When people talk about Vietnam, they often highlight its breathtaking natural beauty, including emerald rice terraces, limestone karsts, waterfalls, and coastal roads. But what many overlook is how perfectly Vietnam fits the lifestyle of a digital nomad. Affordable living, fast internet, easy visas, and a welcoming culture, it checks nearly every box for those looking to work remotely while exploring.
I discovered this firsthand when I first landed in Vietnam in February 2018. With no fixed plans, just my laptop and curiosity, I intended to stay for a few weeks. Instead, I spent three months traveling the country from north to south, balancing full workdays with a life that felt like an adventure movie.
Work-Life Balance in Vietnam
As a digital nomad, my biggest challenge has always been balance: getting work done while exploring new surroundings. Vietnam made that balance effortless. Affordable cafés with strong Wi-Fi doubled as my offices. Guesthouses with mountain or ocean views became my workstations. Even during busier travel days, I was able to structure my mornings and evenings around work, keeping a steady flow for clients while leaving afternoons for exploration.
Vietnam offers two parallel lifestyles, the energetic buzz of cities and the serene calm of villages. I leaned toward the latter, starting my journey in Sapa, a remote town in the north. My host served me home-cooked meals made with farm-fresh ingredients, and my “office” overlooked rice terraces stretching into the clouds. I built a routine: sunrise runs, morning deep work, and then hiking or trekking in the afternoons. For the first time in months, I felt I was living a healthy, grounded rhythm while traveling.
Adventures on the Road
Of course, no digital nomad story in Vietnam is complete without mentioning motorbikes. After a week of using buses, I realized I was missing the true essence of Vietnam. So, I bought a Honda motorbike, the single best decision of my trip. With it, I covered more than 5,000 kilometers, moving from village to village, setting up makeshift offices wherever I stopped.
I worked from homestays in Ba Gioc near its jaw-dropping waterfall, kayaked between client calls in Phong Nha (home to the world’s largest cave), and set up my laptop by Ba Be Lake. At Cat Ba Island, I often closed my laptop only to dive straight into turquoise waters. Every workspace came with a view that no coworking space in the world could match.
There were challenges, of course, spotty Wi-Fi in remote areas, unexpected detours, and even moments of getting lost where I had to rely on the kindness of locals. But those very experiences gave color to my journey. The Vietnamese people were consistently warm and helpful, whether it was offering directions, meals, or simply a smile.
The Ha Giang Loop: Workstation on the Road
The Ha Giang Loop is more than just a motorbike adventure, it’s a rite of passage for travelers in Vietnam. I set off with my laptop strapped in my backpack, working from small village homestays along the way. Every stop was a different kind of “office”: misty valleys, rugged karst plateaus, and mountain passes where clouds hung low like curtains.
Days were for winding roads and endless panoramas, evenings for catching up on work with a bowl of steaming pho next to me. Surprisingly, even remote villages had decent 4G coverage, making it possible to sync files and answer emails before heading out to explore again. Few things beat finishing a client call only to step outside into a view that looked like it belonged on a postcard.
Phong Nha: Where Work Meets Wilderness
Later, my journey brought me to Phong Nha, home to the world’s largest cave system. While Son Doong itself requires a multi-day expedition, I explored the smaller, but still jaw-dropping, Paradise and Phong Nha caves. My days followed a pattern: work through the morning, then spend afternoons kayaking through rivers or hiking into limestone caverns that felt otherworldly.
One unforgettable moment was being mistaken for a local by someone deep in the forest, a reminder of how at home I’d started to feel here. For digital nomads who love nature, Phong Nha offers the perfect duality: productive work mornings, and afternoons full of adventure that reset your mind completely.
Trang An: The Art of Slow Work-Life
If Ha Giang and Phong Nha were adrenaline and wilderness, Trang An was the opposite: peaceful, reflective, and slow. Known for its boat rides weaving through caves and karst mountains, it became one of my favorite “chill bases.”
I often worked from guesthouses overlooking rivers and limestone cliffs, pausing only to sip tea or take a quick bike ride around the countryside. The slower pace of life there taught me a different kind of balance: that work doesn’t always have to be sandwiched between adrenaline. Sometimes, the best productivity comes from environments that naturally calm your mind.
The South: Speed, Cities, and Coastal Bliss
As I moved south, the vibe shifted completely. Hanoi and the north gave me mountain serenity, while the south pulsed with energy. Hoian, with its lantern-lit streets, colonial architecture, and vibrant cafés, kept me working happily for over a week, breaking my usual 2–3 day pattern. The café culture there made it one of my favorite digital nomad bases.
From the iconic Hai Van Pass to the coastal roads leading into Nha Trang, every ride felt cinematic. Nha Trang itself was buzzing with nightlife and international expat communities, a stark contrast to the quiet villages up north. Dalat, surrounded by waterfalls and rolling hills, offered another peaceful yet connected spot to log in and work while still feeling immersed in nature.
Finally, I reached Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) a city that never seems to slow down. My days there were split between working in chic coffee shops, exploring food markets, and enjoying the nightlife on Bui Vien Street. It was also where I reconnected with travelers I had met along the way, giving the city a sense of reunion.
A Life Reimagined
Vietnam taught me that being a digital nomad doesn’t mean choosing between productivity, adventure, and you can have both. The affordable lifestyle, thriving café culture, and variety of landscapes made it one of the easiest places to keep up with work while living fully.
From motorbiking the Ha Giang Loop to floating peacefully in Trang An, from coding in cafés in Saigon to crawling through caves in Phong Nha, I lived a life that was equal parts work and wonder.
When the time came to leave, I sold my beloved motorbike and carried my stories into Cambodia. But even today, Vietnam remains etched in my mind as more than just a travel destination, it was my remote working paradise on wheels.
Digital Nomad Guide to Vietnam
Here are some practical takeaways if you’re planning to set up your remote office in Vietnam:
Internet & Connectivity
Wi-Fi is fast and reliable in most cities and tourist towns. Speeds of 20–50 Mbps are common in cafés.
4G coverage is excellent, even in many rural areas. I used a Viettel SIM card with unlimited data (around $8–10/month) as my backup hotspot.
Best Digital Nomad Bases
Hanoi: Great for culture, history, and buzzing café work-life.
Hoian: Laid-back vibe, lantern-lit streets, and endless cafés with reliable Wi-Fi.
Da Nang: Vietnam’s rising star for nomads—beach life + modern infrastructure.
Dalat: Cooler mountain climate, waterfalls, and calm surroundings.
Ho Chi Minh City: Best for coworking spaces, networking, and nightlife.
Cost of Living
Accommodation: $200–400/month for a decent apartment, $5–15/night for homestays or guesthouses.
Meals: Street food from $1–2, mid-range restaurants $5–10.
Coworking spaces: $70–120/month (though cafés are often enough).
Transport: Renting/buying a motorbike is cheap and essential for freedom. Daily rentals are ~$5–7, and buying a used Honda can be $250–400.
Visas
Vietnam offers flexible tourist visas (usually 1–3 months). Many nomads extend them easily or do a “visa run” to neighboring countries like Cambodia.
Pro Tips
Embrace motorbikes: they give you independence and access to hidden gems.
Plan deep work hours in the morning, leaving afternoons for exploration.
Learn a few Vietnamese phrases, locals truly appreciate the effort.
Balance your time: mix high-adventure loops like Ha Giang with calm bases like Trang An or Dalat.
