Southeast Asia has been the go-to region for digital nomads for over a decade. With its warm weather, low costs, and vibrant culture, it’s not hard to see why. Most remote workers start their journey in Thailand or Indonesia. But recently, a quieter contender has been gaining ground: Hanoi, Vietnam.
It doesn’t have Bali’s beautiful natural beaches or Chiang Mai’s coworking hype, but it offers something else: authenticity, affordability, and a lifestyle that feels more grounded. If you’re looking for a place where you can live, work, and actually feel part of the city? Hanoi is worth serious consideration. And when you're ready for a break from the screen, the mountains of Ha Giang are waiting.
Thailand has long been the face of remote work in Asia. Chiang Mai, with its calm energy, endless cafés, and English-speaking crowd, has served as a soft landing for thousands of nomads. Bangkok, on the other hand, delivers a more urban lifestyle—night markets, high-rises, and sleek coworking offices around every corner.
But while the infrastructure is solid, more nomads are starting to see the downsides. Prices in major hubs have gone up steadily. What used to be cheap long-term rent is now competing with Airbnbs aimed at short-stay tourists. Dual pricing is another pain point as foreigners often pay more at museums, bus stations, and even local restaurants.
There’s also the issue of connection: not the internet, but integration. Life in Thailand is often lived in an expat bubble. Unless you speak Thai or work directly with locals, it’s tough to break through beyond surface-level interactions. It’s comfortable, sure. But it can feel like you’re passing through without really belonging.
Indonesia, especially Bali, is built for remote work on paper. Canggu has stylish coworking villas, smoothie bowl cafés, and surf lessons before lunch. Ubud offers yoga, meditation, and rice fields you can gaze at between meetings. The lifestyle looks incredible- and for many, it is.
Until you actually try to get things done.
Traffic in Canggu can be brutal. Internet speeds vary wildly depending on your neighbourhood. Prices in nomad-heavy zones now rival parts of Europe. It’s easy to get distracted, harder to stay consistent. You’ll also burn time managing visas and adapting to short-term life logistics.
There’s no doubt Bali is beautiful. But for long-term nomads who want to stay productive, it can feel more like a holiday than a home base.
Now let’s talk about Hanoi. At first glance, it’s loud, messy, and unpredictable. The traffic swirls like a dance of scooters and taxis. Vendors shout across the street. Construction starts early and ends late. But behind the chaos, there’s something that works—and keeps nomads staying longer than they planned.
The cost of living in Hanoi is still refreshingly low. You can eat well for under $2, grab a strong Vietnamese coffee for $1, and sleep in a cozy, social place like Quiri Hostel Hanoi for less than a movie ticket in Bali. High-speed internet is standard, and there’s no shortage of work-friendly cafés with plugs, good lighting, and chill music.
More importantly, Hanoi doesn’t feel like it was built for digital nomads. It just happens to work well for them. You’ll meet other remote workers, sure—but also locals, backpackers, teachers, and long-term travellers who didn’t come for the scene, they came for the city. That gives Hanoi something rare: a sense of real life, not just a curated lifestyle.
Hanoi lets you live among locals, eat like a local, and actually be part of the city. And when you’ve had enough of screens and routines? That’s when you do what most nomads at Quiri end up doing—you go north.
No matter how productive or affordable a place is, burnout still hits. Cafés blur together. Screens feel heavier. Even Hanoi, with all its energy, can start to wear you down after weeks of nonstop work.
That’s when people book the Ha Giang Loop. Not just for the views, but for the reset.
Ha Giang is the northernmost province of Vietnam, and the loop takes you through rice terraces, limestone valleys, minority villages, and jaw-dropping mountain passes. There’s little to no phone signal. No Wi-Fi. No tasks to check off. Just winding roads, cold beers at night, and sunrises that make you forget your inbox even exists.
You can ride your own bike or join an easyrider group through Ha Giang Vision. Either way, it’s four days of total disconnection—and total freedom.
Hanoi gives digital nomads what they actually need: affordable living, real culture, good infrastructure, and the space to build a balanced life. It doesn’t sell you a dream—it simply works.
And when you're ready to unplug and get back to what travel really means, Ha Giang is the adventure you didn’t know you needed.
Stay at Quiri Hostel for strong Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and a chill place to meet other nomads. Then, when the time is right, book your Ha Giang Loop tour directly at the front desk. Transport, gear, guides, accommodation, food—it’s all handled.
You work remotely for the freedom. Don’t forget to use it.