I Left Da Nang and Moved Back to Hanoi

Digital nomad and content creator Carl Tomich explains his decision to leave Da Nang, Vietnam, and return to Hanoi after a period of living in the central coastal city. He contrasts Da Nang's limited content opportunities—aside from apartment tours, Ba Na Hills, and Hoi An day trips—with Hanoi's abundant creative inspiration, established social network, and familiar routine. Carl cites having local and expat friends, favorite cafes and restaurants, and a martial arts training facility (Star Kickboxing, ~600k VND/month) as key pull factors. He also details a forthcoming documentary on martial arts history, which has taken him to Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, with a final shoot in China. Additionally, he mentions getting dental veneers in Hanoi at a lower cost than Western countries. While acknowledging Hanoi's smog, traffic, and chaos, Carl frames his choice as a matter of personal fit, routine, and belonging rather than a universal critique of Da Nang.

Key Facts

1. Star Kickboxing Hanoi: ~600k VND/month (~30 AUD) for gym access and equipment
2. Dental veneers in Vietnam are much cheaper than in Western countries
3. July 2026: family meeting in Hong Kong, then China for martial arts documentary filming
4. Longer prior residence in Hanoi, established local and expat friendships