WHAT IS MONK MODE?

Monk Mode is a disciplined state of extreme focus where an individual cut off contact with everyone in their life, eliminates distractions and dedicates themselves entirely to personal growth or specific goals for a set period of time.

1. The Core of Monk Mode: Clear Goals, No Distractions

This approach involves setting clear goals with defined deadlines and outcomes in an environment free from interruptions. Today, most people combine health-related goals with personal or professional ventures.

2. Discipline with Consequences: The Price of Failure

It’s a way to enforce discipline on yourself, with a real price to pay if you fail to follow through by the end of your allotted time.

3. A Hard Reset for Mind and Body

Monk Mode can serve as a hard reset when your health or life direction has fallen into a rut, helping you build lasting habits and a renewed sense of focus that stays with you even after returning to your normal routine.

4. Retro Monk Mode: The Author’s Retreat

A classic example of this mindset is how authors in the past would retreat to a cabin in the woods, without phones or cable to finish their novels, relying solely on their solitude and discipline to complete their work.

COMMON GOALS IN MONK MODE

THIS COULD INCLUDE:

• Writing a book

• Starting a new business

• Becoming a content creator

• Any other significant personal or professional project

KEY POINTS:

• The venture should be life-changing if successful.

• The goal isn’t to achieve full success within the set time but to lay the tracks for future success.

• It’s often tied to a long-held dream or ambition.

HEALTH-RELATED GOALS COULD INCLUDE:

• Working up to running 20 minutes a day

• Losing 10 pounds

• Building strength, flexibility, or endurance

• Adopting healthier lifestyle habits

KEY POINTS:

• The goal should be substantial relative to your current physical condition.

• Like with ventures, the focus is on creating lasting habits.

MY MONK MODE JOURNEY

When I first moved to Da Nang, Vietnam, I went into Monk Mode just one week after settling in.

MY GOALS WERE:

• Wake up at 8 AM

• Write one article every day for a month (even if it is trash)

• Walk 10,000 steps daily

• Do push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups to failure every day

• Follow a 6:8 intermittent fasting schedule

• No socializing or entertainment

• No internet use outside of research until 11 PM

• For 30 days straight

I went a bit overboard

I even had the front desk remove the TV from my room, silenced both my U.S. and local phone numbers, and went all in. I’m not going to lie, it was rough at times and probably a bit overambitious.

In the end, it worked

But at the end of those 30 days, I did it. That hard reset put the old me back in the driver’s seat of my life and set me on the road to my next great adventure.

THE DOWNSIDES OF MONK ESPECIALLY WHEN DONE AT HOME

The Struggles of Going Monk Mode at Home

Even if you explain to everyone what Monk Mode is, let them know you won’t be answering texts or calls, and have the long conversation where you pour your heart out trying to justify your decision.

Distraction envelops you at home

You’ll get snide looks and still end up surrounded by endless distractions. Your TV is right there. Your roommates and their friends are around. You’ll run into people at the gym. Life keeps pulling at you from every direction.

Why Da Nang Makes It Effortless

By going to Da Nang for Monk Mode, you won’t have to deal with any of that nonsense. No explanations. No justifications. No distractions.

The Perfect Cover Story: Noble Silence Retreat

All you have to do is tell everyone you’re going on a noble silence retreat at a Buddhist temple in Vietnam. Let them know you won’t be allowed to speak, the monks don’t permit phones, and you’ll have zero contact with the outside world for the duration of your stay.

The Monastery Emergency Line: A Foolproof Plan

Then, download a virtual number app, get a Vietnamese number, and give it to your friends and family as the “monastery emergency line.” Tell them messages will only be passed on in life-or-death situations. Problem solved.

SOLVING MONK MODE’S BIGGEST DOWNSIDE

The Biggest Challenge of Monk Mode: Social Isolation

The biggest issue that I and a lot of others have run into with Monk Mode is Social Isolation.

Humans aren’t meant to be huddled up alone for extended periods, even if you’re physically active.

It’s mentally draining and, quite frankly, harmful to your mental health.

The Solution: Socializing Without Strings Attached

But how do you stay socially connected while disconnecting from the world around you? The answer is simple: socialize with strangers you’ll never see again.

Why Da Nang Is the Perfect Place to Connect

Da Nang is perfect for this. It’s a dynamic beach town popular with backpackers and digital nomads from all over the world.

Every expat area is filled with chill bars, laid-back pubs, inexpensive street food tours, must-see spots, and beautiful white-sand beaches.

The Power of Transient Connections

The transient nature of the city makes people incredibly open to meeting new faces, unlike when they are back home and have their walls up.

Everyone’s there to experience something different and new making openness contagious.

No Expectations, Real Conversations, No Strings Attached

In the evenings or during breaks, you can head out and talk to people without any obligation to build lasting connections. No expectations.

No baggage. Just pure, unfiltered human interaction. The beauty of it is that the second you step on that plane, you ditch all the preconceptions tied to your old life.

The Freedom of Fleeting Friendships

You don’t know them. They don’t know you. And in a week, either you or they will be gone. It’s the purest form of socializing there is. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even make a lifelong friend along the way.

The Ultimate Benefit: Focus Without Distractions

All the problems of going into Monk Mode at home, justifying yourself, explaining your dreams, and dealing with distractions are now gone.

BESIDES THAT, WHAT MAKES DA NANG SO IDEAL FOR MONK MODE?

A day in monk mode in Da Nang

Imagine waking up to the sounds of a bustling city from your 9th-floor apartment. You open the window, and the briny ocean breeze hits you in the face.

You slip on a pair of flip-flops and head to the local coffee shop. The savory taste of a salt coffee sharpens your mind as you stroll along the white sand beach, the rhythmic sounds of the waves clearing your thoughts.

Fueling focus: simple pleasures, big wins

On the walk back to your apartment, you grab an egg bánh mì from your favorite street vendor, munching it down as you ride the elevator back up.

You sit at your desk, staring at a wall of Post-it notes—half of them already crossed out. A wave of satisfaction washes over you. It’s only been ten days, and you’re already halfway to your goal.

The grind with balance: work, sweat, work

You spend the rest of the day crossing off tasks, breaking only for a workout at the gym.

In the evening, you grab a drink at the pub across the street with some backpackers from Amsterdam you met at a Vietnamese cooking class last week.

Social freedom: no pressure, no guilt

When they say, “Hey, we’re heading to another bar to drink all night,” you just shrug and reply, “Nah, I’ve got work in the morning.” They nod, say “See ya later,” and that’s it. No pressure, no guilt.

They hardly know you, so there’s no reason to argue or convince you to stay. No hard feelings. Just pure, uncomplicated freedom.

The cycle of growth: rinse, repeat, transform

Keep this going until you reach your goal. Then go home a new person, with a new direction in life.

SOUNDS EXPENSIVE

I know what you’re thinking: “Sounds dope, but my dad isn't an investment banker in New York City.”

The Budget-Friendly Secret of Da Nang

That’s the beauty of Da Nang, it’s not just a Monk Mode destination; it’s a Monk Mode-on-a-budget dream.

No Struggle Meals or Stuffy Apartments Required

And I’m not talking about cramming yourself into a windowless apartment, living off instant ramen, with nothing but an oscillating fan to keep you cool at night.

Affordable Comfort with a Southeast Asian Vibe

Da Nang offers budget-friendly rooms and hotels with all the Western amenities you’re used to, all wrapped up in the beauty and wonders of Southeast Asia. Comfortable, affordable, and inspiring, without breaking the bank.

MONK MODE BY THE BEACH FOR LESS THAN $900 A MONTH

My Da Nang Setup: Charles Bukowski Style

Here in Da Nang, I live in a one-room apartment 'Charles Bukowski style' just two blocks from the beach. My room has a private bathroom, air conditioning, full room cleaning with fresh linens twice a week, complimentary toiletries, blazing-fast Wi-Fi with 240+ Mbps download speed, an elevator that hardly ever breaks down, and a view from my window that’ll blow your socks off.

The Price Tag?

I pay $199 a month for this bad boy.

Living the Good Life on a Budget

I eat out or get food delivered six days a week. I hit the movies once a month, surf whenever the waves are decent (they’re only ever okay here), spend six-plus hours a day writing in coffee shops with fast Wi-Fi, go fishing at the beach, take cooking classes whenever a new one pops up, ride moto-taxis everywhere, shoot pool at night, and just live a normal, laid-back life. A cold beer at an open-air pub? About a buck a bottle.

Thriving in Da Nang

All in, I spend less than $900 a month to live, work, and thrive in Da Nang.

MY QUICK MONTHLY EXPENSES BREAKDOWN:

• Rent: $199

• Electricity: $30–$55

• Food: $300–$400

• Entertainment: $50

• Booze: $60

• Cell Phone with Data: $8

• Transportation: $20

• Miscellaneous Stuff: $50–$75

• Coffeehouses: $100

• Total: $757–$907

• AVERAGE: $892

Monk Mode in Da Nang for Under Two G's all-in

Even if you factor in the cost of a strategically purchased plane ticket, you’re still looking at under two grand for an entire month of Monk Mode in Da Nang, Free from all the obligations you left back home.

30 Days to Change Your Life (Or More)

Imagine what you could accomplish with 30 uninterrupted days to focus solely on turning your dream into reality. Or better yet, get wild and stick around a little longer.

MAKING MONK MODE A REALITY, NOT A FANTASY

By keeping your living expenses ridiculously low, the dream of going Monk Mode for a month—or even longer—and making that next big move that could change your life shifts from an impossible fantasy to a realistic, achievable goal.

WHAT IF YOU STILL CAN’T AFFORD IT?

Of course, this puts you in a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg situation.

1. No Savings? Time to Grind

If you don’t have any savings, a remote job, or even some credit you can temporarily lean on, you’ll need to spend the next six months (or more) grinding. That might mean juggling a day job, delivering Uber Eats at night, and living as frugally as an actual monk—all to save enough to eventually go Monk Mode in Da Nang.

The Good News: "You can do it!"

But here’s the good news: hopping on a plane to Da Nang for Monk Mode is achievable. Especially now that you’ve seen the numbers and have a clearer picture of what life here looks like.

Can’t Go Yet? Make a Plan

If you can’t make the move right now, that’s okay. The goal is within reach—you just need to start making a plan to get there.

PROS AND CONS OF DA NANG FOR MONK MODE

PROS:

• Total monthly living expenses, while living just a three-minute walk from the beach, are less than the cost of owning a car back home.

• Coffeehouses with fast Wi-Fi where you can work all day for the price of a single cup of coffee.

• Beautiful beaches and plenty of free or low-cost activities to enjoy at night.

• Vibrant, affordable nightlife.

• You’ll meet people from all over the world, offering fresh perspectives and new ideas.

• Living as an expat is an experience shared by many great writers and entrepreneurs, it pushes you out of your comfort zone.

• The low cost of living allows you to focus entirely on your goals, creating mental clarity and reducing financial stress.

• Getting away from everything and everyone back home could be the spark that ignites your creative fire.

CONS:

• You’ll lose whatever support system you had back home, which can be challenging for some.

• You’ll need savings or access to credit to fund your stay.

• Socializing often revolves around bars, which could be a downside if that’s not your scene.

• It’s easy to get distracted, sitting on the beach all day with fifty-cent corner store beers can quickly become your daily routine if you’re not disciplined.

• This isn’t for people who struggle with self-motivation.

• It’s not for everyone—but it might be exactly what you need.

FIVE FINAL THOUGHTS

1. More Than Beaches, It’s a Life Reset Button

   From setting ambitious goals to battling the soul-crushing loneliness of social isolation, I’ve covered how going into Monk Mode in Da Nang can be a life-changing opportunity. The low cost of living, vibrant expat scene, beautiful beaches, and opportunities for both focus and distraction. Because let’s be honest, you will consider drinking fifty-cent beers on the beach all day at some point. Makes Da Nang an ideal environment to hit the reset button on your life.

2. The Problem with Monk Mode at Home

   I’ve talked about the downsides of Monk Mode at home: constant distractions, having to justify your life choices to people who still think “finding yourself” is silly, and the gymnastics of avoiding your roommates while attempting to be productive. But, Da Nang offers the perfect balance of solitude and social opportunities, without the guilt trips from friends.

3. It’s Crazy Affordable

   And the best part? You can live in Da Nang for less than $900 a month, cheaper than your car payment and insurance.

4. Is Monk Mode in Da Nang Right for You?

   In the end, quite a few stars will need to align for Monk Mode in Da Nang to happen for you. But if you’re the type who dreams the impossible dream, who takes risks others wouldn’t dare touch with a ten-foot pole, then Monk Mode in Da Nang is the place to reset and restart your life.

HOW DID MONK MODE IN DA NANG WORK OUT FOR ME?

From Monk Mode to Permanent Move

I ended up doing Monk Mode again a month later, and the results from the second time worked out so well that I live here permanently now. That’s right, I came, I Monked, I conquered… and just never left.

Can’t Go Yet? Plan Your Escape

So if you can’t pack your bags right now, start planning. Set a goal. Save the money. Mark the date. Because the life you want is closer than you think. It’s just one impulsive, possibly questionable, but ultimately life-changing decision away.

Adventure Awaits!