Close Menu
    South East Asia

    Chiang Mai Vs Da Nang: Which One Is The Best? (For Me)



    Are you planning a trip to Southeast Asia but can’t decide between Chiang Mai and Da Nang? In this video, I compare the two popular destinations and help you determine which one is the best fit for your travel style.

    Chiang Mai, known as the “Rose of the North,” boasts a rich cultural heritage, ancient temples, and delicious food. Da Nang, on the other hand, is a coastal city with stunning beaches and a booming nightlife scene.

    I’ve spent a lot more time in Chiang Mai Thailand, then i have Danang, Vietnam, so this is my opinions based on a very short time in Vietnam.
    ________________________

    🔔 SUBSCRIBE to my channel (it’s free!) so you won’t miss any future episodes: http://www.youtube.com/c/WalkAboutWay…
    ________________________

    👉 FOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA!
    📷 Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/walkaboutwayne/
    📷 Facebook ► https://web.facebook.com/walkaboutwayne1
    ________________________

    The best VPN and the one I use SURFSHARK. I’ve used many VPNs, from the most expensive (Express VPN) to more affordable VPNs. SURFSHARK is the best and one of the cheapest. Get SURFSHARK at a good price with my Link:
    https://surfshark.club/friend/gM6bnpAg
    ________________________

    DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel.

    42 Comments

    3. Jim on

      Enjoyed the video. My Thai girlfriend and I just spend 1 week in Da Nang and 1 Week in Hoi An (Beachside). My gf thinks Thai drivers are much more aggressive than Vietnamese drivers. She said, "Thai drivers want to be first, first, first". I have to agree with her. I've riden a scooter all over Da Nang, the mountains, and to Hoi An and it is crazy, but I felt much safer than Chiang Mai. I also found the western food in Da Nang to be much better than in Chiang Mai. But my gf found the Vietnemse food bland, no fish sauce or chili powder.
      Anyway, I was happy to land back in Chaing Mai. There is something "magical" about it. Cheers.

    8. Chillout Lars on

      Some like apples, some like pears and some like apples and pears. We all find our sweet spot in the end. I've never regretted living in Chiangmai. Ten years of exploring and still discovering new wow moments.

    11. rudd on

      Nice n candid blog bro
      Unfair to get you to compare as VN does not offer a long stay option ..
      VN would need a national program to get people to be more polite, considerate n less uncouth
      Care to tell us what other place is better than CM ??

    13. Leila Hellier on

      Wayne i have lived in many cities in the past ,Sydney, New York, Istanbul, but Chiang Mai always has that pull for me to return, i will travel many countries in the future, god willing but Chiang Mai will alwaya be number 1 to me

    15. DOMINANTE MegaLit on

      Dear Sir, good and honest stance, one can only learn how to approach things, if ya ask me.
      The Man said: There are no bests, there are differences and preferences!!
      And since I totally agree with you on the matter, let me bring you back to the olde video you did on the road, towards KING KONG MOUNTAIN!
      Man, after I saw that, I remembered all my past lives.
      And I am talking no hippie here!!!!

    17. Harpjohn rRwlands on

      Good un Wayne….you've got a way with word's…broke backpacker that has'nt washed for a week lol I just invented a new hangover breaky !…pan seared halibut with poached egg's on top & a wee bit of Stilton cheese melted on top…mmm V tasty.

    18. iTsCrazyFish on

      I share the same opinion. I did 3 months Chiang Mai and a month in da nang/hoi an. Great video with some great points raised.If Chiang Mai had a beach it would have it all!

    19. Lee Butler on

      Nice one Wayne, been looking forward to this one and you didnt disappoint! respect your opinion and as ive been to CM i know how special it is, still need to go to DN but hearts in CM i reckon.. nice one mate, take it easy

    20. Erik Blair on

      Thank you for sharing your insights to both places. It is very helpful for me. I like your reasoning and preferences as well. The beach is nice, but the character of Chiang Mai can be equally attractive. Thanks again Wayne!

    22. Jack O'Neil on

      Very much appreciated Wayne! I was much looking forward to your impressions and take away of the differences between Chiang Mai and Da Nang, I think you've covered the differences from a long term perspective quite well, and for those of us who can no longer afford or tolerate their current home tolerable or affordable, your insights are gold.

      I remember the people of Vietnam as remarkable and inspiring, and a bit like a cross between Thailand and China, that made Vietnam more interesting and less magical and desirable than Thailand as a home, but of course for everyone, there's personal and practical might make one place a better option than the other, and one place Wayne, I would love to hear your take on would be Malaysia and in particular Penang. Most visitors, when I arrived in Penang my initial thought was: "I wish I hadn't booked so long", but over a couple of weeks with relatives and friends, Penang and Malaysia in general became near and dear to my heart, and a home away from home much as Chiang Mai has been you.

      Along with Chiang Mai, Penang is currently in my top contenders to escape a home that is no longer tolerable nor affordable, and what made Penang attractive to me back then, and today, was being in a place that inherited English sensibilities, Common law and the English language, as well as the better aspects of Asian culture.

      BTW Wayne, as you've spent 5 years in Thailand, might you be able to mention how dealt with migration in order to stay so long?
      Thanks!

    23. Max byrne on

      You should try vientiane the sleepy capital of laos. I lived there for a while. Real slow pace. Not everybodys cup of tea . Most travellers only stop for 1 or 2 nights.
      Great city

    27. M.A on

      Thank you Wayne for sharing your time and experience in Da Nang i never been to Vietnam but would like to go for a quick visit I’m a foodie lol and Vietnamese food is one of my favorites growing up in Thailand in the Esan region some of our food have Vietnamese influences because there’s a good amount of Vietnamese folks there we’re planning to retire in Thailand and Chiang Mai is on our list looking forward to seeing you discovering more of Thailand

    30. Steven S on

      Interesting comparisons and probably hard pressed to do so with conviction unless equal time was spent living in both places which is what you suggested. Also; when you have an affinity for something or somewhere then it takes something out of this world to sway you away so fully understand. All you said I agree with based on what you have shown on these Da Nang videos and those previously around Chiang Mai. The food for me is the clincher overall, forget the cost because Thai street food is 40 or 50 baht a dish and there, for me, is nothing better than Thai food mate. Visit Da Nang from time to time when you need a holiday, not far away and affordable. Best of both worlds!! Great video. Cheers Wayne 🤩

    31. Kirsty Kat on

      I’ve travelled around Asia quite a bit and I have found Chiang Mai pretty hard to beat. There is definitely something magical about it 💫

    35. Robert New on

      Danang has no magic. Chiang Mai Thai people have the magic that the Vietnamese just don’t have. Backpackers in both countries are a PITA.

    37. Late Bloomer Abroad on

      I agree, Wayne. The buses of Vietnamese tourists really change the ambiance of the place, they stressed me out (they won't let you walk by on the sidewalk or get out of any elevator, they care about nobody but themselves) and there are many more in video than there were last spring! And the drivers are much more aggressive than Chiang Mai. I'll be back to Chiang Mai one day. But next time, I'll bring friend(s) with me. It was too lonely to be there alone for 6 weeks, you are the only friend I made.😄

    38. Hai Tran Quang on

      Chiangmai is much smaller than Danang in terms of population (2019 figures: DN is almost 10 times more populous than CM). So they are not the same size. I suggest to compare CM with Hue or Nha trang.

    Leave A Reply