One of the most interesting parts about being an expat is how quickly normal mundane activities, like going to the dentist (Or even just going to the post office or getting a bite to eat) can become an adventure.

After a year and a half of traveling around the globe, Gabby and I realized that we were more than a bit overdue for a visit to the dentist.

I’m just going to put this out there. I’m a big baby when it comes to dental work, and I tend to put if off as long as possible. So the thought of visiting a dentist in Vietnam was a bit unsettling at first.

Ok fine….I was scared shitless. It had been quite a bit longer for me than it had for Gabby…and I just knew that it was going to take hours to scrape the accumulated shit off my teeth.

Next week, we’re planning a little side trip up the the imperial city of Hue (pronounced Hway) for Meeting Of Styles Vietnam, an international street art festival. We’ll be filming the whole time and hopefully getting thrown into some interesting situations while we’re there.

We’ve also heard about an abandoned water park in the area, so you know we’re all over that shit.  

Hue is just a couple of hours from Da Nang by train, and makes an awesome spot for a weekend getaway.

The train ride up the coast is pretty incredible on its own.

Backpackers tend to stop in Hue either directly before, or directly after passing through Da Nang. And usually they only stick around for a day or two before moving South to Hoi An, the ancient UNESCO Heritage site in this area.

Unlike most backpackers, we have jobs and do a lot of work as we travel. We need some sense of stability in order to stay productive. Especially since both of us are teaching English online now, and running the world (Uhh.. I mean the blog).

That’s why we tend to spend 1-3 months wherever we go. If we moved any faster or slower, we’d probably lose our minds.

The Lady Buddha is one of the most recognizable icons of Da Nang. From here you can get an amazing view of the city and the sea. She keeps a constant watch over the surfers and the ships passing by. She looks especially beautiful when lit up at night. Check out our post of things to do in Da Nang for more information about visiting Son Tra Peninsula.

It's important to know that although it feels safer, sidewalks in Vietnam are not actually meant for walking. Sidewalks are a place to park bikes, play cards, or even to display goods in front of open shops. People will also ride their motorbikes along the sidewalk if they're not going far. Walking should be done on the street, unless you need to check your cell phone for directions.

There is no shortage of amazing local food options in Da Nang. This is one of our favorite dishes, Bo Kho. When you need a break from Vietnamese food, there's also a great selection of international cuisines to sample around the city. If you need to branch out and add a few new dishes to your repertoire be sure to peruse our list of favorite Vietnamese foods!

Part of the beauty of Da Nang is in the details. Colorful walls and decorative windows offer a glimpse into the daily life of the locals who welcome us as visitors to their city. We have been overwhelmed by the kindness of the locals here.

The tall one in the middle there is the building we lived in for 6 months. This is actually the back side of the building. Apartments in Da Nang tend to be very narrow with 2 units per floor. You can see there are a few buildings under construction, which is due to the rapid growth of the city. This also explains the large amount of construction debris you see in the foreground. All of these apartments are brand new.

As you wander around, you'll see a lot of unique architectural designs, and buildings with character. Wouldn't you love to relax on that terrace with a nice cup of coffee and a good book? I would.

An often overlooked portion of the population is the local canine community. We've made a lot of four legged friends in Da Nang. For better or worse, it's been quite a learning experience to see the way that dogs are treated in Vietnam. This isn't our home, so we reserve judgement and just love the pups as much as we can. This little guy is hunting for a tasty morsel among these boxes of home grown lettuce.

Signs like these are common around Da Nang. This one reads "Vocational training, for creating human resources for social welfare"

At the end of the day it's nice to kick back on the beach, hang with the locals and just chill out with your toes in the sand. The views of the Son Tra Peninsula never gets old, the water is clean enough to swim in, and the waves are perfect for beginner surfers to develop their skills. For more information about living in Da Nang, check out our guide.