Backpacking Vietnam Solo: My First Independent Adventure in Two Years
Hello from Vietnam! It's been a while since my last personal update, and there's no better time than now—my first solo trip in two years.
"Two years since my last true solo journey?" I wondered, pinpointing my previous adventure to February 2017 in Ecuador, the second-to-last South American country on my list (I've visited Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia—Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname aren't priorities, leaving Brazil). Technically, I started solo in September 2017 from Germany to France for the Camino de Santiago, but the pilgrimage's social nature meant little alone time over three weeks, so it doesn't fully count. All subsequent trips involved companions. Another solo adventure was overdue.
Why Vietnam?
Friends were surprised by my "winter escape" choice, but Vietnam has topped my travel list for years. In 2011, during my first Asia trip, I planned to include it but traveled spontaneously—lingering in Thailand and Malaysia, then rushing to India, leaving just three weeks for Vietnam amid remote work. No rushing for me; I deferred it, along with the Philippines, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Three years later, life detoured me again, ticking off only the Philippines.
In fall 2016, I planned a Vietnam start, but U.S. immigration rescheduled my Green Card interview to early January 2017 in Germany. Plans scrapped—again. This winter, Vietnam was an easy choice!
Hitting the Reset Button
Traveling solo in Southeast Asia after four years feels liberating. My last solo here was 2015, post-breakup, escaping New York's winter—much like now, minus the heartache. Key difference: I'm no longer nomadic. I packed for this finite trip, retiring my 65L backpack from 2010 for a new one (loving it so far). Packing light? Still not my forte—I aimed for a 40L carry-on but upgraded wisely.
Pre-trip hesitation was real: settled in New York with rent piling up unused (first time paying for an empty home), plus time-off concerns. But my location-independent income prevailed. Booking felt right—and I'm thrilled I did!
Beyond escaping winter and exploring, it's a reset from New York's frenzy—time for reflection on life, relationships, and the past year. After a decade of unstructured travel, city life adapted quickly, but the pause urge hit hard, echoing my 2017 Camino departure after just three New York months.
Traveling Solo
I didn't solo travel until my thirties, assuming I needed company. Wrong—I thrive alone, dictating my pace, meals, and social vibe. I savor solitude, rarely lonely thanks to constant connections via WhatsApp. New friends always emerge.
Connectivity has evolved since 2011: no WhatsApp then—just Facebook posts or emails. Now, I video-chat beaches live, even ocean-side WiFi strong enough for New York bedtime calls (my morning). Tech joys aside, I miss serendipitous discoveries sans Google Maps.
Southeast Asia's Evolution
Travel and Asia have transformed. Remote beaches now bustle with paved roads, Chinese tourists, jet skis, and pop-up eateries. Smartphones ubiquity—from fishermen to village kids—marks change. Cities like Saigon lose colonial charm to skyscrapers amid constant construction noise.
I've evolved too: no longer wide-eyed, with a bigger budget. My 2011 $10 Bangkok flop (Lonely Planet faithful) was fun but outdated. Frugal still, I splurge smarter—flashpacker, reluctantly. Halong Bay luxury beats backpacker boats.
Regaining My Travel Mojo
I slip into road life effortlessly: unpack explosively, scout veggie spots and cafes, explore, plan, move on. Two months feels rushed with an end date—unlike open-ended nomad days. Some spots begged more time, but Vietnam's vastness pulls me forward.
Post-2017 travel fatigue faded; prep reignited passion—new gear, route plotting. Arriving felt dreamlike, gratitude amplified by New York friends' limited vacations.
More Vietnam posts soon—follow on Instagram.
