Da Lat

Da Lat is a beautiful place to visit, but I wouldn’t recommend it for long-term stays as a digital nomad.

First, there are very few cafes that are truly suitable for work. Most are filled with local tourists, and it’s common to hear crying babies or encounter people smoking inside, since many cafes are semi-open. The internet is not fast and can be unstable, with occasional full disconnections. There are no co-working spaces available.

Housing is another issue. If you don’t have your own transportation, you’ll likely need to stay near the city center. Unfortunately, the center is almost always noisy. It’s difficult to find a place with decent soundproofing. You’ll have to put up with all kinds of noise, including cars and motorbike engines, motorbike horns (they really like to use them here), large trucks that shake the whole building as they pass, barking dogs at night, and the sounds of neighbors moving, opening and closing doors, or taking showers. Long-term rentals are limited; most housing is aimed at short-term tourists.

In terms of cleanliness, expectations here may be lower than what some are used to. It takes time and effort to find a clean and well-maintained place to stay. During the rainy season, humidity becomes a real issue, and dust mites can be a problem.

Riding a motorbike here doesn’t feel very safe. The roads are uneven, with lots of hills and potholes, and walking is barely an option. Sidewalks are either dirty, nonexistent, or blocked by parked motorbikes, and pedestrian safety doesn’t seem to be a priority.

There’s also not much to do in terms of activities, and the food choices are fairly limited. It’s not a place that offers much variety or stimulation.

That said, if none of these things bother you, Da Lat might still be a good option. The weather is genuinely excellent, mild and comfortable all year round. Even in the rainy season, the sun still shows up most days. You’ll see a lot of flowers and natural beauty everywhere. The cost of living is low. Brunch and coffee at a Western-style restaurant can cost under 10 USD, and you can get a well-made hand-drip coffee for about 2 USD.

It’s a peaceful place to unwind or take a break from faster cities, but not the most practical for focused or extended remote work.

Da Lat is not a great place. I came here for fresh air (after 1 year in Chiang Mai) but unfortunately that is an illusion. They are burning in the mountains and you can see the smoke going up to the sky. And in the city it is not much better, the air is very much polluted there as well. I tried many restaurants but mostly the food is not very good and the service is depressingly bad. Combine that with the rubbish you see everywhere (especially around the center) and Da Lat makes not a happy place.

Perfect temperatures, fantastic coffee scene, rather relaxed mid-sized town atmosphere. As of late 2018 it's still not crowded with tourists or expats so it's retained authenticity. That said, the small expat community is very friendly and relatively close-knit. Moreover, great waterfalls and a few decent mountain hikes around the city.

On the downside: the night life is about non-existent and the town seems poor for dating if you're into it. However, overall it's great for winding down from big city life and getting some work done.

Best time to stay: from late November to late April, when it's dry.