If I’m being sincere with you, I used to be intimidated about planning my very first journey to Southeast Asia.
I knew I needed to go see seashores in Thailand and temples in Cambodia, and to don some dishevelled elephant-print pants (I imply, it’s just about required, proper?). But regardless that Southeast Asia has been firmly on the backpacker path for many years, it was worlds away from the locations I used to be comfy touring in – and that made it a bit bit daunting.
Making it much more daunting was the truth that Vietnam was the nation in Southeast Asia that I needed to go to probably the most. As a lady, I’m usually questioned about my choice to journey alone. But as an American lady, I felt I’d be questioned much more than typical by family and friends as soon as I instructed them that I needed to journey to Vietnam.
So I did what I usually do when a vacation spot appears intimidating: reasonably than go 100% solo, I booked a tour to Vietnam as an alternative. The 10-day Vietnam Express Southbound tour I selected would cowl all of the sights and cities I needed to see in Vietnam, however with an area information to deal with the entire logistics and a few built-in journey buddies to hang around with. Afterwards, I might do one other tour in Cambodia, after which be assured sufficient to journey by way of Thailand alone.
Hoi An, Vietnam
After the journey, although, I spotted that I had nothing to concern about touring in Vietnam both as a solo traveler OR as an American. My expertise there was nothing however optimistic, and it’s a rustic that I regularly dream of returning to.
Here’s why I feel it is best to go to Vietnam (whether or not utterly solo or solo on a small group tour), and what it’s actually wish to journey there:
There is a longtime “tourist trail”
Even although Vietnam at first appeared approach exterior my consolation zone, the reality is that there’s already a longtime vacationer path that hits all the principle websites in Vietnam. If you resolve to journey solo, there’s no must stress about the place to go.
The fundamental websites on Vietnam’s vacationer path embody locations like Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta. Other stops price making embody Hue, seaside cities like Nha Trang and Mui Ne, and the highlands of the Sapa area. If you wish to get barely off the overwhelmed path, try locations like Bai Tu Long (an alternative choice to the favored Ha Long Bay), Phu Quoc Island, or Ha Giang.
Halong Bay
There are loads of touristy actions and experiences in Vietnam, too. Some of my favourite issues to do alongside the vacationer path in Vietnam included kayaking in Ha Long Bay, visiting the Imperial Citadel in Hue, getting customized clothes made in Hoi An, taking a ship trip by way of the Mekong Delta, and happening a few bike excursions into the extra rural components of the nation.
And, as a result of there’s a longtime vacationer path, it implies that you’ll have the possibility to fulfill different vacationers in Vietnam – and since Vietnam remains to be an rising vacation spot for vacationers, the kinds of individuals you meet there’ll all the time be intrepid and attention-grabbing. In my tour group, we had individuals of all ages and nationalities, with the commonality being that we have been all just about up for something, whether or not it was dressing up in conventional costumes for a “Royal Banquet Dinner” in Hue, or settling onto plastic stools for steaming bowls of roadside pho in Hanoi.
CHECK OUT INTREPID’S RANGE OF SMALL GROUP TOURS IN VIETNAM
The tourism infrastructure is nice
Vietnam just isn’t fairly as developed (or, in some circumstances over-developed) as close by Thailand, nevertheless it nonetheless has all the essential infrastructure you want as a vacationer. If you’re touring solo, you may journey between most cities by practice or bus (although be aware that neither of those will likely be notably luxurious), and you will get round cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by trip share (or, extra appropriately, motorbike-share).
Ho Chi Minh City by night time
Restaurants in main cities will normally supply English translations of their menus, and staples like free wifi and comfy accommodations abound proper alongside avenue meals stands.
It was good to have an area information to assist get from Point A to Point B in Vietnam (particularly since I used to be visiting throughout Tet, when many native companies have been closed for the New Year celebrations), however an skilled traveler may additionally handle on their very own because the fundamental sights on Vietnam’s growing vacationer path are pretty well-connected.
READ MORE: ADVENTURE LOVER? HERE’S WHY YOUR NEXT TRIP SHOULD BE IN VIETNAM
It’s additionally price noting that tourism is a fast-growing business in Vietnam. In 2017, the federal government pledged the equal of $1.3 billion to place in the direction of tourism improvement between now and 2020, so I predict the benefit of journey in Vietnam to solely enhance within the subsequent couple of years.
An Intrepid group loving life in Vietnam!
READ MORE: 5 UNDERRATED, BEAUTIFUL SPOTS TO VISIT IN VIETNAM
The individuals are welcoming
One of my greatest fears about visiting Vietnam associated to me being an American. All by way of highschool, I realized in regards to the Vietnam War and the United States’ combat towards communism in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, although, that very same battle is known as the “American War,” and even the “War of American Aggression.” Even although I wasn’t alive for this battle, I frightened that Vietnamese locals who remembered it may not take kindly to me.
These fears have been utterly unfounded, although. I discovered Vietnamese individuals to be heat and welcoming, even once they discovered which nation I referred to as dwelling.
One of Intrepid’s many native leaders in Vietnam
Some of my favourite reminiscences from Vietnam revolve across the individuals: having lunch in an area dwelling, the place all of the neighborhood children stopped by to offer us high-fives; making jokes with the native chef who gave us a cooking lesson in Hoi An; randomly stopping to play a sport of soccer with children throughout a rural bike trip; and naturally attending to know my tour information, Hai, who was not solely a wealth of information about Vietnam, but additionally had an infectious love for his dwelling nation. He was all the time so enthusiastic about each place we have been visiting that it was not possible to not catch his enthusiasm.
Is it secure to go to Vietnam?
Like most of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is secure. It’s after all all the time a gross over-generalization to say that a complete nation is both secure or unsafe, however Vietnam is general a comparatively secure place to journey, even if you’re touring solo. The greatest issues to look out for are widespread scams that attempt to rip off vacationers and petty theft like pickpocketing, however violent crime is kind of uncommon.
It’s all the time a good suggestion to pay attention to your environment and to maintain your valuables hidden and secure (I all the time journey with a slash-proof purse or backpack with lockable zippers), however I by no means felt unsafe strolling round in Vietnam alone.
My solo adventures in Vietnam included wandering round native markets in Hue, going out at night time to fulfill mates who weren’t on my tour in Hoi An, and organizing my very own “tour” to the Reunification Palace and another websites in Ho Chi Minh City.
Exploring Hue solo
My tour by way of Vietnam had us visiting the most well-liked components of the nation, and whereas having a information to warn us about locations the place we’d wish to maintain a better eye on our belongings was useful, I actually wouldn’t classify wherever in Vietnam as “dangerous” for vacationers.
READ MORE: 6 COMMON SCAMS IN VIETNAM (& HOW TO AVOID THEM)
There’s attention-grabbing historical past AND nice meals
Lastly, Vietnam’s historical past goes far past the Vietnam War. Yes, you may partake in battle tourism in varied locations throughout the nation, however it’s also possible to study so much about Vietnam’s earlier historical past, too.
For instance, you may study Vietnam’s dynastic historical past in Hue, the place the Imperial Citadel at one level was just like the Forbidden City in China, and the place you may nonetheless see royal tombs. In Hoi An, you may go to what was at one time a very powerful buying and selling ports in all of Southeast Asia, dealing in unique spices and complicated ceramics. And in Ho Chi Minh City you may go to locations like City Hall and the Central Post Office to see remnants of Vietnam’s French colonial previous.
Ho Chi Minh City
And after all Vietnam’s historical past has influenced its meals, as effectively – Vietnamese meals is certainly one of my absolute favorites! Enjoy roadside pho, contemporary spring rolls, banh mi, and naturally Vietnamese espresso, which is served and loved in abundance all throughout the nation (espresso lovers, rejoice!).
What is solo journey in Vietnam like?
Vietnam is welcoming to solo travellers, and it’s an ideal place to discover alone. With its nice tourism infrastructure, welcoming individuals and wonderful meals, its an ideal vacation spot to journey solo.
While I loved exploring Vietnam on a small group tour (and positively really feel prefer it was the precise selection for me on the time), I positively consider that Vietnam is a solo-friendly vacation spot and look ahead to returning there once more quickly!
Ready to discover unbelievable Vietnam? Check out Intrepid’s vary of small group excursions right here. (Want to journey with different solo vacationers? We have a Vietnam journey only for solo adventurers!)
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(Image credit from high to backside: Intrepid Travel, Amanda Williams, Intrepid Travel x4, Amanda Williams x2.)