Solo traveller's guide to Vietnam

Vietnam is the travel gift that keeps on giving. How to choose between misty mountains, picturesque beaches and bays, energetic cities and cultural sites when travelling alone in Vietnam? Then there is the gentleness of the Vietnamese people and their breath-taking cuisine. That's all Vietnam, but there's so much more, as you'll see in our trusty guide.

1. Overview of a solo trip to Vietnam

In a week or a little more, you can travel the length of Vietnam, from North to South, starting in Hanoi, the boulevard-lined capital that's home to a French Quarter and historic hotels. Moving on to coastal Danang, a mountain-backed town used as a portal to Hoi An, pretty as a picture with atmospheric lantern-lit lanes. Cooled by winds from the East Sea, the palm tree-lined fishing resort of Mui Ne is home to desert dunes. Finally, Ho Chi Minh City – still called Saigon by locals – is a dizzying mix of thriving modern commerce and ancient temples.

Vietnam's tropical monsoon climate has regional variations and hits different parts of the country at different times. In the South, the driest months are between December and April, while in the North, it is spring and autumn.

>> Read more: 5 reasons to go to Vietnam solo

2. Where to stay in Vietnam as a solo traveller?

Vietnam is an inexpensive country to travel solo - so you can switch from staying in historic hotels and luxury resorts to cruising around Halong Bay in Northeast Vietnam, without worrying too much about your budget. An opportunity not to be missed is to spend the night on a wooden boat, giving you a close-up view of the limestone islands rising from the deep green waters – whether on deck or from the comfort of your cabin.

3. What to do in Vietnam as a solo traveller?

Vietnam is a deceptively small country, filled from head to toe with curiosities. With so many choices, we've selected three very different things to do.

Take a walking tour of Hanoi

You can't visit Hanoi without being charmed, despite the crazy traffic laden with darting mopeds. You'd explore from Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945, to the maze-like industrious old quarter, passing Hanoians balancing on bamboo poles and stopping for culinary classics street food like banh xeo (savoury pancakes).

Go off-roading on the Mui Ne dunes

Half an hour from Mui Ne, a fishing village turned popular resort in the South, Saharan dunes sculpted by the sea breeze rise behind a lotus-topped lake. Rent a quad or a buggy to zigzag them at sunset.

Discover Hoi An

A thriving trading post until the 19th century, Hoi An today attracts tourists with its picturesque charm. Wooden pagodas and narrow lanes sell silk pajamas while restaurants sell seafood-heavy dishes you'll want to come back for.

>> Read more: Vietnam tour 2023-2024: Where to go? Which itinerary? What to do? How many days?

4. Eating and drinking in Vietnam

The French occupation left its mark in many ways. In terms of cuisine, the baguettes available on most streets are the foundation of the popular banh mi – meat sandwiches loaded with pickles. Street food is truly the path to authentic Vietnamese food culture. Avoid trendy restaurants where they may only serve you what looks tasty. Instead, opt for such down-to-earth places where you can pull out a plastic stool on the sidewalk.

What is also omnipresent here is the sight of Vietnamese squatting as they lunch on pho, an aromatic rice noodle soup with a pile of fresh green herbs and thin slices of beef, served in homes, street stalls and restaurants.

You may also want to refresh yourself with a morning coffee - often served cold and sweetened with condensed milk - and later enjoy an ice-cold beer - the Saigon and Hanoi brands are very popular.

>> Read more: 10 family travel tips for a hassle-free vacation

5. Stay safe, be happy!

Vietnam is generally very safe, whether you are alone or with others. There is an established tourist trail, which means a wide variety of hotels and plenty of transportation options. The main thing to be aware of in big cities is pickpockets, grabbing bags and cell phones as they speed past on scooters - but you'd have to be very unlucky to fall victim to them.

For women travelling alone at night, a metered taxi is the safest means of transportation. Booking a small group trip to Vietnam is one of the best ways to experience the country with the security of a local expert to guide you, while having the freedom to choose your excursions, from street food tours to biking in the Hills.

>> Read more: 8 destinations for a solo trip to Vietnam

6. What to do to fit in – and not offend?

Vietnamese people are naturally friendly and welcoming to solo travellers. However, if you are travelling to remote areas, respect their conservative values. Behave like locals do when visiting pagodas and temples; if they cover part of the body, so should you. Perhaps unfairly, but especially if you're travelling alone, dress like the locals. We don't mean donning a conical hat, but avoiding revealing outfits and not sunbathing topless anywhere.

7. Getting around

Vietnam is a charming country, but some roads are dangerous and best left to native drivers. Air-conditioned coaches travel up and down the congested Highway 1, the main road that connects Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Less stressful are the sleeper cabins of the trains that run alongside. Buy tickets online or at the station (hotels and agencies will do this for a fee) and pre-book during peak holiday periods such as Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Buy the highest class you can afford; lower means less comfort and higher gets softer seats, berths and faster service.

Related articles:

>> Travel by train in Vietnam, why not?

>> Top 15 most thrilling adventures in Vietnam

>> Top 10 ideas for visiting Vietnam

>> Vietnam in 10 days - Immersion in authentic northern Vietnam

>> Golf in Vietnam: the marvellous beauty of Hoi An golf courses