Exploring Da Nang & Hoi An: Digital Nomad Hotspots in Central Vietnam

Every year, thousands of remote workers land in Central Vietnam expecting a digital nomad visa and find none. Vietnam still has no visa made for people who work online for foreign clients. Da Nang and Hoi An are hugely popular, but the paperwork behind a stay of one to six months is confusing and full of half-true forum advice. This guide covers the practical side for 2026: visas, legal grey areas, tax, insurance, rent and monthly costs.

Why Da Nang and Hoi An Work as One Logistics Base

Da Nang and Hoi An sit about 30 km apart on the central coast. Since the July 2025 provincial mergers, Hoi An is administratively part of the enlarged Da Nang city. In daily life, that changes little. You will still see “Quang Nam” on older documents, listings and maps. For your paperwork, though, it means one set of local authorities now covers both places, so landlords and agents may give different answers about which office handles what. Ask for the current process each time.

The two places solve different logistical problems. Da Nang has the international airport, large private hospitals, big supermarkets and the widest choice of apartments. Hoi An is smaller and has no airport. Healthcare there is basic, and in the wet season parts of it flood. Most long-stayers pick one as a base and use the other for weekends. Choose on practical grounds: how close you need to be to a hospital, how much housing choice you want, and how you will handle flights.

Visa Options for a 1–6 Month Stay in 2026

There are three realistic routes for most remote workers.

Visa exemption (45 days)

Citizens of roughly two dozen countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and South Korea, can enter without a visa for up to 45 days. Many of these exemptions have been extended to 2028, but the country list has changed several times, so check the official immigration portal before you book flights. You can leave and re-enter to get a fresh 45 days. There is no longer a mandatory gap between stays, but officers can question frequent short exits.

E-visa (up to 90 days)

Since August 2023, the e-visa is open to all nationalities and lasts up to 90 days. A single-entry e-visa costs USD 25 (about 640,000 VND). A multiple-entry e-visa costs USD 50 (about 1,275,000 VND). Processing normally takes three to five working days. Apply only on the official government portal. Lookalike sites charge two to four times the fee. Americans, Canadians and Australians, who do not get visa exemption, usually choose this route.

Business visa (DN)

A business visa needs an invitation from a Vietnamese company. Agents sell these for roughly USD 150–300, but the arrangement is only legitimate if you have a real business reason to be in Vietnam. A sponsor created purely for the visa is a risk to you, not the agent. For simple remote work, the e-visa is cleaner and cheaper.

The e-visa cannot be extended inside Vietnam in any useful way. Most people on 90 days simply leave and re-enter. Da Nang International Airport has direct flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo and other regional hubs, which makes a border reset easy.

Is Remote Work Legal? Business Visas, Residence Cards and Work Permit Exemptions

Here is the honest answer: Vietnamese law does not clearly address people who work online for a foreign employer while visiting on a tourist-type visa. Tourist entry, whether visa-exempt or e-visa, does not authorise employment in Vietnam. In practice, authorities have focused on foreigners who work for Vietnamese companies, teach, or take Vietnamese clients without a permit. Quietly working for an overseas employer from your laptop has not been a priority. That is tolerance, not legal permission, and you carry the risk.

Some rules are clear:

• Do not teach English or take Vietnamese clients on a tourist entry. That needs a work permit.
• A temporary residence card (TRC) needs a sponsor: an employer, a registered investor, or a family link. Official fees run roughly USD 145–165 for one to five years, plus agent costs. It makes sense for a long-term move, not a three-month stay.
• Work permit exemptions exist for short assignments (generally under 30 days, up to three times a year) and for certain managers, experts and investors. They apply to people with a Vietnamese entity involved, not to remote workers.
• Tell the truth at the border. If you are asked, say you are visiting. Do not claim to be a “business” visitor unless you are.

If your situation is more than a simple employee on foreign payroll, for example a freelancer with Vietnam-based clients, talk to a licensed Vietnamese immigration lawyer before you arrive.

Tax and the 183-Day Line

This catches people by surprise. Under Vietnamese tax law, you become a tax resident if you spend 183 days or more in Vietnam within a calendar year or 12 consecutive months, or if you have a regular residence here (a lease of 183 days or more can count). Residents pay progressive personal income tax on worldwide income. Non-residents pay on Vietnam-sourced income only.

For a stay of one to six months, you will normally stay under 183 days. Remote work for a foreign employer, paid abroad, is generally not Vietnam-sourced income. The risk comes from stacking: a four-month stay, a break, then another four months, all in the same year. Also check your home country. Some tax authorities have rules about days spent abroad, and some employers worry about “permanent establishment” if you work from another country. Keep a simple log of entry and exit dates and keep it for at least three years.

Health Insurance and Medical Access

Vietnam does not require foreign visitors on tourist visas to hold health insurance. You should still carry it. A private hospital visit with tests can cost 1–3 million VND (USD 40–120). A hospital admission or a motorbike accident can run into tens of millions of dong, and some private hospitals will ask for a deposit first.

Common 2026 options for long-stayers:

• Nomad-style travel insurance (SafetyWing, World Nomads and similar): roughly USD 55–110 per month depending on age and cover. Read the exclusions. Many policies exclude motorbike accidents if you do not hold a valid licence for the vehicle.
• International health plans (Cigna Global, Allianz Care and similar): roughly USD 120–300 per month, with better outpatient and chronic condition cover.
• Local private insurance (Bao Viet, PVI, Manulife Vietnam): cheaper, but claims are often in Vietnamese and cover is limited. They suit longer stays better than short ones.

Da Nang has several private hospitals and clinics with English-speaking staff, including Vinmec, Hoan My and Family Medical Practice. Public hospitals are cheaper but crowded and rarely offer English support. Hoi An has only small clinics, so serious cases are sent to Da Nang, about 45 minutes away by road. If you manage a chronic condition, check this before you pick Hoi An as a base.

Driving matters here too. A motorbike is the default way to get around, but a motorbike licence recognised in Vietnam is not the same as a car licence from home. An International Driving Permit under the 1968 Convention, with a motorcycle category, is the safest option. Without a valid licence, most insurers will refuse a claim.

Renting Long-Term: Contracts, Costs and Registration

The two cities have very different rental markets. Typical monthly rents in 2026:

• Da Nang studio: 6–9 million VND (USD 235–350)
• Da Nang one-bedroom apartment: 8–15 million VND (USD 315–590)
• Da Nang two-bedroom or sea-view apartment: 14–28 million VND (USD 550–1,100)
• Hoi An room in a homestay or small guesthouse (monthly rate): 5–10 million VND (USD 195–390)
• Hoi An small house or villa: 15–30 million VND (USD 590–1,175)

A few things catch newcomers out.

Lease length changes the price. A one-month booking on a platform can cost 30–60% more than a six-month lease for the same place. For a stay of three to six months, many people book a few weeks first, then negotiate directly once they are on the ground.

Deposits are standard. Expect one to two months’ rent. Get the deposit terms written down, and take dated photos of the property on move-in day.

Utilities are extra. Electricity is billed on a tiered rate of about 2,000–3,700 VND per kWh. If you run air conditioning during work hours, 600,000–1,200,000 VND a month (USD 25–47) is normal in summer. Water is cheap. Building fees are sometimes included and sometimes not, so ask.

Your landlord must register you. Foreigners must be registered with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels do this automatically. If you rent privately, your landlord or host should do it through the official system. Make sure they do. An unregistered stay can lead to a fine during a routine check.

Flood risk is a lease factor. Hoi An floods most years between September and December, and low-lying ground floors can be affected for days. Ask about flood history and choose an upper floor if you are staying in the wet season.

Setting Up SIM, Internet and Banking

You can land in Da Nang and have working data within an hour. At the airport, the mobile counters of Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs. A 30-day data plan costs around 150,000–250,000 VND (USD 6–10). Since 2024, SIM registration involves passport checks and, in many cases, a face scan to match your ID. Bring your passport, and do not buy pre-activated SIMs from street sellers.

Home internet is cheap and usually fast. Fibre costs about 200,000–300,000 VND a month (USD 8–12), and most apartments already have it. Ask your landlord to confirm the speed and the provider before you sign. If your work involves video calls, ask for a fibre line with a backup router, or keep a 5G data SIM as insurance. The morning hum of motorbikes and the occasional power cut during storms are normal here, so a small power bank for your router is a cheap safeguard.

On money, a Wise or similar multi-currency card is the easiest option. Vietnamese ATMs typically cap withdrawals at 2–5 million VND (USD 80–200) per transaction and charge 20,000–60,000 VND per withdrawal. Opening a local bank account on a tourist visa is difficult and often needs a TRC. Most long-stayers pay rent in cash, by bank transfer from their home account, or through apps like Wise. Many shops and cafes now accept VietQR scan-to-pay if you have a Vietnamese account, but cash and international cards still cover most needs.

2026 Monthly Budget Reality

These are typical monthly spends for one person, excluding flights and insurance. Rates are based on roughly 25,500 VND to USD 1.

• Budget: 20–28 million VND (USD 785–1,100). Studio or simple homestay room, local meals, motorbike rental at around 1.2–2 million VND a month, basic gym or none, minimal nights out.
• Mid-range: 30–45 million VND (USD 1,175–1,765). One-bedroom apartment with air conditioning, a mix of local and Western meals, a monthly scooter rental, regular transport apps, occasional day trips.
• Comfortable: 55–80 million VND (USD 2,155–3,140). Sea-view or two-bedroom apartment or villa, regular dining out, private clinic visits as needed, a gym, weekend trips and flights within Vietnam.

For reference, a local bowl of noodles costs 35,000–60,000 VND (USD 1.40–2.35). A Grab motorbike ride across Da Nang is about 25,000–50,000 VND. A car from the airport to Hoi An is typically 350,000–500,000 VND (USD 14–20). Laundry is 20,000–30,000 VND per kg. Costs are usually lower in Da Nang than in Hoi An for equivalent quality, but the gap has narrowed since 2024 as demand has grown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vietnam have a digital nomad visa in 2026?

No. Vietnam does not offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. Most remote workers use a 45-day visa exemption if their country qualifies, or a 90-day e-visa. Both are tourist-type entries and do not formally authorise employment in Vietnam, so you should keep your work strictly for foreign employers or clients.

How much does a 90-day e-visa for Vietnam cost?

A single-entry e-visa costs USD 25 (about 640,000 VND) and a multiple-entry e-visa costs USD 50 (about 1,275,000 VND). Both are valid for up to 90 days. Apply only through the official government e-visa portal, because third-party sites often charge several times the real fee.

Can I work remotely in Vietnam on a tourist visa?

Vietnamese law does not clearly address remote work for a foreign employer. Tourist entries do not grant work rights, but enforcement has focused on people working for local companies, teaching, or serving Vietnamese clients. Remote work for an overseas employer is a grey area, and you carry the legal risk.

Do I need health insurance to stay in Da Nang or Hoi An?

It is not legally required for tourist visa holders, but it is strongly advised. Private hospital care in Da Nang is good but costly without cover. Expect to pay about USD 55–110 per month for nomad-style insurance, or USD 120–300 for a full international health plan. Check that your policy covers motorbike accidents.

How much is a monthly apartment rental in Da Nang compared to Hoi An?

In 2026, a Da Nang one-bedroom apartment typically costs 8–15 million VND (USD 315–590) per month. In Hoi An, a monthly homestay room runs 5–10 million VND (USD 195–390), and a small house or villa runs 15–30 million VND. Longer leases are usually cheaper than short bookings.

📷 Featured image by Li Panidara on Unsplash.