Three years later, this form began to become a trend with significant growth each year and accounted for 11% of the tourism market. Between 2016 and 2019, the growth rate of searches related to the keyword “solo travel” increased by 131% on Google.
This form of travel allows solo travelers to travel to different places, where every step of the journey from choosing the destination to services and activities is decided by you based on your own needs and interests. However, each travel blogger gives different definitions of Solo Travel, based on their perspective.
Ly Thanh Co - Learn to be strong when you are alone
Since 2014, Ly Thanh Co has started Solo Travel to Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and spent a month in Europe. Ly Thanh Co is attached to Solo Travel because he gets to experience the people, culture, and country in foreign countries alone.
“I think the Solo Travel trend started a long time ago. Solo Travel originated from the pursuit of stories about discovering new lands,” Ly Thanh Co replied when asked about the starting point of the Solo Travel trend.
Travel blogger Ly Thanh Co has matured after solo travel trips.
Through his Solo Travel trips, Ly Thanh Co believes that he has gained a lot of things for himself. He has become braver and more self-aware, and can plan his trips better. In addition, the trips have also given him life lessons and many new friends. However, along with the changes come many feelings of sadness when having to face difficulties alone.
“I once got lost on a train and felt very lonely because I was alone in a strange city with no one who could speak English. Every time I got sick, I had to buy medicine and take care of my health myself,” Ly Thanh Co shared.
Having gone through so many difficulties, Ly Thanh Co always received help from the locals. He also had many funny and sad experiences. Especially when he was in the Netherlands, Ly Thanh Co wanted to find a place to stay. He found a place in Amsterdam whose owner had a strange hobby. It was a 60-year-old judge who liked to be naked. His rule was that anyone entering the house had to take off their clothes before being allowed to stay.
"And I also accepted the rules because the room rate was too expensive that day so I took a risk," Ly Thanh Co shared in confusion.
Ha La La - Every country can Solo Travel
Ha La La is an architect and travel blogger, currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City. About 5 years ago, she had her first trip abroad. That was the trip that Ha planned, booked, and searched for travel experiences for herself. For Ha La La, planning a trip is an important factor, especially for Solo Travel trips.
“Actually, going Solo Travel does not mean you save more than a group travel experience and vice versa. The cost depends on your needs,” Ha La La said.
Travel blogger Ha La La has traveled to many countries by herself.
Specifically, if you choose Solo Travel to countries with developed public transport systems, it will help save on travel costs. At this time, if you travel in a group, it will depend on the location and needs of the group members, but when dividing the money, it will not cost too much. On the other hand, tourists who choose Solo Travel to travel on difficult roads, rugged terrain are forced to rent a jeep and a tour guide, so the amount of money will have to be spent a lot.
“Besides, Solo Travel can also save a lot if you can stay in a dorm, or ask to stay at a local’s house. Therefore, there is no common denominator for spending,” Ha La La shared.
According to Ha La La's perspective, before deciding to Solo Travel, young people should plan carefully. Next, equip yourself with skills in handling situations and reading maps. After that, young people should plan a self-sufficient trip in the country first. If you do not feel confident, ask the leader to plan a trip for your group of friends first and follow them to observe.
“When you are more confident, Solo Travel to domestic destinations first to improve your skills, build your confidence, and your ability to handle situations on the road,” Ha said. In addition, young people who are new to traveling should choose Solo Travel in countries around Southeast Asia, because these are places with similar cultures to Vietnam.
Tran Dang Dang Khoa - Why is Solo Travel attractive?
For Tran Dang Dang Khoa, a famous travel blogger who has traveled around the world by motorbike, Solo Travel gives him complete freedom. When traveling alone, his schedule is not tied down by anyone else. He can eat anything and experience anything he wants.
“In the 4.0 era, information can be found everywhere, inspirational stories about travel also appear a lot on social networks, so young Vietnamese people just pack their backpacks and go,” Tran Dang Dang Khoa shared when asked about the Solo Travel trend in Vietnam.
Luggage for a Solo Travel trip of Mr. Tran Dang Dang Khoa.
With the support of technology, a series of applications providing tourism services have become popular in the world, from booking airline tickets, booking hotel rooms, restaurants, to renting cars, buying sightseeing tickets... all can be done on mobile phones. This fact has indirectly impacted the development of tourism applications, more specifically, simple and quick payment right on the phone contributes greatly to increasing the number of people who can easily have their own travel trips.
“There are so many apps on phones now. Just look for apps for translation, maps, weather forecasts and prepare for your journey. Confidence in yourself is the most important thing,” he said with a smile.
Thanh Hang - Solo Travel helps introverts "go extroverted"
Thanh Hang is currently a travel blogger and editor of Travellive travel magazine in Ho Chi Minh City. She arranges her office time to ensure both work and regular travel. In particular, Thanh Hang has solo traveled to Indonesia, and most recently to Nepal.
For Thanh Hang, Solo Travel means traveling alone, without any friends or relatives. Nowadays, it is very difficult to make a date with friends or family to travel together, because each person has a different job, and the jobs have completely opposite nature and hours.
“My job has flexible hours, I can work remotely, but my friends are all office workers, they only get one day off per month, so how can we date and go on a long trip?” Thanh Hang shared.
Travel blogger Thanh Hang has learned many life skills from Solo Travel trips.
Besides, many introverts do not like to interact with others but they still have the need to explore and understand the outside world. They feel comfortable with exploring themselves and learning many things, so they can also become Solo Travelers.
Through Solo Travel trips, Thanh Hang has learned many life skills and awakened skills that she thought she would never discover if she traveled in a group. One of them is the ability to talk to strangers and make them like her and give her priority.
“I am not a good communicator and I don’t often shop at the market, but when I travel alone, I somehow always chat comfortably with the locals and even convince them to give me a significant discount,” Thanh Hang shared.
