My First Solo Trip: Vietnam, Independence & Learning to Travel Differently

 Vietnam was my first solo trip, but not my first experience of travel.

I was 21, and while this was the first time I had really travelled on my own, travel had always been part of my life. Growing up, my parents gave me opportunities to explore different places and, more importantly, taught me how to truly experience them.  Engage with the people, respect the culture, and notice the everyday details that can make a destination feel alive.

This trip was my first real step into independent travel, and continues to shape how I travel today.

Travelling solo, but not unsupported

I travelled through Vietnam as part of a small group tour, starting in Ho Chi Minh City and making our way north to Hanoi. While I was travelling independently, I wasn’t alone - and the support available made a difference.

We moved through the country by overnight train, bus, and boat, visiting incredible places including Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, and Cat Ba Island.  We had the opportunity to experience bustling cities, quieter towns, local culture and breathtaking natural scenery.

It was the perfect introduction to solo travel: enough freedom to explore, paired with the reassurance of structure, shared experiences, and an incredibly friendly and knowledgeable local guide.

Learning how to move through the world

Some of the most valuable lessons I learnt weren’t about where we went, but about how to travel well.

I learned to always carry the name and address of my hotel, especially in places where language barriers exist. Not everyone speaks English, and assuming they do can make travel harder than it needs to be.

I learned not to be afraid to haggle. It can be part of the experience and even a bit of fun, but it’s important to remember that people are trying to make a living. Fair matters.

I learned to enjoy the food - but not the water(!) - and to eat where the locals eat. The food was almost always better, fresher, and more memorable.

And I learned that being visibly different from the local norm sometimes attracts attention - and that curiosity can be gentle and kind.

As a blonde traveller, I stood out. People would often reach out to touch my hair, fascinated by its colour.  There was never any malice, or threat, just gentle hands and smiles.

Moments that stayed with me

Hoi An captured me completely. Its small-town charm, the ancient bridge, and the art galleries and workshops showcasing beautiful weavings and paintings. We took a cooking class there that deepened my appreciation for Vietnamese food, and I had clothes tailored - something that felt incredibly indulgent.

In Nha Trang, we explored the city by bicycle, including a visit to Long Son Pagoda.

A small child took my hand and guided me proudly around the pagoda. Every so often, he would pause, lift my arm, and smell my skin.  I think he liked the smell of the scented sunscreen I was wearing. It was such a small, unexpected interaction, but one I’ve never forgotten. He was so small, gentle, curious, and wanted nothing from me but to show me his temple.

Climbing Marble Mountain took some doing, but worth the view once you reached the top.  Beautiful, challenging, and far busier than I expected.

I remember watching women attempting the climb in strappy sandals and high heels, carefully navigating the uneven steps and rocks. In places, the stone had been worn smooth and slippery by countless feet over many years.

Hanoi was full of life and stories. Wandering through the old town, I met a young woman minding her family’s store. She told me she was about to leave Vietnam to attend university in America - the first in her family to do so. That short conversation stayed with me, and I often wonder how her life turned out.

I’ll never forget seeing the traditional water puppets in Hanoi, or watching enormous jellyfish drift silently through the water in Halong Bay as we travelled by boat to Cat Ba Island.

Why this trip still matters

That journey through Vietnam gave me confidence, perspective, and a deeper respect for travelling thoughtfully.

It showed me that solo travel isn’t about being fearless, it’s about being open. Open to learning, to difference, to moments that don’t go exactly as planned.

Solo travel isn’t about being alone.

It’s about discovering what you’re capable of, one journey at a time.