🏡 Bao Loc is already being called the next Da Lat. Let's figure out what this wonderful place is that's become the talk of expat chats.
Quy Nhon was long considered a dump, a place people would only go to out of desperation. Now a new wave has emerged. In chat rooms, people are seriously advising people to drop everything and head to Bao Loc, because supposedly that's where the real Vietnam and paradise are.
The city itself is located in Lam Dong, about four hours from Ho Chi Minh City and 110 kilometers from Dalat. At an altitude of about 900 meters, it's cooler than the coast, surrounded by beautiful tea and coffee plantations, hills, and waterfalls.
The main thing here is the climate; most of the year it’s cooler than in Ho Chi Minh City and on the coast, but not as cold as in Dalat.
It seems to have everything a person tired of big cities, bikes, and 24-hour air conditioning needs, but here are some downsides:
🟣 There's no infrastructure for us. No familiar services, no community, no coworking spaces. English is minimal on the streets.
🟣 There's no airport. You'll have to fly via Dalat (Lien Khuong) or take a sleeper bus from Saigon.
🟣 Basic medical care. If anything serious happens, we'll have to evacuate to larger cities.
🟣 Damp. It rains even more here than in Dalat. The fog is as bad as in London.
Meanwhile, locals have long since caught on. Local real estate reports claim that land here can be 30-50% cheaper than around Dalat.
New highways leading to Ho Chi Minh City are constantly being discussed, and the reduction in travel time automatically makes Bao Loc more interesting.
The target audience is also quite clear: these are wealthy residents of Ho Chi Minh City who want a second home in a cool place.
If you're looking for peace and quiet, remote work, and a month away from the usual expat infrastructure, Bao Loc is definitely worth a try.
If anyone's been there or heard about it from friends, please let me know in the comments. What's it really like? Should I pack my bags, or is this just another joke?
