A Canadian expat explains his decision to leave Da Nang after 18 months, moving back to Ho Chi Minh City for family and career reasons. He emphasizes that his departure is not a critique of Da Nang, which he still considers one of the best places for early retirement and soft landings in Southeast Asia. The video details the city's genuine strengths: its natural beauty, affordability, low pollution, walkability, and easy airport access. However, he identifies three core reasons for leaving: increasing touristification eroding the local feel, a long cold rainy season that is underplayed by most content creators, and the city's transient expat community which lacks stability for families, especially for spousal career opportunities and children's education. He contrasts the difficulty of finding long-term housing and real jobs outside tourism in Da Nang with the greater opportunity and infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City. The video is framed as an honest, experience-based perspective for those considering a long-term move to Vietnam.
Key Facts
- The creator lived in Da Nang for 18 months before deciding to move back to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Da Nang International Airport is 12 to 15 minutes from central residential areas and offers direct flights to Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.
- Da Nang has a long rainy season with gray, windy, and relentless rain during months when digital nomads escape to Bali or Chiang Mai.
- Most expats in Da Nang stay only 90 to 180 days, making friendships transient with expiration dates.
- Finding long-term rental houses for families is very difficult in Da Nang, with many available options being hotels rather than apartments or houses.
