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how much money and time do i need to travel around vietnam?

i am considering travelling solo around vietnam next year. i was wonderign roughly how much i will need to save, not including airfairs. for accom, transport, sightseeing etc. i won't be buying many souveneirs, and i am happy to travel without much luxury. i will be 17/18 female when i go, will it be easy for me to get around? are the trains easy to travel on and buy tickets for? any other tips? thank you!

viet nam is very easy if you stay on "the tourist trail" . its safe and fun.. and cheap if you dont mind living the simple life. you can get good clean safe rooms for $5-$20 a night depending on what city your in... good food at less than $5 a meal. there are certainly more luxurious opptions available.. the skys the limmit on that... but most backpackers i cross paths w/ go around on an open bus ticket and buget themselfs for less than $30 a day... take a little more w/ you and you can get around quicker by plane.. for LOTS of other good advice click onto "resolved questions" at the top of "viet nam general"[ this page] there are thousand of good tips and anticdotes that will help you get around... my consistant advice is carry medication , anti biotics, cold meds, dramimine, immodium... and meet and talk w/ as many people as you can, tourist , ex pats and viet namese of course....and ALWAYS BE CAUSIOUS.

Going it Alone - the Pros and Cons of Solo Travel

To some, the thought of setting off into the unknown with little more than the pack on your back and a good book for company may sound like purgatory, but others wouldn’t want it any other way. So, should you travel solo, or with others?

Both ways have their own merits, yet equally, they both have their pitfalls. Having done both, here’s my take on the pros and cons of solo travel, along with tips to successfully go it alone.

First of all, let’s get really negative.

The ‘L’ Word – It is sure to vary from person to person, but every solo traveler will experience a lonely moment or two. Its inevitable. There are ways, however, to deal with this. During these periods, endeavour to be a little more proactive. If you are in an area exposed to substantial backpacker traffic then why not book on to a group tour for the day, or check into busier accommodation such as a hostel? A quick company fix may be all that’s needed to shoo away the demons.

If, however, you do have a particularly fervent social inclination, take this into account when planning the trip. It may be wise to focus more on established backpacker trails with their boundless opportunities for intercourse er, discourse. Furthermore, whilst on the road, make it a consideration when picking accommodation to look for places that have communal areas so to increase the possibilities for interaction.

Fancy Yankee Dollars – A subject close to every backpacker’s heart. Traveling solo means spending more of them. It’s all too common for many places to charge by the room, not the amount of people. Single rooms, if on a different tariff, will not usually come in that much lower than a double. Accommodation-wise, over time it does work out more expensive to travel alone than if you were to split room costs with your companion. Its fact that leaves me feeling cheated, embittered, and generally a grumpy old man – which is probably why I find myself traveling alone in the first place. There’s sometimes the option to share with others, but if its solace you want then the bullet has to be bitten. Bah, humbug.

Beast of Burden – Like hand grenades, there are other things also made for sharing. Medical kits, toiletries, and books are but three examples. But if there is no-one to share them with, you must carry them yourself.

Safety – It’s indisputable that traveling alone may involve slightly greater risk than traveling with others – but we must keep this in perspective. There will be greater safety in numbers, but, for the solo backpacker, a few extra precautions taken on the road will reduce the risks significantly. For instance, if avoidable, don’t plan to arrive in a new location at night, travel on busy public transport – preferably with other people you have become acquainted with - and attempt to blend into your surroundings as much as feasibly possible.

Your Best Friend – You will be joined at the hip (almost literally) to your pack. Where you go, it goes. There’s no leaving it at the roadside with your buddy while you pop into shops for drinks etc, or while dashing around a station looking for the right kiosk from which to buy your next bus ticket. Forward planning is needed. Do any necessary running round with your pack safely at your accommodation – it may mean checking out transport hubs a day prior to departure, and shopping for food before you leave the guesthouse – but a little prior preparation will negate this ‘backpack handicap’ considerably.

Remember though, a solo trip is not all doom and gloom. Far from it. In my opinion, embarking on a solo trip has profound positive aspects that far outweigh the few negatives.

Ok, now’s the time for the good stuff.

Independence – In the words of Mel Gibson’s Braveheart "They can take our cheap double rooms, but they can never take our freedom!" – Well, it went something like that, anyway. The liberty that one ultimately achieves from solo travel cannot be underestimated. Unfettered and free to go where you want, when you want. No debates, no compromises. Amen to that.

Make new friends – If you are on your own, you will meet more people. It’s as simple as that. A solo traveler is infinitely more approachable than an established group. In addition - from the other side of the fence, so to speak - those on their own will be much more likely to spark up a conversation with others than if they were already engaged within their own immediate sphere.

The Intimidation Game – Not only will you meet many different people, but those you meet will be more inclined to open up in a one on one situation. It’ll aid in understanding more about the people you encounter and the places, cultures, and customs within your locale. In addition, local folk may be more inclined to invite a solo traveler to eat with them, or even to put them up for the night. It’s infinitely more likely to happen than if they were one of many in a herd of backpackers.

Hitch Without Hitches – Full buses? Not a problem. One person, with one backpack, can almost always squeeze in the tiniest of corners on transport. Also, with a little encouragement, transport staff will be generally more likely to allow 1 more to hop on than if there were at least twice as many people with twice as much baggage. This goes the same for hitching and all other means of getting yourself from A to B.

Grow – This is the biggie. By its very nature, traveling solo will also play a key role in your own personal development. Not only does the solo traveler have greater time to reflect and learn more about themselves, but this obligatory self reliance will engender a great personal confidence as you learn just how much you are capable of achieving.

Going it alone isn’t for everyone - and it does have its downsides - but hopefully this low-down will enable those currently planning a trip to make a better informed decision.

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Go Your Own Way: Women Travel the World Solo List Price: $15.95 Sale Price: $10.85 You save: $5.10 (32%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description There is nothing quite like hitting the road by yourself to awaken your senses, sharpen your mind, and build your confidence. In twenty-three beautifully crafted essays, women recount the thrills of traveling solo. Despite threat-assessment levels and airport-security hassles, women of all generations are traveling more freely and independently than ever before. In that go-for-it spirit, Go Your Own Way spans the globe: adventure diva Holly Morris finds herself lost in the jungles of Borneo, alone with her thoughts and a cold-blooded companion; Lara Triback's quest to learn the tango takes her to the late-night dance floors of Buenos Aires; Stephanie Griest finds female friends invaluable in her journey through Uzbekistan; and Amy Balfour recounts a hilarious trek up Yosemite's Half Dome. The writers in Go Your Own Way pay tribute to the empowerment of independent adventure and discovery, offering up the perfect antidote for today's climate of fear and international discord. All the while, they show that alone doesn't have to mean lonely. Features ISBN13: 9781580051996 Condition: New Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

No Strings Attached: The Savvy Guide to Solo Travel (Capital Travels) (Capital Travels) List Price: $15.95 Sale Price: $14.35 You save: $1.60 (10%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Whatever your personality serious or light-hearted, a fitness fanatic or food connoisseur, adventurous or timid, a well-seasoned traveler or a novice there is no better way for a man or woman to get to know themselves than to travel solo. Written by travel guru Leslie Atkins, No Strings Attached reveals the seductive allure of traveling on your own to see and hear more, meet and engage with new people, and best of all, get to know yourself in a way that you can t if you are surrounded by familiar people or places. No Strings Attached adventures can be as simple as an afternoon or a day tagged onto a business trip, or an entire month traveling by yourself. You can climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or flyfish on a lake in Ireland, wander the grounds of Versailles or observe birds in the Australian outback, shop on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, visit the Louvre, or explore a Native American pueblo in New Mexico. No Strings Attached shows you how to get where you want to go and how to make your solo travel a life-changing voyage. From No Strings Attached, you ll learn your personal travel style, how it will feel to travel alone, where you can go and how to get ready, what you can do, how to be safe, and how to write it all down. Contains a unique guide to journaling your journey.

Turkestan Solo: A Journey Through Central Asia (Equestrian Travel Classics) List Price: $25.00 Sale Price: $19.00 You save: $6.00 (24%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description In 1932, long before traveling in Central Asia became fashionable, Ella Maillart travelled to Russian Turkestan, bordered by China, Tibet, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Setting out from Moscow, she crossed Kyrgyzstan as far as the Tien Shan range (the Celestial Mountains). She climbed the 5,000 metre-high Sari Tor on makeshift skis, explored the legendary cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara, and crossed, solo, the freezing and hostile wastes of the Kizil Kum, the Desert of Red Sands.

Travel Alone & Love It: A Flight Attendant's Guide to Solo Travel List Price: $14.95 Sale Price: $6.43 See Reviews For This Product Description For those who are brimming with wanderlust but lacking a travelling partner, this book is the only companion needed for the trip. This traveller's aid lays out the steps for researching, planning and enjoying a successful solo journey. It explains the advantages of solo travel, how to overcome fear, deal with cultural differences, save money on food and lodging, dine alone, and meet people during a solo journey. It also addresses practical concerns, such as packing efficiently, scheduling flights, protecting belongings, and coping with jet lag. Encouraging readers to immerse themselves in other cultures, this book will provide inspiration for travellers looking for an independent journey.

Travel on Your Own: Go Now Here's How, An Adventure in Discovery, Solo Travel Can Be Fun Sale Price: $12.95   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product

Travelling Solo to France (Travel Solos) Sale Price: $3.94 See Reviews For This Product

China, Solo: A Guide to Independent Travel in the People's Republic of China List Price: $9.95 See Reviews For This Product

Solo: On Her Own Adventure (Seal Women's Travel) List Price: $15.95 Sale Price: $6.38 You save: $9.57 (60%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Back by popular demand, this second edition of Solo adds new stories to the ones readers already love—women pedaling across New Zealand, hiking in the Adirondacks, bodyboarding with dolphins off the California Coast, and driving through the northwestern United States. With plenty of alone-time to contemplate the world, the authors share their adventures, which are collectively humorous and exhilarating, suspenseful and defiant, tranquil and enchanting. Including contributors such as Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Candace Dempsey, Marybeth Holleman, Bridget Quinn, and Laura Waterman, Solo offers an inspiring collection of travel narratives that reveal the complexities of women journeying alone.

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