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For over two months in the coastal city, Ward and her boyfriend, Louis Hunt, have been on a 5:00 p.m. routine, changing into athletic wear and hitting My Khe Beach to join a free outdoor dance session.

It attracts more than 30 members, both locals and foreign visitors who stand in line to follow high-energy routines inspired by aerobics and folk dance.

Ward says: “At first I just stood and watched, but locals kept waving me over to join in. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

The British woman was surprised to learn the classes cost nothing. In the U.K., similar group workouts require paid indoor gym memberships, and the weather factor makes public outdoor fitness activities rare.

By contrast, the Da Nang coastline stays alive with physical activity from 4:00 a.m. until late at night. A social media video Ward filmed of her and Hunt participating in the class has already racked up hundreds of thousands of views.

Jessica Harrington, 30, an American, says community activities like these have kept her family anchored in Da Nang for over a year.

When she first joined the beachside dance sessions, she struggled to keep pace with the continuous, fast-tempo music since there is no coach to break down the steps.

However, she quickly caught the rhythm by observing and mirroring the participants at the front of the line.

Harrington’s son has Down syndrome and autism, and she says she is deeply moved by how local beachgoers constantly support and guide him through the exercises every time she takes her child to the beach.

“My child receives so much care here; he feels like a true part of this community.”

The Da Nang beachfront also has public pull-up bars, walking machines, and weights, and local groups routinely gather for yoga and beach volleyball.

Harrington says while similar public equipment exists in U.S. parks too, it is rarely used.

“The hectic pace of life leaves people with very little time to gather outdoors. Here, I see locals consistently protect their time for family and friends, getting together to share meals and exercise.”

On social media, the term “free fitness class on Da Nang beach” has accumulated millions of searches, with many foreigners expressing surprise at the public exercise habit found in major Vietnamese hubs like Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Local “Dork dancing for mental health” groups have also drawn wide interest from expats.

Khanh An, 40, a regular at the My Khe Beach sessions, says the group was formed when a few local women chipped in to buy a portable loudspeaker and practiced using online videos.

The more experienced dancers take positions at the front to set the rhythm for the crowd, she says.

“In the last few months, we’ve suddenly seen large numbers of foreigners joining us early. Some sessions swell to nearly 100 people.”

Susan Lindgren, 58, an American health coach who has called Da Nang home for over two years, frequently drops into public fitness activities organized at public places, including acro yoga, salsa, artistic jump rope, and dork dancing.

She says: “People of all ages love dork dancing because it requires zero technical skill. It helps participants release mental stress through natural, rhythmic body movements.”

From a professional standpoint, Lindgren views integrating physical movement into a daily routine as a sustainable way to maintain health.

“These beach activities function as a social outlet. People connect and meet up with friends while working out. This communal focus marks the biggest departure from American fitness culture.”

Why are many foreigners “addicted” to going to Da Nang beach to exercise?

Discussing the phenomenon, Nguyen Tien Dat, general director of AZA Travel, says Da Nang thrives as an “all-in-one” destination, and alongside core tourism staples, these organic, complimentary sports activities on beaches and in parks add much value to its appeal.

“These gatherings allow foreign travelers to experience the warmth, hospitality, and peaceful lifestyle of the locals, which naturally encourages them to stay longer.”

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung of the Academy of Journalism and Communication agrees, saying the communal focus of Vietnamese culture effectively dismantles language and nationality barriers.

By exercising alongside locals, foreign tourists shift from passive onlookers to active participants in the community’s daily rhythm, he says.

“This equal, non-commercialized interaction serves as the exact catalyst needed to retain the new generation of travelers.”

Why are many foreigners “addicted” to going to Da Nang beach to exercise?