Is it difficult for women to travel alone?

UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF THROUGH TRAVEL

Travel blogger Ha La La (Bui Viet Ha) shared that after experiencing many setbacks in life, she needed to embark on a trip to refresh herself. Ha decided to travel to South Korea alone in 2017. Difficulties such as language barriers and cultural differences at that time could not stop the 32-year-old woman from taking her first trip.

"If I hadn't gone to South Korea that spring of 2017, I probably wouldn't be the Viet Ha I am today." This pivotal trip helped her overcome her fears and embark on a new journey. Ha believes that she only learns new things through travel. In particular, exploring new lands has helped her understand herself and her aspirations better.

The female travel blogger asserts that she doesn't travel to count the number of countries or to check in at popular destinations. The most important thing Viet Ha always keeps in mind for each trip is: "I go to different lands, live in different environments, meet different people, to learn and explore the culture, architecture, and landscapes of those places."

IS IT SCARY FOR WOMEN TO TRAVEL ALONE?

When asked if she was ever afraid of traveling alone, Ha La La simply replied, "I used to be scared before the trip. But once I made the decision, I wasn't afraid anymore."

Many people believe that women traveling alone is extremely difficult due to the numerous risks involved. She shares ways to "minimize" the risks of solo travel with Travellive Magazine readers.

1. Don't put yourself in an awkward position.Aside from unexpected situations, you have complete freedom of choice regarding where you go, who you meet, and when you travel. For example, Ha wouldn't go to a place too late at night or go to a place alone if she felt unsafe. When staying in a hostel or homestay, she takes the opportunity to connect with other guests.
2. It's a good idea to proactively learn about the culture and lifestyle of the local people in the place you're visiting.When visiting "sensitive" areas, you shouldn't dress too conspicuously or differently from the locals. "Be as normal as possible to avoid drawing too much attention to yourself." In some cases, this is a way to "avoid getting yourself into trouble."
3. Accept whatever happens with equanimity.If we view problems as opportunities to learn new lessons, we will discover how adaptable and skillful we are at handling situations. You will "test" your quick thinking when faced with a difficult and unexpected situation.

Viet Ha cited the example of losing her phone during a trip to Laos. Instead of being upset, she chose to accept the reality and find a solution. She contacted people in Vietnam to lock her accounts and secure her personal information. Then, she bought a new phone to continue her journey. She believes that we shouldn't let difficulties during a trip cause us to miss out on the beautiful moments ahead.

So, what advice is there for a solo trip? Ha La La shares: "Choose a level from easy to difficult, near to far, domestic to international, etc. You can start by trying out places with similar cultures and languages, then challenge yourself by gradually upgrading and expanding your scope. The best way to improve your problem-solving skills is to be willing to take risks, but only within reasonable limits. Sometimes, to learn great lessons, we have to sacrifice something significant."

HOW TO BE "ALONE BUT NOT ALONE"

Finding people with similar interests and travel tastes is something Viet Ha feels very fortunate about on her journey. These chance encounters can also give her the opportunity to get to know and befriend them. Below are three more ways Viet Ha has used to find travel companions.

1. Always pay attention to the people you're traveling with on the roads. tourist transportationCoach buses, subways, airplanes, etc., because they will have the same destination or the same purpose of the trip.
2. Style of dress, demeanor, speech, language:It's one of the "signs" to recognize a genuine backpacker. For example, Ha struck up a conversation with a guy struggling with a heavy backpack on his shoulder.
3. Choose to stay in a hostel or homestay instead of a hotel:When choosing these two models, solo travelers can easily meet other people with similar travel styles, or perhaps even find a travel companion.

Even on longer trips, Viet Ha still finds ways to find travel companions. While they may not accompany her for the entire journey, they can be by her side for a short distance. Thanks to this, Ha has met many fellow travelers, as well as locals, gaining numerous experiences and unique stories that she often shares on her blog.

For Viet Ha, a dream trip is one where you always have a travel companion. She gives an example: "Upon arriving at the airport, two people can help each other with luggage and take turns guarding their bags so the other can rest." More importantly, travel expenses can be shared with a travel companion. At the end of the day, you'll also have someone to confide in and share personal feelings with.

PUT ASIDE YOUR PREJUDICES, PACK YOUR BAGS, AND GO!

Viet Ha said she has been to India three times, each time for a month. The first time was in 2019, and the two subsequent times were in May and August 2022. When asked why she decided to go to India again after only 3 months, Viet Ha shared: “I have been to India three times, visiting different regions in this vast country, almost 10 times the size of Vietnam, but I haven't fully explored and understood this 'subcontinent' yet.”

Ha La La said that many people have quite negative prejudices about India regarding hygiene, security, and the people there. They believe that traveling in a country with over a billion people is unsafe for women. Ha doesn't consider those views to be true and often questions them in return, then begins to travel the world to "verify" the truth through her own personal experiences.

If she hadn't been determined to go out there, she would never have known that prejudices were distorting her worldview. She said that educated men in India also understand that there are certain prejudices imposed on the majority, so they always try to help as many women as possible when they come to the country. "When I was sick in the mountains, two men escorted me back to the capital. Even after arriving in the capital, they continued on for a while longer to take care of me and escort me all the way to my destination," Viet Ha said emotionally as she recalled the story.

For Viet Ha, the most objective perspective comes from experiencing specific situations firsthand. She forms relationships through personal interaction and feelings, unaffected by anyone else. "I won't miss any opportunity to connect with a person and understand them just because others have preconceived notions about them," Ha shared.

"If you look at someone and feel fear, you'll never see the good in them." Ha confided that she received care and help from two Indian men because she hadn't held any preconceived notions from the beginning. Thanks to meeting such kind people, her prejudices gradually began to fade away.

Perhaps it is because of this way of thinking that Viet Ha has met kind and lovely people on her journeys of discovery. Speaking with reporters, Ha La La shared that in the future, she still hopes to share more useful and positive values ​​with the community through her activities and stories.

Bi Le