Quote:
Originally Posted by czGLoRy
cnsidering moving from Thailand (due to it being more difficult to stay in, more expensive, and less fun than before) from Vietnam. I just went for a couple of weeks with my GF to Hanoi and HCMC, and we both liked it. We hear good things about the central areas. Whats the visa situation like compared to Thailand? Hows the liveability? I have been in Thailand for the better part of the last 6 years, if anyone has any direct comparisons or recommendations I would love to hear them. Also, is the live poker scene to the south any good? I was meaning to hit up their APPT events but it got cancelled.
+1 with Dubnjoy000 for Da Nang and Nha Trang. I never been in Nha Trang but most of the people who visited both cities, told me to have a preference for Da Nang.
I can make you a comparison with Chiang Mai, I have lived in Chiang Mai many years and I am now living in Da Nang. In term of size and population, the both cities are approximately the same.
Da Nang
the +
+ Da Nang is more beautiful (especially Bach Dang street, Han river, the bridges at night, the beach, the sea)
+ the kindness of the locals (not a huge difference with Chiang Mai but overall I think that Da Nang beat Chiang Mai)
+ the criminality. Chiang Mai is safe but imo Da Nang is safer that Chiang Mai. I never saw there in Da Nang international biker gangs, dudes connected with international mafias, not like in Chiang Mai. And there in Da Nang, no bag/mobile snatching, no scam or very few scams, not like in Saigon or Hanoi.
+ visa. More easy and cheaper that Thailand.
the -
- the nightlife. Easy win for Chiang Mai. The nightlife is less developed in Da Nang which is normal because Chiang Mai is way more touristic that Da Nang.
- the expat community. Same that for the nightlife, smaller that in Chiang Mai. There are around 1'000 expats living in Da Nang from what i have heard.
Some pics :