to Da Nang is convenient. Tournaments The most notable tennis tournament held in Da Nang was the Da Nang Tennis Open, which was part of the ATP Challenger Tour. The tournament was first held in 2018 and the second edition took place in January 2019. It was hosted at the Da Nang Lawn Tennis Club and offered total prize money of $54,160 USD. The Da Nang Tennis Open attracted top professional players from around the world, such as James Duckworth, Thomas Fabbiano, and Prajnesh Gunneswaran. Unfortunately, the Da Nang Tennis Open has been discontinued after the 2019 edition. However, there are hopes it may return to the ATP Challenger calendar in the future. The tournament helped showcase Da Nang's excellent tennis facilities and growing enthusiasm for the sport among locals and visitors alike. While travelers can no longer attend the Da Nang Tennis Open itself, they can still experience the same courts and competitive play environment that once hosted this professional event. Tennis Etiquette When playing tennis in Vietnam, it's important to understand proper tennis etiquette and customs. As is common with most Asian countries, remember the importance about not causing someone to "lose face," which is essentially to disrespect or embarrass someone in public. Vietnam is a culture of respect and kindness, and will surely make your tennis experience more enjoyable. Some key points of etiquette in Vietnam: Wait for your opponent before starting a point. Do not start serving before both players are ready. Applaud your opponent after a good shot or point. Don't shout loudly during points so you don't disrupt other matches. Respect line calls and scoring. Don't argue over close calls. Shake hands at the net after the match and thank your opponent. Adhere to court reservation times if playing at public courts. Dress appropriately for the court in proper tennis attire. Understanding the nuances of proper conduct will help you integrate into the local tennis culture. As this article notes, etiquette and manners are very important in Vietnamese culture. Simple steps like not showing anger on court and being polite to staff and opponents go a long way. Is There Pickleball In Da Nang, Vietnam? You might be wondering if Da Nang also has pickleball. Fortunately, yes the do have pickleball, across from the Lucky Apartment and Cafe. Check out the Da Nang Pickleball Facebook community. Reach out on Facebook to see current dates and hours that they play at. The address, is also shown as "Pickleball Park" on Google Maps if you want to search it that way.. Khuê Mỹ Đông 9, Khuê Mỹ, Ngũ Hành Sơn Da Nang, Vietnam 550000 Conclusion Da Nang offers a variety of quality options for travelers looking to play tennis during their visit. The top hotels like Pullman Danang Beach Resort, Furama Resort Danang, Hyatt Regency Danang, and Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula all have excellent tennis facilities that are available to guests. These resorts provide well-maintained hard courts, racquet rentals, lessons, and round-robin social play. For those looking for public courts, Danang Tennis Club is the best option with 6 courts in a central location and reasonable hourly rates. There are also ample opportunities to connect with the local tennis community by taking lessons from expat coaches or participating in one of the social tennis events. The peak times for comfortable tennis weather in Da Nang are from February to September when high temperatures average in the 80s F/27-32C. Overall, Da Nang provides a great destination for travelers who want to stay active on the courts during their Vietnam vacation.