I am thinking about living in Da Nang from January to March 2027

I am looking for an ex-pat buddy who can help me through the process and is totally grounded in Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City. What can you tell me! I would like to live comfortably for the 3 months that I will be there. I don't need a 5 star place, but definitely clean and connected to the ex pat community. I enjoy nightlife, the beach, eating the local cuisine, etc. If you feel like you have the time to provide advice, I am all ears! - @Doug1964

When you physically arrive here in Đà Nẵng, I'm happy to meet you for coffee.

Unfortunately, I don't have the energy to be your private advance man, except to offer one bit of advice:

Under no circumstances should you attempt to finalize a long-term reservation prior to actually arriving in Vietnam as scams and deceptive ads/photos are legendary here.

At most, most of us recommend booking a decent and affordable hotel for between 3 and 10 days through one of the more established apps/websites such as Agoda or BookingDOTcom.

That will give you plenty of time to personally check out what's actually available at that time.

I personally never, ever, ever recommend Airbnb if you aren't physically here in the country to check out the place before you agree to rent it.

Even then, I still don't recommend Airbnb as the landlords are repeatedly involved in violations of the lodging laws here and often situate you within a building where your presence is resented and resisted by whatever means the management can employ (denial of use of common areas such as pools, etc).

The governments in different cities here have started to clamp down on the use of Airbnb, so there's no reason you want to get in the middle of those battles.

You will be arriving in the off season so there shouldn't be any pressure to lock down something prior to your arrival, as vacancies will be significantly higher than during high season.

It's worth noting that Tết (Lunar New Year's Day) will fall on February 6th, with the lunar month prior becoming somewhat hectic during preparations for the celebration and the month afterward slowly getting things back to normal, some businesses closed for significant amounts of time and some basic fresh foods becoming scarce. Transportation within the country can also be disrupted during that overall time period, as significant portions of the population travel home from major cities before the holiday and then return en masse after the core 3 day celebration is complete.

If you have some further questions about Đà Nẵng, post them as comments in this thread and I'll do my best to deal with them.

Added Note:

It's really a myth that there is some sort of "expat community" in Đà Nẵng or any other city in Vietnam, unless you were talking about hanging out at the most popular bar...

@Doug1964

hello. So you plan to stay in Vietnam for 3 months. Personally I agree with OceanBeach, to think about  a place to live is too hurry. Better do a booking in a Hotel, explore the cities for a couple of weeks and then you would consider to rent an appartment.

In other hand, to avoid bad sittuations, you should consider this other advises: 1) You must know that you cannot sleep lawfully at any place without reporting your temporary homestay at the Police, so be careful whenever you are invited to sleep at your friend's and always wear your passport if you will. 2)  You are permitted to ride a scooter under 50cc without a driver license (only Vietnam). If you would like to rent a car or bigger motorbike bring your US License, and here you can revalidate it for abiut 100 usd. An International License issued by USA is not accepted in Vietnam, nor China, but you can use it in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, etc. 3) Ensure your banks can send you codes to your email, or better if you activate SMS roaming. And 4) Bring your Single Status Certificate with Apostille issued in USA (you will not get one at Embassies abroad)... In 3 months nobody knows what could happen 😉 .

Good luck

@Doug1964
..... If you would like to rent a car or bigger motorbike bring your US License, and here you can revalidate it for abiut 100 usd.....  - @ajairon

Here I have to clarify that Tourist Visa holders cannot convalidate their own drivers licenses. Therefor United Statians cannot ride nothing over 50cc or 5HP until get a TRC via other visa types... Again, none knows what could happen in 3 months

This is exactly the advice that I needed and I thank all of you for your wisdom!  I will respond back to each of you individually but thought this post might reach you all.  Absolutely OceanBeach 92107 coffee is a must and it will be my treat, and thanks for the airbnb advice.  I will look for a hotel on the sites provided.  Thanks to you too ajairon and I am not sure I would scoot around if transportation is readily available at an appropriate price.  That being said, anything else that you would like to tell me feel free to do so   I certainly appreciate it.   This is all new to me but I am excited to travel there and experience the culture.  Ideally, I will stay for about 80 days or so.  I will acquire the right visa through the proper channels.  Let me ask, if I may, how much money would one need to stay in a safe and secure place for about three months, eat reasonably, experience some culture and nightlife, etc.  All information received is totally terrific.  Maybe if it is not too intrusive, share some ballpark figures

I forgot this one....what is a single status certificate with Apostille?  What would my status matter?

4) Bring your Single Status Certificate with Apostille issued in USA (you will not get one at Embassies abroad)

Once again, many thanks!

Nevermind, I just did a quick review on the internet.  I do not plan to find a wife, been there, done that, and happy to live the rest of my days as a totally free person!  (happy faces)

Doug - before we go down the cost of living rabbit hole for the thousandth time in this forum, why don't you just tell us your preferred monthly budget.

It's not important for you to know what it cost us to live here.

Better for you to tell us your basic expectations and your budget and we can work with that.

As far as transportation goes, I frequently tell people that I've know well over a dozen people who have come to Vietnam and been in motorcycle accidents; everything from small ebikes to very large Harley hogs.

However, in eight years, I haven't known anyone who has been in a taxi accident.

Grab is the equivalent of Uber and Lyft here, but it's incredibly cheaper. My bonus daughters use a motorbike my wife and I bought them, and I have an eTrike and she has an e-bike for nearby needs here on the Bayside of town.

But if we are going anywhere out of our neighborhood, we always book a grab car.

@ajairon

Per your responded "here you can revalidate it for abiut 100 usd".  What do you mean by that statement?  to convert your U.S license to Vietnamese license? cost $100 U.S.A? How long does it good for? As your visa validation?  How does this process work and where we can get it done?  Thank you!

@ajairon Per your responded "here you can revalidate it for abiut 100 usd". What do you mean by that statement? to convert your U.S license to Vietnamese license? cost $100 U.S.A? How long does it good for? As your visa validation? How does this process work and where we can get it done? Thank you! - @Rahj_Devon

There were rumours a little while back of people converting their foreign license to a VN license while here on a 90 tourist visa, but I've not been able to confirm that. It wouldn't surprise me (in the least) to learn that this might be possible in some police districts but not in others.

Per Google AI:

To convert your foreign driver's license to a Vietnamese one, you must submit an application dossier to the local Traffic Police Department or Department of Transport if you have resided in Vietnam for at least three months with a valid visa or temporary residence card (TRC).

Eligibility Requirements

1. Residency: Must live, work, or study in Vietnam for 90 days or more.
2. License Status: Your foreign license must be valid, not expired, and not a temporary or international permit.
3. Legal Age: Must meet the minimum driving age for the vehicle class in Vietnam.

Required Documents

1. Application Form: Official license conversion form.
2. Translated License: Notarized Vietnamese translation of your foreign driver's license.
3. Identification: Copy of your passport and valid visa, TRC, or permanent residence card.
4. Medical Check: Health certificate from an approved local hospital (often waived if your TRC or visa matches the duration).
5. Photos: Standard passport-sized photos.

Conversion Steps

1. Prepare Documents: Gather all required paperwork and translations.
2. Submit in Person: Go to the provincial Department of Transport or Traffic Police office.
3. Verify and Snap Photo: Show your original passport and foreign license, and have your photo taken on-site.
4. Pay Fee: Pay the official state fee (around 135,000 VND, excluding translation and medical costs).
5. Wait for Processing: Processing takes between three and eight working days.

@Rahj_Devon

hello, and yes, that was exactly what I meant, bring your driver license  and get a vietnamese one for the time of your visa, or your Residence Card or your passport or your driver license nearest expire date.

Now, why did i say 100usd while Aidan show 6usd? because USA licenses are not under the same standar convention, therefore need translated into viet language, and also the price of the agent.

My recommendations are always following the legal rules, and agents fees. no coffee money, hence I will not confirm or deny whether you can get the license with a tourist visa 😉.

I only mentioned the driver license to the requester because he will be here 3 months. For short than 2 weeks turism in main cities: better do not touch even a bicycle

...Now, why did i say 100usd while Aidan show 6usd? ... - @ajairon

Now now ajairon, "Aidan" didn't say/show $6 US. Google AI did.

In Google's defence, I'll point out that the $6 it referenced was in addition to translation and the medical check.

So you just need a 3 month tourist visa. If you feel you might want to hop to a nearby country for a day or two, get the multiple entry option (US$50).

Obviously, if you spend 3-7 days in a hotel when you arrive, you'll lose this time at the other end if you get a monthly or 3 month rental contract.

Living comfortably is subjective.  To some it's possible on €500-€700 p.m. (or less). For others it could mean 2k or more. An Thuong is full of expats and businesses catering to them. You could join a group of some interest or just hang out in cafés and make friends. A short walk gets you out of the expat bubble and into the real DaNang with lower prices etc (and probably less English ability with locals). Booking transport on Grab or similar scooters is cheap and easy. If you have confidence and bike experience, rent your own bike.

Not to directly contradict OceanBeach92107...but...

FWIW, I've almost exclusively used AirBnB and had pretty good luck in Da Nang. I'm in a very modern 1-bedroom, less than a kilometer from the beach, with plenty of shops around. The normal rate is about $30/night, but the discounted monthly rate is less than $500/month.

And there's the rub. In order to get a nice place for low cost, you'll need to book for at least a month at a time on AirBnB.

If you book the place for just a few nights to try it out, what happens when you decide to extend your stay for a couple of months?  If you wait until the last minute, there's a real possibility that someone else will already have booked a night or two, thus making it impossible for you to book an entire month on short notice - and your discounted rate would evaporate.

So, you've either got to roll the dice (you aren't locked in, btw - AirB&B will allow you to cancel within the first 48 hours if there's a problem with the lodgings) or expect to spend a little bit more money on lodging during your first couple of weeks.

As a general rule of thumb, whatever your budget goal, double it for the first month. If you want to be at $1,000/mo, expect to spend $2,000 in your first month. There's a learning curve. Maybe you get lucky or maybe you don't. Better safe than sorry.

Another option, if budget is your main concern, is to book a homestay or a hostel during your first week. They are cheaper, but the living areas are shared (and in hostels, the sleeping areas too) .

@Cameron J

hello, your shared experience is good indeed. just always always always in cases of apartments and houses you must ask the owner (or legal representative) whether they have the property registered for rental at the Police, and will they register your accommodation at the Police or Minister of Security within the first 24 hours. If one of those requisites are negative, you will: Case #1: (sure) find your belongings left outside the door, or Case #2: (risk) receive a fine of 300 usd per member.

Despite the above, your given suggestion is pretty good. But to me, I still think about to arrive to a hotel for few days meanwhile finding the best place is the best, to me.

Just be careful, Vietnam has strict regulations for foreigners and effective agents, nothing difficult to follow up (reason why this country is safety), but locals are very informal that can make you slip up.

My rent for a 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom modern house is ₫10 million VNĐ/$384 USD per month, a 5 minute walk from Đà Nẵng Bay.

My rent for a 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom modern house is ₫10 million VNĐ/$384 USD per month, a 5 minute walk from Đà Nẵng Bay. - @OceanBeach92107

That is a sweet deal, especially for Da Nang and only minutes from the beach!

How instrumental was your wife, or your Vietnamese friends/contacts, in your finding the home?

Without the help of locals, I'd have been lost in Saigon, Thai Nguyen, and Phu Quoc. Well, either lost or skinned.

@Doug1964

Hi there,

I saw your post looking for a boots-on-the-ground buddy for your upcoming 3-month stay in Vietnam. Welcome!

If you want a perfect mix of beach, active nightlife, and incredible local cuisine, Da Nang is definitely the spot for you. I am fully based here in Central Vietnam and would love to help you get oriented.

For a comfortable, clean 3-month setup that keeps you connected to the expat community, I highly recommend looking at apartments in the An Thuong area (My Khe Beach side). It is incredibly walkable, filled with cafes, and has a great social scene without needing a 5-star budget.

***

Best,

Trang

My rent for a 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom modern house is ₫10 million VNĐ/$384 USD per month, a 5 minute walk from Đà Nẵng Bay. - @OceanBeach92107 That is a sweet deal, especially for Da Nang and only minutes from the beach!How instrumental was your wife, or your Vietnamese friends/contacts, in your finding the home? Without the help of locals, I'd have been lost in Saigon, Thai Nguyen, and Phu Quoc. Well, either lost or skinned. - @Aidan in HCMC

I think the greatest help my wife provided was looking at the Facebook groups where agents and landlords post primarily for other Vietnamese people, only in the Vietnamese language (Tiếng Việt,).

Not that they didn't want a foreigner, bút those groups are often mostly dealing with properties that foreigners don't find interesting.

So in our case she did find a property listed by a Vietnamese agent, in my number one preference area near the bay (where I had previously lived in 2018).

That agent doesn't speak much English, but it's my sense that he still would have shown me the house by myself.

Fortunately, having my wife there translating for me was a great help.

I'm actually the better negotiator between my wife and I, which is somewhat unusual in Vietnam (I believe).

So as I was determining what we wanted to have, including AC in a room that didn't have it and a bed in a room that didn't have one, she was able to clearly communicate everything we wanted included in the rental price.

Perhaps an interesting development: after we rented the first year 23-24 for 10 million, we then decided to sign a three year lease from 2024 to 2027.

The landlord wanted 10 million a year but I mentioned to her that we were negotiating now without the agent and so she wouldn't have to pay a percentage to an agent.

She got almost huffy, saying that she never met a foreigner who would negotiate like that.

But by that time, she knew that we were dream tenants, a foreigner with a very stable and substantial income and a Vietnamese wife who had proved herself to be fastidious with cleaning over the previous year.

So she offered us a rate of 9 and 1/2 million per month for the first 18 months and then 10 million per month for the final 18 months.

She has already told me that she is planning to raise the rent to 12 million in the fall of 2027 when our current lease expires.

We haven't told her yet that we're almost certainly moving out then, since our daughters will be finished with their university studies in Đà Nẵng and we will be free to move back out to the countryside, maybe in Quảng Ngãi near my inlaws.