Knowing the most popular ways used by remote workers to get around Da Nang will be crucial if you’re looking to experience all the great activities on offer across the city daily. Unlike Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang has a less developed infrastructure when it comes to transportation links around the city. Other than the public bus network, most transport options available will be in private vehicles.
At first this might seem a little daunting, particularly if you catch sight of how congested some streets can get, but in fact it is fairly easy to get from point point in the city to another. Indeed, Da Nang benefits from being smaller and less populated than the other major Vietnamese cities, meaning congestion is not as much of a problem here either.
Below we highlight some of the most popular ways remote workers get around Da Nang.
This is likely to be the most common and, indeed, the safest way for remote workers to get around Da Nang. Taxis are commonly found around the city, especially around touristic sites and within the main entertainment districts. Some drivers might even speak some English and most are friendly and helpful. Taxis in Da Nang are required to have meters but in reality these are not always used correctly. As such, you should always establish a fare with your driver before boarding if you see that the meter is not on. Grab, a regional version of Uber, is another popular way of getting the city - you can order a car through Grab’s app and pay in cash or with card.
The Xe Om, or mototaxi, is perhaps the most efficient way for remote workers to get around Da Nang. These vehicles can also be found everywhere around the city and particularly outside markets and tourist sites. They are popular among locals and foreigners alike for their ability to beat traffic and get places fast. As a foreigner, you should know that you will be a target for drivers looking to over-charge, so always bargain your price with the driver and establish a fare before boarding. Always board bikes with drivers who offer you a helmet and, in general, avoid taking a Xe Om if you have lots of things to carry. You should be prepared for your Xe Om ride to be filled with adrenaline as you zoom along Da Nang’s streets, but this is certainly one of the best way to get around the city.
Renting a motorbike is certainly a popular way for remote workers to get around Da Nang and its surrounding areas. Having your own vehicle here can be very affordable and give you the independence to see more of the region on your own schedule. Having said that, motorbike accidents are common and all foreigners should certainly consider their experience levels before renting a bike in Vietnam. Equally, bicycles are easy to rent across Da Nang and taking a ride by the beach at sunset is certainly a wonderful thing to do. However, busy streets filled with motorbikes and cars, as well as a total lack of designated bike lanes make cycling difficult here.
There is a local bus service that serves the entire city and this will be the most affordable way for remote workers to get around Da Nang, with single tickets costing around 5000VND. Visitors should beware that the network is not intuitive or necessarily easy to use, but Google Maps will help in outlining routes and pinpointing stops across the city. Bus routes usually start early in the morning and end in the mid-afternoon around 4pm.
For more information about living in Da Nang as a remote worker, check out our complete Da Nang guide.