Risks of traveling alone

A Hai 1 — Having conquered Everest Base Camp (EBC) - the first stop on the journey to Mount Everest in the Himalayas, Vu Minh Hai got lost while climbing Ngu Dai Son mountain in Chi Linh city (photo provided by the character)

Potential risks

At the end of March, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen in Pham Ngu Lao ward ( Hai Duong city) started her solo journey to explore Italy. Because she had experience traveling to Europe, she was quite confident. However, while traveling from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome to her hotel, she was pickpocketed and lost all the cash of 3,000 USD she was carrying. “I was still lucky because my ID and several bank cards were kept in another compartment of my bag. If I lost my bank card, I don’t know what I would use to pay for travel and accommodation. If I lost my ID, I would have to contact the Embassy in the host country for support. The procedures are very complicated and time-consuming,” Ms. Huyen said. In the next stages of her journey, Ms. Huyen always carefully carried her bag in front of her chest.

Recently, Mr. Vu Minh Hai, Head of the General Affairs Department, Hai Duong Market Management Department, took advantage of the weekend to visit Ngu Dai Son in Chi Linh City. He did not lose money like Ms. Huyen but got lost in the forest. "This is the third time I have climbed Ngu Dai Son. If you think you can't get lost after traveling so many times, you are wrong," said Mr. Hai.

The previous times, Mr. Hai went in the dry season, the local people's forest trails formed a trail so he just followed. This time, he went in the rainy season, landslides made the path disappear, and the overgrown trees made it more difficult to find direction. "I struggled for nearly 2 hours. I was quite worried about being lost in the forest alone. That day, I was careless and did not bring any food," Mr. Hai said. After that, he climbed back up to the top of the high mountain, determined the direction and found the way down to Ngu Dai Son Pagoda.

Not only are there risks of theft, getting lost, accidents or life-threatening situations, some travelers, especially female travelers, can also be sexually harassed when traveling alone.

Well equipped

People who love to travel alone often seek out unspoiled, new places. Some people like to travel adventurously both domestically and internationally, such as exploring caves, climbing mountains, skiing, etc. The means of transport can be motorbikes, large-displacement motorbikes, cars, trains, buses, planes, or even… walking.

A Dien 1 — Mr. Le Van Dien in Kinh Mon town always carries car repair tools on his exploration trips (photo provided by the character)

Traveling alone helps them to be proactive with their schedules and freely explore. In particular, facing uncertainties is also an interesting experience for them. When they overcome them, they will mature and express their ego.

However, according to Mr. Vu Minh Hai, traveling alone must come from true passion, avoid following trends. "Only with true passion can one see the hardships and difficulties as joy and experience," Mr. Hai said.

People with experience traveling alone say that before deciding where to go, you need to learn carefully about the place you will go to: culture, customs of the local people, safety level, especially for women... "Information on the internet is very wide, and it is also free, you should take advantage of it to learn as much detail as possible. Or it is better if you know someone who has traveled there before. They will be your life guide", said Mr. Le Van Dien in Kinh Mon town, a "travel" enthusiast.

In addition, when traveling alone, valuables should be kept carefully. To avoid theft, it is best not to bring too many valuables. Cash, bank cards and personal documents should not be kept in the same place; you should keep photocopies of necessary documents or photos of passports and ID cards in your phone. This will help you easily apply for a new passport, confirm your identity with the embassy or local authorities for help.

When traveling abroad, you need to buy a SIM card in the country you are going to. In case of emergency, you can call the police or call for help. Find out or ask the hotel staff for emergency contact numbers such as: hotel phone number, police, ambulance... In addition, a phone with internet will help you use Google maps, GPS, and receive messages.

Last but not least, buy travel insurance. Many people skip this step when traveling because they think insurance is unnecessary and expensive. But when traveling, especially when traveling alone, insurance is necessary.

LE HUONG

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