Among the best places for digital nomads in the world, Chiang Mai is well known as a must-visit destination. Beautiful scenery, landscapes, cheap living cost, decent places to work from, and nice weather are a few things that Chiang Mai has to offer. They are indeed the magnet that attracts the digital nomad community to come and stay. However, when the “Smoky Season” comes, it might not be an ideal place to live and work from.

“Smoky-Season” which usually takes place from February until April – is a period of time when most parts of Northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai is dealing with haze and bad air quality. This occurs as the dry season is coming to an end and forests are covered with dry leaves – making it easy to spark a fire. The lands are intentionally burnt by the farmers to prepare them for cash crops. 

According to the real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) in Chiang Mai, it can reach up to 325 – a hazardous level of air pollution. It is bad enough that it can cause coughing, red and itchy eyes, sore throat, and shortness of breath.

So Where to Escape?

While we do love Chiang Mai, it might not be an excellent time to travel, work, or stay there during the “smoky season”. There are some other best places for digital nomads that are equally awesome or even better to escape to during this period of time. 

Prague – Czech Republic

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is one of the best places for digital nomads in the world. This city is renowned for its beautiful architecture, affordable prices, and incredibly fast internet speed. 

As the Czech Republic is a part of the European Union and Schengen Area, non-Europeans may visit for up to 90 days on a tourist visa. Staying in this city, you have access to a big ex-pat and digital nomad community, various coworking spaces, and a blend of modernism and traditional charm. 

Consider traveling to the nearby towns of Pilsen, Cesky Krumlov, and Olomouc, which offer a range of historical sights, if you want to explore the surroundings. 

Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam 

Ho Chi Minh City is well regarded as one of the best places for digital nomads who love the hustle and bustle atmosphere. If you want to spend some time living and working in a vibrant city in Southeast Asia, this city is an awesome option to consider. Living expenses are far below $1,000 per month for rooms and facilities for above-average, while the cost of food and traveling is unexpectedly affordable.

Thanks to the abundance of co-working spaces, restaurants, and late-night partying, the District 1 neighborhood along the river is a favorite hangout for tourists and ex-pats. District 3 is next to the west and possibly more to your taste if you look for somewhere quieter. Besides, it features a bustling night market famed for its excellent street food. 

Ho Chi Minh City is also famous for its unique coffee culture with many cafes lining the streets. If you want to experience a workplace other than co-working spaces, try these coffee shops to work.

Lisbon – Portugal

If you’re in search of an ideal place to stay in Western Europe, the lovely capital city of Portugal is a fantastic choice. Lisbon has grown to be one of the best places for digital nomads thanks to its breathtaking coastal vistas, pleasant climate, and accessibility. 

Despite recent price increases, Lisbon remains among the more cheap destinations in Europe, especially for a capital. You have access to a long coastline, fresh, high-quality cuisine, and a variety of nearby activities like surfing, sightseeing, exploring the rich cultural past, etc. 

The downsides of Lisbon may get quite busy in the peak tourist season, and there might be a language barrier for visitors who don’t know Portuguese. However, many people find that the benefits of living as a digital nomad in Portugal outweigh the drawbacks and deserve to be explored. 

Medellin – Colombia

Medellin offers digital nomads an ideal place to live and work with great weather, affordable living expenses, and a growing ex-pat community. The city is renowned for its vibrant architecture, impressive street art scene, and exciting nightlife. You can enjoy the fantastic local coffee in the mornings or take breathtaking views of Medellin in the evenings. 

Additionally, the city is close to other well-known areas, including Cartagena and the Caribbean coast, making weekend excursions and nation exploration simple. The hilly rainforests to the city’s south and east are covered with stunning national parks.

All of the above reasons make the city of Medellin one of the best places for digital nomads to enjoy their work and life. 

Brisbane – Australia

If you are English-speaking digital nomads who don’t want to struggle with any language barriers, Brisbane is a cosmopolitan city to choose from. 

The northern city of Brisbane, Australia, is the country’s largest city by area and the third-largest by population. There are plenty of opportunities to choose a suitable accommodation that meets your working demands. This city also offers a variety of fantastic restaurants, bars, cafés, and various cuisines.

Because of its northerly coastal location, Brisbane has a good climate. Within the city, there are numerous parks and gardens, a koala sanctuary, and numerous museums. A little further out, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast include some of the nicest beaches in the country, as well as a famous zoo. Brisbane is connected to the rest of the world by a large airport.

Danang – The most worth-living city in Vietnam 

Last but not least, Da Nang is another excellent place to work remotely in between exploring the mountains, beaches, and dynamic city life. This coastal metropolis attracts nomads from all over the world with its beautiful sceneries, historical attractions, and urban areas. 

One is the best things when staying in Danang is the low living expense, which only costs averages $1,000 per month. This city is also famous for its delicious traditional foods and reliable security. 

What’s more, a growing number of digital nomads are moving to Da Nang recently, making it an ideal destination for the digital nomad community and thriving coworking spaces. If you search for the best coworking spaces in Danang on Coworker, you’ll find some popular names on the result page such as Enouvo Space, Tiktak, DNC, etc. 

How Enouvo Space can help?

Located in Danang, Vietnam, Enouvo Space offers you an open coworking environment and an ideal place to work, connect and meet like-minded people. We also include a co-living space and co-working cafe in our ecosystem that helps enhance your work-life balance. 

As the first coworking and coliving space in Danang, we are heading to be the best places for digital nomads in Vietnam. Book a coworking space now!