On Da Nang's My Khe Beach, a circle of people moving to music forms as evening falls. There are no fees and no instructor—just free-form dance. This gathering, started by a handful of local women, has seen a sudden influx of foreigners over the past few months, some even extending their trips to stay. Reported by VnExpress International on July 22, the scene holds an unexpected hint for Japanese travelers and would-be long-stayers weighing how to spend their time in Da Nang.
5 p.m.: the My Khe Beach circle that swelled from 30 to nearly 100
The setting is My Khe Beach, east of the city center. From early morning to night, people dance at spots up and down the sand at different hours. The article focused on the 5 p.m. session, where turnout has swelled from about 30 people at first to nearly 100 at a single session lately. There's no set choreography: an experienced dancer stands at the front and sets the rhythm, and those behind watch and move however they like. It's a relaxed style, something like a mix of aerobics and folk dance.
The gathering started by local woman Khanh Anh with a single speaker
The circle is led by Khanh Anh (40), a local woman. It started when a few people chipped in to buy a portable speaker and began practicing along with online videos. Susan Lindgren (58), an American who takes part as a wellness coach, says, "Everyone can enjoy it regardless of age, because it takes no skill at all." The very fact that you don't have to dance well is what draws people across languages and generations. Khanh Anh herself describes the change: "Over the past few months, large numbers of foreigners have suddenly started joining early in the morning."
Extending a month, staying over a year—the foreigners the circle keeps here
The article names foreigners who extended their stays because of this circle. Roshni Ward, 31, from the UK, added a month to her original holiday. Jessica Harrington, 30, from the US, has lived in Da Nang for over a year and joins with her son, who has Down syndrome and autism. 'My son gets so much care here. He feels like part of this community,' Harrington says—words that convey the texture of daily life, something apart from a destination's comforts. A place where a child with disabilities is welcomed as 'part of the community' becomes a decisive reassurance for anyone considering a family move. A circle with no skill requirement, no fee, and no age limit is quietly dissolving the lines between travelers, transplants, and locals.
A free gateway to exercise on the beach, instead of a gym membership
Beach exercise itself is nothing new. In Vietnam's cities, group workouts and dancing in parks and squares at dawn and dusk have gone on for a long time. What sets the My Khe Beach gathering apart is that foreigners join in, and it has even become a deciding factor in where they stay. The shift from gyms and studios to free outdoor circles suits people looking for health habits that cost nothing. Da Nang has direct flights from Japan, it is one of the few cities where the beach and downtown sit within walking distance, prices are lower than in Tokyo, and it has been chosen as a place to try a medium-term stay of a few weeks to a few months. What makes or breaks a medium-term stay is whether small everyday places like this exist. Getting the same experience in a Japanese city would mean monthly studio fees and the hassle of reservations, but in Da Nang that doorway opens for free on the beach. Exchanges that work even without a shared language also matter a great deal for avoiding isolation early in a stay.
Just wear comfortable clothes and head to the beach at 5 p.m.-how to spend your mornings and evenings
No special preparation needed. Comfortable clothes, shoes or sandals that won't slip on sand, and some water are all it takes. Head to My Khe Beach around 5 p.m. and the circle is easy to find; you can start by copying the moves of the experienced dancers up front. Most hotels are just a few minutes away by Grab bike or car, so leave early if you want to avoid the evening traffic. After the dancing, staying on to enjoy beachside food is becoming the usual flow. Da Nang's shore is alive from early morning,Hauling nets with fishermen at 5 a.m. and eating squid noodles on the beachCombine the two and you can build a rhythm of "move your body, then get to the local food" for both morning and evening. If you're thinking about a medium-term stay, sorting out your residency status is essential too. For the new residence framework that started in July,Eligibility for the new 'UQ1' visa of up to five yearsChecking this first makes planning easier. Flights to Da Nang are trending upward, andExpanded Japan routes, including daytime flightsis moving ahead too. Next time you go to Da Nang, stop by My Khe Beach once in the morning and once in the evening. Just moving your arms and legs at the back of the circle gives you a "beach where you know someone" in this city.
