I stayed in Da Nang Vietnam for 25 days, staying in 3 different hotels. First at the Crowne Plaza in the city center. There wasn’t much around the hotel to see or do; however, I was able to go on a daily 3-mile walk along the river with murky looking water. On the walk, there were several cafes and a couple of restaurants. During my time at this hotel, I met some really nice people. One couple from DC who were just starting their travel journey. They also were traveling with their 16-year who was being home-schooled. The wife was someone I clicked with immediately. She and I hung out a few times and have kept in contact since. I met another couple who were from Hawaii and have been traveling for 2 years. They were at a point in their travels where they wanted to find a home base. Vietnam was a strong contender.
About a week later I moved to the Hilton Garden Inn, which was located across the street from the beach but at the farthest end of the beach and away from the crowds. I stayed here to build up my status with the Hilton brand. Just a few more stays for Diamond Status, meaning executive lounge access (free breakfast, light dinner, and room upgrades).
The final hotel was the Voco Ma Belle, an IHG hotel located across from the breach and closer to the crowds and eateries. There’s a small restaurant (outside eating only) that makes the best phỏ bỏ and a good Indian restaurant less than a mile away. The hotel is also surrounded by several massage spas; I stopped in a few.
I met a couple from Colorado while staying at the Voco. They are members of the same online retirement community. I joined them for a meetup of expats living in Da Nang. This group meets every Sunday at a coffee house. People in the group were from all over, U.S., England, Panama, and a few other places. I circulated a bit to see how they like living in Vietnam and they all loved it. One thing I found strange was that none of them had residency (not citizenship). Meaning, they were there illegally. We talked about this because the rules were changing for Vietnam (and Thailand). One guy was panicked about this news and wondered what would happen the next time he did a border run. One lady leaves her dog at the house while she makes a border run. Wonder what will happen if customs deny her entry. The Vietnam (and Thailand) government have started cracking down on these border runs. You’re allowed to stay in the country for 90-days with a U.S. passport. If you want to stay longer you’ll need to apply for a long-term visa. The people in the group indicated that the cost was too much, but when pressed on how much no one could state an actual amount. When I thought about this later, I realized that I was hanging out with a bunch of criminals who were hoping the government would not catch up to them (luckily they don’t have to deal with ICE agents!!).
I had one of the best sightseeing adventures at the Golden Hand Bridge (1,414 meters above sea level). To get to the bridge you first need to ride a cable car for about 20 minutes. The cable car isn’t moving slow; it’s just a long distance from the bottom to the top. Even then you haven’t reached the bridge. You have to ride a funicular for a short distance and finally you’re there. By the time we reached the area, it begins to rain. I bought a plastic raincoat and kept it going. Seeing the bridge in person was AMAZING!!! I was glad that we were able to see the bridge cause a lot of the town up there was not very visible. There’s a lot to see and do up there but because of the rain and fog, we (me and the Colorado couple) decided to get some good pictures and head back to the city.
My time in Da Nang was so much fun. I would visit again, but it’s not a place I would live.
