I first heard the name Da Nang last year while living in Chiang Mai, a peaceful city in Thailand. Back then, whenever I sat down with digital nomads from all over the world whose paths crossed with mine, the conversation would somehow always come around to Da Nang. Everyone was saying the exact same thing in unison: "You must go. Da Nang is such a beautiful place, the coastline and beaches are wonderful... Plus, it’s much more affordable than Chiang Mai, and the people are incredibly friendly."
Was it a sign that so many people were whispering about the same city? I always keep my awareness wide open to messages from the universe, especially in recent years; I love paying close attention to the small guidance life offers us. Messages are truly everywhere... In this post, I will share all the details and experiences of my trip to Vietnam and Da Nang, which shaped itself by taking exactly these whispers and messages into account a trip that seemed unplanned but once again reminded me that the universe has its own flow, and that we need to surrender to and trust that flow.
It all actually started when a city whose location I didn’t even fully know on the map was recommended to me by everyone I met. In those days, I was staying in Chiang Mai on a tourist visa, and I was nearing the end of my visa period. I didn’t want to return to Turkey just yet; I intended to extend this free, active journey in Asia a bit longer. I had truly fallen in love with the digital nomad lifestyle and the texture of this geography. Yet, until just two or three years ago, let alone living in Asian countries, even vacationing here seemed like a very distant possibility to me. There was a sense of insecurity inside me for reasons I didn’t fully know; I used to think these places were unsafe. I will talk at length in another post about how I chose Asia and the major turning points that shaped my current life, so I am closing this parenthesis for now.
While I was in the decision-making phase, Thailand was experiencing its most beautiful and gentle season. However, the situation in Vietnam was the exact opposite. Countries in tropical climate zones, like Thailand and Vietnam, frequently experience monsoon seasons that bring massive floods and rains that bring life to a standstill. Last year, right when I wanted to go, Vietnam was struggling with severe flood disasters. My visa was about to expire, and I had to make a decision. Yes, the message "You should go to Da Nang" had dropped into my mind, but the answer to the "when" question was left blank. The universe had left this part of the message to me—to my own free will. After all, a person should be able to use their intellect and intuition together while carving their own path.
For a while, from where I sat, I researched accommodation options and flight tickets. But the flood news from Da Nang was getting worse and worse. Many countries were issuing travel warnings for Vietnam, and official authorities were almost saying, "Do not come." Even the digital nomads living in Da Nang had fled to Chiang Mai to get through those difficult months. There was no point in pushing the limits under these conditions. I decided that postponing the Da Nang trip to a safer time and returning to Turkey was the right thing to do at that moment, so I went back home.
After returning, my mind was always there. I was constantly researching when I could set off again. My mind was also a bit confused at the time; a lot of questions and thoughts were spinning in my head, like whether I should fully transition to the digital nomad life and how I should design my life. Once I clarified all the questions and made my final decision, that was the exact moment I applied for Thailand’s DTV viza. When my viza was approved, a new path appeared before me: Should I first go and see Da Nang, which I was so curious about, or should I cross directly over to Thailand?
The month was February. When my DTV visa approval came at the beginning of March, I wanted to hit the road immediately without losing any time. But then again, the universe had its own flow. My layover flight ticket, which I had found very cheap, was canceled due to the war in the Middle East. Between searching for a new flight ticket and everything else, the closest and most viable date I could find fell exactly on April 5th—which happens to be my birthday. This wasn’t something I had planned, but it felt like a birthday gift from the universe to me. And I was blessed to celebrate my birthday in the air, on my journey to Asia. I can say it is the only birthday in my life so far that I will never forget. March and April are known as the "burning season" for the Chiang Mai region in Thailand; it is a challenging period when air pollution peaks and ash almost rains down from the sky. Because it becomes difficult to breathe there, digital nomads staying in Chiang Mai escape during these months to Da Nang, where the air quality is much better. I had heard this both from the local people and from my friends who have been living in Asia for a long time, and I had researched it deeply myself. I wanted to take advantage of this period and decided to experience this beautiful coastal city of Vietnam before Thailand. I immediately got my viza, rented a house for a month through Airbnb, and prepared my flight tickets. I actually had a three-month viza, but since I couldn’t estimate how long I would stay without seeing the city with my own eyes, I didn’t want to keep the house rental long at first. If I liked it, I could extend my stay for the duration of my visa.
Da Nang Airport is a quite small, quiet place. After stepping off the plane, going through customs and picking up my luggage took less than an hour. Right outside the customs gate, there are places selling sim cards for tourists; I immediately bought a local line and connected to the internet. Since I was already experienced in Asian countries, I already had the Grab app installed on my phone. I immediately called a ride to go to the house I rented. During the journey, the driver started asking classic tourist questions in broken English: "Is this your first time in Vietnam?", "How long will you stay?", "Do you need a private driver? I can accompany you..." These weren’t the kind of questions that make you anxious; on the contrary, they were asked in a very polite and friendly manner. It was obvious that their only goal was to make an honest living. Still, I chose to give limited and short answers; I thanked him, saying it was my first time but I would stay for a month or longer, that I was a digital nomad, that I had friends here, and that I wasn't looking for a private driver.
Despite this, he insisted on giving his phone number and asked for mine as well. Not wanting to be rude, we mutually saved the numbers. The next morning at exactly 06:00 AM, he sent me a message on WhatsApp; I saw it hours later when I woke up. He was asking about my plan for the day and wondering if I needed a vehicle. Without replying at all, I blocked the number directly. In the following days, almost all the Grab drivers I rode with wanted to give their numbers and connect on WhatsApp in a similar way. I gave my number to most of them because you unexpectedly feel safe here, you don't sense any bad intentions. It was very clear that they were trying to get jobs directly without paying a commission to Grab, and they did this politely without being pushy. Still, out of my own safety principles, I continued to use the Grab app officially for all my journeys.
I had briefly mentioned this topic in one of my vlog videos. A viewer who commented under the video wrote that they had been living in Da Nang for three months but nothing like this had ever happened to them, stating that they didn’t agree with anything I said about the city. Why is it so hard for us to believe that our own experiences are not the only absolute truth, and that others can walk different paths? Why do we immediately label another experience as a "lie" or an "exaggeration" and try to smear it the moment we hear it? Why does it scare people so much to look through different windows and listen without judgment? These thoughts had appeared in my mind when I read that comment. Anyway, after about a 20-minute ride, I arrived at the house. The check-in process was very smooth; my apartment was waiting for me. When I reached the house, it was already dark and it was 7:00 PM. Luckily, a friend I met in Chiang Mai had also come to Da Nang around those days to escape the burning season. I was very hungry, so I went out right away to meet up with them and take my first step into Vietnamese cuisine.
With the fatigue of the road and the clumsiness of both of us being very new to the city, we sat down at a random local restaurant. I ordered a classic Asian-style noodle. It might not have been the worst food I’ve ever eaten in my life, but it was impossible to say it was good either. Because everyone I met before going had talked about how extraordinary Vietnamese food was, I realized at that moment that I had formed a high expectation inside. I hadn’t really enjoyed the meal; I only ate it to satisfy my hunger. But I reminded myself; it was only my first day, I had a whole month ahead of me to explore, and my body was tired from traveling.
The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I headed straight to the beach. The coastline was truly mesmerizing; an endless, incredibly wide sandy beach and people enjoying the sea... The view was wonderful. Of course, without wasting any time, I threw myself into the water. There are private areas on some parts of the beach where you can rent sunbeds; you can either use those or, as many people do, lay your towel directly on the fine sand and just enjoy the moment. Since the sea is completely sandy, you have to walk quite a bit in the water to reach a depth where you can actually swim. However, the warm temperature and texture of the water are deeply relaxing. The sea is wavy, but these waves are not the tiring kind; they offer a pleasant movement where you can play with the water or take your first step into learning how to surf.
In Da Nang, the day starts much earlier than you might think. The city opens its eyes almost at 05:00 AM. The local people flock to the beach and jump into the sea in those early hours of the morning before heading to work. Since the weather becomes unbearably hot during the day, especially after 11:00 AM, people prefer either the first light of the morning or the cool of the evening. That is why the beach gets quite crowded during those hours. Yet, despite this crowd, everyone is so much in their own zone, so peaceful, that you don't feel even a slight discomfort in the midst of that busy atmosphere.
On the first day, I rented a sunbed, but in the following days, I started acting like a local; I just laid my towel on the sand and stretched out for minutes. The house I stayed in was only a 7-8 minute walk to the beach. Thanks to this, swimming and sunbathing in the mornings and taking long walks along the coast in the evenings turned into a beautiful daily routine for me. For someone who loves the sea and the energy of the water, this lifestyle is truly a great luxury. In the evenings, the greatest pleasure for the people here is walking on the beach or on that wide sidewalk along the coastline. There are small, charming businesses lined up along this long street where you can grab a quick bite or have a refreshing drink. A few large beach clubs also accompany the shoreline. Coming across people gathering by the sidewalk and dancing freely during evening walks is a simple miracle of this place. I shared most of these scenes with visuals in my Da Nang vlog video. You can watch the vlog video here. In this post, however, I want to share more of the details that couldn't fit into the limits of that video, the things left between the lines—the food spots I discovered and my shopping stops.
To be honest, Vietnamese cuisine didn’t really appeal to my taste buds all that much. During my years as a food photographer, I did photoshoots at over 500 restaurants across Istanbul and various cities in Turkey, which also gave me the opportunity to taste the dishes I shot. I had the chance to try a vast array of food, ranging from a local street-side raw meatball (çiğ köfte) vendor to plates prepared by Michelin-starred chefs, all the way to incredibly expensive, luxury restaurants. On top of that, if you are familiar with the aromatic flavors of Turkish and Thai cuisines, your palate naturally develops whether you mean to or not.
In Da Nang, you encounter deeply aromatic, mostly noodle-based soup options everywhere, prepared with beef or chicken broth and filled with various vegetables and meats. However, from what I observed, the most popular, quick street food is definitely a type of sandwich they call "Bánh Mì." They put eggs, meat, or chicken inside a crispy baguette and serve it with fresh vegetables and their own special sauce. It is possible to see a Bánh Mì stand on almost every street corner of the city. It can be both a very quick snack and a satisfying meal on its own; plus, the prices are incredibly affordable. I tried it many times in different parts of the city; I will leave the place that stole my heart, the one making the best Bánh Mì I’ve ever eaten, right below along with its map link.
Another local street food is served in the form of small, finger-shaped, thin breads spread with a type of pâté. They serve it with a spicy, tomato-based sauce, and the price is truly shockingly cheap. Of course, it’s not really possible to get full on just one, but each piece is only 7 VND.
There is another food cart you will constantly encounter while walking around the city: they sell "Bánh Bao" from glass display cases mounted on the back of small motorcycles. Judging by its appearance, I guess it’s a type of "bun" bread that is steamed. I heard they are filled with potatoes or various vegetable mixtures, and at around 10-15 VND, it is a very local taste. Personally, I didn’t try it. If you wonder why; these mobile carts drive around the city all day long with a harsh, ear-piercing prerecorded voice blaring from the loudspeakers on their backs, constantly shouting "Bánh Bao!". I think this persistent noise created a distance for me, so I didn't feel like tasting it; maybe I will give it a try on my next visit.
I am listing the other places I experienced and recommend you give a chance if you happen to visit, along with my own personal reviews:
Phở An - Vietnamese Food & Drinks
This place was very close to the house I stayed in, so it became a spot I visited frequently. It’s a place where you can find traditional Vietnamese flavors; it is clean, budget-friendly, and the service is quite fast. The taste of the food was also above standards.
Phở, Bún Chả Hà Nội Xưa - 21 Ngô Thì Sĩ
A wonderful stop to try traditional Vietnamese cuisine, especially the Phở soups. The prices are reasonable enough not to strain the budget of locals or nomads alike.
Roly Poly Fresh Spring Rolls & Coffee Da Nang
They make incredibly fresh, light, and delicious varieties of spring rolls. The overall atmosphere and energy of the place are also quite peaceful and pleasant for spending time.
This place is located on one of the streets parallel to the coastline, which is referred to as the "tourist area." It is a family-run business where you can find traditional Vietnamese dishes and popular Bánh Mì varieties. The prices remain average compared to the rest of the city; I guess because of its proximity to the shoreline, the prices are kept slightly higher than those in the inner parts.
Thìa Gỗ Restaurant Da Nang Thìa Gỗ Đà Nẵng
Now, let's come to my absolute favorite in this city... The food was so delicious and the service was so fast that I went there multiple times. The cleanliness, decoration, and the serene ambiance of the place are truly impressive. The prices are very reasonable considering the quality it offers. The first time I went, it was still early, and as I was leaving, I noticed a long line forming at the door. On my subsequent visits, this scene remained the same. It seems that this is a popular spot that is a common favorite not just for me, but for many travelers and foodies coming to the city.
It’s a very sweet cafe with its design, lighting, and ambiance. One morning, I went there with a friend to have breakfast. While looking at the menu, I was very surprised to see the word "Shakshuka," and out of curiosity, I ordered it right away. When the dish arrived at the table, it brought a huge smile to my face to see that it was just our familiar, hot, steaming "Menemen." It seems our menemen became shakshuka once it traveled all the way to Vietnam. After doing a little research later on, I learned that this was actually a concept place focused mainly on Greek cuisine.
In Da Nang, or even in Asian countries in general, you don’t come across a rich dessert culture in the sense that we are used to. In other words, don’t look for a bakery or a pastry shop on every street corner. The few places that do exist offer purely Western-style desserts. I guess since the Vietnamese add sugar to almost every dish—including the omelet they make in the morning—they inadvertently satisfy their sugar needs throughout the day; therefore, they don’t feel the need to make extra desserts. Instead, there are small juice bars and cafes all over the city selling fresh fruit juice. By the way, a little tip: they add extra sugar to these fresh fruit juices as well. Most of the time they politely ask, "Do you want sugar?" but even if they don't, if you want to get the pure fruit taste, you should definitely specify that you want it without sugar when ordering.
It’s a very sweet bakery-pastry shop that produces wonderful Western-style, especially Italian-style cakes and breads. The Vietnamese woman who owns the business received professional pastry training in Italy. As a big fan of Italian cuisine and particularly its light desserts, this place became one of my indispensable havens in Da Nang. The "Cannoli" they make, in particular, was simply exquisite.
Kem Dừa Mã Lai Ice Cream Đà Nẵng
This ice cream spot is a very rustic place that sets up its small counter on the sidewalk after dark in the evenings, putting out tiny tables and stools in front. They serve the ice cream directly inside a real coconut shell. People had praised this place highly before I went, so I dropped by upon intense recommendations. However, to be honest, the only reason this place is so popular is that the price is extremely cheap. The ice cream they offer is a standard, monotonous flavor; they just pour ready-made industrial sauces on top. Since I prefer more gourmet, deep flavors, especially when it comes to desserts, this place didn’t satisfy me much.
Instead, I preferred the places located close to the beach that offer handmade gourmet ice creams and fresh sorbets made from real fruits. Comparing the prices, they were of course higher, but rather than constantly eating the same ordinary thing just because it is cheap, experiencing different and real flavors that leave a mark on my palate each time is more important to me.
Here is my favorite Bánh Mì address in the city, which I mentioned above:
Tiệm Bánh Mì Cà Phê (68 Hoàng Kế Viêm)
If you happen to visit Da Nang, definitely make a note of this place. With its crispy bread, the balance of its sauces, and its freshness, it is a flavor spot you will certainly not regret trying.
It is also possible to find wonderful international restaurants in Da Nang. As a sushi lover, Izakaya Man, which I discovered during my search for Japanese cuisine in the city, became one of my favorite spots. Their sushi was truly delicious. This place is also located in the tourist area, on one of the streets quite close to the beach.
Da Nang is literally a paradise of cafes. They are incredibly successful, especially when it comes to coffee; the coffee you drink almost anywhere is very delicious. Classic Vietnamese coffee has a strong character that is quite intense, bold, slightly bitter, and served in small amounts like an espresso.
And then there is "Coconut Coffee," which I bonded with from the very first sip and became absolutely obsessed with. It is a delicious drink with a milkshake consistency, prepared by blending coconut milk, ice, and intense coffee. There was a very charming cafe on the street where I stayed; without exception, I would drop by every single day, grab my coffee, and head over to the beach. In a short time, I had even become a regular there. Since I prefer a more dominant and intense coffee flavor, the waiter there recommended a special "blended" version with a higher coffee ratio; after that day, I declared it my favorite.
This is that lovely, warm, alleyway cafe I mentioned, where you can feel the local texture to the fullest and which makes wonderful coconut coffee.
So, what else is there to do when traveling in Da Nang?
In my opinion, coming to this city and leaving without visiting the "Lady Buddha" statue and its temple grounds would be a major missing piece. Since this is the spot where I filmed my very first vlog video in Da Nang, it will always hold a very distinct, very emotional place in my heart. Some places truly have a spirit of their own, a special energy that wraps around you, leaves a mark on your inner world, and serves as a true resource for you.
I visited this place during my first days after setting foot in Da Nang; right before leaving the city, following an inner voice, I went there once more. Even though I cannot fully express the reason in words, the serene energy of that place drew me back in; it felt as if it wanted to bid me a beautiful farewell before I left. Entry to the temple grounds is completely free. It offers a wonderful sea and city view where you can watch Da Nang from a quite high hill, with a bird's-eye view. Also, the serenity of those green gardens under the shadow of the colossal statues, and the overall silence of the environment, are perfect for resting the soul. Throughout Vietnam, you can visit many such cultural areas for free or for very nominal fees.
There are also plenty of movement and socialization events available in the city if you wish to join. My personal preference in these places has mostly been sports and dance communities. In Asian countries, Latin dance (salsa, bachata) communities and events are incredibly widespread and organized. Last year while I was in Chiang Mai, I had developed an interest in Latin dances, and by repeatedly attending these kinds of social events, I learned to dance at a beginner level. After a while, this turned into such a passion for me that I found myself on the dance floor three evenings a week. It is an immense opportunity to meet new people coming from all over the world, create a wonderful space for cardio and movement, and find pure fun all at once. Moreover, the entry fees for the events are practically next to nothing. Usually around 8:00 PM, right at the beginning of the night, there is a short "beginner" lesson for newcomers; you can join that if you like. Or, if you say "I already know the steps," you can go near the end of the lesson and directly join the social dancing part. The crowd that shows up is completely colorful; tourists traveling from all over the world, digital nomads, and locals who love dance all have fun together. In Da Nang, too, these kinds of Latin nights are organized in a different venue almost every evening; it was one of the activities I attended most frequently in the city, making me feel right at home.
Additionally, there are communities on the beach that do functional workouts together and move in the open air in the mornings; joining them is also a wonderful way to start the day.
Here, it is worth opening a parenthesis to mention that wonderful relaxation culture on the streets. Massage parlors, which have virtually become the signature of Asian countries, appear at every step on the streets of Da Nang. To shake off the fatigue of the day, you can quickly get a foot, neck, or back massage at these roadside places, and the prices are truly incredibly cheap.
Now, let's come to the most important question on every traveler's mind: the issue of safety.
As a solo female traveler, I can say with peace of mind that Da Nang is a truly safe city. Even though the Vietnamese people may seem a bit distant at first due to the language barrier (unfortunately, the number of English speakers is quite low), they are extremely polite and respectful. They are always kind and try to help as much as they can whenever you have a need. People generally mind their own business; I didn't encounter a single look or behavior that made me uncomfortable while walking on the streets. There is always a soft smile on their faces, and they look satisfied and happy with their lives. The crime rate in the city is almost non-existent; during my stay, I neither witnessed nor heard of any bad incidents. What I heard from my expat friends who have been living there for a year or longer was completely in line with this. The small public order incidents whispered around consist mostly of isolated situations caused by tourists visiting for vacation among themselves.
Near the beach, there is a lively street lined with clubs and bars, which is considered the heart of nightlife. Since the venues here are open until morning and under the influence of alcohol, there was a rumor one evening about foreign tourists fighting among themselves. I also went to one of the venues there with my friends one evening; for my part, I felt completely safe during the month I stayed and did not experience a single moment of unease. Except for one small and funny incident... Looking back now, it was a night adventure that still makes me laugh.
Again, one evening, I was walking towards my house after that enjoyable dance event we attended with my friends. The venue where we danced was only a two-minute walk away from my house. It was quite late, and the streets were completely deserted. Right as I was walking, I noticed a dark figure coming towards me from the opposite direction. As it got closer, I realized it was a heavily built, half-naked, and extremely drunk man who I guessed was European by his appearance. The man was so out of it that I think he wasn't even aware of which country or which street in the world he was on at that moment; he was staggering along. The moment he saw me, he started stepping directly towards me, muttering something to himself. Right at that moment, my nervous system showed a wonderful reflex independently of me; before my mind could even analyze what was happening, my body immediately went into escape mode and, acting almost like a crab walking sideways, I curled around the man as if doing hurdles and passed by him with quick steps. I threw myself into the house right away; after all, home was only two minutes away. When the danger was completely passed and the next day arrived, I found myself bursting into laughter while telling my friend about this moment. Because the funny part was this: Right before the incident, I had made a drunk joke to my friend at the venue, and he had gentlemanly offered to walk me home at the end of the night. And I had left by myself, saying, "I'm not drunk, it's only a two-minute walk, I can walk." Experiencing such a crab-walk adventure just two minutes after this dialogue was truly a great irony. The nervous system is truly a miraculous mechanism; without the mind stepping in to make a plan, the body senses the danger and activates its own protective shield instantly.
Being a digital nomad, even though it sounds like being on a constant vacation, actually means being able to work with the same efficiency while traveling.
While exploring Da Nang, I continued to run my business without interruption and keep producing. The fact that the city is 4-5 hours ahead of the European time zone provided a wonderful advantage to my working routine. While my business partners and clients in Europe were still asleep, I would calmly go for a swim in the early hours of the morning and have my breakfast; during the hottest hours of the day when it was difficult to go outside, I could work smoothly either at home or in a cool cafe. Following my short evening walks along the beach and local dinners, I would attend dance activities, and when I returned home at night, I would energetically manage my group classes and one-on-one sessions.
Both traveling and working fell into an incredibly productive balance for me in this city. Every little detail I saw, a local dish I experienced for the first time, or that collective movement of people doing sports on the beach with the first light of the morning turned into sources of inspiration that fed my creativity and expanded my vision for my blog posts and vlog content. Moreover, Da Nang’s internet infrastructure is simply wonderful. High-speed, free, and smoothly working Wi-Fi connections are available in almost every cafe. When you go to cafes anyway, you see a density of expats from all over the world working at most of the tables, which naturally involves you in a shared sense of working productivity.
Regarding accommodation;
If you are coming to Da Nang for the first time, I definitely recommend choosing the peninsula area where the "My Khe Beach" coastline is located. This is a comfortable tourist area that is both within walking distance to the beach and densely packed with cafes and markets. Of course, depending on your budget, you can also find houses in the inner parts of the city by the river; if you have a scooter or a car and don't mind commuting, those areas are an alternative as well. However, in order to reach everywhere on foot while soaking in the beach air, I chose a location very close to the sea. I am leaving the link below for the apartment I rented through Airbnb and stayed in for a month. I was truly very satisfied with the house; it was an extremely clean, orderly, and compact beach house. Every detail I needed had been thought of. Since it had a small kitchen, on days when I didn't want to eat out, I could buy my own ingredients and cook healthy meals at home. I generally preferred to prepare breakfast at home myself and discover the outdoor culinary spots I mentioned earlier for dinner. It is possible to find a few cafes serving Western-style breakfast, but traditionally, there is absolutely no breakfast culture in Asian countries in the way we know and are used to. They consume noodle or rice-based hot dishes at any time of the day, including the first meal of the day.
Apartment in Quận Ngũ Hành Sơn
Dragon Bridge is also one of the places in the city that you must definitely see with your own eyes.
On weekends; meaning Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings at exactly 9:00 PM, a wonderful fire and water show is organized on the bridge. First, real flames rise from the mouth of that colossal dragon statue that breathes life into the bridge structure, and then water is playfully sprayed over the watching crowd.
At the time of the show, both the bridge itself and the sidewalks by the river overflow with an incredible crowd of locals and tourists. A large night market is set up very close to the bridge; you can go early before the show to wander through that colorful market, taste the street food, and as the time approaches, you can position yourself either on the bridge or on one of the riverbanks where you can see the dragon right from the front but from a bit further away.
Another bustling shopping spot is the "Han Market." It is a massive, labyrinth-like marketplace where you can find all kinds of textile products, souvenirs, and "knock-off brand" clothing all in one place. This place truly has a completely wild, noisy, and chaotic atmosphere. For this reason, I recommend going here either on a day when your energy and mood are very high, or on a morning when you know exactly what you are going to buy and make a pinpoint visit; otherwise, the crowd can be a bit exhausting :)
While living in Da Nang, you can also easily visit the historical and touristic areas located right near the city with day-trip itineraries. The first of these is the famous "Marble Mountain," which you can reach in about 8-10 minutes by vehicle. One day, when I set out towards the famous historical town of Hoi An around 10:00 AM, I thought I would stop by here since it was on the way, wander around, and then continue. However, when I reached the foothills of the mountain, I encountered a literally wild tourist crowd and a very long ticket line. It was as if all the touristic tour buses in the world had agreed to pile up there at the exact same hour. Since I didn't have the heart to wait for hours in that long queue under that vertical sun and intense heat, I quickly moved away from there to keep my energy up and continued on my way to Hoi An. I left this place on my to-do list, saying "maybe next time." As for my trips to Hoi An and Hue Imperial City which I visited from Da Nang on day trips with great excitement and which enchanted me with their fairy-tale textures.I will write a separate, in-depth post with all the details in my memory.
Living here, I also realized how unimportant the language barrier actually is when communicating with the local people. Even though we couldn't speak English, we were able to understand each other very easily in markets, cafes, and grocery stores using only our facial expressions, body language, and a big smile. Genuine kindness and a warm smile truly open every door in these lands. When one stops tensing their own body and relaxes, they notice much more clearly that we don't actually need the same words to establish a deep connection. Souls and bodies somehow find their own common frequency.
As a final word; Vietnam is one of those very special geographies that you must visit at least once in your life, breathe its air, and see its streets with your own eyes. For my part, I know that I will definitely return here in the future to experience the other different cities and hidden cultures of this vast country that I haven't been able to explore yet. For now, the living conditions, economic balances, and the ease of life it offers are more than favorable and inviting for planning a trip. However, as we all observe, Asian countries are currently in incredible demand all over the world; the global wave of migration is rapidly enveloping every corner of this geography. Following this intense interest and rapid transformation, it is hard to predict what kind of face these places will take on five years from now, and how well they will be able to preserve this untouched and easy soul. That is precisely why it is so valuable not to postpone those whispers that life drops inside us, and to show the courage to hit the road "now" while the universe presents us with the signs of the paths we want to take. Because traveling is not just a change of place on a map; it is facing those old fears and prejudices in our minds along the way, and most importantly, learning to trust our own body anew by seeing how our nervous system protects us compassionately and wisely in the middle of the night on a street we don't know at all.
The whole world is ours, and it is waiting for us to explore.
With love,
Elif Gökçe