Girl travels solo across Vietnam on motorbike for 58 days

Ly Phuong Thanh, 23, a final-year student at Ho Chi Minh City National University, began her motorbike journey across Vietnam in mid-March. She set a goal of “going to places she has never been, and returning to her favorite places.”

Discover the beauty of Vietnam

From Long An to Ninh Thuan, the young girl traveled alone, along the coastal route of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, then turned to the Central Highlands provinces. Phuong Thanh explored Quang Binh with its majestic landscapes and caves; traveled all the dangerous but beautiful roads of the Northeast - Northwest region of the country including Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Son La..., and finally returned to the plains to visit the areas of Hanoi , Ninh Binh, Hai Phong...

Phuong Thanh on the travel road.

Phuong Thanh shared: “I have traveled to many places, explored many cultures of different countries in the world. But this time, I chose to travel across Vietnam with the desire to experience a simple life, wrapping the whole world in a suitcase and backpack.

When talking to international friends, hearing them say that they have been to many destinations in Vietnam and understand more about the S-shaped strip of land than I do, I feel ashamed so I decided to return to my homeland and make a trip across Vietnam once in my life.

Young girl conquers Ta Lien Son peak at 2,996 m high in Lai Chau.

Choosing the time to travel across Vietnam from mid-March to early May, when the weather is still cool and not too hot, Phuong Thanh brought minimal luggage, including a laptop.

Every day, she spends 2-3 hours writing her graduation thesis and working remotely for a non-governmental organization. That is also the main source of income that helps Phuong Thanh cover the travel expenses of more than 40 million VND for the trip.

The journey to discover Vietnam has never been boring and monotonous for Phuong Thanh. In every place she has been, she has found things that excite and impress her. These include the majestic mountain scenery, the endless rice fields in the North, the winding roads, the world-famous beautiful beaches along the Central region, or the gentle, hospitable people and the attractive cuisine of the Southwest region...

Check in Ganh Da Dia, Phu Yen.

Phuong Thanh said that during the journey, she was especially impressed with the cave system in Phong Nha (Quang Binh). She decided to stop and spend 9 days here to participate in trekking trips, exploring deep forests and caves. She joined the Hung Thoong cave trekking tour with a distance of 17 km, exploring 3 famous caves: Thung cave, Hung cave and Tron cave with a high level of difficulty (level 5).

“Three days and two nights without phone signal to experience nature, bathe in cool blue water in a cave, breathe in the fresh forest air, and enjoy dishes prepared by Quang Binh chefs, is truly a memorable experience” - Phuong Thanh said.

Young girl explores the cave world in Quang Binh.

During the trekking trip, Phuong Thanh was able to see with her own eyes the wild scenery, deep caves, magical stalactites with different shapes and sizes... In particular, she also got to listen to amazing stories about the process of exploring the cave system in Phong Nha, through the authentic perspective of local people.

From Quang Binh to Hue, Phuong Thanh was delighted to join a party of a local family. Here, she experienced bathing in the Perfume River, visiting the graves of the deceased or enjoying many delicious dishes typical of Hue..., enjoying life as a true child of the ancient capital.

The family of Phuong Thanh's host family in Hue welcomed her warmly.

Phuong Thanh said that the food in the Central region is cheaper than in the South where she lives. At the same time, she is always touched by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the locals, who are always ready to help when she has problems on the road.

“The journey across Vietnam made me see clearly the differences between regions of Vietnam and there, I learned many valuable lessons. I appreciate the country's landscape, culture, cuisine and people of Vietnam, wishing to preserve the traditional beauty for many generations" - Phuong Thanh said.

Safety Rules

The young girl's solo motorbike trip was not without its share of accidents and sometimes dangers. During the journey, she had a flat tire, traveled alone on the road in the dark of night, and was even a victim of harassment... The experiences helped her gain many useful lessons on each stage of the journey.

According to Phuong Thanh, tourists - especially women - should not travel alone at night. When it gets dark, they should find a safe place to rest and avoid staying out too late.

“My hosts are usually women or couples to ensure safety. I really like staying in places where I can live like a local, learn about their customs and immerse myself in their daily activities,” said Phuong Thanh.

The motorbike accompanied the girl on her trip across Vietnam.

For trekking and nature exploration trips, Phuong Thanh often chooses to join a tour with as many people as possible. According to her, this is not only safe but also helps her build more relationships, making the trip more fun and exciting.

In addition, Phuong Thanh recommends that tourists should bring basic car repair tools to use in case of problems on the road. For women who do not know how to repair cars, just prepare a bottle of gasoline to prepare for long journeys, mountain passes where the population density is sparse.

Phuong Thanh carried light luggage for 58 days across Vietnam.

The nearly two-month journey across Vietnam left Phuong Thanh with much joy and memorable experiences. She shared: “The recent trip made me love Vietnam even more, wanting to introduce the S-shaped strip of land to friends around the world. At the same time, I also want to continue to pack my backpack and go, explore lands I have never set foot on, enrich my experiences and life knowledge.”

Laodong.vn