That's a lot of technical jargon, so here's an easier to understand version. Da Nang wants you to visit.
I wrote 2 years ago about the beauty you can find in Da Nang, and some of the must-visit sights when you go. This is more of a follow up post on how Da Nang is transforming itself into a beach paradise that you really should consider visiting.

You can read the previous post here: http://www.lifeofbudak.com/2014/09/5-must-do-things-in-danang.html

Da Nang has some of the most exquisite beaches around. On the last trip to Da Nang, I was able to visit a few beaches, namely, the Bac My An and My Khe beaches. This time, I was fortunate enough to frolic along the sandy white paradise that was Non Nuoc Beach, nestled along the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa in Da Nang.


The waters were crystal clear, just like my mind as soon as the waves lapped my feet. There's something strangely therapeutic about the beach. No wonder they call it "Vitamin Sea".

Now imagine if you convinced your boss to bring the whole company over to Da Nang to hold your annual company trip.


With an insanely beautiful beach and the promise of a relaxing time, THINGS WILL GET DISCUSSED. MEETINGS WILL BE MET. ISSUES WILL BE RESOLVED. That's how much of potential Da Nang has as a M.I.C.E hub.

Beaches aren't the only things that get me wet. I am probably never going to be able to use that line anywhere else. Da Nang also offers plenty of tourist attractions to suit the everyman.


The Marble Mountains, for one, provides scenic views of the city and the My Khe beach. But a beautiful view doesn't come without a cost, as you will need to trek about 10-15 minutes to reach the top.

Including this forest-side "cafe".

But what a view!


Named after the elements metal, wood, water, fire and earth, the Marble Mountains is probably one of the best ways for you to sweat it all out, while also enjoying the sights of Buddist temples and sanctuaries untouched by the ravages of time.


Of course, walking and trekking may be good for exercise and some team building, but it sure ain't going to help you and your colleagues with finding the proper relaxation needed to squeeze those creative juices. That's where the Galina Mud Bath and Spa comes into the picture.


Trust me when I say this; there is no other place in this entire universe that I would like to have a discussion on about the marketing strategies our company needs to move into the big leagues than when I am sitting in a mud bath absolutely soaked in mud. Did you know that mud has healing properties for your skin. It's one reason why the Vietnamese are all so fair*

*Point totally mine

I'm not even kidding. This is what Galina promises on their page, and I quote: "Galina also provides a comforting, yet stimulating atmosphere in which customers will be able to relax both their body and mind, reconnecting their daily lives to their true purpose." Wow. That is a brazen claim to make, but one I totes believe in because I too sat in the mud. But not long enough for me to discover my true purpose in life. I should probably go back.


One of the downers of visiting Da Nang is probably the lack of international flights that are able to directly fly into Da Nang International Airport. This means that a transit is required to Ho Chi Minh International Airport before finally arriving at Da Nang, often with long transit hours . But because Da Nang wants to position itself as a tourist hub, there are plans in place to expand on a new international terminal, which is expected to be completed in 2017. This will undoubtedly allow for more international flights from all over the world to fly direct into Da Nang.

I only wish the Da Nang Dragon could fly me back whenever.

If leisuring on the beach is your thing, or if you ever plan to have a company trip where you can be guaranteed a good time of relaxation, productivity and teamwork, Da Nang is probably the place for you to head to. Better start letting your HR department know about the existence of this wonderful beachside resort city.

Cheerios!

There are, however, tons of newly taken pictures of me.

Since this is just a really skinny post, I'll let pictures do the talking for now and flesh it out in the upcoming few blog posts. I'll mostly be covering the BMTM 2016, as well as a budak's adventure in the fantastic city of  Da Nang.

The view from my hotel room at Grand Sea Hotel.

But first, pictures.

Getting to Da Nang wasn't easy. We were stuck in transit at the Ho Chi Minh International Airport for a little over 5 hours, mostly because our flight kept getting delayed. Thankfully, the company was good and the time passed by in a flash.


It was probably the first time I had spent so much time sitting around in an airport, but it's not something I would want to experience again in the near future.

On the plus side, the first meal in Da Nang; Vietnamese version of wantan mee, was absolutely delicious.


The day before the BMTM was due to start was spent wandering around the city of Da Nang and its respective sights. I've covered most of the places we visited in the previous post; Marble Mountain and Monkey Mountain,

The view from on top of Marble Mountain.

The temple gardens at Son Tra Mountain (Monkey Mountain)

...with a few new additions to the list of places, like the Galina Mud Spa and the Han Market.

A Budak lost in the Han Market.

It was during this one day trip that we met some of the friendliest people in the world. It probably also helped that me and Chingy were the youngest ones in our group.


Because this was Vietnam, there was also a lot of coffee involved.


The one thing about this trip is that it involved a lot of official events. As this was the first time the BMTM was held in Da Nang, they spared no expense in making it as grand as possible. The Gala Dinner was amazing,



and the experience at the actual BMTM gave a lot of insights into how Da Nang was shaping itself into a legit must-go travel destination.


There were beaches involved.


And swimming in one of the nicest pools in Da Nang with a group of newly made friends from Taiwan, whose names I wish I could type out but can't because I am a banana.


Food was amazing. While it did get repetitive after all the different hotel buffets we were brought for, there is no shortage of amazing street food in Da Nang. I was fortunate to have some time off and just explore Da Nang for a few hours with Chingy and just go around jalan-jalan cari makan.

Grilled Chilli Banh Mi with Pork Floss in the making.

I was later brought around by Nhung, the friendliest volunteer guide and aspiring translator I have ever met, as she brought me to visit a different side of Da Nang, the charming local side that you can never find on tours.


The final day was to Hue, a city that laughs. Because Hue Hue Hue. I kid. The architecture and history behind the royal city of Hue is something that amazes me (and my camera).

Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue.

Like I said, this isn't all there is to my trip to Vietnam. I will be updating more posts in the coming few days. I just want to record another round of thank yous to the Da Nang Tourism Board for the amazing job they did in accommodating us in their lovely city.


It's good to be back.

Cheerios!

I am a big fan of the classic tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; a lively and buoyant exterior hiding something deeper and edgier. The idea of two totally different beings occupying the same space may not seem possible in a real life context, but that's where Huckleberry After Dark comes into play.

Located at a discreet corner of Plaza Damansara, Huckleberry Food and Fare is your typical daytime cafe, complete with the bright cakes and graceful chatter of the taitais chilling their afternoon away. But when the sun sets, this cafe gleefully rips off its cheery outer layer, transforming into something darker and edgier more suited for the night.


Huckleberry After Dark is the perfect place to spend a night of chilling with your friends. When I reached the cafe after work for the review session, I was immediately grooving along to the perfect RnB soundtrack. The cafe keeps to its name; making sure that the overall feel of the place is as laidback and soulful as you can imagine.

Because Huckleberry After Dark should be visited after it's dark out (duhh), the rumbling in your stomach will be much stronger. Thankfully, unlike most nightspots, there are actually food that don't only consist of French Fries and the occasional tapas. Inspired by Los Angeles street food, the fare at Huckleberry After Dark has something that will delight your palate, as your pair your meal with a zesty beer or two.

Like, for example, there are the appetizers; great for sharing with your friends over a beer. The House Guac, which is basically chips with the homemade guacamole, is something you should really try, because it's addictive as heck.

Red Sangria
The finest sharing drink that almost all the ladies use to bond with, the red sangria is pretty red sangria-ish. With red wine, brandy, fruits, mango, orange juice, homemade basil and mint syrup, it's time to get your girl date on with this. Guys too.


So if it's a night out with your friends, or just looking for a place with good food and good vibes, Huckleberry After Dark might just be the place for you. Give it a try, because any place with an "After Dark" tacked on the back is bound be be equal parts fun, edgy and maybe even a little bit naughty.

More information about Huckleberry After Dark @ Plaza Damansara below:


Cheerios!