Stories of Vietnamese women who inspire travel.

Looking back at the early milestones of travel, we see that most of them bear the names of men: In 1492, Christopher Columbus's expedition discovered America; Yuri Gagarin was the first person to fly into space 55 years ago; and the first person to discover Son Doong Cave in 1990 was a man from Quang Binh named Ho Khanh... These early discovery milestones showed no trace of women. Only recently has international media begun to pay more attention to the wave of travel, adventure, and exploration by women.Lexie LimitlessThe 23-year-old American woman has officially been listed in the Guinness World Records as the youngest person in history to have traveled to all sovereign countries.

But there's no need to look far for inspiration; in Vietnam, the trend of independent travel – solo travel – among women is already happening, subtly and persistently, perhaps without us fully realizing it.

These women inspire independent travel.

First, let's take a look around social media with Travellive and discover some female celebrities.solo travelerViet, with his unique journeys and stories, currently attracts thousands of followers.

Nhi Dang

Nhi DangNhi Dang is a familiar figure in the travel community. This female travel blogger once left her 8-hour office job to follow the call of her feet and became an inspiration for many women to live freely and do what they love. Those who follow Nhi Dang are likely familiar with her image as a healthy, somewhat edgy girl with curly hair. However, you can also see Nhi Dang looking gentle in a traditional Vietnamese dress, sometimes unconventional on a motorbike, or at other times in the guise of a traveler with only a backpack as her luggage. Regardless of her attire or journey, she always exudes a captivating gypsy charm and a spirit of adventure and self-discovery.

Nguyen Quynh Anh

Travel photographerNguyen Quynh AnhShe is known for her majestic yet authentic photographs of the places she visits. She often travels between European and Asian countries, or to pristine, remote areas. Through her photographs, one can see a free and expansive spirit of nature, but at the same time, a close connection to the local culture.

Bui Viet Ha

A passion for travel, a willingness to challenge one's limits, and a desire to enjoy life's values ​​through travel... these are powerful sources of inspiration for modern Vietnamese women.Bui Viet HaBui Viet Ha, one of the early travel bloggers in Vietnam, is perhaps the quintessential example of this lifestyle. Adventurous trips to remote and harsh places are a common highlight of this woman's solo travel journey, and not many people know that Bui Viet Ha also has a family and young children.

To balance work, family, and travel, Bui Viet Ha says it used to be a difficult challenge, but now she is confident she can balance all three. “Regarding work, I chose a job that allows me to manage my time and work location flexibly. Regarding family, I'm fortunate to always have my parents and family supporting and taking care of my young son during long trips. And when I travel, I choose to go slowly, experience more, and be proactive and flexible with my time so that if unexpected work comes up, I still have enough time to handle it before continuing my journey.”

Nguyen Thuy Trang

Speaking of female travelers from Generation Z,Nguyen Thuy TrangShe's a name that can't be ignored. This young woman, born in the 1990s, first gained attention on social media with her 600-day solo backpacking trip across Southeast Asia. Since then, Trang has continued to captivate her followers with interesting travel experiences and helpful tips on life and work skills.

Being an energetic and outgoing person, when asked about how she got into solo travel, Trang happily said: "I didn't choose solo travel, solo travel chose me. I really enjoy traveling in groups, but it's difficult to find travel companions who have the financial means, health, passion, and time to go on a long trip... That's why I decided to travel alone."

Many people questioned Trang's safety, given that she was a woman with limited foreign language skills yet "dared" to embark on long backpacking trips, traveling to many unfamiliar countries alone. Ignoring all the negative judgments, she set her sights on traveling for herself. "After traveling alone quite a bit, I realized it was a wonderful and meaningful experience that changed my mindset, personality, and worldview. I had more time for myself, not being caught up in other people's schedules and emotions."

Why do women "have" to travel alone?

For a long time, the world has assumed that solo travel, especially adventurous and exploratory trips, is quite dangerous and only popular with men, or very "tough" and courageous women. That's an outdated view, and it's time to reconsider it.

"I've known and talked to quite a few petite Vietnamese girls who, at first glance, seem delicate and frail, but they all have their own solo travel experiences," said Bui Viet Ha. "Perhaps it's because the percentage of Vietnamese people traveling solo is still low, or maybe those girls keep their trips to themselves and haven't written down stories that resonate with the community and reach a wider audience."

According to Bui Viet Ha, solo travel is a very authentic journey of self-discovery, an opportunity to accumulate life experiences. "On each trip, I always approach it with the mindset of a blank sheet of paper, without judgment, open to embracing new things. But perhaps the greatest gain for me is discovering new and different aspects of myself, learning to accept and love myself."

But is this style of travel suitable for all Vietnamese women?

When Travellive posed this question, Bui Viet Ha readily cited examples from... history. "Vietnamese women from ancient times have not only been 'loyal, capable, virtuous, and graceful,' but also very strong, daring, and have become heroines recorded in history," she said. "For me, behind a woman's petite appearance lies strength. Therefore, naturally, they are perfectly suited for independent, solo trips."

"Solo travel itself gives women more experience in handling situations, breaking free from ingrained barriers and cultural norms to live and express themselves more," Bui Viet Ha added.

Is traveling alone really dangerous?

Many people think that solo travel means going to faraway, new places and experiencing many dangerous challenges, but in reality, a short trip, even a few tens or hundreds of kilometers from home, is already a solo trip. "Solo travel isn't something scary or terrifying that needs to be taken to extremes. Whether traveling far or near, especially for women, it's always necessary to have basic knowledge and prepare thoroughly to deal with unexpected situations," shared Nguyen Thuy Trang.

On every trip, you may encounter countless difficulties, but you can absolutely minimize them with thorough preparation and a steely resolve to overcome them. Speaking about an unfortunate incident during a trip, Trang recounted her experience of her car breaking down during a major storm in Phu Yen: "I had to walk 10 km through thunder and lightning, and my phone almost died. That was a moment when I felt so insignificant before Mother Nature. However, the more I travel and the more difficulties I encounter, the calmer I become, and instead of blaming others, I accept the situation and find solutions."

Another issue that women are particularly concerned about when traveling is how to protect their "beauty" during each trip. For Bui Viet Ha, she considers herself a natural person, loving simple beauty and feeling most comfortable without makeup. "I wouldn't miss out on or lose opportunities to have the best experiences on challenging journeys just to maintain my appearance. For me, such trips don't come around often, and taking care of my appearance is a lifelong endeavor, not something that happens overnight."

However, during her trips, Bui Viet Ha still tries to protect her skin and body in the most suitable and comfortable way, such as bringing a scarf to keep warm or shield from the sun, applying sunscreen thoroughly in cases of high exposure to radiation in high mountains or dry climates, or carrying a few tubes of sunscreen.skincareon journeys that aren't too harsh...

CONCLUSION

What is the most effective advice, motivation, or inspiration for young women who are passionate about exploration but lack the courage to pursue it?

The answer lies within your own thoughts.

“The scariest things are all in each person’s mind. I always feel I will regret it if I don’t do what I want now, because when I’m over 50, even with finances, status, and many children and grandchildren, I won’t be content, because I didn’t experience the things I longed for in my youth. The world is vast, and only women who dare to live and pursue their passions can fully appreciate the scenery out there and truly understand their own hearts,” shared Nguyen Thuy Trang.

Huyen Chau