A digital nomad is a location-independent individual who uses the internet and technology to work remotely, while travelling around the world. In other words, a digital nomad is someone who typically does jobs that can be done online, in order to be able to satisfy his love for travel and adventure.

Abundant attractions, low cost of living, and a friendly atmosphere are among the reasons that help Da Nang become an ideal destination for digital nomads.

A corner of Da Nang

Destination for remote workers

Diana Marcial, a native of the Philippines, has been a digital nomad for over three years. Before she becomes a digital nomad, she was a full-time officer at a bank in the US. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her bank was understaffed, so she had to work for long hours, and didn't feel the freedom. Therefore, she decided to search different online jobs.

“When I started, I was a social media manager. But it didn't last very long. And I came across search engine optimization and web development, and it's really what I want to do because my background is electronics engineering. After that, I started working for different US companies as well, and then created my own digital marketing agency”, Diana Marcial said.

While working as a digital nomad, Diana traveled to different countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Indonesia, in a bid to try to explore which cities she can live in, and actually love to live into.

She chooses Da Nang as her destination because the central coastal city of Viet Nam is emerging as a favourite destination for digital nomads worldwide. She expressed her impression on Da Nang’s amazing beaches with its clear blue waters and soft white sands.

She loves going to the beach to find balance in life, as well as refresh and renew her mind and spirit in order to get back to work with more energy.

“People are always so welcoming. They smile at you, even if they don't understand whatever you're saying or you don't understand what they're saying. Consumption costs here are cheaper than in other cities. I can comfortably enjoy local fruits and cuisine without having to worry too much about prices. Therefore, I really love life here” the Filipino girl emphasised.

Working as a digital nomad allows Diana Marcial to have a lot of time to travel, experience, and explore different cities and countries. In the photo: Diana Marcial visits the Sun World Ba Na Hills Tourist Area in Da Nang. (Photo courtesy of the character).

Meanwhile, Pacha Lola from the Netherlands has been working as a digital content creator and freelancer for about 4-5 years.

Lola’s passion for travel and the ability to work remotely make her realise that this is the best lifestyle for her, giving her good opportunities to go to many places and experience many interesting things from different cities and countries.

She produces on video and posts it on her personal YouTube channel every week, aiming to share her experience, knowledge and new things about nature with everyone.

Although Lola has lived in such different countries as Australia and China, Da Nang is the best city for digital nomads in her experience.

The beautiful natural landscape with beautiful mountains and a crescent-moon-shaped beach, the friendliness of local people, and many monuments and scenic spots to visit and experience are among the reasons that help her love Da Nang so much.

In addition, the new visa policy is more convenient for foreign tourists visiting Viet Nam, especially digital nomads. Local people are very active and they like to go out to coffee shops and or do exercise together. The food is really good and very healthy as well, she added.

“I love Da Nang very much and will live here for maybe one more year. And then after the year I see how I feel and have plans to still live here or explore other countries" Lola shared.

After a period of living and working as a digital nomad in Da Nang, Pacha Lola from the Netherlands loves living in the coastal city. In the photo: Pacha Lola has an experiential trip to Quang Nam Province and meets with children there. (Photo courtesy of the character)

The city has many suitable amenities

In recent years, Da Nang in particular, and Viet Nam in general, is an ideal choice to work remotely while exploring the beautiful landscapes thanks to a longer visa policy, cheap cost of living, and beautiful landscapes.

In November 2023, Viet Nam was evaluated as one of top three incredible destinations in the world by Canadian travel magazine The Travel, along with Romania and Thailand, thanks to its beautiful scenery, good and stable internet speed, and cheap price.

Also in November 2023, Da Nang was named among the three Vietnamese cities entering the list of the world's fastest-growing digital nomad hubs, alongside Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, according to travel magazine Outlook Traveller.

In particular, Da Nang ranks second, while Ha Noi takes the eighth spot. Ho Chi Minh City is the third city from Viet Nam to make it to the list on the ninth spot.

The central coastal city records impressive growth in the presence of digital nomads with reasonable living costs for remote workers, free wifi service, fast internet speed, beautiful scenery, and fresh air.

“The flexibility is my favourite aspect of the digital nomad lifestyle, as it allows me to go anywhere I want, and choose what time I work, just ensuring work progress and deliver whatever output clients need on time” Diana Marcial remarked.

According to Director of the Da Nang branch of the Axon Active Co., Ltd. Dang Ngoc Hai, remote workers tend to choose a city with many suitable amenities and Da Nang, with boasts beautiful beaches and a mild climate all year round, is the best choice for digital nomads.

Moreover, Da Nang boasts improved information technology infrastructure meeting the working and connection needs of technology experts, and low living costs compared to other large cities in the region, he highlighted.

The municipal government has many policies to attract foreign investment in high-tech fields, creating favourable conditions for foreign experts. Besides, Da Nang is emerging as a new technology destination as many technology companies have set up their headquarters here.

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Deputy Director of the Hai Van Cat International Travel Company, said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, freelancing blooms amid young people. Many people choose to do freelance work or work remotely to control their lives, and have more time to experience. Although there are no specific statistics on digital nomads living in Da Nang, with the current appreciation and popularity, Da Nang is a popular destination for remote workers.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Hai further informed that technology companies in Da Nang are playing an important role in introducing and promoting the city's image and potential to the international business community.

Through their wide network of partners and customers around the world, these companies have been attracting many leading technology experts to Da Nang to experience, explore and choose as a stopover on their journey. This helps Da Nang be well-known worldwide, thereby creating a regular source of revenue for the local tourism industry with the high-end customer segment.

​Reporting by N.HA, M.DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG