Introduction
Things to do
Da Nang offers a relaxed beachside lifestyle, with delightful mountain getaways to the North and West of the city centre. Tourism is an important industry for the region, and many visitors use Da Nang as a base to explore the fantastic attractions that surround the city. Within easy reach are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Imperial City of Hue, the Old Town of Hoi An, and the My Son Ruins.
Of course the city itself also has plenty to offer, with miles of uncrowded beaches, an excellent range of dining options, shopping centres, markets, bars and some good museums and parks. After dark there’s a lively entertainment scene , and a stroll along the promenade amongst the glistening lights and street vendors makes for a memorable evening out.
Retiree & Long Stay Visitors
Healthcare
Visa’s
Vietnam does not currently have a retirement visa, but many long stay visitors simply obtain a 3 month tourist visa, and extend it. This extension can be done from within Vietnam, and costs about $240. However many people prefer to do a ‘visa run’, and take the extension as an opportunity to visit another location in South East Asia. Flights are so cheap, this can often cost less than the $240 to do the extension within the country.
Initially obtaining a visa to visit Vietnam is a little more complex than other countries in the region, but generally for most people its usually fairly straightforward. Applications can be done directly through the Vietnamese embassy, or by using a visa agent. Care should be taken when using an agent as there have been the occasional mixed experience for some applicants. We’ll be doing a more detailed blog on Visa’s for Vietnam in the near future, but in the meantime, if you have any specific questions please send us an email.
Getting there
The majority of visitors from Australia come by air (usually through Ho Chih Minh City), but as we have pointed out, the city also has very good road, rail and sea links. Da Nang International Airport is Vietnams third busiest, and offers regular domestic flights to Hanoi, HCMC, Hai Phong, Vinh, Buon Ma Thout, Da Lat, Nha Trang, and Pleiku. It’s international links include Guangzhou, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, KL and Phnom Penh.
The airport is only 2 kms from the city centre, making it highly accessible. Transport to and from airport is cheap and plentiful.
Sunset Vietnam
