da nang's sticky sweet chaos: a digital nomad's weather-proof musings

so i've been in da nang for three weeks now and my brain feels like overcooked noodles. the weather's this perpetual 18.81°c with 82% humidity - feels like 18.89, which is basically the same but wetter. pressure's 1011, ground level 939, so we're up a bit from sea level, which might explain the chill. but with humidity like this, 18.8 feels like 25. i checked my app and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the locals just call it 'season,' like it's normal.

da nang is this sprawling beast of a city, all motorbikes, modern bridges, and sand. i came for the cheap living and fast wifi, but stayed for the banh mi. every morning i hunt for the perfect one. someone told me that 'banh mi huynh thuc' is the holy grail, but i think it's just hype. the real deal is this unnamed cart by the bridge where an old lady slings pork and pate like it's her religion. i heard from a truck driver that she's been there since the war, but that's probably drunk talk.

the digital nomad influx is real. cafes with power outlets and stable internet are gold. i rotate between 'workshop cafe' for mornings - strong coffee, weak ac - and 'the coffee house' afternoons for the aesthetic. both have decent wifi, but during peak hours, it's a crawl. for anyone planning a stay, check out this tripadvisor list of coworking spots [https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g293922-Da_Nang.html], or yelp's cafe ratings [https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=coffee&find_loc=Da+Nang%2C+Vietnam]. the local expat board on facebook has threads on which isp to use [https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293922-i11012-Da_Nang.html], and nomad list overall vibe [https://nomadlist.com/place/da-nang].

neighbors? hoian's a 45-minute scooter south, all yellow walls and souvenir overload. hue's an hour north, imperial ghosts and bad traffic. i heard the train to hue is scenic but takes three hours for 100km - no thanks. rent a bike and drive, but watch for the random cows on the road. if you're feeling adventurous, phong nha's caves are a few hours north, but the humidity there is next level.

overheard at the cafe: 'the seafood by the river is amazing, but only before 6 pm. after that, prices double and quality drops.' i tested it. at 'be be restaurant' at 5:30, prawns were huge and cheap. at 6:15, same table next to me paid double for smaller ones. so eat early, folks.

the weather's a constant topic. 18.81°c sounds like a london fall, but with 82% humidity, it's a tropical swamp. i've never sweat so much sitting still. yesterday, i walked to my favorite cafe and my laptop bag was damp. not ideal. but the sunsets over the dragon bridge make up for it. that bridge breathes fire every weekend, and the whole city stops to watch. pure magic.

images don't do it justice, but here's a taste:

and here's where i'm typing from, in case you want to navigate:

i've been meaning to do yoga - heard there's a studio by the han river that does sunset sessions. but my schedule's a mess. plus, i keep getting distracted by the street food. avoid the night market unless you enjoy bargaining for everything. i got charged 100k vnd for a banh cuon that's usually 20k. stick to the local spots with no english signs.

overall, da nang's a solid base. the humidity's a beast, but you adapt. the wifi's generally good, cost of living low, and people are friendly. just bring quick-dry clothes and a sense of humor. i heard on the nomad forum that monsoon season turns the city into a river, but we're in the dry season now, so enjoy the stickiness while it lasts.

that's all for now. my coffee's cold, so i'm off to find a fresh brew. until next time, keep it messy.