Why Da Nang Is The Rising Star Of Digital Nomad Destinations | Johnny Africa

I spent a few weeks living in Da Nang, Vietnam to test out the digital nomad lifestyle in the city. I’ve seen so many YouTube videos of people claiming to live in Da Nang for under $1,000 a month and I had to see if they were just talking crap. After spending two weeks in this beautiful city in Central Vietnam, I have to say, that the YouTubers are on to something.

For me, the digital nomad life in Bali and the digital nomad life in Cape Town are the top of my list. Da Nang is still an amazing option for those that are on a budget or those that want a proper city to live in by the beach.

This post will focus on why I think Da Nang is the best city to be a digital nomad in Vietnam and why you should consider the city as a stop on your digital nomad adventures.

If you haven’t already read, make sure to read my Vietnam Itinerary to help you plan a visit to the country.

Vietnamese Food Is Just Amazing

If standard cafe and brunch food is not your thing, don’t worry because the local food is S tier. Vietnamese food has always been one of my favorite cuisines and Da Nang has all the different types of Viet food you could ask for. Given that it is a touristy place, people from all around Vietnam move to Da Nang and set up their local delicacies.

From Pho, to Com Tam, to Bun Bo Hue, and everything in between, there are literally countless restaurants and street side stalls that will have what you need. I spent most of my meals (all my meals) at local restaurants because they’re just so good and so cheap.

Don’t worry, Da Nang is also home to a variety of Western cuisines of all styles. While it can’t match the restaurants in Bali, you’ll never feel like you’ve eaten the same food just because of how diverse the offerings are here. Whether you’re fiending for pasta, burgers, steak, Spanish tapas, and everything in between, you’ll find it in Da Nang.

Unlimited amount of cafes

I’m a sucker for a good cafe and a good coffee. As someone that works remotely, I sometimes prefer to work in public spaces because I find I work better around other people than in an apartment somewhere. I was in heaven in with the cafes in Bali as the amount seemed unlimited so I always look for good work cafes in my future stops.

Da Nang, while not the goldmine that Bali is, is home to plenty of amazing cafes that dish out delicious coffee. Vietnam is one of the top coffee growers in the world after all.

Da Nang is filled with amazing cafes to not only have good brunch food and a coffee, but as places to work as well. Check out my best cafes to work from in Da Nang list for all my favorites.

Fast wifi and mobile service

Vietnam recognizes the importance of reliable internet connectivity in the modern world, especially for digital nomads who depend on a robust online presence for their work. In recent years, the city has made significant strides in improving its internet infrastructure.

High speed wifi is available in literally every corner of Da Nang. From cafes and restaurants to local pho restaurants, literally everyone and their mothers have high speed internet. Home wifi has also improved significantly in recent years and has also become cheaper.

Purchasing SIM cards, while not as cheap as other countries, is still very affordable. As an example, I paid 100,000 VND for 40 GB of data per month. There are even cheaper packages on other networks but I didn’t bother testing them out.

Cheap Cost of Living in Da Nang

Da Nang’s cost of living might be its biggest selling point. Somehow, this beachside city offers some of the lowest cost of living in the Asia, and probably the world. Not only do you get the amenities of city life, but you’re also right on a huge beautiful stretch of beach.

Many YouTubers have made videos about how they live in Da Nang for under $1,000 a month. I always thought this was nonsense without even visiting but it turns out I was the one in the wrong. It is definitely possible to live in Da Nang for $1,000 a month. You won’t live in luxury, but you won’t be roughing it either.

The main reason you can live so cheaply in Vietnam is the cost of rent. Because it’s a proper city, there is an abundance of apartments for you to rent that are modern and totally livable by Western standards. You can easily find a 1 bedroom in the city center for under $500 a month. Food and basic necessities are all very cheap here so it’s not difficult at all to live under $1,000.

If you can stretch your budget to $1,500 or even $2,000 a month, you’ll be living the high life.

Other costs of things like restaurants, bars, and other entertainment sources are similarly priced as places like Bali, Thailand, or Malaysia but you can really see the money savings when your accommodations are so much lower.

How much do things cost in Da Nang?

As a simple guide, here are what certain things cost in Da Nang. I will use US Dollars in this as the Dong is somewhat volatile and listing prices in Vietnamese Dong now might make this post obsolete in the future.

Dinner out for two people with wine: ~$20-25Beer at a nice restaurant: $2-3Glass of Wine at a nice restaurant: $3-41 bedroom apartment in the city center: $300 – $700 per month2 bedroom apartment in the city center:$500 – $1,000Grab ride from Airport to the CBD: $4Drink at a beach bar: $3-4Bowl of Pho at a local restaurant: $1.5-$2.5Scooter rental for a month (155 cc): $70-$100

Do keep in mind that if you’re coming in with high Dollar/Euro/Pound salaries, you are probably living better than 99% of the people in Da Nang. Do not be a douchebag by flaunting your wealth and respect the fact that you are essentially geo-arbitraging your way to a better life by being in Da Nang.

Many digital nomads call Da Nang home. There is a big community of digital workers from all over the world calling this city home. It’s not hard to see why with all the reasons I’ve listed on this post.

With the influx of Digital nomads in Da Nang, there are plenty of co-working spaces and co-living spaces that cater to this movement. I’ve seen so many co-living spaces and other digital nomad travel groups on my Instagram and Facebook feeds that I think it should be easy for anyone looking to meet new people.

The word has gotten out. Da Nang is no longer a hidden gem like it was some years ago. Although it hasn’t reached the crazy madness as places like Lisbon’s digital nomad scene or the digital nomad life in Bali, it definitely feels like it will get there.

Having the beach in Da Nang is Great

Da Nang is a unique digital nomad destination because it is a city with a huge stretch of beach. Keyword is and. There are many digital nomad hot spots around the world that are a beach and island vibe destination (Koh Phangan, Bali, Zanzibar etc.) or a city (Bangkok, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, etc). However, there are few that blend both of them together. The closest thing I can think of is Barcelona but that is neither affordable, or easy to settle in (visa issues).

Da Nang offers all the amenities of a big city but with the laid back vibes of the beach. The beach is huge with the bay spanning almost 4km. It’s amazing to be wake up and go for a surf down the street, and go to a co-working space 500 meters away. The beach, while as beautiful as many other beaches in SE Asia, is just perfect for being in a city. You can always find a stretch without huge crowds. Best of all, there are no people trying to sell you stuff unlike the beaches on Lombok.

Traffic is not extreme

Even though Da Nang is a proper city, it is not nearly as hectic as other big cities in Vietnam or SE Asia. Compared to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, or Hanoi, the traffic in Da Nang is considerably less hectic.

The city has huge roads with plenty of space to meander through while on a scooter. You’re rarely ever stuck in traffic like you would be all over Canggu, Bali. For the most part, most of the digital nomads in Da Nang stay on the ocean side and rarely ever cross the bridge into the city proper. The traffic on the My Khe beach side is very manageable making it a pleasure to get around.

Easy Visa policies

Vietnam offers a flat 3 month tourist e-visa for most countries (you will need to apply this before arrival). This visa is then extendable for another 3 months giving you up to 6 months total in the country. Visa runs are also very common in Vietnam with people frequently going to places like Bangkok, KL, or Singapore.

Currently, there is no digital nomad visa or are there any plans for one in the pipeline for Vietnam.