Vietnam promises solo travelers an unforgettable experience. Steaming bowls of hủ tiếu on a boat in the Mekong Delta, glorious sunrises on Nha Trang's beach, misty hikes in Sapa's mountains — here you can have a wealth of beautiful moments all to yourself. If you ever want to travel with someone, the Vietnamese are a fantastic company and will eagerly show you the best of their country. Continue reading to learn why Vietnam is an excellent destination for your next solo adventure.
Warm hospitality
Choosing a place to stay in Vietnam is always exciting. Traditional homestays, ethnic stilt houses, tented camps, budget-friendly hostels, boutique hotels, luxury resorts, and other accommodations are available. Your solo adventure will be even more memorable if you choose to stay with a local family or in a natural setting. These places are not only inexpensive in Vietnam, but they will also provide you with a better understanding of our way of life.
Family-run homestays provide incredible value for money, as well as sumptuous meals and insider tours of the area, throughout Vietnam. Don't pass up the opportunity to sleep in an ethnic stilt house in Northern Vietnam. Comfortable beds are separated by curtains in shared rooms. After a day of exploring, wake up to views of mountains and rice terraces and relax in a hammock. Homestays in the Center and South have a more tropical feel, often set among fruit farms, river banks, or flowering gardens.
Fantastic street food and coffee
Foodies will love Vietnam. Vietnamese people enjoy eating together, but it is also common to roll up for a quick bánh mì or bite of lunch alone. If you're alone, you can easily slip into a busy noodle shop, find a stool next to a sidewalk vendor, or simply order what the next table is having. In crowded stalls, you may find yourself sharing a table with strangers, which is an excellent opportunity to gather foodie recommendations, perhaps with the assistance of Google Translate. Almost everywhere, you'll find Vietnamese people happy to show you how to use your condiments or help you order if you're lost on the menu.
Vietnam's cities and countryside are teeming with lovely, quiet cafes where you can spend a few hours scribbling your thoughts over a cup of robusta. It won't take long for you to discover a new favorite cafe wherever you go. Pull up a stool or a lawn chair next to the locals and take in the atmosphere. Of course, sooner or later, you'll be invited to a Vietnamese family meal. That's exactly what we do, especially if you're traveling alone. Dining with a Vietnamese family is an excellent way to learn about the local way of life and sample a variety of authentic Vietnamese cuisine; don't miss out!
Incredible experiences and destinations
One of the best aspects of traveling alone is having complete control over your itinerary. Destinations such as Hội An, Huế, Pù Luông, Côn Đảo, and Phú Quốc are all excellent choices for solo travelers. Even Vietnam's chaotic cities are easy to navigate on your own — once you figure out how to cross the street (the secret is confidence and clear body language.) Once you've created a mental map, you'll discover that many small quarters and alleys are ideal for exploring on foot.
Most cycling, trekking, island-hopping, boat, and even food tours in Vietnam accept single bookings. For an even better experience, choose a sustainable tourism provider. Footprint Travel provides excellent responsible trekking tours in Đà Lạt, Huế, and Ninh Bình. Sens Asia organizes insider street food adventures in and around Hanoi. Cave expeditions with Jungle Boss in Phong Nha during the dry season take you to magnificent sites filled with millennia-old stalagmites and stalactites. The expansive landscapes of Vietnam are ideal for uninterrupted thought and self-reflection.
Safe destinations and health facilities
Every traveler, but especially those visiting a new country alone, is concerned about their safety. Fortunately, Vietnam has consistently been ranked as one of the world's safest countries for solo travelers. Despite its long coastline, Vietnam is rarely affected by earthquakes, tornadoes, or tsunamis. Annual flooding occurs in some Central and Northern provinces during the monsoon season. During these months, plan your travels to avoid these areas and instead visit our other beautiful destinations.
In major cities, police officers are stationed every few blocks, and a crime against women is rare. Even in the remote countryside, you will most likely feel extremely safe and welcome. If you require medical assistance, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Đà Nẵng, and other urban centers all have international clinics and hospitals staffed by well-trained, English-speaking staff. A little common sense and planning will go a long way toward making your vacation safe and stress-free.
Easy transportation
In Vietnam, getting from point A to point B is always an adventure. In Vietnam, solo travelers have many options for getting between cities. Domestic flights are usually the most convenient option. If you have the time, you can travel to Vietnam's most popular destinations by train, sleeper bus, or limousine van. Limousine vans are a newer mode of transportation that is usually inexpensive, fast, and comfortable. Boats and ferries are a relaxing option for slow travelers in the Mekong Delta. Do you have even more time? The cross-country Reunification Express has train cars with four or six berths, where you can meet other passengers and swap stories.
Of course, Vietnam's motorbikes are the ultimate mode of transportation and are ideal for solo travelers. Take an EasyRiders back-of-the-bike tour through Central Vietnam to see waterfalls, coastal roads, and beaches. Take a Vespa tour in Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, or Hanoi to see the streets of Vietnam at night. Allow for flexibility in your itinerary, no matter what you decide. Stop and stay as long as you want, or take a break if something piques your interest. After all, yours is the only one whose opinion matters on this trip. That is a true holiday!