Which place is cheaper, Harbin or Da Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Da Nang or Harbin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Da Nang or Harbin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Da Nang or Harbin?
Da Nang
Halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the North is the easy-going beach city of Da Nang (or Danang, for some). The third most populated city in Vietnam, Da Nang draws in crowds with its beautiful and calm beaches as well as its history as a French colonial port.
With beaches, mountains, and cityscape, there's bound to be a point of interest for all travelers. Da Nang is also a transit hub to get to the four Vietnamese UNESCO World heritage sites: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Hue, Hoi An, and My Son.
Da Nang experiences wet season from September through March and dry season from April through August with average temperatures of around 80℉.
Da Nang is also known to have some of the friendliest locals, probably due to the peace and quiet and lack of heavy traffic, even in the city.
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDa Nang $46Harbin $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Da Nang is $46, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $54. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Da Nang and Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDa Nang $19Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDa Nang $38Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Da Nang and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Da Nang or Harbin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Da Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Da Nang $11Harbin $1.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Da Nang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Da Nang:
- Vietnam Airport Transfers: $13
- Try find better than us! Airport Transfer in Da Nang HTL-APT (DAD): $10
- Try find better than us! Airport Transfer in Da Nang APT-HTL (DAD): $10
- Transfer: Center Danang - BRG Golf Resort: $55
- Transfer from Danang to Ba Na hills get free to Marble mountains: $66
- Transfer from Da Nang to Hue : $70
- Transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An: $8.00
- Transfer from Da Nang or Hoi An to Hue via Bach Ma National Park: $81
- Transfer between Da Nang Railway Station and Hoi An: Arrival or Departure: $31
- Transfer From Hoi An to Da Nang Airport or Train station.: $21
- Transfer Danang Airport to Intercontinenal Danang Resort: $31
- Tours/transfer from Hoi An/Da Nang to Bana/Golden Bridge: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Harbin Railway Station : $25
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Harbin Railway Station to City Hotel: $29
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $50
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin West Railway Station from Harbin City Hotel: $60
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service , Harbin Airport Transfer,Pick up: $78
- Shared Night Transfer Service to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Da Nang or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin and Da Nang change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDa Nang $16Harbin $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Da Nang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Da Nang.
- Dragon bridge show and Da Nang local food tour: $4.10
- Home Cooking Class: $22
- Vegetarian Cooking class and Basket Boat Riding: $25
- Happy Cooking Class in Danang : $26
- Cooking Class and tasting Pho with Local Girl: $29
- Vegetarian Home Cooking Class Da Nang: $29
- Eco Cooking Class and Basket boat tour from Da Nang city: $29
- Da Nang Home Cooking Class: $29
- Da Nang Street Walking Food Tour : $29
- Basket Boat Riding and Cooking Class from Da Nang City : $29
- Da Nang Vegetarian Cooking Class: $29
- Making Lantern & Basket Boat & Happy Cooking Class: $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Food Tour Including Harbin Beer1900: $157
- 4-Hour Private Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World with Dinner Options: $261
- Private Full Day Tour to Harbin Beifang Forest Zoo and Optional Seafood Dinner: $261
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Da Nang $13Harbin $52
Tours and Activities in Da Nang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Da Nang are as follows:
- Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Full-Day Tour: $93
- DA NANG CITY SUNSET - Private Guided Tour : $92
- Experience Hoi an Rural Eco Tour from Da Nang or Hoi An city: $76
- Full-Day Tour to Discover Hue's Imperial Heritage : $56
- GOLDEN BRIDGE BA NA HILLS & MARBLE MOUNTAIN -Private Guided Tour: $148
- Golden Bridge Ba Na Hill-Early start to Avoid Crowds-PrivateTour: $138
- Golden Bridge- Early Departure & Marble Mountains- Private Tour: $133
- HOI AN COUNTRYSIDE & MARBLE MOUNTAIN Private Tour from Hoi An or Da Nang city: $82
- Hoi An Countryside Tour with 3 Villages & Hoi An City Tour: $128
- HoiAn Walking Tour with RiverBoat-Night Market-Colourful Lantern: $77
- Hue City 1 Day Private Tour From Hoi An or Da Nang: $130
- INSTAGRAM Tour - Da Nang & Hoi An city Private Tour ( 11 Hours): $140
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Private Harbin Ice Lantern Show at Zhaolin Park Night Tour with Zhongyang Pedestrian Street: $104
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $130
- 4-Hour Private Tour of the Largest Indoor Ice and Snow Paradise: $136
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $150
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Harbin City Walking Sightseeing : $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $198
- Small Group Tour to Harbin Siberian Park Tiger: $200
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Private Harbin Ice Festival Night Tour: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDa Nang $9.39Harbin $7.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Da Nang and Harbin, we can see that Harbin is more expensive. And not only is Da Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Da Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Da Nang and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Harbin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Harbin than you might in Da Nang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Da Nang Expensive? and Is Harbin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Da Nang or Harbin?
Harbin has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Da Nang. When comparing the sizes of Da Nang and Harbin, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Da Nang or Harbin?
Harbin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Da Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Da Nang or Harbin in the Summer?
Both Harbin and Da Nang during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Da Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Da Nang is a little warmer than Harbin in the summer. The daily temperature in Da Nang averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Harbin fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Harbin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Da Nang usually gets less rain in July than Harbin. Da Nang gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year. January to July is the dry season in Da Nang. August to December is the rainy season in Da Nang.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDa Nang 29°C (85°F)Harbin 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Da Nang or Harbin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Da Nang and Harbin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Da Nang year-round.
In the autumn, Da Nang is much warmer than Harbin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Da Nang in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Harbin averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Da Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Da Nang usually receives more rain than Harbin. Da Nang gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, August to December is the rainy season in Da Nang.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDa Nang 25°C (78°F)Harbin 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Da Nang or Harbin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Da Nang as well as Harbin. Da Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Harbin can be very cold during winter. In January, Da Nang is generally much warmer than Harbin. Daily temperatures in Da Nang average around 22°C (71°F), and Harbin fluctuates around -18°C (-0°F).
Da Nang receives a lot of rain in the winter. Da Nang usually gets more rain in January than Harbin. Da Nang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, January to July in Da Nang is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDa Nang 22°C (71°F)Harbin -18°C (-0°F)
Should I visit Da Nang or Harbin in the Spring?
Both Harbin and Da Nang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Da Nang throughout the year.
Da Nang is much warmer than Harbin in the spring. The daily temperature in Da Nang averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Harbin fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In April, Da Nang usually receives more rain than Harbin. Da Nang gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Harbin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDa Nang 26°C (80°F)Harbin 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Harbin and Da Nang
| Da Nang | Harbin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | -18°C (-0°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | -3°C (26°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (85°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 331 mm (13 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 613 mm (24.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (76°F) | 376 mm (14.8 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 223 mm (8.8 in) | -14°C (7°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.