Solo Travel in Vietnam – What You Need to Know (2024)

If you’re wondering if solo travel in Vietnam is a good idea, you’ll be pleased to hear that Vietnam is easy, cheap and safe for women travelling alone.

With stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, friendly locals, delicious food and a great choice of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Vietnam is a wonderful destination and perfect for a solo trip.

I love solo travel in Vietnam and I’ve travelled the length of the country alone. In this article, I’m sharing everything you need to know: how to get around, when and where to go, what to take, what to wear and more… I had an amazing time in Vietnam and I’m sure you will too.

Here’s everything you need to know for a safe and successful solo trip to Vietnam.

TIP: I’ve had many solo travel adventures in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Learn more about solo travel in Cambodia, Thailand, Bali,  Myanmar and Australia.

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Is Vietnam Safe for Solo Travel?

Vietnam is generally safe for solo travel, but watch out for petty theft and scams if you travel alone.

One of the most overwhelming experiences on a solo trip to Vietnam is arriving at an airport or train station and being met by a mob of taxi drivers, all hassling for business.

Whenever possible, I teamed up with other travellers and shared a taxi ride, which helped make solo travel in Vietnam safer and more fun.

But Vietnam is a colourful, interesting and exciting country to visit whether this is your first time travelling alone or you’re an expert solo traveller.

What I Loved about Solo Travel to Vietnam

As a solo traveller in Vietnam, I met some lovely local people. I had a great time discovering Ho Chi Minh City on the back of a scooter with a friendly young tour guide I met at my hotel.

I loved the interesting culture, and the food, especially Pho (noodle soup) and Ban mi (crusty bread rolls with a delicious filling).

Although arriving in crazy Ho Chi Minh City was a bit of a culture shock, I found solo travel in Vietnam easy and enjoyable.  

Vietnam has a wealth of historical attractions and some breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Some highlights of travelling solo in Vietnam are:

• Cruising on gorgeous Halong Bay

• Exploring the quaint and historical old town of Hoi-An

• Visiting the impressive Royal Palace and Tombs in Hue

• Going underground in the largest caves in the world at Phong Nha-Ke Bang

• relaxing on lovely Phu Quoc Island, a tropical paradise

• Fresh, delicious food 

• colourful floating markets of the Mekong Delta

Itineraries for a Solo Trip to Vietnam

Below are some itineraries that are perfect for solo travel in Vietnam.

Beautiful Vietnam in 3 weeks from Top to Toe

North Vietnam in 2 Weeks: A Trip You’ll Love

An Exciting 10-Day Itinerary in Vietnam’s Tropical South

TIP: Vietnam experiences very different weather from the north to the south of the country Learn more about the best and the worst times to visit Vietnam.

Travelling to Vietnam

Flights

Vietnam has international airports in Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City so it’s possible to fly to north, south or Central Vietnam from overseas. Domestic flights are cheap and plentiful to major destinations in Vietnam but flight schedules can change at short notice so don’t book things too tightly.

I booked a comfortable midday flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc Island and ended up with an early 7 am departure which I didn’t like very much.

TIP: Take the stress and hassle out of your arrival and book an airport transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.

Visas

For travel to Vietnam, Australian & US citizens need a visa. Some European countries are exempt and don’t need a visa but make sure you have a passport that’s valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date with an empty page for entry & exit stamps.

There are a few options for getting a visa for Vietnam. The easiest is to apply for an e-visa and pay online. You can also apply for a “visa on arrival” at an international airport in Vietnam.

You can apply for your visa in person at a Vietnamese consulate before you travel to Vietnam or use an agency for your application and get a “visa approval letter” that is exchanged for a “visa on arrival” at the airport.

How to get around Vietnam

Vietnam is well connected by bus, train and air and I used all of these for solo travel in Vietnam.

TIP: Book your flights, bus, train and ferry tickets with 12Go Asia. It’s easy and convenient. You pay a small booking fee and receive your e-ticket by email.

Train

Travelling around Vietnam by train is a great option. You can travel comfortably the length of the country from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on an air-conditioned train.

In Central Vietnam, the train journey is especially scenic between Da Nang and Hue where the train line follows the coast over the Hai Van Pass.

I caught a sleeper train from Dong Hoi to Hanoi and it was a comfortable overnight trip.

Train timetables for travel in Vietnam are available here.

Bus

For solo travellers in Vietnam, buses are the cheapest way to get around. Buses connect the country and are often the best way to get to remote places.

There are regular air-conditioned coaches on many routes throughout the country but Vietnamese buses are not always comfortable or in good condition. Built for small Vietnamese people, some buses are very cramped with very little legroom.

I’m a slight build and I found the bus from Hue to Phong Nha very cramped and uncomfortable. If you’re a large or very tall person try to get on a coach or catch a train.

Sleeper buses operate on some routes in Vietnam with seats designed so that you must lie down, even during the day. Shoes are left at the door and it’s an experience to remember.

Ferry

Ferries operate to the islands offshore from Vietnam.

I caught the “SuperDong” Ferry from Phu Quoc Island to the mainland to the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. I bought a ticket that included all ferry fares, bus fares and transfers and it was an easy trip. I was picked up at my hotel in Phu Quoc and dropped off at my hotel in Can Tho.

But the seas were high and the ferry ride was rough and took several hours. The second leg of the journey was much more comfortable in an air-conditioned coach.

Domestic Flights

Domestic flights are worth considering for long-distance travel in Vietnam, especially if you are alone and want to avoid travelling at night. Airfares are inexpensive but flights are not always reliable.

I flew with 2 domestic carriers in Vietnam, Vietjet and Vietnam Airways. My Vietjet flight was cheap, comfortable and on time, but my Vietnam Airways flight had an unwelcome last-minute schedule change.

TIP: The airport in Ho Chi Minh City gets very busy with long queues at security points so allow plenty of time for air travel in Vietnam.

Getting around Cities & Towns

Grab cars, motorbikes or cyclos are the best way to get around cities and towns for solo travellers in Vietnam. Unlike Thailand and Cambodia, Vietnam does not have 3 wheeled tuk-tuks.

Taxi

Taxis are convenient, inexpensive and plentiful and most solo travellers in Vietnam will use taxis to get around from time to time but there are some things to be aware of.

If you flag down a taxi on the street, make sure the meter is running when your trip starts or you might be overcharged.

If there is no meter, agree on a price before you get in the taxi.

Not all drivers are honest but Mai Linh & Vinasun are reputable taxi companies. I always took a bright green Mai Linh cab and had no issues travelling solo in Vietnam.

TIP: When you arrive at the Ho Chi Minh City airport, buy your taxi ticket before leaving the terminal. The price to the city is fixed so you won’t be overcharged. Look for a ticket desk near the exit to the taxi stand (cost approx. US$10 / 250,000 Dong)

Motorbike

Motorbikes are one of the most common forms of transport in Vietnam and the roads are jam-packed with motorbikes. It’s common to see families travelling together on a small motorbike.

Taking a Xe Om or motorbike taxi is a fun way to get around if you travel alone in Vietnam.

An Easy Rider motorbike tour is another great option for solo travellers in Vietnam. I booked an Easy Rider motorbike and driver for the transfer between Hoi An and Hue in Central Vietnam. My driver strapped my luggage on the back of his bike and I rode behind him and saw the sights along the way. It was a lot of fun until it started raining…

Hiring motorbikes is very popular for travellers in Vietnam but if you’re in the driver’s seat, you need a motorbike licence to be covered by your travel insurance. Make sure you wear a helmet and be careful on the roads, the traffic can be crazy in Vietnam.

SIM Cards & Staying Connected

For the most reliable internet connection, buy a SIM card. They are easy to find and cheap to buy in Vietnam. 

For solo travellers in Vietnam, having easy access to the internet is very important for safety and peace of mind. While free WiFi is available at most hotels and restaurants, it’s often unreliable and insecure.

Best Places for Solo Travel in Vietnam

The best places for solo travel in Vietnam are the larger cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang where it’s easy to get around. If you stick to the main tourist trail it’s also easy to visit places like Hue, Hue, Hoi An and Ha Long Bay.

It becomes harder for solo travel in Vietnam when you venture off the beaten path to places like Phu Quoc Island or Phong Nha Ke-Bang, where getting around is harder without your own transport.

When travelling to small rural towns make sure you take plenty of cash. Changing foreign currencies is more difficult away from the big cities and tourist centres.

Find out more about travelling Solo in Thailand, Cambodia, Bali  Myanmar or Australia.

Where to Stay for Solo Travel in Vietnam

Here are some suggestions for where to stay for solo travel in Vietnam. These are some of my favourite mid-range hotels:

Hanoi:  I stayed in the old quarter at the Hanoi Graceful Hotel I loved the intricately carved bedhead, the quaint balcony and the central location.

Ho Chi Minh City: Duc Vuong Hotel ** I enjoyed the fabulous service, the central location and the colourful lanterns on the rooftop bar.

Hoi An: Green Apple Hotel** I loved staying here and especially enjoyed the wonderful service. The rooms are new and spotless though perhaps a bit clinical. I enjoyed the pool and the shuttle service to the old town. Bike hire is also available.

Phong Nha: The Lake House Resort is a lovely place to stay just outside Phnong Nha Village.  My bungalow was huge and had a private balcony right on the water and the service was wonderful. It’s a bit out of town but the bus stops right at the front door.

What to Wear

Vietnamese people dress conservatively and as a solo traveller in Vietnam, it’s best to do the same. Throughout Southeast Asia, women dress conservatively and solo female travellers in Vietnam should try to blend in.

Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees and avoid shorts and singlet tops unless you’re at the beach.

For visiting a temple, dressing conservatively is considered a sign of respect.

While Vietnam is relatively relaxed in terms of dress and more revealing clothes are tolerated in tourist areas, dressing modestly is appreciated.

What to Pack

Vietnam has different climates in different parts of the country and you will need to pack for the you’ll be visiting clothes depending on where you’re going and the time of year you’ll be travelling.

In the South of Vietnam, the weather is hot and can be humid. Pack lightweight cotton clothes

• Summer dresses
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Long pants for visiting temples, riding a motorbike and hiking.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses & sun hat
• Swimmers
• Sarong – can double as a scarf
• Sandals
• Walking shoes
• Waterproof Gortex raincoat or jacket

For Central Vietnam pack for warm weather and some cool, wet days:

•  Jumper or fleece
• Hiking shoes & socks

For North Vietnam take warmer clothes:

• Down jacket
• Warm scarf

I travelled to Vietnam in January and the weather was wet in Central Vietnam. North Vietnam was colder in Hanoi and there was snow in the mountains at Sapa.

The Best Time for a Solo Trip to Vietnam

Vietnam is a long, narrow country and has different climates in the south, central and northern areas. This means that any time is a good time to visit but the best time of year for solo travel in Vietnam depends on when and where you’re going.

Are you new to solo travel?

Southern Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta are hot all year round with temperatures around 25 – 28 degrees. The best time to visit is in the dry months of October / November.

The monsoon rains from April to September, bring hot humid weather and seasonal flooding. June and July are especially wet and the seas can be quite rough around Phu Quoc Island.

Central Vietnam

December to February is the best time to visit as temperatures are milder and there is less rainfall.

Further south from Nha Trang to Mui Ne, there is a longer dry, sunny season.

Hoi An & Da Nang are quite wet from September to December and in October Hoi An sometimes floods in October and November. Typhoon season brings severe storms from August to November.

Northern Vietnam

Hanoi and Sapa are great from October to December with clear weather and little rainfall. The weather can be very cold from November to March, with snow in the mountains in December / January.

In Halong Bay, the weather is influenced by the monsoon rains. The wet season is from May to September, and the dry season is from November to March. In summer, from May to October, the weather is hot and humid with the highest annual rainfall.

Generally, the best time to visit is in winter from December to February when the temperatures are milder with average highs of 20 degrees and less rain.

Money for a Solo Trip to Vietnam

This is what I experienced on my solo trip to Vietnam:

• ATMs are easy to find in Vietnam and you can change cash with money changers and at banks. Watch out for hidden cameras and keep your pin safe.

• Credit cards are widely accepted but you still need to carry some Vietnamese Dong. You need local currency to pay taxi drivers and for shopping etc.

• US dollars are the easiest currency to exchange in Vietnam and cash US dollars are widely accepted.

• Make sure your US dollars are new and in excellent condition or they may not be accepted.

• Australian dollars are easy to exchange in major cities but take cash if you’re travelling to smaller towns. I was unable to change my Aussie dollars when I was off the beaten track in Phong Nha in Central Vietnam.

For solo travel in Vietnam, I took cash in Australian and US dollars. I kept the cash in a hidden money belt around my waist or the hotel safe.

I also took 2 credit cards and locked all my valuables away in hotel safes, carrying only what I needed with me for the day. I like to have 2 wallets, one with a small amount of cash and another to keep larger amounts of money out of sight.

Safety Tips for Solo Travel in Vietnam

Here are some tips for travel safety in Vietnam:

• Plan ahead, and know where you’re going when you are travelling solo in Vietnam. This will help you to survive the taxi driver ambush at major airports, train & bus stations.

• Using motorbike taxis or Xe Om is cheaper than taking a regular taxi for solo travellers in Vietnam, but you can expect to breathe in more dust & exhaust. Ask your driver for a helmet & wear a facemask.

• If you’re travelling alone in Vietnam, make friends with the hotel reception staff. Ask for local safety advice and find out if it’s safe to be out alone at night. I was told in Hanoi that walking alone in the dark wasn’t safe, so I teamed up with other travellers for safety.

• If you feel like the company of other travellers or have safety concerns, why not book a tour?

More Tips for Solo Travellers

• Take an international driver’s licence if you want to drive a car or motorbike in Vietnam. Wear a helmet when you’re on a motorbike and be very careful on the road. The traffic in Vietnam is a bit crazy.

• Make sure that your travel insurance covers you for riding a motorbike. Check the policy fine print so that you don’t get caught out.

• Never sit with your feet pointing towards the Buddha. This is considered very impolite behaviour.

Health & Well-being for Solo Travel in Vietnam

Staying healthy is very important when you’re travelling solo in Vietnam. Here are some travel tips to help you stay well:

• Don’t drink the water! Always drink bottled, boiled or purified water when you are travelling in Vietnam. Boiled tap water is usually safe to drink.

• See your doctor for medical advice before you leave home. Travel vaccinations will probably be required and malaria tablets will be needed when you visit certain parts of Vietnam.

• Don’t flush your toilet paper. Use the bin provided. The sewerage systems can’t handle it.

• For peace of mind, a Travel Insurance policy is essential, especially if you’re travelling solo in Vietnam. You’ll know that you’re covered, whatever happens.

How to Make Friends Travelling Solo in Vietnam

It’s easy to meet new people on a solo trip to Vietnam, especially if you stay at hostels where you’ll come across lots of other travellers. If you’re travelling alone in Vietnam hang out in the shared spaces at guesthouses and hotels like the pool area or lounge.

It’s often easy to start a conversation in a coffee shop or at a yoga class and you can join a group tour or a cooking class to meet people on a solo trip to Vietnam. Social media is another place to find new friends.

FAQ’s

Final Thoughts – Solo Travel in Vietnam

Solo travel in Vietnam is safe, easy and fun so don’t hesitate to book your flight. Vietnam is a fascinating place to visit with a wonderful culture, great food and friendly locals. I’m already planning my next solo trip to Vietnam.

You might also enjoy

How to Visit Stunning Ha Long Bay in Vietnam

Why You’ll Love Spectacular Phong Nha-Ke Bang in Vietnam

Beautiful Vietnam in 3 weeks from Top to Toe

An Exciting 10-Day Itinerary in Vietnam’s Tropical South

North Vietnam in 2 Weeks: A Trip You’ll Love

20 Best Things to Do in Hoi An Vietnam

A Guide for Successful Solo Travelling to Bali

A Guide for Successful Solo Travelling to Thailand

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