A country that is continuing to climb the ranks as far as digital nomad hot spots is Vietnam. The recent 90-day e-visa policies are keeping travelers here longer and completely shifting the dating landscape. This country is famous for its food and that legendary Top Gear special, but it’s still pretty much overlooked in favor of Thailand, Indonesia, or the Philippines.
Which is a real pity, because the country has a lot to offer. But today, we’ll be focusing on the ladies here, mainly the best cities in Vietnam to meet women as a foreigner.
Yes, I know that many of Vietnam’s amazing cities are completely untapped and simply listing them all in a long bullet-style list would give you great places to meet the locals, but I want to give you a bit more than that. Even though some of these picks might sound familiar to you, it is because they are.
But let’s not waste any time and instead, let’s check out the best of the best!
My Top 4 Cities to Meet Vietnamese Women
The four listed below are the absolute best, in my opinion, when it comes to meeting beautiful Vietnamese women, especially because they are larger and the ladies here are not only more accustomed to foreigners, but also enjoy their company (generally speaking, of course).
1: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Yes, I know. Captain Obvious here. Saigon is Vietnam’s biggest economic engine and an absolute magnet for expats. There are officially over 9 million people in the greater Saigon area.
Functionally, it feels closer to 13 million with all the unregistered workers. The city shows zero signs of slowing down. But we’re not here to talk general demographics…
While not as developed as a place like Bangkok, Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City still has a lot to offer – including millions of beautiful Vietnamese women. Literally! There are plenty of ladies here, and even though not as easy as Thailand’s capital, it’s still an advantage if you’re a Westerner.
I love how fast-paced the dating culture is down south. Women here tend to be much more casual and open-minded compared to the rest of the country.
If you set up shop in District 1 or Thao Dien, you get instant access to language exchange cafes, co-working spaces, and expat groups. Meeting locals happens naturally here and it is, most likely, the first and best option for your first trip to Vietnam.
2: Danang
One word about Danang: WOW!
I mean, just look at that photo above. It’s absolutely stunning.
Da Nang is much smaller than Saigon, sitting at just over a million people. What it lacks in sheer size, it makes up for with jaw-dropping nature.
You can buy a motorbike and ride through the jungle. Up and down the coast. Have all of the adventures you desire. Breathe in the fresh air.
That is the one thing that comes with living in large cities, like Saigon or the next one on this list, Hanoi.
You lose track of who you are as a human.
I feel Da Nang hits the perfect sweet spot. Located squarely in Central Vietnam, the local culture has a very distinct, welcoming warmth.
You will meet plenty of beautiful women who have a completely different energy than the big city girls. The dating scene is relaxed.
Since the city is a haven for remote workers, you can easily connect with locals at beachfront cafes or community events. Having an environment that mixes a laid-back lifestyle with genuine local curiosity is pure gold.
You’re in paradise… and in more than one way, in the case of Danang.
3: Hanoi
This is the political capital of Vietnam, though Saigon usually is what pops into people’s heads. In any case, Hanoi is a rich combination of Chinese, French, and, of course, Vietnamese influence.
It’s got a large population, too, of around 9 or so million. However, Hanoi is simply not as popular for dating. People up north are significantly more traditional, meaning that you will not experience that immediate, casual openness you find down south in Saigon.
The dating dynamics require a completely different approach. Northern Vietnam demands a lot of old-school courtship and family approval is a massive deal early on. The women tend to be much more reserved and guarded.
The general consensus amongst myself and other travelers is that Saigon is much more fun, especially if you’re not planning to relocate here and spend just a shorter time. It is exactly like how most guys prefer the energy of Miami over the stiff political atmosphere of Washington DC, for example.
For that reason, I always recommend making Saigon your home base. I would not hesitate to tell a guy to live there for three months.
I would caution anyone against spending more than a month in Hanoi if their primary goal is active dating, though – and not finding a long-term relationship. The city has amazing views and a deep history, but the social barrier to entry is high.
4: Haiphong
We’ll stay in the norther part of ‘Nam and talk about Haiphong next. Careful not to get your Vietnamese cities too tongue-tied. It’s quite easy to do so: Danang, Haiphong, Hanoi… you get where I’m going with this.
Don’t buy the wrong plane ticket. 🙂
In any case, Haiphong is quite close to Hanoi, so if you’ve visiting one, you might as well see the other.
Of course, I say “close,” but keep in mind that sometimes in Southeast Asia, things are never on schedule.
Roadwork happens, major rainstorms, etc. So keep in mind that although it’s only about 120 kilometers between the two cities, sometimes they’re anything but “close”.
With that being said, Haiphong is an old-school kind of place famous for it’s industries – namely fishing. You’ll find plenty of seafood to eat here, that’s for sure!
While Haiphong is a beautiful place, it’s just not on the top of my list for places to meet beautiful Vietnamese women. It lacks the nightlife of Saigon (which is excellent), and doesn’t have the warmth of the more southern cities like Danang.
In conclusion: again, go if you have the chance. But don’t commit to setting up shop there for too long without taking a test drive first.
Conclusion
I’ll be diving deeper into other smaller Vietnamese cities in the very near future. What’s important to remember is that Saigon and Hanoi are definitely tier 1 type cities. But, I wouldn’t really consider Danang or Haiphong to be a full on tier 2. More like a 1.5.
For that reason, it’s hard to go wrong in any of them. Most people seem to prefer Saigon and Danang, but your experience may vary.
And if you really want to go all in with this, you can as well go for a smaller town that’s off the beaten path. You can find some real gems there as well!
But if you have suggestions regarding other cities where travelers can easily meet amazing Vietnamese women, don’t hesitate to share the recommendations below.
many thanks im going to book my visa first see you in vietnam or when i get back
I sure hope you had fun!
What exactly is excellent about nightlife in HCMC? The clubs and bars are full of working girls or girls who work for the bar but appear to be normal guests (so you can buy them expensive drinks).
Clubs are usually table only which makes mingling difficult and biggest one Vietnamese people in general go to bars and clubs in groups and not to meet new people.