What can you get for just over a dollar at a fast food restaurant these days? Not much. Most of them had abandoned their “dollar menu” long ago. However, in places in Asia, that’s exactly what it takes to buy a freshly prepared and very tasty breakfast.
With the cost of living rising around the world due to the global impact of post-pandemic inflation, there are still affordable corners of the earth where value-seeking digital nomads can affordably settle down.
One of those very popular places is Da Nang, Vietnam, and nomads are rushing to get more bang for their buck by calling the major Asian city their home.
Welcome to Da Nang
With a population of over one million and a population density of 900 people per square kilometer, it is easy to understand why Da Nang is easily Vietnam’s third largest city.
But even with the high density and often busy main streets, it’s an easy place to call home for digital nomads looking for adventure.
The dollar we struggled to buy breakfast at the top of this article is almost enough for a tasty banh mi sandwich or even a steaming bowl of tasty pho noodle soup.
How about a haircut? It only costs $2 in Da Nang.
Want to rent a two-bedroom house in the center? An article about Da Nang says nomads should expect to pay around $550.
Yes, being a digital nomad in Da Nang can be very affordable.
Hotspot for digital nomads
Da Nang is no stranger to digital nomads. In fact, last year, Nomad List, a popular website for digital nomads, named Da Nang the second fastest growing remote work destination in the world. Which city is number 1? Tokyo.
Even Freaking Nomads, another popular website among remote workers, also listed Da Nang as one of the top ten hotspots for digital nomads.
Despite all the accolades and popularity, digital nomads are still flocking to Da Nang and finding an affordable slice of online life in the Asian metro.
Some disadvantages of Da Nang
The only downside is that Vietnam doesn’t really offer anything visa for digital nomadsaccording to Remote.com.
This means that remote workers typically enter the country with an electronic tourism e-visa. Vietnam issues its tourist visa for Periods of 90 days.
However, nomads have reported leaving the country to visit somewhere nearby while they apply for a new 90-day e-visa and re-enter the country.
Many digital nomads also reported in an article about remote workers in Da Nang that they often experience difficulty finding short-term rental properties, and when they do, they are 30 to 40 percent above the usual rental rate.
But even then, it’s still more affordable than what most digital nomads in other places in the remote working world expect.
Although most nomads worry about language and culture challenges, they have found that the people are more understanding than other digital nomad hotspots.
They also realize that the people of Da Nang are not like other destinations around the world that resist the nomads. Instead, they are welcomed with open arms.
What digital nomads need to know
If you have a taste for adventure, are patient with certain technology issues, and are receptive to different culture, customs, and language, Da Nang might be a great place to work remotely.
Go ahead, buy a cheap e-visa and try it out for 90 days. If you don’t like it, your visa will expire and you can choose somewhere else in the world. Otherwise, make a border run to extend the visa and continue the affordable adventure in Da Nang!
