Da Nang is a huge city.
And I’m a tiny digital nomad.
What happens when David and Goliath meet and no one wants to win?
Huge and many
Who are they?
Da Nang covers an area of nearly 1,300 km2. The actual densely populated urban area is much smaller. “Only” 250 km2. 1.3 million people. And maybe 200-300 places or experiences that make you say: “that’s why it was worth coming here.”
On the other side, there I am, standing on a piece of land under my feet, with a 3-night stay booked.
I’ve been saying for a long time that I don’t need to see everything. Here, around Da Nang, I came up with the following. If I’m only in town for a few days, it’s worth choosing one or two places and checking them out.
Then, if life allows me, I see more. Just because I walk past him without any plan.
My Khe Beach
“My Khe is one of the six most attractive beaches on the planet” – voted by Forbes Magazine.
When I first arrived, someone prepared me by saying that this beach is like Miami. I don’t know what Miami is like because I haven’t been there yet. Maybe I do now? Or if I go to Miami, I’ll say “ah, this is just like Da Nang.”
This beach is definitely everything you dream of when you think of a beach. Sand, palm trees, blue sky, sunbeds and round shapes everywhere.
I realized that I’m not the beach person, I just like walking near the beach. On my first day, I took a long walk along the beach, enjoying the breeze, the view and sweating under the tropical sun.
If Forbes asked me, I would vote for this beach too.
See Food shops
I already mentioned in Cat Ba how many aquariums there were on the streets. Of course, it is also a seaside town. But the aquariums there can hide next to the ones here!
The selection of marine life here is so wide that visiting any of the shops is easily considered a sight to behold.
I looked at the animals more through the eyes of a person who loves nature. I am not sentimental, I simply put aside the question of whether these creatures are all waiting for dinner. I simply admired their color, shape, and movement.
I saw crabs so big that they would have fit in an alien. But also ones so small and fragile that I was afraid to touch them. Beautiful fish. Typically large-bodied, but my favorite was the flatfish. Shells, snails. Everything that lives and moves. Sharks. Most of the place looked like a zoo that wanted to show as many living creatures as possible.
Ba Na Hills
The Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge…
When I looked at this place, I read that it was the most iconic sight in Vietnam.
So I took a day off on Wednesday and chose this program for myself.
First of all, I rented a motorbike. A fairly large motorbike with so much cubic capacity that I dared to ride it with my ears and tail tucked in. The fact that I was faster than almost everyone only slightly took away my excitement. I didn’t want to race the police.
After a 30-40 minute journey, I arrived at the Ba Na Hills place operated by the Sun World company. I already know them, because they also operate everything on Fansipan and above Sa Pa.
So, professional organization awaited me everywhere. This super organization accompanied my journey from the entrance to the exit.
Arriving at this place was like arriving at Disneyland. I’ve been lucky enough to see it twice in my life, so the feeling was not a coincidence.
The entrance is at the bottom of the mountain, I don’t think there’s much to see here. So I jumped into one of the elevator cars and started going up. I didn’t time it, but we climbed up the mountain along the cable car for about 10 minutes.
The background gradually started to grow, until finally I saw the city of Da Nang and the sea in all its glory. Below me was the beautiful jungle, above me was the iconic sight of Vietnam. They were beautiful moments. I really enjoyed being there.
The Golden Bridge
It would have been a shame to leave this out!
I’ve often thought about why I say this. It’s really “just” a beautiful, human-made thing on top of a mountain. Which happens to be shaped like a hand. I’ve been to many beautiful mountaintops. I’ve seen many beautiful bridges. What’s special about it for me?
The feeling. The simple feeling of being here. Seeing it with my own eyes. Feeling the cool air. Being part of the happy, selfie-taking crowd. I’m here. I’m present. The moment is mine. There’s no competition, no rush, no exposed pipes. The feeling that I got to spend a few moments of my life here. That’s all I feel grateful for, that I decided to be here today.
The French city
From this wonder, another cable car took me even higher up the mountain.
I found myself in a medieval and fairytale city.
In a real Disneyland, the feeling was not in vain.
I arrived with headphones in my ears. (Yes, I have since bought one and have not lost it yet.) I heard that there was such cartoonish, happy music playing. But I wanted to listen to my own music. But I decided differently within a short time. I wanted to immerse myself in the fairy tale world that was created here. I let the music enchant me. Since I am in an enchanted castle…
And enchanted…
Every place is designed for me to stand with my mouth open, or walk. Or sit. I especially enjoyed this. To sit in the sunlight and enjoy the moment. Not to press a phone, not to pack. To sit on a bench with my arms outstretched. Several of the locals noticed this and smiled at me. Maybe they rarely see a white person happy alone on a bench?
I loved every place here.
The huge Buddha statue. The temples. The pagodas. The fountains. The beautiful gardens. The steps I sat on. The distance, the sea, which always shows me a different face from above.
It was nice to feel the cool air. The few raindrops that hit me. Then the heat. The warmth of the sun on my skin.
I shared in the people’s joy. I smiled at the children’s smiles too. A few people spoke to me. I looked up when an American said goodbye by saying “God bless you!” I wished him the same blessing.
I met a group of Hungarians. We talked for 10 minutes. They were so happy to finally meet a Hungarian. I was happy for them too, their enthusiasm immediately caught up with me.
There were three moments when I said no at first, but I immediately changed my mind.
A 4D cinema started a show. No. Then I realized that I wanted to. It was my first 4D cinema, a short cartoon. I really enjoyed it.
As I left there, an interactive cinema immediately called me. Flying around the world. No. I had just left the cinema, why would I go to another one. Then I realized that I wanted to. It was an incredible experience. I flew over all the major cities on Earth. In rain, in sunlight, at night and during the day. It was amazing. My heart was beating with the movement of our plane. Right then and there I thought “fuck”, this is the most amazing experience of my day.
Finally, 170 steps appeared in front of me to the top of the mountain. No. I had already been to so many mountaintops. Then I realized that I wanted to. Steve climbs every mountain he can. Why would I miss this? There were so many wonderful moments in the 20 minutes I gave to those 170 steps.
This day was a fabulous day. I spent my hours in castles, medieval streets, among dragons and heroes.
I slowly started down.
That day I said no to something three times.
I don’t want to go to the movies.
I don’t want to go to another movie.
I don’t want to climb another mountain.
Then all three times I realized that I do.
Maybe it’s not how much I see in one place that matters. I don’t need two hundred sights. I don’t need to check everything off.
I just need to notice when, behind my own “no,” something quietly says:
Of course. You do.
Da Nang! Maybe we’ll meet again!
Buy me a coffee?
If you enjoyed this story, you can buy me a coffee. You don’t have to – but it means a lot and I always turn it into a new adventure.
Buy a coffee for Steve
Linktree
Short introduction