A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Da Nang vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Da Nang or Khao Sok National Park?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Da Nang or Khao Sok National Park? 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 Khao Sok National Park?

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.

Khao Sok National Park

In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.

Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.

You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.

To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Da Nang and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Da Nang or Khao Sok National Park?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Da Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Da Nang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Da Nang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Da Nang is January to July. The rainy season in Da Nang is August to December. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In July, Da Nang usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Da Nang. Da Nang usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during summer. Da Nang gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Da Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Da Nang in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Da Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Da Nang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Da Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

August to December is the rainy season in Da Nang. Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Da Nang. Da Nang usually gets more rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Da Nang often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.

In October, Da Nang is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Da Nang average around 25°C (78°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Da Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Da Nang and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Da Nang year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

January to July in Da Nang is the dry season. Da Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Da Nang usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. Da Nang usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during winter. Da Nang gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

Da Nang is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Da Nang averages around 22°C (71°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Da Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Da Nang as well as Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Da Nang this time of the year. In the spring, Da Nang often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Da Nang gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Da Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Da Nang in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Da Nang