Da Nang is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of the North-South Railway also makes it a hub for transportation. It is located within 100 km of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city was also known as Tourane or Turon during the French colonization of Vietnam.