Your first week surfing in Da Nang
Da Nang is one of the easier places in the world to go from never having stood on a board to riding unbroken waves. The water is warm enough to surf in boardshorts year round, My Khe is a forgiving sand-bottom beach break, and there is a cluster of established surf schools within walking distance of each other. This is a realistic plan for a first week, plus the practical details people usually ask about afterwards. For technique, etiquette and safety in more depth, pair this with Learn to Surf and the spot guide.
When to come as a beginner
For learning, the smaller months are better than the big-swell season. Roughly April to September the waves are usually small and gentle, which is exactly what you want while you are figuring out how to pop up and where to sit. October to March brings the northeast monsoon swell — often too powerful and messy for a true beginner's first sessions. Whenever you come, check the live cam and the forecast in the morning; dawn is normally the cleanest, lightest-wind part of the day.
What a week of lessons looks like
- Days 1–2: Group or private lesson on a big soft-top foam board. You will spend most of the time in waist-deep whitewater practising the pop-up and riding straight to the beach. Expect to stand up on your first day.
- Days 3–4: More whitewater, but now working on trimming left and right instead of going straight, and paddling yourself into waves rather than being pushed.
- Days 5–7: First attempts at green (unbroken) waves with an instructor nearby, plus a session or two on your own to practise. Consider dropping from an 8–9ft foamie to a 7–8ft once you are consistently up.
Two hours in the water is plenty when you are starting — surfing is more tiring than it looks, and tired beginners make careless mistakes. Book mornings and keep afternoons for rest, food, and the flat-water swim that will make your paddling stronger.
Rough costs
Prices change, so treat these as ballpark. A group lesson is usually the cheapest way in; private lessons cost more but you progress faster. Board-and-wetsuit-top rental by the hour or day is cheap once you no longer need an instructor. Many schools offer a multi-day package that works out better than booking day by day. Check current rates and pick a school through the local directory.
What to bring
- Reef-safe, high-SPF sunscreen and a long-sleeve rashguard — the sun here burns fast, even when it is cloudy.
- A cheap pair of surf-suitable shorts that will not fall off in a wipeout, and a change of dry clothes.
- A refillable water bottle; you dehydrate quickly in the heat.
- Eat something light before a session, not a big meal.
- You do not need to bring a board or wetsuit. Schools provide everything, and the water sits around 24–29°C all year.
Getting there and where to stay
Da Nang International Airport is about 15–20 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app from the My Khe / My An beach strip along Vo Nguyen Giap street. Staying anywhere on that strip puts you within a short walk of the main surf zone and the schools, so you can check conditions in person and paddle out with minimal fuss. The old town of Hoi An is about 45 minutes south if you want a day off the board.
Stay safe in the water
Only surf where a school or other surfers are already in the water, keep well clear of swimmers and the red-flag zones, and if you feel yourself being pulled out by a rip, do not fight it — paddle parallel to the beach until you are out of it, then come in. Know how to swim confidently before your first lesson. The full safety rundown is on the Learn to Surf page.