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Unlike typical backpackers who follow fixed routes, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh (29 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) chose a circular journey, exploring Vietnam from North to South, then branching off to Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and returning to Vietnam via the Ha Tien border gate. The total time for this trip was 65 days.
Tuyết Minh shared that she doesn't like planning or researching destinations in detail. Instead, she prefers to explore and experience everything in her own way.
The petite girl traveled 15,000 km in her car across four countries.
The spirit of adventure on the long road.
Starting from Hanoi, Tuyet Minh traveled north, exploring famous landmarks such as Tam Dao, Cat Ba Island, Thai Nguyen, Mong Cai, Binh Lieu, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, and Lao Cai. There, Minh conquered Fansipan peak on foot and discovered the unique cultural beauty of ethnic minority groups.
After that, Tuyet Minh turned towards Laos, beginning her journey to explore the land of a million elephants. From the Tay Trang border crossing, Minh traveled through Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, and Pakse. Along this route, Minh encountered many challenges such as bad roads, dense fog, and storms...
I arrived in Laos with great excitement.
Tuyết Minh recalled: "This stretch of road was truly a nightmare for me because I had to maintain a constant speed of 10-15 km/h, occasionally increasing it to 40 km/h on scenic sections, traversing forests, mountain passes, and passing container trucks all alone. At that time, all I wanted was to find a place to sleep, but it was incredibly difficult. From Vientiane to Pakse is about 670 km, a 15-hour continuous drive until late at night, but I didn't feel tired at all; it was like just being able to drive made me happy. But after that day, I felt exhausted, my limbs ached, my fingertips felt like they were about to fall off, and my whole body was sore as if I'd just been in a boxing match."
After conquering the 20 km stretch from 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don) to the Stungsteng border crossing, Tuyet Minh continued her journey into Cambodia to Siem Reap (approximately 300 km), a route that presented her with many challenges and unforgettable experiences.
This car has accompanied me on countless unforgettable journeys.
Minh tried to set off early to save time, but some unexpected sections of the road caused her many difficulties. As dusk fell, Minh was still lost at the edge of the forest bordering Cambodia and Thailand. Later, Minh learned that this was the disputed area around the Preah Vihear temple, where border guards frequently patrolled.
The bad road conditions, thick fog, and lack of phone signal made Minh feel anxious and scared. She didn't dare linger to take photos, but instead tried to run as fast as she could out of the area, hoping to avoid any traffic accidents and find a residential area before dark.
Kampong Phluk floating village in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
After arriving in Siem Reap, Minh found a hotel and parked her motorbike before continuing her journey by bus to Bangkok, Thailand. Her goal in Bangkok was to experience the street food and challenge herself by riding a motorbike against the traffic – a unique aspect of Thai culture. Afterwards, she returned to Siem Reap to explore the mystical Angkor temples.
Tuyết Minh's journey in Cambodia didn't stop at Siem Reap, but extended to Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Kampot. However, the weather was uncooperative throughout her time in Cambodia and Thailand. The typhoon season caused Minh many difficulties in traveling, even forcing her to cancel plans to visit several places.
Culture and cuisine are what captivate the hearts of backpackers.
Each country on her 65-day journey left a unique impression on Tuyet Minh.
In Laos, she was particularly impressed with the ancient capital of Luang Prabang. It captivates visitors with its peaceful, romantic beauty, featuring the gentle Mekong River, majestic mountain ranges, and the morning alms-giving rituals of the monks. What surprised Tuyet Minh most was the traffic awareness of the Lao people. They patiently waited at red lights, yielded to each other on the road, creating a civilized and courteous atmosphere.
Cambodia fascinates female travelers with its mysterious temples.
Cambodia once again captivates Tuyet Minh with its ancient and mysterious architectural wonders. Angkor Wat, with its magnificent temples, the ancient tree roots embracing Ta Prohm temple, and the enigmatic smile of Bayon temple transport visitors back to a thousand years of history and the mysterious stories of the ancient Khmer people.
Located on the border with Vietnam, Bokor gave Tuyet Minh the feeling of being lost in Da Lat, with its cool climate, friendly monkeys, and ancient, moss-covered temples.
A unique fried grasshopper dish.
Regarding cuisine, Tuyet Minh had the opportunity to enjoy the signature dishes of each country. She said: "In Laos, I experienced dishes similar to those in Thailand, but the flavors in Laos are perhaps saltier. I absolutely love the papaya salad with crab, so I ate it almost everywhere I went. In Laos, there's also Lao pho, made from rice flour and served with shredded roasted pork, with a light and slightly sour broth that's quite impressive."
Cambodia is known for its unique dishes such as grasshoppers and crickets fried with garlic. Tuyết Minh was captivated by the sun-dried salted clams with their harmonious spicy and salty flavor, but they also caused her a mix of amusement and frustration because she had to bite hard to open them.
Pocket guide to backpacking in Southeast Asian countries.
With a total cost of 35 million VND for the entire 65-day trip, Tuyet Minh traveled through four Southeast Asian countries, experiencing diverse routes and unique cultures. The average daily cost ranged from 200,000 to 500,000 VND, with accommodation, food, and fuel being the main expenses.
One of the most peaceful scenes of the trip.
"I chose to stay in cheap hostels in Vietnam and dorms in other countries to save money. Regarding food, I'm quite relaxed and don't force myself to save excessively. Some days I only eat one meal because I'm busy traveling, but other days I enjoy many local specialties. Fuel costs are also quite low because my Sonic motorbike is fuel-efficient, consuming only 45 km/liter. With a 4-liter tank, I can travel 170-180 km, depending on how I control the throttle," Tuyet Minh shared.
However, Tuyet Minh's journey also encountered some difficulties, especially with vehicle registration at the Lao border. Because the vehicle was not registered in her name, she ran into trouble and had to persuade officials to allow her to bring the vehicle into the neighboring country.
The Sonic scooter, which Tuyet Minh jokingly calls her "horse," has successfully completed its journey across these four countries.
Despite the difficulties, Tuyet Minh felt incredibly fortunate to have completed her 65-day journey without any major breakdowns. She was happy to be living her passion, pushing her limits, and receiving enthusiastic support from the backpacking community.
Based on her own experience, Tuyet Minh advises female travelers planning solo trips to prepare thoroughly in terms of transportation and personal belongings, and to avoid traveling at night. She also reminds everyone to always maintain an optimistic spirit and be ready to face the challenges along the journey.
