How I Keep Work-Life Balance On While Traveling The World

Did you know that 73% of remote workers struggle with maintaining work-life balance while traveling? I sure as hell learned this the hard way during my six-month stint working from Vietnam! When I first landed in Ho Chi Minh City with my laptop and big dreams of becoming a digital nomad, I thought I had it all figured out.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t. But after countless mistakes, wifi disasters, and way too many late-night work sessions in cramped hostels, I finally cracked the code to maintaining sanity while working remotely in this incredible country.

The Reality Check: Vietnam Isn’t Just Instagram Photos

Let me be real with you for a sec. Those gorgeous Instagram posts of people working from beachside cafes in Da Nang? Yeah, that’s about 10% of the reality. The other 90% involves dealing with power outages, figuring out time zones, and trying to find decent coffee that isn’t Vietnamese egg coffee at 6 AM when you need to hop on a client call.

During my first week in Hanoi, I made the rookie mistake of booking a hostel room thinking I could just work from there. The walls were paper thin, and my roommate had this annoying habit of playing mobile games with full volume at all hours. I ended up working from the lobby most nights, which wasn’t exactly conducive to productivity.

Time Zone Juggling: My Biggest Nightmare

Here’s something nobody tells you about working while traveling in Vietnam – the time difference will mess with your head big time. Vietnam is GMT+7, which means if you’re working with US clients, you’re looking at a 12-14 hour difference depending on the season.

I remember this one disaster where I scheduled a super important client presentation at what I thought was 9 PM Vietnam time. Turns out, I had calculated wrong and it was actually 3 AM my time. Picture this: me, disheveled and half-asleep, trying to pitch a marketing strategy while sitting in a 24-hour pho joint in District 1. Not my finest moment, but hey, at least the pho was decent!

Pro tip: Use World Time Buddy religiously. It saved my butt more times than I can count after that embarrassing incident.

Finding Your Workspace Sweet Spots

Coffee shops became my office, and boy, did I learn which ones were gems and which were tourist traps. In Ho Chi Minh City, I discovered this amazing spot called The Coffee House – reliable wifi, decent AC, and they don’t give you dirty looks for camping out with your laptop for hours.

But here’s the thing about Vietnamese coffee culture that caught me off guard: it’s more social than work-focused. People come to chat, not to grind through spreadsheets. I had to adapt my expectations and find that sweet spot between respecting local customs and getting stuff done.

• Coworking spaces in major cities like Saigon and Hanoi are worth the investment
• Hotel lobbies often have better wifi than your actual room
• Local libraries can be surprisingly good for quiet work time
• Always have a backup plan when your “perfect” spot falls through

The Health Factor: Don’t Ignore Your Well-being

This is where I really screwed up initially. I got so caught up in the excitement of exploring Vietnam that I completely ignored basic self-care. Working 12-hour days, surviving on street food alone, and barely sleeping because I wanted to see everything – yeah, that’s not sustainable.

The breaking point came during my third month when I got food poisoning right before a major project deadline. I was stuck in a tiny bathroom in Hoi An, trying to finish a presentation between, well, you can imagine. That’s when I realized I needed to prioritize my health alongside my work and travel goals.

Vietnamese healthcare is actually pretty solid, especially in major cities, but prevention is way better than cure. I started setting boundaries: no work after 8 PM, proper meals at least twice a day, and mandatory rest days even when there was cool stuff to explore.

Making Local Connections Without Losing Focus

One of the best parts about working from Vietnam was connecting with other digital nomads and locals. The expat community in places like Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City is super supportive. I met people through Nomad List and local Facebook groups who totally got the struggle of balancing work deadlines with wanderlust.

But here’s the catch – social events can easily derail your productivity if you’re not careful. I learned to be selective about networking events and always checked my work schedule before committing to that weekend trip to Sapa or Ha Long Bay.

Your Vietnam Work-Life Balance Journey Starts Now

Working while traveling through Vietnam taught me that balance isn’t about perfect schedules or ideal conditions. It’s about adapting, being flexible, and learning from your mistakes without beating yourself up too much about them.

Remember, everyone’s situation is different, so take what works for you and leave the rest. The key is finding your rhythm and not comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to someone else’s highlight reel. Stay flexible, be patient with yourself, and don’t forget to actually enjoy the incredible experiences Vietnam has to offer.

Want more real talk about balancing work and travel? Check out other posts here at Chou Iu where I share more honest stories about the nomad life – the good, the bad, and the downright messy!