Potential risks
In late March, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen from Pham Ngu Lao ward (Hai Duong city) began her solo trip to explore Italy. Having experience traveling in Europe, she felt quite confident. However, during her journey from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome to her hotel, she was pickpocketed, losing all of her 3,000 USD in cash. “I was lucky because my identification documents and bank cards were kept in a different compartment of my bag. If I had lost my bank cards, I don't know how I would have covered my travel and accommodation expenses. Losing my identification documents would have meant contacting the embassy in the host country for assistance. The procedures are very troublesome and time-consuming,” Ms. Huyen said. Throughout the rest of her trip, Ms. Huyen was always cautious, wearing her bag in front of her chest.
Recently, Mr. Vu Minh Hai, Head of the Operations and Synthesis Department of the Hai Duong Market Management Bureau, took advantage of the weekend to visit Mount Wutai in Chi Linh City. Unlike Ms. Huyen, he didn't lose any money but got lost in the forest. "This is my third time climbing Mount Wutai. If you think that because you've been there so many times you can't get lost, you're mistaken," Mr. Hai said.
On previous trips, Hai went during the dry season, and the trails left by the local people in the forest were easily followed. This time, however, he went during the rainy season, landslides erased the trail, and the dense vegetation made navigation much more difficult. "I struggled for almost two hours. Getting lost alone in the forest was quite worrying. That day, I was also careless and didn't bring any food," Hai said. Afterwards, he climbed back up to the mountaintop, re-evaluated his direction, and found his way down to the Ngu Dai Son temple.
Besides the risks of theft, getting lost, accidents, or life-threatening situations, some tourists, especially women, may also experience sexual harassment when traveling alone.
Thoroughly equipped
Solo travelers often seek out unspoiled, novel places. Some enjoy adventurous travel, both domestically and internationally, such as cave exploration , mountain climbing, and skiing. Transportation options include motorcycles, motorbikes, cars, trains, buses, airplanes, and even... walking.
Traveling solo allows them to be in control of their schedule and explore freely. In particular, facing uncertainties is also an exciting experience for them; overcoming challenges leads to personal growth and is a way to express their individuality.
However, according to Vu Minh Hai, solo travel must stem from genuine passion, avoiding simply following trends. "Only with true passion can you see the hardships and difficulties as joys and experiences," Hai said.
Experienced solo travelers say that before deciding where to go, you need to thoroughly research your destination, including the local culture and customs, safety levels, especially for women... "Information on the internet is vast and free, so take advantage of it to find out as much detail as possible. Or, if you know someone who has traveled there before, that's even better. They will be your guide," said Mr. Le Van Dien from Kinh Mon town, a passionate traveler.
Furthermore, when traveling alone, valuables should be kept safe. To avoid theft, it's best not to bring too many valuables. Cash, bank cards, and identification documents should not be kept together; keep photocopies of necessary documents or photos of your passport and ID card on your phone. This will make it easier to apply for a replacement passport, verify your identity with the embassy or local authorities for assistance.
When traveling abroad, you need to buy a SIM card for the country you're visiting. In emergencies, you can call the police or seek help. Find out or ask hotel staff for emergency contact numbers such as: hotel phone number, police, ambulance… In addition, a phone with internet access will allow you to 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 on trips, especially when traveling alone, insurance will be essential.
LE HUONGSource
![[Image] Close-up view of the 10-lane road connecting to Long Thanh Airport](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/04/04/1775291871988_ndo_br_1-resize-5690-jpg.webp)
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