DONT be a Digital Nomad Until You Watch This (Brutally Honest Reality)

[@laraMgray]

I cannot believe how much I agree with you on this. I am living among the digital nomads here in Da Nang and i thought I would have the opportunity to network, meet people, connect and the vast majority make me feel extremely isolated because there is a bridge between our values that I cannot overcome, and I have been trying. I thought I wasn't in one of the sexy, glamorous trades (tech, marketing, design and I'm a hypnotherapist) and that created less to talk about but it truly isn't. A new life leads to new lessons, and one of them is anyone who comes to you with a perfect dream has a perfect agenda - if you're believing in the dream, they've gotten some result out of you and that should make you think more about WHY you want to be a digital nomad and HOW you will move forward. I mean, here I am, all the way across the world, and still in an office. Does that make the dream less dreamy? Yes. Does it make it something not worth doing? Absolutely not. I wouldn't give this up for anything 😊😊

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@mrbHanoi]

@@laraMgray Elon never quits never gives up Steve Jobs ignores the naysayers and boobirds. I just say shame on u.

[@robertkraut6239]

Yes it is entertaining to me and I love it. Thanks for all your time and hard work making these videos. Robert

[@pamelabarros8699]

Hi David! How are you? I'm from Brazil, and I follow your videos. I really like how objective and clear you are. Your journey through Vietnam is amazing! I’ll be in Vietnam soon as well.

[@TravelWithNala]

Hey! I try to keep it honest. Still not 100% comfortable talking to a camera yet so it’s still shaky but I’ll get better over time. Thanks for watching!

[@Kristoferwitha_k]

Oi pamela. Tudo bem? May i ask, as a brazilian citizen are you able to get a visa on arrival in south east asia?

[@Lauren88O8]

You said it perfectly. LA is the place fake it until you make it. It's a struggle every day. Life is very expensive and challenging.

[@TravelWithNala]

Yup. Unfortunately in LA a lot of people are happy just faking it forever

[@Janethecurly]

I'm a digital nomad for 3 years now. I agree 100%. the real lifestyle is only working at home to use fast internet wifi and 100% anxious about future as it's no future or career path at all, which make me cannot sleep at night, then bad mental health and physical health. it just ruins my life and I cannot get out of this because I'm already in my comfort zone, afraid to get into society again to face with toxic people at workplace and tiring commuting. all these excuses keep me in this job that is ruining my life

[@yamuiemata]

Usually the small coffee shops in Vietnam have the best coffee...NGL your caffeine intake threshold is huge if you need 2 coffee to get you up to speed Also, your take on digital nomads is spot on because in most cases there is something shady they are trying to sell you on.

[@TravelWithNala]

Depends on the coffee. A traditional cafe sửa usually has a small amount of coffee. A lot of cold brews I order here also come in small bottles. And yes I realize I sound like an addict trying to justify my addiction

[@tim1traitimaccount269]

@@TravelWithNalaWould you share a google maps list of all the cafes you’ve tried in da nang? :)

[@yamuiemata]

@@TravelWithNala at least it's a legal drug addiction that most of us are hooked on 😁 Have a great weekend

[@R-sn1ty]

you build a tolerance

[@pearlzanida8134]

Yep. Took my wfh job on the road. Still clock in and out, still 40 hours a week. Difference is I clock in and out at a different place every couple of weeks. This works for me cause I like the job security...no job is truly secure but you know what I mean. And yes I work out of Starbucks sometimes but most of the time I'm in a public library. After work and weekends I explore. Not glamorous but fun...for me anyways 😊

[@TravelWithNala]

Fun for me too. No such thing as security but there is consistency. I think the entrepreneur thing is way overhyped too. For 99% of people they would be happy nomading if they had consistent and predictable income

[@LifeCodedByMatt]

First Danang vlog video ive watch fully 💪🏻. I've setup a tech company in Danang and here for just over a year so far. Some weeks I'll rarely leave the office.

[@jimmypark3224]

The real scam here is that he made you watch a 16 minute video on his coffee and chairs to get 5 minutes of actual content.

[@TravelWithNala]

no refunds bro

[@shaunpierce4174]

I also live in Da Nang (currently in the My An district but moving to Son Tra soon) and have been considering dipping my toes into the digital nomad lifestyle but to be honest I have no idea where to start. I'm a forklift driver by trade but that was back in England, I have not worked at all since arriving here in early March. If I ever happen to see you both wandering around I will approach you and say hi ok.

[@TravelWithNala]

Of course! Say hi to me anytime if you see me on the street. Always hard to start up a new career it’s like going back to basics. And it starts with researching what jobs are available and which ones fit with your skill set

[@_-_-.-_-_]

Have been in Da Nang for 2 years. Data Architect for the last 25 years and still working remotely. Retired in my 40's eight years ago but now consult in my area of specialty. There are two types of Americans who come back and live in Vietnam. First, those who value the country, culture, the people, the language, etc... Second, those who are the Fake Alphas. Did not make it in America and moved back to Vietnam on their 40K job, fooling themselves to think they are superior over the local Vietnamese people in a developing country.

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah all of that always stems from internal insecurities. Glad you’re enjoying Da Nang. I could see myself living here long terms as well.

[@TheMrPorter]

I don't plan on being a nomad. Never really understood the appeal of it. However, I do plan on moving out of the states and having a home elsewhere.

[@TravelWithNala]

Basically a relatively cheap and flexible way to travel the world

[@ChristinaUnpacks]

Really enjoy how honest and thoughtful your vids are.

[@TravelWithNala]

thanks!

[@kiwi197811]

I like the honesty, very refreshing. I think a lot of people need to hear the realities of this lifestyle. Unfortunately so many still think they need to imitate these " influences" life's to be happy. Reality is they don't even live that life

[@TravelWithNala]

Yup social media is just a trap of fake fronts. Digital nomading influencers are no different

[@renald_croes]

100% FACTS !!!! and I know doing for 10 years now and sad part is most people are lazy and want the lazy lifestyle, don't want to work, don't want to build anything, don't have patience.

[@TravelWithNala]

Tbh I’m okay with ppl who just want to chill. If they’re happy, then more power to them. It’s the ones that don’t want to work and try to find a shortcut that make me wary

[@davincachuela6347]

Great video bro! Very informative! Keep it up man!

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks bro appreciate it

[@hazy76]

Well, I am in the "still figuring out" phase of enterpreneurship. I work full-time for a company, while I also have side projects which I want to grow. I am in Da Nang now. I was in Bali last month, where I could not even connect with people. I am not undermining selling courses, building simple directories online, dropshipping etc. But yeah, its difficult for a tech person like me who is still figuring out, to talk to someone. People I know talk about raising rounds, going to YC, getting attention of top tier funds and so on. I just want to take care of my health, work hard and chill. For me chilling is same as what you showed. I just go to a coffee/juice shop near my apartment in Da Nang, sit on tiny chair and stay there for 30mins.

[@quangb8448]

I've been in Da Nang for a little over 3 months also. Hoping to bump into you one of these days at a coffee shop but I'm usually by the My Khe beach area and not by the river very much.

[@TravelWithNala]

Feel free to say hi if you ever see me. I’m usually in My Khe area as well but not so much on the actual beach

[@quangb8448]

@@TravelWithNala I'm not at the actual beach either, just walking on the long walkway next to the beach where the bars and food stands are.

[@chrismichaels6928]

Love your videos, David. I’ve rented out my condo in the states and sold my car. I’ll have roughly $1000-$1200 a month to live on. I don’t go out and party or drink much. As it is, I already live a monistic lifestyle here in the U.S. Is it possible to live frugally in DaNang on this budget? I spent three months in Vietnam in 2006, mostly in Hanoi and I love this country!

[@TravelWithNala]

Oh yeah that's more than plenty. You would be pretty comfortable here on that budget you don't even really need to live that frugally. Da Nang is more affordable than Hanoi

[@chrismichaels6928]

@@TravelWithNala Thank you! I’ve been concerned about that as there is no turning around for me now! 🤣 I don’t need a fancy place to live - just a little studio. Hopefully for $300 - $350 a month. I mostly concerned about visa runs and not being let back in the country again.

[@Greedie]

Hey David I lived in LA for a while and not sure but you seem kinda familiar man not gonna lie. I'm in Hanoi now with my girlfriend and were planning to move to Busan, but it was really complicated as she's Vietnamese and your vids shed more light on our situation that was similar to yours! Now we plan on moving to Danang (the Busan of Vietnam as I call it). I'm really digging the info in your vids as I just got back from house hunting out there and found some really decent places. Do you think I can contact you to ask some questions about your experience as a Korean-American in Danang thus far? From what I saw there were tons of motherland Koreans out there. My girl and I thought we were in Busan all over again haha. As for the digital nomad lifestyle, I can relate after living in thailand, taiwan, and japan before vn, every country has had a whole lot of hard working digital nomads, but also a whole lot of grifters and bs artists. I'm not mad at people who fake it 'til they make it as long as they seem to be putting in the work to make it, but collaborations in hindsight could definitely have used more caution for differences in lifestyle, work ethic, cultures etc. I prefer to work alone and build on my own now haha.

[@jglee6721]

In one of his videos he said if you run into him by accident, then he will talk to you but not scheduling a meeting as that will put the pressure on his lifestyle. I would just pay somebody to consult with.

[@MrEKS-st6mc]

Every vlogger aka influencer has their own style and objective. In Vietnam I watch all at least once but only follow the best for info, entertainment and down the earth videos like Bisko aka “Bin” and of course this channel 😉

[@TravelWithNala]

Cool! Appreciate that. I know there’s so many people making content and we all have limited time during the week so I’m glad I’m glad you like the vids!

[@electrotx]

I’m here now, brother safe travels, man

[@oleeeeeg]

hahah. i’ve seen a guy on a work call with a laptop on a beach(he was fully covered with clothes like a local) in da nang. but it was only once in a year of my digital nomad life

[@TravelWithNala]

Haha one grain of sand under his keyboard and he has a $500 repair

[@yale9507]

I totally agree and some people are just giving these kids false expectations! No worries on rant!

[@TravelWithNala]

Way too much sensationalizing everything on the internet these days

[@mkaizen1756]

안녕하십니까!? I will quit my corrupt job next year as a public servant to stop being a worm and public parasyte to beocme a digital nomad like u. Please give me some advices through ur video about countries like Vietnam 🇻🇳 and 🇹🇭Thailand where many people are moving there to live as digital nomad. Im 49 years old, single, no kids, no attachments and now it will be my last SHOT to change my life.

[@R-sn1ty]

good luck bro

[@TravelWithNala]

glhf

[@Flat55Six]

Hi David! Viet Kieu here. I've been following you for the past month and enjoy your vlogs of Da Nang. I would consider myself in category two and I'm debating if I should even think of starting a business in Vietnam. A part of me says to just chill, surf, and enjoy an early retirement. The other side of me says to go for it and see if I can succeed outside of the United States. How is the tech labor force in Da Nang? I've heard that in order to hire good web designers, programmers, etc, I have to look in either Hanoi or Saigon. Hopefully my wife and I make it out there early 2025 with my parents and ask around in person. Thanks again for putting out great content. I'm seeing the progression in your videos.

[@TravelWithNala]

Hey if you’re chillin and surfing everyday and you’re happy and have no regrets then that sounds like a pretty great life to me. And if you get that entrepreneurial itch then you can go for that too and it’s really up to if you want to grind it out 80h a week or have a nice simple lifestyle business. You really can’t lose. Can’t speak on the talent too much but these days everyone’s remote so you could hire anywhere in the world

[@JetSetJourneys.Podcast]

Thanks for sharing this! Appreciate it

[@TravelWithNala]

My pleasure. Thought it was an important topic to dispel the hype

[@Lauren88O8]

Please do a video comparing a bowl of Pho from a street vendor and a fancy restaurant in Da Nang. Comparing taste and price.

[@jasonkinnebrew1007]

Hey David - 39yo tech worker here and I’m going to DN in December. Would love to grab a coffee with you and chat about the digital worker life.

[@TravelWithNala]

Cool send me a dm on IG when you’re in town. Thinking about putting together some meetups for people in tech on the regular

[@JohnNguyen-x1w]

@@TravelWithNala humm that's a great idea. 👍

[@EmilyandDennis]

Did you ever say what you did as a digital nomad. Is KZbin your full time job? Or are you doing other stuff? If so, what was that? Sorry if I missed that

[@TravelWithNala]

We both work FT. KZbin is just for funsies

[@JohnNguyen-x1w]

very interesting.... and thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts on being a GM. I have question for you.. what do you think of AWS opportunities in VN? Is it growing or it just gets started? Thanks.

[@TravelWithNala]

Not sure what you mean by AWS opportunities

[@JohnNguyen-x1w]

@@TravelWithNala sorry... what I meant is AWS-related business opportunities like AWS Partner/consultant, AWS independent solution provider. Also do you think AWS will be well adopted in VN where other foreign high-tech firms need local AWS experts to help them with AWS cloud adoption? In short, are there needs for AWS consultants/digital nomads?

[@TravelWithNala]

@@JohnNguyen-x1w ah I see. I’m not really in that verticals so no idea but AWS is still the market leader in cloud globally and I assume Vietnam would be no different. But as I always say, makes no sense financially to work for a Vietnamese company when you can work for a US company

[@brndafay8518]

You said that you're an entrepreneur and you're in Tech, what does a work day look like for you? What kind of work does Kim do? I believe in another video you mentioned she works a full-time job (I think)?! I liked your honesty in this video and agree that most people make it look easy and glamorous and real life is not really like that. ❤🇨🇦

[@TravelWithNala]

every day is different depending on obligations. Generally im in "work mode" 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week. Doesn't mean im actually working the whole time because i take breaks and go for walks etc. A lot of that time is spending reading/researching/playing around with new tools which I don't really consider like "real work".

[@brndafay8518]

@@TravelWithNala enjoy the style and your casual honest presence in front of the camera, plus Nala is gorgeous- those eyes‼️

[@JJLMN]

Hi David, cool vid and a few questions for you. Would appreciate if you could kindly clarify. As a digital nomad yourself, do you work during normal day time hours (vietnam time zone), do you work for a company in Asia or USA? I’m concerned and confused to where I should be applying the remote job from. (Currently in Canada). Your insight will be greatly appreciated.

[@TravelWithNala]

It's my company. I work local time. I rarely need sync with people in the US because I have a "meetings are a waste of time" philosophy but I need to then it's usually late at night at like midnight local time. Look for a job that doesn't matter when you do it it just matters if you get the job done. I would work for a US company though because you want a US salary.

[@JJLMN]

@@TravelWithNala thanks David

[@ginarobinson9500]

Great video. Actually be cautious of anyone glamorizing anything 😉.

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah it’s usually them wanting external validation for their decisions

[@Go1bvm]

I reckon being digital nomad offers flexibility and great work and life balance. But work is still work as you said. If you don't enjoy your work, it sucks. Love your apartment.

[@TravelWithNala]

It’s kind of the other way around. Flexible work allows you to be a digital nomad. If anything, being a digital nomad gives you less flexibility with your job

[@Go1bvm]

@@TravelWithNala That's also true.

[@athomas9661]

Interesting. Lots of "Im going to tell you the truth videos" out now. It's good. They must be fed up with the others hustlin' folks. I suspect a lot of these nomads will be returning home in a few years because life will start to lifing again.

[@eg4933]

way better than los angeles or many cities of usa for that matter.

[@yulok6]

Thank you for new video ❤

[@TravelWithNala]

you're welcome!

[@AjayRohaz]

Very Good Advice :) I could work remote, but I am waiting for 4 more years and just straight up retire. Time difference between USA and SE Asia is to great and want total freedom :) Hope all is well with you dude ! :)

[@TravelWithNala]

Awesome! Yeah there’s lots of different ways to do it and looks like you found your path. Good luck!

[@katherineafzal2315]

I just want to come to Da Nang to have coffee, go to the beach and the night market!!😂☕️

[@TravelWithNala]

thats a good life

[@jglee6721]

I want to go to Da Nang too but I'm concerned about the motorcycle noise. Even watching the videos I got annoyed by the sound of them.

[@TravelWithNala]

@@jglee6721 Same with me at first because as an American it sounds like angry honking. But then you realize that it's a courtesy honk to let ppl know "I'm here" and all of a sudden it doesn't sound so bad anymore. You'll never get used to the trucks honking though haha

[@corinamonasterio2943]

Hi David & Kim. My partner and I are back in Danang now. Where can I buy that protective clothing for the sun/dress Kim's favorite shop?

[@corinamonasterio2943]

We are at This Boutique Villa.

[@corinamonasterio2943]

Thi

[@TravelWithNala]

The clothing store is called Format. We also got sun protection at Tokyo Life

[@corinamonasterio2943]

@@TravelWithNala Thanks a lot!

[@vinnynguyen8826]

Yeah it's kind of funny you don't see a lot of digital Nomads in a place like Abu Dhabi

[@OhGeeGanksta]

Being a digital nomad is great… if you have a job. Or enough like gigs to keep yourself self sufficient. Lol

[@TravelWithNala]

Well… life in general is great if you have a job.

[@OhGeeGanksta]

@@TravelWithNala That should be the truth, unfortunately too many people don't have their priorities straight. Would rather irresponsibly chase dreams without any sort of a back up plan.

[@lucy.loves.travel]

Good chat!

[@marsfuture]

The river side night walk area comes alive with a bang at weekends ;-) It's been around since before Fireworks festival. Gimme me a shout if you wanna go see it with a real Digital Nomad who ain't a scammer haha

[@TravelWithNala]

that's pretty cool. I gotta check it out at some point

[@Cloud29065]

How much you recommend making passively would be enough for not insane lifestyle and just normal living like 2-4k usd ; coming from Miami,fl ( I make usually 80-95kusd sales job )

[@ngothuat2045]

You will have a great life in Da Nang or Nha Trang (Vietnam) with 2k per month. My advice is don't quit your job until you earn 2k passive income. You have experience in sales and understand the US market so I give you a business model that combines Pinterest and Etsy, watch videos on KZbin. Remember you need at least 2 sources of passive income to minimize risk, so later you can do more tourism services when you settle down in a country. I see that many people move too many countries, that is not good because you do not have enough experience and understanding of the culture in a certain country. You can choose Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines... those are countries with large enough markets but the competition is very high and so choosing a less famous country can be a very good choice like Laos or Cambodia

[@TravelWithNala]

I've heard a lot of people budget around 1k/months for living expenses in Da Nang as a pretty comfortable budget. Different people have different wants and lifestyles so it can vary quite a bit.

[@LimHoochin]

In Malaysia I could retire with just USD100k , house fully paid n zero debt. Life is cheap with quality.

[@TravelWithNala]

Haven’t had a chance to check out Malaysia yet. It’s on the list

[@laraMgray]

@@TravelWithNala You'll love it. It's my soul destination in SEA :))

[@mvpmatty8295]

25 years old. with 40k Savings. Really want to pursue to live in Colombia but i have no clue on how to make money remotely. Youre right there are too many BSers out here. Any tips?

[@TravelWithNala]

Easiest thing is see if you could do your current job remotely. If not then maybe something related to or similar to your current job. If not then start searching through opening on remote job boards sites and see if any of those fit your skillset

[@BillyGringo]

I've been living part-time in Colombia for 11 years, mostly in Medellín. It’s an ok spot if you’re looking for a vibe like a mini Miami, minus the beach. However, I’ve noticed the atmosphere has changed, so I’ll probably stay away for a while. I also live in Brazil, specifically in the northeastern city of Fortaleza. If you’re not a big spender, $40,000 can EASILY last you two years, and if you share expenses with a partner or roommate, it could stretch to four. My monthly cost of living with my girlfriend is around $1,800 on the high end. The weather is perfect, the food is great, the city is modern, and the people are friendly. There are endless beaches to explore, even though Fortaleza itself is right on the coast. I came here to visit my brother 20 years ago and never looked back. Truly a hidden gem-relaxed but never dull! Look it up, Fortaleza, Ceara. Brazil

[@17napps38]

Dude, how's the wifi? What's your fps? My ping was over 300ms in Thailand lol.

[@TravelWithNala]

Great. I got gigabit internet at home and most cafes are 100-500 mbps

[@0912sj]

Most digital nomads are LBHs. They act like some hot stuff on their laptop in a 3rd class country when in reality they’re working some dead end online job. Being outside of the country is a terminable offense in big tech.

[@TravelWithNala]

I'm ok with people trying to find ways to better their lives as long as they're not arrogant and obnoxious about it. But yeah a lot of them travel and walk around with a chip on their shoulder.

[@nikkirosenbek5471]

The only reason I want to be a digital nomad is to work for myself, not having a boss.

[@TravelWithNala]

You don't have to be a digital nomad to do that. Actually kinda has nothing to do with being a digital nomad. 2 separate things

[@nikkirosenbek5471]

@@TravelWithNala So working as a content creator is not one of them?

[@UnboundedArtandCrafts]

If you want to make the coffee less bitter just add a little bit of salt 💡 Aren't 99% of the things you see online fake? Everyone wants to show the very best to the world.

[@TravelWithNala]

Salt coffee is a thing here in Vietnam is super good

[@user-km2bz8iy5o]

So many grifters in Da Nang, and just generally unethical and scummy behaviour.

[@Calichris2]

Can people get work done in their apartment/hotel?

[@TravelWithNala]

Depends on the work and depends on the apartment but sure if it’s a computer job I don’t see why not

[@Kiwi-Macca]

Depends on how good your wifi is and the aircon is cafes in free.

[@1greenMitsi]

too many digital gonads here in da nang

[@donnguyen8443]

Most Digital Scamads...FAIL. Percentage is 90+%.

[@keithhere5868]

lol..50k a year....is like you are on walfare in the US

[@Cloud29065]

Benefit of living outside the US ; if we’re being honest the cost of living in the US is just work wake up sleep 🔂 how can you actually enjoy like if your just working forever that’s sucks forreal move to a Eastern country where it’s affordable and stop living a miserable life

[@keithhere5868]

@@Cloud29065 well you can work for 6 months in the US and then live in VN like a king for 6 months.....The avg Vietnamese make less the 300 a month...

[@lenseofanomad]

why are you laughing? i bet you dont even make near that much, broke boy

[@TravelWithNala]

😂 depends on the city but yeah getting kinda crazy out there

[@donnamanitu8673]

Please move your microphone or stop slurping your drinks. I had to skip over the coffee segment due to the noise. Why not keep visiting the coffee shops that you like and become a regular instead of jumping all around to new locations ?

[@TravelWithNala]

Uh oh. You might want to skip the vlogs where I’m eating because I’m slurping like my life depends on it. I won’t know which coffee shops I like best until I visit them all. I also do have my usual places but I’m not going to show the same place over and over in every vlog that wouldn’t be fun

[@tvr286]

my man...

[@jle430]

You didn’t get to the point how you make money at least so we know how you make money to get an idea.

[@TravelWithNala]

tech entrepreneur. I don't think that helps for most people. There's a million different paths to take.

[@theelitelifeee]

How old r u

[@TravelWithNala]

Older than I look and younger than I feel

[@Kiwi-Macca]

I think that was meant to be 'the moments". Def needed a proofread.

[@TravelWithNala]

I’m gunna call it poetic license 😂

[@benquach3127]

Great video. I'm glad ur vids r now around 15-20m. Dunno if u remember, I commented on 1 of ur early vids that was 50m+ long, and some morons bitched @ me, LOL. I was only trying to help. U know these gen z r all ADHD. Hence, TikTok, LOL

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah I remember you said no one will watch a 1 hour video but that video has 150k views and is my highest viewed video ever 😂

[@robertmurray8447]

You follow Tony Robbins...lol...what a grifter

[@TravelWithNala]

i dont follow him but im aware of some of his content.