If I’m being sincere with you, I used to be intimidated about planning my very first journey to Southeast Asia.
I knew I wished 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?). However although Southeast Asia has been firmly on the backpacker path for many years, it was worlds away from the locations I used to be snug 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 wished to go to probably the most. As a girl, I’m usually questioned about my determination to journey alone. However as an American girl, I felt I’d be questioned much more than ordinary by family and friends as soon as I instructed them that I wished to journey to Vietnam.
So I did what I usually do when a vacation spot appears intimidating: quite than go 100% solo, I booked a tour to Vietnam as a substitute. The ten-day Vietnam Specific Southbound tour I selected would cowl all of the sights and cities I wished 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 Thailand by myself.
Hoi An, Vietnam
After the journey, although, I noticed 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.
Right here’s why I feel you must go to Vietnam (whether or not utterly solo or solo on a small group tour), and what it’s actually prefer to journey there:
There may be a longtime “vacationer path”
Despite the fact that Vietnam at first appeared method outdoors my consolation zone, the reality is that there’s already a longtime vacationer path that hits all the principle websites in Vietnam. If you happen to resolve to journey solo, there’s no must stress about the place to go.
The primary websites on Vietnam’s vacationer path embody locations like Hanoi, Ha Lengthy Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, and the Mekong Delta. Different stops value 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, take a look at locations like Bai Tu Lengthy (a substitute for the favored Ha Lengthy Bay), Phu Quoc Island, or Ha Giang.
Halong Bay
There are many touristy actions and experiences in Vietnam, too. A few of my favourite issues to do alongside the vacationer path in Vietnam included kayaking in Ha Lengthy Bay, visiting the Imperial Citadel in Hue, getting customized clothes made in Hoi An, taking a ship journey by the Mekong Delta, and occurring 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 continues to be an rising vacation spot for vacationers, the kinds of individuals you meet there’ll at all times be intrepid and fascinating. In my tour group, we had individuals of all ages and nationalities, with the commonality being that we had 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 sweet
Vietnam shouldn’t be fairly as developed (or, in some instances over-developed) as close by Thailand, however it nonetheless has all the fundamental infrastructure you want as a vacationer. If you happen to’re touring solo, you may journey between most cities by practice or bus (although word that neither of those might be notably luxurious), and you will get round cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Metropolis by journey share (or, extra appropriately, motorbike-share).
Ho Chi Minh Metropolis by night time
Eating places in main cities will often provide English translations of their menus, and staples like free wifi and comfy lodges abound proper alongside avenue meals stands.
It was good to have an area information to assist get from Level A to Level B in Vietnam (particularly since I used to be visiting throughout Tet, when many native companies had been closed for the New 12 months celebrations), however an skilled traveler may additionally handle on their very own because the major 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 value 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 persons are welcoming
One in all my greatest fears about visiting Vietnam associated to me being an American. All by highschool, I discovered in regards to the Vietnam Conflict and the USA’ combat towards communism in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, although, that very same conflict is known as the “American Conflict,” and even the “Conflict of American Aggression.” Despite the fact that I wasn’t alive for this conflict, I fearful that Vietnamese locals who remembered it won’t take kindly to me.
These fears had been utterly unfounded, although. I discovered Vietnamese individuals to be heat and welcoming, even after they discovered which nation I known as residence.
One in all Intrepid’s many native leaders in Vietnam
A few of my favourite reminiscences from Vietnam revolve across the individuals: having lunch in an area residence, the place all of the neighborhood youngsters 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 youngsters throughout a rural bike journey; and naturally attending to know my tour information, Hai, who was not solely a wealth of data about Vietnam, but additionally had an infectious love for his residence nation. He was at all times so enthusiastic about each place we had been visiting that it was unimaginable to not catch his enthusiasm.
Is it secure to go to Vietnam?
Like most of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is secure. It’s after all at all times a gross over-generalization to say that a whole nation is both secure or unsafe, however Vietnam is total a comparatively secure place to journey, even if you’re touring solo. The most important issues to look out for are frequent scams that attempt to rip off vacationers and petty theft like pickpocketing, however violent crime is kind of uncommon.
It’s at all times a good suggestion to pay attention to your environment and to maintain your valuables hidden and secure (I at all times journey with a slash-proof purse or backpack with lockable zippers), however I by no means felt unsafe strolling round in Vietnam by myself.
My solo adventures in Vietnam included wandering round native markets in Hue, going out at night time to fulfill buddies 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 Metropolis.
Exploring Hue solo
My tour by Vietnam had us visiting the preferred components of the nation, and whereas having a information to warn us about locations the place we would need to maintain a better eye on our belongings was useful, I definitely wouldn’t classify wherever in Vietnam as “harmful” for vacationers.
READ MORE: 6 COMMON SCAMS IN VIETNAM (& HOW TO AVOID THEM)
There’s fascinating historical past AND nice meals
Lastly, Vietnam’s historical past goes far past the Vietnam Conflict. Sure, you may partake in conflict tourism in varied locations throughout the nation, however you too can be taught lots about Vietnam’s earlier historical past, too.
For instance, you may find out about Vietnam’s dynastic historical past in Hue, the place the Imperial Citadel at one level was just like the Forbidden Metropolis in China, and the place you may nonetheless see royal tombs. In Hoi An, you may go to what was at one time an important buying and selling ports in all of Southeast Asia, dealing in unique spices and complex ceramics. And in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis you may go to locations like Metropolis Corridor and the Central Put up Workplace to see remnants of Vietnam’s French colonial previous.
Ho Chi Minh Metropolis
And naturally Vietnam’s historical past has influenced its meals, as properly – Vietnamese meals is considered one of my absolute favorites! Take pleasure in roadside pho, recent spring rolls, banh mi, and naturally Vietnamese espresso, which is served and loved in abundance all throughout the nation (espresso lovers, rejoice!).
What’s solo journey in Vietnam like?
Vietnam is welcoming to solo travellers, and it’s an amazing place to discover alone. With its nice tourism infrastructure, welcoming individuals and wonderful meals, its an amazing vacation spot to journey solo.
Whereas I loved exploring Vietnam on a small group tour (and undoubtedly really feel prefer it was the correct selection for me on the time), I undoubtedly consider that Vietnam is a solo-friendly vacation spot and sit up for returning there once more quickly!
Able to discover unimaginable Vietnam? Take a look at Intrepid’s vary of small group excursions right here. (Wish to journey with different solo vacationers? We’ve a Vietnam journey only for solo adventurers!)
(Picture credit from prime to backside: Intrepid Journey, Amanda Williams, Intrepid Journey x4, Amanda Williams x2.)