My Second Impressions of Da Nang Vietnam

I visited this country for the first time about 14 months ago and found myself so enamoured with everything. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. For this reason, I felt I needed to return and try to immerse myself deeper into the society. Here are my second impressions of Da Nang Vietnam.

Tourists

I was not expecting it to be full of Caucasian tourists, I feel like I have landed in spring break Miami! I am shocked. This is a night and day difference to last time I was here. I did find Hoi An quite touristy, but Da Nang felt much less so. This year, I head straight to the beach, after dropping off my belongings at my Airbnb. I find the area much fuller than I have ever seen it.

There are throngs of us here at this beach club, like nothing I have seen in a long while. I had not expected to see such a significant difference. One thing that has changed in that time, is the tourist visa length. Now visitors can get 60 days initially, with one renewal, whereas last year it was still 30. That would make a big difference to digital nomads who prefer to live in places for a longer duration.

Weather

It’s a schizophrenic as always. The skies are grey many days, but with large broken clouds. Try as I might to scan the weather apps and websites, they are all stating different things. Some may suggest a few showers in the morning, the apple app shows its actively raining which its not, and others are showing sunshine.

I almost feel like I am living back in Canada in the spring time, you just don’t know what you are actually going to get from one hour to the next. January to August is the ‘dry season’, so to see this much cloud cover and chance of rain seems odd.

Traffic

Just as chaotic as I remember. Crossing a road is always a challenge. As long as you watch out for the cars, the hundreds of motorcycles will weave themselves around you. Crosswalks are painted on the ground, but in actuality, you are just as safe crossing in the middle of the street.

Traffic lights? Up near the beach area, they might as well be non existent. But everything flows and dances here, much better and cleaner that I see in other Asian countries. In fact, where I have witnessed multiple accidents or their aftermath elsewhere, I have never seen one in Vietnam.

Farm/City Life Combo

A curious aspect to Da Nang is this. Here you will find high-rises, modern complexes, fancy hotels and restaurants, boujie beach clubs etc. And then, right beside them, a tiny empty city lot that is being used as a little farm, complete with rows of planted vegetables and chickens.

It’s a curious thing, because Da Nang is not a small city by any stretch of the imagination, yet there are distinct village vibes here. Its one aspect that makes the city so quirky and fascinating.

I am beyond excited to be back. I’ve imagined this for the past year, sitting at these little coffee shops, sipping on uber strong Vietnamese coffee. Crunching down on a crispy spring roll while sipping a Huda beer. Walking along the sandy beach that stretches for miles, and watching the local fishermen haul in their catches by hand. What a destination!