Is the Da Nang hype real?

Hey Freaking Nomads,

I’ve been digital nomading in Da Nang, Vietnam 🇻🇳 for a little while now—and if you’ve been keeping up with the buzz, you’ve probably heard that it’s the place to be for digital nomads right now.

On paper, it sounds like a dream: gorgeous beaches, a growing community, loads of coworking spots, affordable living (though prices are creeping up), and, of course, Vietnam is just an amazing country all around. But I’ve found myself asking: Is the Da Nang vibe real, or is it just hype?

Truth be told, I showed up with high expectations. The blogs, the YouTube videos, the stories from other nomads—Da Nang was painted as this perfect paradise: surf in the morning, work from a beachside café by noon, and grab a $1 banh mi while watching the sunset. And yes… Da Nang can be that. But only when the weather's good!

Out of all the days I’ve been here, unfortunately, there’s only been one day of sunshine...The rest? Cold, rainy, and mostly grey. Sure, you could say it’s shoulder season and the rainy season hasn’t fully passed—but when you’re hoping for at least a few bright days and instead get endless clouds, it can mess with your experience a bit.

But that one sunny day? Pure magic. I worked from a café on the beach, swam in the ocean at lunch, and rode my motorbike to Hoi An as the sun dipped below the horizon. It was everything I’d hoped Da Nang would be. But then…The rain came back. And so did the good vibes.

The thing is, the challenge isn’t Da Nang—it’s the expectations we carry with us as frequent travelers. When a place is so hyped up, it’s easy to idealize it. We expect perfection, and when reality falls short, it stings. But that doesn’t mean the place isn’t worth it. It just means we need to shift our mindset—see it for what it really is, not what we wanted it to be.

Because when the sun does show up? You better believe you’ll want to make the most of it. That one golden day reminded me exactly why I came here.

So... is the Da Nang vibe real? Yeah, it is. But it’s not guaranteed. It’s a place that rewards flexibility, patience, and maybe a little more planning around the seasons 😉

Until next week,

Luca 🌍

👀 What else...

• If you're planning to work remotely from New York City, our Digital Nomad Guide to NYC is packed with honest, real-life tips from someone who knows the ins and outs of the city. You'll find recommendations for the best laptop-friendly cafes (we skipped the overly hip ones), advice for navigating the subway, and practical tips to actually get work done in the middle of all the noise and distractions.

Digital Nomad Guide to Living in New York City

Want to live in NYC as a digital nomad? Here’s an honest guide to working remotely, living costs, and surviving the chaos of New York City.

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• And if you’re looking to level up your remote work setup, we’ve been testing the espresso Display 15 Monitor. This ultra-portable second screen is lightweight, sleek, and connects directly to your laptop without needing a separate power source. It’s not perfect (the screen could be brighter), but for nomads who need a productivity boost on the road, it’s a solid pick.

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✨ Our favorite nomad quote for this week

“Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.” – Dalai Lama

💼 100% remote jobs handpicked for you

Who is hiring this week? Here are some top roles to check out:

• Senior Backend Engineer at Volatus Health
• AI Researcher at Rivalz.ai
• Head of Product at SignalFire
• Amazon Account Manager at BurntWork
• Senior Security Specialist at Soum

💡This week's pick (to make your life easier)

If you care about privacy, security, and staying connected without headaches, Proton VPN is a cut above the rest. There are tons of VPNs out there, but Proton VPN does things a little differently:

🔒 Security that goes the extra mile – Proton VPN doesn’t just encrypt your data; it routes your traffic through Secure Core servers in super-secure locations like Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden.

🌍 A huge global network – With over 11,800 servers in 117 countries, you’ll always find a fast, reliable connection.

🚀 Built for speed – Thanks to its VPN Accelerator feature, Proton VPN boosts your connection speed, especially over long distances.

🛡️ Privacy perks you’ll love – It blocks ads, trackers, and malware with NetShield, and even lets you access Tor sites directly through your browser for an extra layer of anonymity.

💻 Easy to use, flexible to set up – Customizable profiles, split tunneling, and open-source apps mean you can tweak it to fit your needs without needing a tech degree.

Oh, and it’s based in Switzerland 🇨🇭 which has some of the strongest privacy laws in the world!

Looking for more VPN recommendations? Check out our dedicated guide.

That's all for this week.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Threads if you want to get in touch with other members of the FN community.

We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads!

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