Hey guys. So I just spend 3 weeks in Da Nang for a visa run, and pretty much what everyone has said previously is still accurate. (Shout out to Papi Rico and everyone else who contributed to this thread. You guys helped me plan my trip perfectly)
Here is my review:
Da Nang is probably not the best city for game, but definitely a good place for an expat or digital nomad looking to reside somewhere long term. Even though I was preoccupied most of the time working on my online business, I still managed to get 2 lays (one night game, one tinder), explore the sights, chill at the beach, and get some great food. The beach is nice and quiet during the day. There are tons of coffee shops all over the place (however Wifi can be kinda spotty). It is easy to get around by foot, and food is incredibly cheap.
I stayed right on Bach Dang Street with an awesome river view overlooking the psychedelic bridges that light up at night. It was central to everything and a prime location for pulling. I rented a scooter for $5/day and it was about a 5 min drive to the beach. Unfortunately, I didn't see much surfing going on in the main beach area (near Temple Danang), but there may have been some other surf locations nearby. Driving in Da Nang is not bad at all. There's barely any traffic although the horn pollution can be annoying. As suggested earlier, I think it is better to stay on the city side rather than the beach side. I didn't see a lot going on the beach side other than older tourists staying in hotels and a lot of construction. However, it may be worth staying over there if the beach is your top priority as there are still plenty of good bars and restaurants.
Generally, everything in Da Nang closes pretty early, which sucks if you are trying to get late night food. During the week, the city shuts down at about 11pm except for a few bars like the Golden Pine and Bamboo Bar. It's hard to find anything else open after 11pm, but there are a few street food places you can find. During the weekends, places stay open a little later and bars will close around 2 or 3am.
Sky Bar at Novotel Hotel is probably the best club to go to. There are actually a lot of Asian tourists there but it is still decent talent with a good female ratio. The majority of girls will be Korean chicks on vacation, so it is not a bad spot to pick up a Korean flag assuming she is not on vacation with her bf. You can also check out Waterfront Bar, which is more of a modern bar that does live music and brings in an older crowd. You will find western girls in their 30's to 40's who are on vacation trying to relive their "pre-wall" years. This could be a good opportunity for an easy lay with a thirsty older western woman. The Dawn Beach Bar is a laid back shack bar on the beach which makes a great date spot. If all else fails, the Golden Pine is always the best option to fall back on where it is consistently packed with locals and expats mingling to loud EDM blasting.
From my experience, I found the girls in Da Nang very friendly and receptive. They will definitely talk to you and engage with you in friendly manner... but do not take that as a sign that she is interested in you sexually at first! There is no need to game here right off the bat. Make her willingness to be friends with you work in your favor. If you come off as a non-threatening innocent friend, she will feel comfortable to meet you later for a date, and then you can work your magic when isolated.
If you are looking for a good gym, there is one called Olympia for $8/month. It's got all the weights you need for lifting. There is a fancier gym called California Fitness for like $30/month. Other than that, here is a list of my favorite food and cafe spots:
Vietnamese
Bánh xèo bà Dưỡng- best vietnamese pancakes
Hue Ngon Restaurant
Viet Bamboo Restaurant
Taco Ngon- great tacos
Cafe
Cafe Namumamu- good wifi, coffee, and variety of food
Cộng Cà Phê- strong vietnamese coffee, popular Korean destination
TMS Coffee- good vietnamese coffee, good wifi
Western
Red Sky- literally called "the best steak in town"
Al Fresco's- good overall western food
Limoncello- Italian
I can definitely see Da Nang a viable option for living long term as it is still relatively under the radar. I will definitely be returning at least for another visit. There are barely any tourists around, no backpackers, so you definitely stand out as a foreigner. Walking down the streets, you will get a ton of looks from the locals (mostly taxi drivers), but they are extremely friendly and will not hassle you too bad. With the hotel construction going on, it's only a matter of time before Da Nang blows up, so take advantage of this gem now!
RooshV.com