Vietnam has become a popular destination for digital nomads in recent years, thanks to its affordable cost of living, beautiful scenery, and vibrant culture. As digital nomads who have traveled to Saigon, Da Nang, and Hanoi, we have had the opportunity to experience the best that Vietnam has to offer. In this article, we will share our tips and tricks for a productive and fun trip, including must-see sightseeing spots and the best local foods to try in each city. Whether you’re a seasoned digital nomad or just starting out, our guide will help you make the most of your time in Vietnam.
For the first part of our SE Asia nomading tour, we went to Vietnam – Saigon (May 29th – June 2rd), Da Nang (June 2rd – 7th), Hanoi (June 7th – 11th). It was our first trip to Vietnam and we didn’t know much about the country before we got here. In this note, we will share lists of what we did and how much we spent as reference.
Saigon
Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, is Vietnam’s largest city and a bustling center of commerce, culture, and history. As a digital nomad, there are several must-see spots in the city that offer a glimpse into its rich past and vibrant present.
One of the most popular attractions in Saigon is the War Remnants Museum, which documents the Vietnam War from the perspective of the Vietnamese people. The museum features a collection of photographs, artifacts, and exhibits that provide a sobering look at the devastating effects of the war on the people of Vietnam.
Aside from sightseeing, Saigon is also known for its delicious street food. Some of the must-try local foods include banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich made with a crispy baguette, various meats, and pickled vegetables; pho, a savory noodle soup with beef or chicken; and bun cha, a grilled pork dish served with noodles and herbs.
As a digital nomad, there are plenty of coworking spaces and cafes in Saigon where you can get work done while enjoying the city’s vibrant atmosphere.
Where we stayed at:
We lived in District 1, the “old” part of Saigon city, convenient to most sightseeing places.The hostel’s name is Cozrum Homes May’s House. 180 HKD per night for a room for people. Cozrum Homes is a chain hotel that operates in the format of Airbnb, they don’t have a reception in the hotel but the communication was smooth.
Where we ate at:
1) SH Garden Thao Dien. Vietnamese food restaurant, along with a comfortable and stylish atmosphere for diners to enjoy. 650,000VND per person.
2) Pho on the street. Pick any pho shop with many customers on the street. Average price is 60,000VND per bowl.
Where we worked (went to a few coffee shops):
1) Phin Deli Cafe: a cup of coffee costs 49,000VND
2) Highlands Coffee: a popular chain cafe, like Starbucks in Vietnam, a cup of coffee costs 49,000VND
3) Coffee Apartment: an apartment block in Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh city) filled with different cafes, overlooking Saigon river. You can try out several cafes here at one time and enjoy the view!
Networking events attended:
1) Saigon Digital Social: a meetup in a bar called Pasteur Street Brewing, where we met 20+ expats and digital nomads in Saigon. It’s a great “ice-breaking” event for our Vietnam journey to meet new people and get some useful tips.
2) Mundo Lingo Language Exchange: this event is way more popular than we expected, where we met people with different cultural backgrounds. This event takes place every Thursday.
Other Reference Websites:
Da Nang
Da Nang is a coastal city located in central Vietnam, known for its beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes, and rich culture. As a digital nomad, there are several must-see spots in Da Nang that offer a mix of history, culture, and natural beauty.
One of the most popular attractions in Da Nang is the Golden Bridge, a stunning architectural marvel that appears to be held up by a pair of giant stone hands. The bridge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and is a must-visit spot for any visitor to Da Nang.
Another must-see spot in Da Nang is the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone hills that are home to numerous caves, pagodas, and temples. Visitors can climb to the top of the mountains for panoramic views of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Aside from sightseeing, Da Nang is also known for its delicious seafood. Some of the must-try local foods include banh xeo, a savory pancake filled with shrimp and bean sprouts; mi quang, a noodle dish with pork, shrimp, and herbs; and cao lau, a pork and noodle dish that is unique to central Vietnam.
As a digital nomad, there are several co-working spaces and cafes in Da Nang where you can get work done while enjoying the city’s laid-back atmosphere.
Where we stayed at:
Casa Rosa Apartment, HKD180 per night for a double room. Spacious room and comfortable conditions, 6 min’s walk from the beach, high recommended!
Where we ate at:
Since we have a Vietnamese friend in Da Nang, we got some good recommendations for authentic Vietnamese food from him.
1) Com Nha Linh. This Vietnamese restaurant offers menu sets with generous portion. Each set includes a main course, soup, vegetables, and rice, all for the reasonable price of just 128,000 VND.
2) Thanh Ha Coffee. A corner coffee shop with a garden style, we can see it’s popular among locals for breakfast. Delicious food and affordable price. Loved it！
3) Moc Seafood. Popular seafood restaurant in Da Nang. 650,000VND per person, but can be cheaper if do not order a lobster.
4) Co Phuong. Various choices for a Banh Cuon breakfast. 20,000-40,000VND per person.
5) Madame Kieu in Hoi An Old Town. Great location along the river. 360,000VND per person, including food and drinks.
6) Bahn Trang Thit Heo. That’s the place to have Vietnamese rolls! Had fun rolling the rice paper with pork and veg ourselves. Food was clean, delicious and affordable. 110,000VND per person.
Where we worked (coffee shops and co-working spaces):
1) Enouvo Space.
Enouvo space currently has 2 locations in Da Nang. It offers co-work, co-break (cafe) and co-living (apartment) services. For co-working, they provide hourly / daily / monthly packages for individuals and other packages for company use. Check detailed rate info here: https://enouvospace.com/co-work/
We paid for the daily package (100,000 VND/ person) and roughly spent a day there. The space was quite popular and quickly packed with people by noon time. Instant coffee and tea are free, a 18% discount is given if you buy coffee/snacks at the cafe downstairs.
2) The Local Beans.
The Local beans is a good combination of a coffee shop and a co-working space. The shop has 3 stores, the ground and 2nd floor is a coffee shop, where you can just buy a cup of coffee and sit there to work. The electricity socks are provided but no air-conditioner since it’s a terrace-like open air place.
For the 3rd floor, it charges extra fee to stay there (Hour Pass: Buy 1 drink and 24.000đ/seat/4h. Longer usage: 6.000đ/extra hour).
Check detailed rate info here: https://www.thelocalbeans.com/workspace-34
3) The Cups Coffee. A Starbucks-like coffee shop, strong air-conditioner.
4) LU Coffee. Spacious coffee shop with work-friendly environment. A cup of coffee costs about 55,000VND.
Networking events attended:
1) Digital Nomad Meetup. They hold it every Friday. https://www.facebook.com/digitalnomadsindanang
2) NFT meetup. A meetup initiated by a NFT artist from UK, we attended the first session, they are organizing it regularly now.
Expats and Digital nomads in Da Nang are very active in sharing information and organizing meetups, it’s recommended to join their WhatsApp group.
Other Reference Websites:
1) https://digitalnomads.world/city-guide/da-nang/
2)https://enouvospace.com/digital-nomad-da-nang/
3)https://wenomad.so/city/da-nang
Hanoi
Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is known for its rich history, beautiful architecture, and vibrant street life. As a digital nomad, there are several must-see spots in Hanoi that offer a glimpse into the city’s fascinating past and present.
One of the most popular attractions in Hanoi is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a massive granite structure that houses the embalmed body of Vietnam’s revolutionary leader, Ho Chi Minh. Visitors can also explore the nearby Ho Chi Minh Museum, which features exhibits on Ho Chi Minh’s life and the history of the Vietnam War.
Another must-see spot in Hanoi is the Old Quarter, a maze of narrow streets and alleys that are home to numerous shops, restaurants, and street vendors. The Old Quarter is a great place to explore on foot, and visitors can sample a wide variety of local foods and drinks along the way.
Aside from sightseeing, Hanoi is known for its delicious street food. Some of the must-try local foods include bun cha, a grilled pork dish served with noodles and herbs; pho cuon, a type of spring roll filled with beef and herbs; and banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich made with a crispy baguette, various meats, and pickled vegetables.
As a digital nomad, there are several coworking spaces and cafes in Hanoi where you can get work done while enjoying the city’s charming atmosphere. Some popular options include Toong, Up, and The Work Hub.
Where we stayed at:
1) 20 Apartment and Hotel. 15min walk from West Lake. 200HKD per night.
2) Concon House. In the Old Quarter, very convenient place, room is a bit small but quiet. 280HKD per night.
Where we ate at:
1) Met Vietnam Restaurant. Highly ranked on Google maps, but seems only foreign tourists were eating there. Food quality was normal, could have the same food with a cheaper price on the street. 210,000VND per person.
2) Bun Cha Que Tre. A Bun Cha restaurant previously featured by a TV show. In the restaurant, we observed the staff expertly grilling meat and preparing fresh spring rolls. We ordered two Bun Cha sets, one plate of spring rolls, and two coconuts, which came out to a total of 105,000 VND per person.
3) So 1 Hang Manh. Bun Cha again. Recommended by our Vietnamese friend. Saw many locals come here. Larger portion than the second restaurant, 140,000VND per person.
Where we worked (coffee shops and co-working spaces):
1) UpGen. This co-working space has six locations throughout Hanoi. We visited the Kim Ma Street location, which is on the fifth floor of a proper office building — VIT Tower. We contacted them on Facebook and got a free-trial day, which is a fantastic way to check out the space before committing to a package. The minimum package is a 3-day one, priced at 330k VND.
2) The Learning Hub, which has a cozy and community-focused atmosphere. Compared to UpGen, it’s less formal and commercial, and offers a variety of flexible packages, from hourly to yearly. Price is 25,000VND per hour and 100,000VND per day. Although the space may not be overly spacious, it is comfortable for freelancers to work in, and the owner has a fantastic cafe located upstairs. If you bring your own cup for coffee and order from the cafe, you can even receive a discount of 10,000 VND on your order.
3) Toong Trang Thi. The popularity of Toong Trang Thi is partly owe to its perfect location — in a French villa in the opposite side of the famous Metropolis Hanoi Hotel. The price is a bit high compared to others — 150k VND/day, but its decoration and facilities make it worthwhile. https://toong.asia/
Networking events attended:
Blabla Language Exchange Event. It happened to be a global touring event, and we met the founder of this community, a Frenchman living in Cambodia. We were impressed to learn that this language exchange program has been established in 80 cities around the world, each with its own local community. The founder dedicated six years of his spare time to achieve this, and only in the past year has he been able to work on it full-time.
Other Reference Websites:
1)https://digitalnomads.world/city-guide/hanoi/
2)https://www.gogaffl.com/blog_posts/hanoi-coworking-spaces-digital-nomad
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