Wase, a 32-year-old former engineer laid off from a Fortune 25 company in Houston, recounts how he found a slower, more peaceful life in Da Nang, Vietnam, for $400/month. After losing his six-figure job, he backpacked through Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, and Cambodia before a border run to Vietnam led him to Hoi An, where a backpacker's tip about beachside apartments for $400/month prompted a lease signing the next day. He has now lived in Da Nang for seven months, exercising daily at the beach, boxing, running 6 miles several times a week, and attending a Vietnamese language club that also connects him to local culture and restaurants. Wase highlights the strong expat community and the ease of finding social groups with members aged 20 to 70. He pays $180 for a used motorbike from Facebook Marketplace and values the flexibility of 3-month apartment leases, having previously lived near My An Bridge and Son Tra. His core message is that travel provides priceless peace of mind and purpose that money cannot buy.
Key Facts
- Wase pays $400 per month for an apartment on the beach in Da Nang.
- US citizens receive an automatic 90-day visa upon arrival in Vietnam.
- Wase bought a used motorbike on Facebook Marketplace for $180.
- Wase signs three-month leases and moves between neighborhoods (My An Bridge, Son Tra, across the bridge).
- Wase attends a Vietnamese language club that teaches culture and local restaurants, aiding his transition.
