Vung Tau vs Da nang for living

Member since 08 October 2020

departed00Active member26 August 2022 14:28:51

I consider myself very lucky in that i'm able to keep my job in HCM but work remotely from either of the above cities. I'm planning a potential move in a few months, but am looking for feedback on living in both towns.

I've lived in DN before and liked it, good food options, close to airport etc but on my last trip wasn't that impressed with the extreme summer heat and super crowds on the weekend (although i know that's an issue in VT as well) If anyone has lived in both cities, or has any thoughts on either, i'd love to get your opinion. I'm a guy in my 40's who likes to cycle, cook, and enjoys a quiet life mostly.

Cheers.

mikeymac Contributor

Member since 06 January 2016

mikeymacContributor26 August 2022 16:06:09

108

You can get true blue Aussie meat pies in VT

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member26 August 2022 16:12:17

7198

I consider myself very lucky in that i'm able to keep my job in HCM but work remotely from either of the above cities. I'm planning a potential move in a few months, but am looking for feedback on living in both towns.

I've lived in DN before and liked it, good food options, close to airport etc but on my last trip wasn't that impressed with the extreme summer heat and super crowds on the weekend (although i know that's an issue in VT as well) If anyone has lived in both cities, or has any thoughts on either, i'd love to get your opinion. I'm a guy in my 40's who likes to cycle, cook, and enjoys a quiet life mostly.

Cheers.
- @departed00

Hội An is my recommendation:

Quiet life is easy to have there, as long as you don't live in the town center.

Quality western style housing surrounded by picturesque rice paddies at rental rates much cheaper than Đà Nẵng.

Still a relatively short ride to the airport (better than Vũng Tàu to SGN) and the train station (fairly quick trips to Huế and Quy Nhơn).

Now the trolls will tell you why Hội An sucks, but that's because they insist on trying to live in the quaint tourist zone AND expect to be treated as locals.

Much more bicycle friendly than Đà Nẵng.

Closer to our favorite getaway area, Tam Thanh at Tam Kỳ, Quảng Nam (Google Maps link)

We are moving back there (leaving here in Vũng Tàu) in October (lived in Hội An in 2021).

Good luck!

O.B.

departed00 Active member

Member since 08 October 2020

departed00Active member27 August 2022 04:17:10

@OceanBeach92107 you've thrown me a curve ball now! I've always thought of Hoi An as being a bit touristy but I've never explored the outskirts. Have you been in VT for a while? If so why are you thinking about leaving and heading back to the centre, if you don't mind me asking.

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member27 August 2022 06:01:54

7198

@OceanBeach92107 you've thrown me a curve ball now! I've always thought of Hoi An as being a bit touristy but I've never explored the outskirts. Have you been in VT for a while? If so why are you thinking about leaving and heading back to the centre, if you don't mind me asking.
- @departed00

Probably the number one reason we are heading to northern Quảng Nam is because my *new wife* is from neighboring Quảng Ngãi to the south.

(Our paperwork is now approved in Quảng Ngãi, and we are heading there on Monday to sign it to be legally married)

It was largely my decision to return to Hội An, as it seems important to me that we be closer to her parents and her twin 18-year-old daughters in Quảng Ngãi.

I returned to Việt Nam on July 4th after being gone 13 months due to visa restrictions.

I came to Vũng Tàu first because my wife works here, I previously lived here in the same apartment building, and because my "twin sister" Ciambella and her husband are my closest friends in Việt Nam.

Now they are moving and with three necessary official trips happening at the same time (visa run, signing marriage documents & update police records in Quảng Ngãi, and apply for TRC in Hà Nội--an 8 day process, minimum) we decided this would be the economical time to move from here, plus do some additional sightseeing up north, and then finish up in Hội An in October.

Our previous, wonderful 3 bedroom house at An Bàng Beach (steps away from this Google Maps link) just became vacant again and the landlord is very eager to rent to us long term once my TRC is approved.

With the larger house two streets away from the beach, we can easily have her family visit us whenever they can take off time from working their farm.

Other things I didn't mention about Hội An:

New restaurants open there frequently, in addition to some long-established classic central Vietnam favorite places, so there is everything from simple, cheap street food all the way up to fine dining in international restaurants.

Also, it's not too far to get to Mega Market or Lotte Mart on the southeast side of Đà Nẵng for some monthly restocking of items most easily found there.

My other best friend in Vietnam is also living there in Hội An in the rural area of Cẩm Hà (Google Maps link) and he likes it for much the same things you are seeking.

I'm especially looking forward to his daily visits.

Malcolmleitrim Serial expat

Member since 18 June 2019

MalcolmleitrimSerial expat27 August 2022 10:27:50

212

I have never "lived" in Da Nang or Vung Tau, but I have spent some time in both and I agree with OceanBeach that you should look at the outskirts of Hoi An. I could definitely live there, he has already outlined the many benefits, very bicycle friendly and quiet if that's what you like, easy cycle to the beach and easy to get to Da Nang if you want the big city.

I liked Vung Tau, great food and cheap, but unless you speak vietnamese, you could be very isolated. On the other hand, my vietnamese girlfriend didn't like Hoi An at all, she thought it was much too expensive and touristy.