18 year old travelling to Vietnam

[Vanillalover84]

My 17 year old son is considering travelling to Vietnam in August or September (when he turns 18), either with a friend or possibly alone. He has money saved up. Has anyone got any advice or experience to share on this? TBH I am terrified, but he will be an adult and all I can do is advise and help him prepare as best I can. He has taken long-train journeys alone in this country, but has never travelled abroad alone before 😯...

Vietnam is a safe country!
It is in the wet season in North and South of VN while dry in Central VN.
dsvn dot vn/ baolau dot com for booking trains, long distance or vexere dot com for booking buses, short distance (Use day bus instead of night bus called night flying coffin).

I would really, really reinforce that he should resist the temptation to ride a moped, even if everyone else seems to be doing it. Lots of horror stories about that - and he won't be insured if the worst happens.

I went with my friend (two females) at 18. They are well set out for tourists and the backpacker route is not hard. Honestly it is a great idea and really helped us grow up. We didn't feel unsafe.

Get him the lonely planet and rough guide so he is familiar with known scams and etiquette etc. These also help you know how to find bus routes etc. and hostels to meet other travellers.

Might be worth watching some episodes of banged up abroad/ locked up abroad also (same show, different names for it depending on country). They are fascinating and also help explain how backpackers have gotten swept up into bad situations abroad (particularly say drug smuggling) and might provide him with some good tips.

Vietnam is a great country for a first time backpacking experience. It is relatively safe, cheap and has a fantastic back packers network. He will meet loads of fellow travellers when staying in hostels.

Make sure he has backpackers insurance! Also having a copy/photo of his passport that he can access online is always reccomended.

As for rice harvest time, it will be mid Aug to early Sept in Sapa and mid Sept to early Oct in Ninh Binh (It could be earlier if some typhoon hits North).

Thanks everyone who has replied so far. Feeling less anxiety now. I used to travel alone myself at that age, but have never visited Vietnam (now tempted to go one day - sounds amazing!)...

I travelled alone in Vietnam as lone female in my 20s. I never felt unsafe. As long as he uses common sense it should be fine.

My 18 year old DS went last year and I was worried but he was totally fine and had a great time. I visited Vietnam in September and thought it was an amazing country and it felt very safe and welcoming 🙂

Agree with above, I hope he has a fab time, lots of young people travelling and easy to meet people especially in the hostels, also it's not always exactly safe here!

Vietnam is fantastic and I think mostly safe (compared to Cambodia where I did not feel especially safe most of the time). Totally agree, NO MOPEDS!

How sure are you that he isn't going to touch drugs?
Vietnam has the toughest anti-drug laws in the world and has the highest rate of execution for drug trafficking. In Nov last year it sentenced 18people to death for drugs offences including 3 international visitors.

I loved Vietnam when I was there a few years ago. I found it very safe. The only unsafe part is trying to cross the road or daring to ride a moped!