Trip to Ujung Pandang,Makassar,Sulawesi.

Arrived late in the evening about 5pm at the Bandara(a short name for Airport city)Sultan Hasanuddin,Makassar,Sulawesi Island,Indonesia.

The airport is about 30km from the main capital city,Makassar.

During the early days as part of my history lesson,we spelt Makassar as Macassar while Sulawesi was known as Celebes Island.
This being one of the dominant lucrative trading center during the colonial period.

The low cost airline listed this city as Ujung Pandang,a name popularly used during the twentieth century but the word Makassar looked more ideal.

China has the Silk Road while Indonesia played an important role in the Spice Trade Route which was one of the early maritime trades route pioneered by the Portuguese explorer navigator Vasco Da Gama during the late sixteenth century.

An early days medieval maritime trading boat was displayed at the concourse of the Bandar Udara International Sultan Hasanuddin.


One thing good for new arrivals at nearly all airports in Indonesia is the availability of public transport to the city center operated by the DAMRI state owned bus company.

Visitors have the options of choosing the comfort of this aircond minibus that operates every hour as you emerge from the exit of the arrival hall towards your right.No hassle,as the bus will be waiting in front of the terminal.

You pay Rupiah 20,000 per one way trip and the word return trip seemed confusing.

Over here travelers just hop into the bus and pay the bus conductor so you need not buy the ticket at any specific counters.

It's a flat rate irrespective of which town you want to stop along the designated bus route.












The airport shuttle bus route to city Makassar:










Hotels near airport:
 KG(KanakaGianna)Hotel..kanakagiana@gmail.com +624114813722 +628124752747 (SMS)

1) Jalan P Kemerdekaan:
-About 10th kilometer from airport,you have Makassar Town Square,Ramayana Department Store and Carrefour Supermarket,ATM Mandiri near Sungai Tallo River.
Place to stay:
Ramayana Hotel,
Jl Perintis Kemerdekaan
Tel:(0411)581-198

Ramayana Hotel
Jl Perintis Kemerdekaan, Makassar

(0411) 581-198

- See more at: http://caritahuhotel.blogspot.com/2012/10/hotel-hotel-di-makassar-berikut-daftar.html#sthash.nTZ0HR6Z.dpuf

2) Jalan U Sumorharjo:
Hotel Kamanre,opposite Sungai Tallo River far from shopping area.
Wimsa Agung Mas (km 19) Tel:553-457


3) Jalan Gn Bawakaraeng:(location unsuitable unless with own transport)
Hotel Ramayana Satria
Tel:(0411)442-479
Hotel Merlin Tel:(0411)449-795


5) Jalan Kajaolalido:(area quite near coast and port)
My Place Spa & Cafe(0411)361-5777 in front  Singgasana Hotel (Tel:(0411)327-051)

6) Jalan Arif Rate

7) Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin
Hotel Celebes Tel:320-770
Hotel Wisata Inn Tel:324-444
Hotel Delta Tel:312-711
Pondok Suada Indah
Hotel Mira
Hotel Santika Tel:332-233

8) Jalan Patimura(Pasar Baru)

9) Jalan Ujung Pandang
Wisma Sanur

10) Jalan Riburane:-Ideal last bus stop from airport
Guesthouses many,within walking distance to churches,temples,historical sites,and  Chinatown.
Jl Jempea:
---Losmen Semeru,Wisma Permata,Hotel Yasmin

Jl Ahmad Yani:
--Wisma City Inn (Tel3631168) behind KFC

Other cheap Accomodations("Penginapan" in bahasa Indonesia):("Losmen =Guesthouse)

Wisma Faris

Irian Losmen-Jl Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo 49, Tel:361-4022,362-3110

Samalona Losmen-Jl Samalona 11 Pattunuang, Wajo Makassar 90174 Sulawesi SelatanT:el:3613348,3621788

Lima Penginapan -Jl RA Kartini 159-A Batupasi, Wara Utara Palopo 91911 Sulawesi Selatan Tel:(0471) 21175

Haska Penginapan - Jl Wijaya 1 Botto, Lalabata Watansoppeng 90811 Sulawesi Selatan T:(0484) 21138

Monton Wisma -Jl Abdul Gani 14-A Rantepao 91831 Sulawesi Selatan T:(0423) 21675

 Pondok Sera-Jl Raya Lanto 46 Bantaeng 92411 Sulawesi Selatan (0413) 21600

Pondok Borobudur Indah- Jl Sarappo 143 Makassar 90164 Sulawesi Selatan (0411) 3613290

Fajar Wisma- Jl Merdeka 11 Makale 91811 Sulawesi Selatan (0423) 22022

 Ayu Wisma -Jl Andi Paggaru 18 Sengkang 90913 Sulawesi Selatan (0485) 22634

Ganggawa 2 Penginapan Jl Andi Makkasau 13 Pangkajene Sidrap 91611 Sulawesi Selatan (0421) 91068

Kanang Penginapan Jl Jend Sudirman 77 Takalar 92212 Sulawesi Selatan (0418) 21077

Haska Penginapan Jl Wijaya 1 Watansoppeng 90811 Sulawesi Selatan (0484) 21138



Returning to airport,this is the ticketing booth in front of Jalan Ahmad Yani.
On the right will be towards the town centre financial district and also the police headquarter located.
Jalan Jempea where you have cheap guesthouses and also Chinatown is  a street behind this road.
Holland Bakery shop is off the road on the left.
On my arrival the first day,the bus drop me across the Riburane road(Jl) near the junction to Jl Ahmad Yani when I told the bus conductor  "turun dekat Jempea" (get down near Jempea.



For better location identity of  getting a bus back to aiport,this blue building in front is the RRI Makassar.
RRI -Radio Republik Indonesia.
Across the road ,vehicles will be moving towards the coast via Fort Rotterdam.

Map of the island of Sulawesi .
Makassar City is near the south western tip of the island whereas Manado,the second largest capital city of  North Sulawesi located in northeastern tip.

This island seemed to have lots of colonial interest including the Japanese capture of Manado as well as the heavy Allied bombing during World War II..

Sulawesi is the world's eleventh largest island surrounded by Borneo to the west,Philippines in the north,Maluku(Moluccas)to the east,Flores and Timor to the south.

The blue dot is where the bus drop me from the airport while the red spot is where you embark for your journey back to the airport.

Jln Jempea is part of the Chinatown  where I parked myself at one of the cheap guesthouses.

Danang's Cathedral Church.

Located at 156 Tran Phu Road,Hai Chau District is Danang's Cathedral also known as the Rooster Cathedral which was constructed for the French residents in 1923.

 Tran Phu Road was formerly known as Rue du Musée Street.

The locals called the Rooster Church as Con Gai Church because of the weathercock on top of the steeple. The actual name is Nha Tho Chinh Toa.

Today it serves a Catholic community of 4000 – it’s standing room only if you arrive late. The architecture of the cathedral is marvellous with several medieval–stained glass windows of various saints.

Masses are held from Monday to Saturday at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Sunday at 5:00 a.m., 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m .

The diocese of DaNang had about 57,870 believers (2.7% of the population), 68 priests and 38 parishes.

 Sacred Heart Cathedral at 47,Yen Bai Street in Da Nang has been assigned as the Cathedral of the diocese. The Sacred Heart Orphanage was Supervised by the Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres.

There were many hundreds of children who were adopted from Sacred Heart Orphanage in Danang. The orphanage provides a refuge from the harsh conditions of the street and The Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in Danang diocese offer the education, compassion, and friendship these children lacked while living on the streets.
Contact Tel: (84.511) 382 47 35 * Fax: (84.511) 389 30 58
E-mail : phaolodn@dng.vnn.vn

Bamboo Green Hotel.  (opposite Cathedral) Address: 177 Tran Phu St., Hai Chau Dist.,Da Nang City., Viet Nam

Tel : (84.511) 3822722 - 3823942 - 3830412 / 0903.512.949 - 0913.457.624
Fax : (84.511) 382 4165 Email: bamboogreen2@dng.vnn.vn ; thuriversidets@yahoo.com Room rates:USD45-USD80

Daesco Hotel (opposite Cathedral)
- Add: 155 Tran Phu Str, Da Nang City, Viet Nam
- Tel: (+84-511) 3892807 - 3892808
- Fax: (+84-511) 3892988
- Email: daescohotel@dng.vnn.vn
 Room rates:USD35-USD70

Danang has a very slow pace of daily life and you won't find street congestion all over.

 Compared to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, traffic in Da Nang is always relatively light, although huge trucks blare along every now and again and there are brief 'rush hours.'

The hottest months of the year are June, July, and August, when the temperature can get to as high as 40 degrees Celsius, and it is generally very dry.
 There are usually tropical storms in October and November.


Mayana Hotel just opposite the intersection of Han Market.
40 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street , Hai Chau District

Yen Bai Road junction short distance from here.
 Room rates:USD20-USD30

In Danang it will be difficult to find low budget backpackers hostel and the cheaper hotels were normally full.

The My Khe and Bac My An (China Beach) area have better choice of low cost accomodations.

 My Khe was chosen one of the six of the most attractive beaches on the planet by Forbes Magazine, a famous American economic publication.

These areas were rich in military memories.

 Hoa’s Guesthouse, China Beach. About US$8..

Phưoc Loc, China Beach –Tel:84 511 3847609.   The hotel is located 20km southwest of town, and cost 300K VND by taxi from the city center. US$10-12.

 Houng Lan Hotel, 05 Pham Van Nghi, Tel:(0511) 3652269 (fax: 0511.3652694). About US$8

 Thien Duc Motel, 187 Dong Da,Tel:(0511) 3825232. About 8 USD per night..



Han Market -The colourful market is located right in central city, at the intersection of Hung Vuong St. and Tran Phu St., all day long busy with sellers and buyers in and out, and goods of all kinds.

 A lively and cheerful atmosphere permeates the marketplace from vendors in conical hats sitting on the ground with their small baskets of little fruits and vegetables to salespeople at their big well-stocked stands.
It is a nice place for shopping as well as snap-shooting.



Chua long Thu Temple along Tran Phu Street doesn't looked spectacular compared to the Long An Temple Pagoda located behind the Museum of Cham Sculpture, the Han River, Binh Ward,Hai Chau District, Da Nang. which is also the Temple of the Mahayana sect.

Other sight seeing temples worth visiting:

 Marble Mountains also called Ngu Hanh Son or Hon Non Nuoc (which mean mountain and water in Vietnamese), are located approximately 8km southeast of Danang City, close to the sea.

There are a number of caves, grottos and Buddhist temples on the mountains with nice natural entrances and tunnels.

The temples make the area a popular pilgrimage site

Most tourists will go to Thuy Son Mountain(admission:15,000VND), covering 15 ha, consists of three main peaks namely Thuong Thai, Trung Thai and Ha Thai.

Open tour charges 70,000VND,xe om about 20,000 VND



The Song Han Bridge  connects The Son Tra Peninsula with roads leading to  the long stretches of fine sandy China Beach.

From the Hai Chau Ward,there were bus stops across Danang Museum on Le Duan Road.

Buses at the Museum side will head to the new Danang Bus Terminal.

One can also hail a bus to Hoi An at any of these bus stops-20,000VND non aircond.(only buses going towards the river section)

 Crossing the bridge will be Phan Van Dong Road.The road along the beaches is Hoang Sa Road. Golden Sea Hotel is in the mid section of Pham Van Dong Road.




Tan Vinh Hotel(Khách Sạn Tân Vinh) is in Hai Chau Ward .
Very near the riverside,a short distance to the Song Han Bridge. Location: Phan Dinh Phung Road.

Indochina Riverside Hotel
 Phan Dinh Phung Road

Minh Anh Hotel beside Tan Vinh Hotel.

Danang Zion Hotel.

The South Central coast of Vietnam lies the 4th largest city of Vietnam.

Danang city is located at the mouth of the Han River.

The first Europeans to visit Danang were the Portuguese explorers who regularly stopped at the port city of Hoi An which was about 30km south of Danang.

 Later the French,Spanish traders and missionaries follow suit. During the early 19th century,the emperor at that time prohibited European vessels from conducting trade in Hoi An port except the Han port in Danang which till today is the largest commercial port in the central region.

 Due to the persecution of Roman Catholic missionaries, French troops with the help of Spanish troops from the Philippines overpowered the Vietnamese stationed in Danang and soon a conflict of closed to two decades gradually strengthened the French occupation of the whole of southern Vietnam and forming Cochinchina with Saigon as the principal city.

In 1887,it became the Union of French Indochina and the Spratly Islands were annexed to French Cochinchina. Cochinchina was renamed to Republic of South Vietnam in 1947.

 During the Vietnam War,Danang was a major United States airforce base and the world's busiest airports during the war.Close to 3,500 marines were deployed to secure the US Air base,freeing South Vietnamese troops for combat against the communist North Vietnam.

 Danang city is a half way point between Hanoi(759km) in the north and Ho Chi Minh city(960km) in the south.

Nha Nghi Si-on (Zion Hotel)

Hoang Van Thu Road(off the main road,first lane)
Tel:05113 828 333/334 Fax:05113 828 233 email:sionhotel@gmail.com
Rates:USD10 per night.(a large room,queen size bed,aircond) (Route Map)


 Danang International Airport was just 5km south west of the city centre and 8km to the beach area.
Travelers on arrival at the airport will have to rely on the taxis easily available on the left exit and the fares can range from USD5-USD10.

For those solo travelers who prefer a cheaper mode,walk from left exit passing by the old terminal building and a very short distance will be some of the xe om (motorcycle rider) offering a trip downtown for 20,000 VND.

 In the event that one feel like walking to town,it's just a 15minutes leisurely walk.From the place where the xe om riders,walk for less than a kilometre will be a small traffic circle and head on straight down along Nguyen Van Linh,You can find some cheap hotels along the way with prices around 250,000 VND.

HAGL Plaza Hotel Danang building is at a bigger traffic circle along Nguyen Van Linh and upon reaching here while keeping to your left will be three road junctions.

Ong Ich Kiem Road will lead to the BIG C Hypermarket and is near to a very busy local market at Pham Ngu Lao Road.

 The middle road is Trieu Nu Vuong having shops and businesses.

 The most ideal path to the riverside area where most of the guesthouses hotels were located is via Hoang Dieu Road.

HAGL Plaza Danang

01 Nguyen Van Linh street Danang, Vietnam

Room rates from USD95-USD400/night
Phone Numbers: 84 511 2 22 33 44/ 54
Fax Number: 84 511 2 22 33 55

 Distances to the following places:
Cham Museum – 1 km
 Danang Beach – 2 km
Marble Mountain – 2 km
Hoi An ancient town – 20 km