I’ve been wanting to write this for some time now, since I get tired of hearing people BASHING so many places they visit or live. And sometimes they form those opinions when they are only there for a short time! Now, with full disclosure, I have been guilty of that same thing, but I ALWAYS say that these opinions are mine, and mine alone, and are based on what I saw, for better or worse. There are two places that people love to bash, and honestly, it irritates me.
One is Bali, which happens to be one of my most favorite places in the world. And I have discussed this before, that old, “it ain’t what it used to be,” complaint. Yea, I know; it’s not. And of course, Bali is not alone when it comes to places that have changed, but not necessarily for the better. So, what does Bali have going for it?
The “Old Bali” Still Exists (you just need to look outside the cities)
The complaints about gridlock and concrete are usually entirely contained within a small southwestern pocket: Canggu, Seminyak, and parts of Ubud. If you step outside that bubble, the timeless, slow-paced island is alive and well.
The Reality: Places like Sidemen, Munduk, and Candidasa offer the exact same misty rice terraces, quiet coastal roads, and sleepy village life that drew travelers to Bali decades ago. Personally, I like Sanur, which is not quite out of the way, but is a much slower pace of life.
The Solution: “Old Bali” isn’t gone; it just requires a slightly longer drive.
The “Zen factor” is no longer there…
Au contraire, as they say in France! Many places lose their cultural soul to tourism, but Bali’s Tri Hita Karana (the traditional philosophy of harmony between people, nature, and the divine) is remarkably unbreakable.
Daily canang sari (baskets of offerings) still line the sidewalks, ceremonies and parades still close down major thoroughfares, and village temple life remains the absolute priority for locals. If you’ve been there, you recall the daily prayer offerings in front of every business and home. I have not seen that anywhere else and is very much aligned with their Hindu religion.
The Balinese haven’t sold out their spiritual heritage for tourism; they have integrated tourism into their world without letting it dictate their values.
Modern Technology has been an ASSET in Bali!
While some might miss the cheap, basic beach shacks of the 1980s, the evolution of Bali has brought an incredible level of comfort that makes it one of the most livable islands on earth.
The Amenities: You get high-speed fiber-optic internet, excellent medical clinics, top-tier gyms, and wellness retreat infrastructure that rivals any major Western city.
The Culinary Scene: The food scene has exploded far beyond basic nasi goreng. Bali is home to some of the most innovative plant-based dining, specialty coffee roasters, and international cuisine in Southeast Asia, all at a fraction of Western prices.
What kind of “life” do you want? Bali Offers Many Choices & Lifestyles
Few destinations allow you to design your day so fluidly. Because of the sheer variety of micro-regions, you can easily match your environment to your exact mood or lifestyle goals:
Those are some examples of where you can still find remnants of “Old Bali,” and excludes the places where it may be lost.
Where The People Truly Embrace That Bali Culture and Warmth
Even with the influx of millions of tourists, the innate hospitality and warmth of the Balinese people remain unmatched. The hospitality here isn’t transactional; it feels genuinely relational. In many places the people are “nice” because they value your dollars; here they value YOU. When you pair that cultural warmth with the value for money—where a beautiful villa with a private pool or a world-class spa treatment is accessible to everyday travelers—it is incredibly hard to find an equivalent anywhere else in the world.
Bali didn’t get worse; it just grew up. If you go expecting the empty beaches of 1995, you’ll be disappointed. But if you accept it for the vibrant, culturally rich, hyper-livable island it is today, you’ll realize the magic never actually left. And along those lines, Bali remains immensely affordable compared to much of the world.
Meanwhile, just 1700 miles away…
Lies Vietnam, and when we got here in mid-March—from Bali—we both lamented over leaving since Bali truly did (and does) capture our soul. But Vietnam gets its share of bashing, especially in Da Nang, which truly has become a poster child as an expat and digital nomad’s haven, and the construction and rebuilding has truly been a legitimate source of complaints. But, that being said…
The complaints about Da Nang are identical to what you hear in Bali: “It’s just a playground of construction cranes, the beach strip is overdeveloped, and the prices aren’t what they were five years ago.”
But just like Bali, the critics are usually looking at a single, highly compressed tourist strip—specifically the high-rise concrete canyon of My Khe Beach. If you step back and look at the broader geography, Da Nang has actually transformed into one of the most functional, naturally blessed, and dynamic coastal hubs in Asia.
The “Cost” Myth vs. Western Value: While a bowl of bún chả cá or pho might cost slightly more than it does in a remote village, Da Nang remains an absolute steal compared to Western standards. The “higher costs” actually fund incredible infrastructure: immaculate, garbage-free public beaches, beautifully paved riverside walks, and reliable city services.
The Ultimate Hub Strategy: You aren’t just visiting Da Nang; you are accessing Central Vietnam. Within a 45-minute radius, you have the ancient lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, the dramatic heights of the Hai Van Pass, and the quiet artisan history of the Non Nuoc area. Even though flights from Da Nang airport are not as prolific as many cities, the airport is small, intimate, and very easy to navigate.
The Cleanest City in Vietnam: Unlike the intense, chaotic exhaust of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (we’ve been to both), Da Nang’s wide streets and coastal breezes mean the air is clean, the traffic is orderly, and the city actually breathes. You’ll rarely have to wait 10 minutes to cross the street or feel you are putting your life on the line, and even though there IS a lot more traffic than there was when we were last here in 2024, it is still manageable.
There has certainly been a huge increase in nomads, digital and non, and even though rents have increased, there are still bargains to be had. We rented the apartment we had two years ago with the intention of staying very long term and pay just over $500 USD month for a newer studio with a newly added kitchen.
That said, the vacant lots that were on BOTH sides of our building are no longer vacant. One side houses the cutest Cat café and is just a single story structure, and on the opposite side there is a still under construction building that looks about 80% complete. True, construction noise can start quite early, many times before 7:00 a.m., but due to the hot weather it’s the only way that makes sense.
And compared to Hanoi, the capital, and Ho Chih Minh, you have much better air quality and much easier traffic to deal with. Even comparing it to Bali there are still some benes, including lower cost of living, much better quality beaches, and overall better infrastructure regarding utilities and outages.
I believe no matter where you live, people will find something to complain about, and that includes locals as well as visitors or foreign residents.
How do you know who to believe? You might think I have rose colored glasses on, and there’s some truth there, but after 7 plus years of traveling and hundreds of places I’ve been, when it comes to southeast Asia, Bali and Da Nang are at the top of MY list.
As a Travel Younger Founder these are the things you get:
The eBook of “Nomadic Life for All Ages,” as well as “The History and Magic of Northern Greece,” which describes our 31-day tour we did to 15 different cities in Northern Greece a few years ago, and all the history we experienced.
Nomadic Life shares our story from Day One, as we prepared to leave the US after six decades of living there, sell everything, and say goodbye to friends and family. The departure involves so much more than just getting on a plane, and the emotional, mental, spiritual, and financial aspects are all covered. The book offers tips and hints, and guidance on how to travel within Europe, deal with the nefarious “Schengen Zone,” along with lots of shortcuts and time savers. We spent time on six continents, so except for the Poles, we have you covered!
Our Northern Greece book shares the “less visited” areas and is in full color, so you can see some of the amazing and historical places we visited.
Here’s a few other freebies!
One is called “COVIDstories,” and it shares the journey of 19 people who benefited from that once in a lifetime pandemic. Even though COVID virtually shut down the globe, almost destroyed the world of travel, and did personal damage to so many, the unfortunate event actually helped some people adapt, grow, and change for the better. I am one of the 19.
Book number two is a fantasy fiction book called “The World Series of Oz,” and that story was inspired by a dream that woke me and I turned into a novella. If you are a fan of The Wizard of Oz, baseball, or both, I think you’ll enjoy it. If that doesn’t interest you, I also offer a more sci-fi type novella called “Alien Gifts,” about a young man, Sammy, who is given three different superpowers over three years, from his former best friend. Who happens to be an alien. That story came out a conversation I had with Kat about, “What super powers would you like the most?” and you can get a copy of that one instead. Here’s some more details.
Would you like to know HOW to Manifest Your Travel Dreams?
Then you can join me in my one-hour webinar with that title as I walk through some of the processes involved when contemplating a nomadic lifestyle. This webinar was first presented in 2019, but SOOO much has changed and it is now fully updated.
Going somewhere?
How about… a 10 day small yacht cruise off the coast of Croatia, leaving from Split, going south to Dubrovnik? Or maybe a motorcycle tour of some of the most magnificent countries I have ridden: Romania? Vietnam? Ecuador? I have traveled all three but also have Sri Lanka coming up this August. Or maybe you’d like some adventure on a 10 day safari along the plains of Tanzania?
What’s your fantasy trip??
These tours will be offered to you at seriously great prices in a few months and will be limited to small groups of 10 or less. Please take a moment to tell us which one you like the most!
And finally, you will also get a FREE video call with Travel Younger (that’s me) every calendar quarter, and you can ask your specific questions and address your particular needs.
Is that all worth $50 to you?
On a personal note, I will soon start my TikTok channel which I’ve been wanting to do for years! It will start at the beginning of my travels and offer regular video updates of lots of different experiences and lessons from the past seven plus years. Along the video lines, I will also be doing regular video features on Vietnam (to start) for International Living magazine, who I have been writing for for three plus years.
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