Asia
Vietnam
A beachy city I never would have booked on my own — motorbikes, Hoi An lanterns, and people who make you want to come back.
- Da Nang
- Hoi An
- Ho Chi Minh City
Quick take
Why I loved it
Never would’ve booked Vietnam myself — got sent for work, fell for Da Nang anyway.
Beachy, tropical, calm and busy at once. My team’s warmth made the trip.
This is really a Da Nang guide, with Hoi An as the day trip. I didn’t see enough of Ho Chi Minh to guide you there.
Areas
Neighborhoods & pockets worth knowing
01
Da Nang (Han River)
Where I actually lived — real-city busy, still calm enough to breathe.
02
Hoi An
Lanterns, tailors, bánh mì — worth the hour if you treat it as a real outing.
03
Da Nang beach
The tropical surprise. Views alone make Da Nang feel like more than a work trip.
04
Ho Chi Minh City
Wild and busy — a lot for a first Asia trip. I didn’t explore enough to map it.
Itinerary
Things to do
- 01
Call a Grab motorbike in Da Nang and just go — the ride’s half the point
- 02
Chase the water. Da Nang’s beach views are unreal
- 03
Hòa Phú Thành for water slides and rafting — most fun I had
- 04
Get clothes tailored at Silk Road in Hoi An
- 05
Eat bánh xèo — my favorite food in the country
- 06
Walk the Da Nang night market
- 07
See the Hoi An lanterns as one full day, not a rushed stop
Taste
Food & drink
01/07
Browse
Shopping
Custom clothes · Hoi An
Silk Road
My go-to for tailored clothes. Tell them I sent you.
Markets & shops · Hoi An
Hoi An market streets
Most of my shopping happened right here.
Night market · Da Nang
Da Nang night market
Famous for a reason — go.
Shopping street · Da Nang
Han Market
One long street of shops. That’s the one.
Practical
Things I wish I knew
- Getting around
- Grab for everything — motorbikes in Da Nang, no bikes for me in Ho Chi Minh.
- Airport
- Long flight. Land early morning or afternoon to beat jet lag.
- Transit
- Hoi An’s ~1 hr away. For Hòa Phú Thành, hire a driver — Grab thins out there.
- Cash & cards
- Card works almost everywhere. Bring $200–300 to exchange in town — flat, new bills.
- General tips
- Crossing streets: just go, there’s no real walk signal. English isn’t everywhere — people are kind about it anyway.
Put a card on Grab before requesting a ride. Book with cash and you’re stuck with it — learned that one in a panic.
Seasons
Weather & best time to visit
February–May, or November. Spring’s the most forgiving window.
Best months
February–May, or November. Spring’s the most forgiving window.
What to expect
Hot, humid, beachy — pack for tropical, not dry heat.
What to avoid
Early August heat, and October–November storm season.
Bag
Packing notes
Bring
- Bug spray
- An umbrella
- A rain jacket
- A swimsuit
- Light, sweat-proof clothes
Wear
- Whatever’s actually comfortable — no dress code
- Heat-proof, not cute-and-melting
- Shoes for markets and motorbikes
Skip
- Heavy layers
- Anything you wouldn’t wear on a bike
- A schedule that assumes Hoi An is “right there”