Why remote work in Vietnam is drawing attention
Over the past few years, Vietnam has rapidly gained attention among digital nomads and remote workers as a new place to work from.
Behind this are easy access from Japan and low living costs. Tokyo to Hanoi is about five and a half hours, with a time difference of just two hours—remarkably close. On top of that, a visa-free stay of up to 45 days is in place, dramatically lowering the hurdle for a long stay. A private room can be found from around 1,500 yen a night, and a local meal runs about 150 to 200 yen. With 60,000 to 70,000 yen a month, you can live comfortably.
Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer in ICO statistics, and it boasts the world's largest output of Robusta in particular. Distinctive cafés dot the streets, and coffee culture is deeply rooted in people's daily lives. The pandemic spurred a shift toward working free of time and place, and cafés strengthened their role as workspaces. They now provide Wi-Fi and power outlets, offering comfortable environments to get work done.
Recommended nomad cafés in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest commercial hub, has many cafés perfectly suited to nomad workers.
The Workshop Coffee: a nomad mecca
This café stands out with a stylish space that feels like a brick wine cellar. The Wi-Fi is stable at 75.2 Mbps down and 52.4 Mbps up, and the roomy three-story space lets you concentrate on your work. That said, the tables at the two-seater spots are a bit small, so if you want to spread out documents, choose another seat. The entrance is a little hard to find, so once you're nearby it's best to ask someone.
The Coffee House Signature: wonderfully open
Located near the War Remnants Museum, it offers very fast Wi-Fi at 88.7 Mbps down and 92.7 Mbps up. The high ceilings feel open and there are plenty of seats, so you can pick a spot that suits your mood. About half the seats have outlets, so it works for long work sessions too.
shin Coffee: ideal for focused work
A café boasting astonishing Wi-Fi speeds of 164 Mbps down and 169 Mbps up. Nearly every seat has an outlet, making it ideal when you want to concentrate in a quiet setting. Its only drawback is that coffee prices are about the same as in Tokyo, so it feels less of a bargain than other cafés.
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note: "Recommended nomad cafés in Vietnam—Ho Chi Minh City edition"
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Comfortable nomad spots in Da Nang
Da Nang earns high marks from nomad workers as a city that's "just right."
Compared with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the density of people and motorbikes is lower, and the whole city feels calm and settled. An environment that doesn't overstimulate the mind suits a long stay. A beach within walking distance, where you can refresh between work sessions, is another big draw.
Tropical Coffee: the all-you-can-drink plan is a draw
A hugely popular café among nomad workers, with a comfortable space and stable Wi-Fi. Its biggest appeal is Wi-Fi that runs smoothly all day, and there's even an all-you-can-drink coffee plan for those who want to work through the day. The Japanese menu is well stocked with dishes like karaage set meals and curry, handy when you start missing Japanese food.
Lighthouse: a quiet place to work
A café with a striking European-style exterior, tucked quietly away in the Little Busan area. The space is roomy with high ceilings, complete with Wi-Fi, seats where you can charge, and self-service free water. About half the customers have their laptops open working, with many Western visitors too, making it perfect for those who want a calm place to get things done.
Roots Plant-based Cafe: for health-conscious nomads
In the An Thuong area, a café with a calm, tropical feel built around white and wood grain. The roomy two-story space has outlets at the wall-side seats. Another plus is its extensive vegan menu, rich with dishes that are both tasty and healthy.
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VIETWORK: "[Vietnam / Da Nang] Remote work has drawn attention in recent years, and getting things done has become comfortable…"
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Key points for choosing a café
When choosing a café suited to remote work, there are a few important criteria.
A guide to Wi-Fi speeds
The Wi-Fi speed you need depends on what you're doing. Text-centered work is possible at around 5 Mbps, but smooth image searches call for 20 Mbps or more, and streaming video or sending and receiving large files calls for 30 Mbps or more. Wi-Fi at Vietnamese cafés can be hit or miss, so it's reassuring to check reviews in advance or line up several options.
Whether there are power outlets
For long work sessions, securing power is essential. Outlets are often at wall-side or counter seats, so check when you enter. Some cafés have outlets at every seat, giving you more freedom in choosing where to sit.
Noise level and clientele
To concentrate on your work, you need a reasonable amount of quiet. Choose a café where the music isn't too loud and the clientele is settled. Cafés with many nomad workers or people enjoying a book naturally keep a quiet atmosphere.
Typical prices and etiquette for long stays
Vietnamese cafés are very reasonable compared with Japan.
A cup starts from around 30,000 VND (about 180 yen), so you can drop in casually. Places with prime locations such as beachfronts are priced higher, but even so it's affordable compared with Japan. Some cafés offer an all-day drink plan, and for long work sessions using such a plan improves the cost-performance.
When staying a long time, ordering something more from time to time is good etiquette. Vietnamese cafés are fairly tolerant, but when it's crowded, being considerate enough to give up your seat is also called for. Some cafés prohibit chatting, so for conference calls and the like it's best to keep your voice down or choose a closed-off spot.
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VIETWORK: "[Vietnam / Da Nang] Remote work has drawn attention in recent years, and getting things done has become comfortable…"
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Boosting your quality of life with beach nomad life
Beach nomad life in Da Nang can also improve your daily habits.
With a two-hour time difference from Japan, you can start at 9 a.m. Japan time (7 a.m. Da Nang time) and finish at 6 p.m. Japan time (4 p.m. Da Nang time). You enjoy private time from 4 p.m. until dinner, and a rhythm sets in where you naturally get sleepy around 9 to 10 p.m. Going to bed and rising early keeps you in good shape in body and mind, giving you an uplifting sense of making the most of the day.
Having a beach within walking distance is another big draw. Strolling the beach between work sessions or relaxing while gazing at the sea after finishing work eases stress and boosts creativity. Many say Da Nang is "not too intensely Vietnamese," moderately advanced, and comfortable to be in.
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note: "How my quality of life skyrocketed with beach nomad life in Da Nang"
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Summary: start remote work at a Vietnamese café
Vietnam is a country with an ideal environment for remote work.
Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have many comfortable cafés with Wi-Fi and power outlets. Prices are affordable, and the atmosphere makes long stays easy. Access from Japan is good and a 45-day visa-free stay is possible, so it's easy to give it a try.
With beaches nearby and coffee culture deeply rooted, nomad life in Vietnam has the potential not only to raise your work productivity but also to improve your quality of life. Do try remote work at a Vietnamese café once.
If you'd like to know more about Vietnam's tourism information and coffee culture,VNplease take a look. Information you'll want before visiting Vietnam is gathered in one place, rich with genuinely useful content on café culture, how to drink coffee, and how to choose locally.
