What is Vietnam like?

[liv9993]

Would you recommend for a female solo traveller?
Where did you like and dislike?

It feels safe. I felt it was too touristy for me, I felt like a walking dollar, the people were incredibly polite but few genuine non-money based interactions. Depends what you’re after.

Did you do ha giang loop?

No - I don’t like motorbikes - I know of too many fatalities but if you do like motorbikes - everything I’ve read about it sounds amazing

Yes fine for solo female but I don't know anything about a motorbike loop. There was a motorbike accident that led to death of a British woman 4-5 months ago on some popular motorbike route. I would check what latest advice is for motorbikers; foreigners can't even hire a car in VN AFAIK, motorbike hire is some kind of loophole.

Yes I would recommend it. Beautiful weather and people, lovely cities and towns and delicious food.

Hoi An was my favourite place.

Perfectly safe, lovely friendly people, terrible traffic, Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island are beautiful.

My DD went to Vietnam with a female friend a couple of months ago and DH and I went last year.

It felt very safe to me so I wasn’t unhappy about DD going it alone for a few days.

The usual rules apply about being sensible obviously. Stick to the touristy areas and you’ll be fine.

Hoi An is one of my favourite places I’ve ever visited. As PP have said, stick to the tourist trails. I didn’t feel unsafe there but was with a group.

I cycled round Vietnam with a couple of female friends. We went to some very remote bits in the north near china. Always felt safe but communication was a bit of an issue and some of the food quite dodgy. It’s beautiful though and an assault on the senses.

Hue with it's old imperial city and Hoi An are amazing places! We found the people to be such lovely people.
If you are thinking of riding a motorbike there, please think carefully about it because the roads are bad there, the road accident rate is very high and your travel insurance would likely not cover being on those roads.

I've been all over. It feels very safe - I haven't been solo, but as a woman I'd be happy to go alone. Scams, yes, but violent crime or harrassment by men, no.

I know a few people who've done the loop - I'd recommend an easy rider unless you're a confident biker, heard of too many accidents.

It's a beautiful country with really nice people and some incredible views. My favourite parts were Ninh Binh and Hue.

What is your rough plan for a Vietnam trip?

I went 20 odd years ago and last year. It has changed beyond recognition in that time and unfortunately I do think it is overtouristed and that can really affect your experience. There are a LOT of tourists - many from other Asian countries and/or in large groups.

We had a good trip last year nonetheless but I had to plan it carefully based on avoiding the worst crowds and day trip tours and polluted areas. For example we avoided the main area of HaLong Bay because it’s too busy and polluted, went to Bai Tu Long instead. In Ninh Binh we made sure we saw the sights early and late to avoid day trip crowds. In Hoi An we did go in the evening and found it far too heaving, mornings were better. Didn’t go to SaPa because of so many reports of being followed by begging/hassling women and children - we went to Bac Ha instead which was great but doesn’t have the same scenery (but does have great markets). Didn’t go to Phu Quoc because it’s now covered in theme parks and international hotels and that would make me cry when I remember the pristine rural island we visited years ago.

I suspect it’s a better experience if you didn’t go 20 years ago!!

They have fantastic Vietnamese food.

Dd did that recently & loved it