Solo travel as a woman on a budget in Vietnam is a kaleidoscope of feelings—exhilaration, trepidation, and wonder. Japan’s meticulous streets left me starstruck, India’s sensory overload stretched my limits, and Vietnam promised a new chapter of jaw-dropping vistas and soul-warming dishes. Planning this two-week journey as a budget traveler with a drone and a thirst for culture was meticulous yet thrilling. Here’s how I turned mixed emotions into an unforgettable adventure, savoring Vietnam’s landscapes and flavors one bite at a time.
The Prep: Research and Destination Choice
Picking Vietnam was deliberate: affordable, safe for a solo woman, and bursting with cultural depth. I pored over Nomadic Matt’s budget tips and Adventurous Kate’s solo female insights, then cross-checked with vlogs—Lost LeBlanc’s Ha Long Bay drone shots, Eva zu Beck’s Hoi An lantern glow. Cheap flights materialized on Skyscanner—a $220 round-trip from L.A. to Hanoi in October’s shoulder season. For booking flights and more, I also relied on great deals from Trip.com—check out their offers below!
Accommodation Quest
Stays had to be safe, central, and wallet-friendly. Hostelworld listed $6 female-only dorms; Booking.com offered $15 guesthouses with breakfast and Wi-Fi. I vetted reviews on TripAdvisor—Hanoi’s bedbug tales were a no-go—and emailed hosts to confirm secure doors and well-lit paths, locking in a Hanoi hostel, a Hoi An homestay, and a Mekong guesthouse. For even more budget-friendly lodging options, explore the deals below!
Visas, Drones, and Insurance
Vietnam’s $25 e-Visa was straightforward via the official site, double-checked on Travel.State.Gov. My drone demanded research—Vietnam’s CAA forbids flights near Hanoi’s military zones or Ha Long’s crowded docks, so I mapped restrictions on Google Earth. Travel insurance came via SafetyWing ($40/month) after comparing options on r/solotravel—coverage for medical emergencies and cancellations was non-negotiable.
Itinerary: A Feast for the Senses
I carved out 14 days: Hanoi (4), Ha Long Bay (3), Hoi An (4), Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta (3). Blogs, vlogs, and Maps.me pins shaped my route, leaving space for spontaneity.
Packing and Takeoff Jitters
Anticipation buzzed as I packed my 40L Osprey—breathable tees, a rain poncho, my Canon EOS M50, and DJI Mavic Mini. Meds included ibuprofen, Imodium, antihistamines, and antibiotics (CDC-approved), with DEET for dengue-prone humidity after WebMD checks. I noted Hanoi’s Vinmec Hospital for emergencies.
Touchdown: Apps and First Bites
Landing in Hanoi, I grabbed Grab, Maps.me, and Google Translate, mastering “cảm ơn” (thank you). The Old Quarter’s frenetic charm—motorbikes dodging French-style balconies—hit me hard. I sipped egg coffee ($1) at Café Giang, its velvety yolk topping a caffeine kick, and walked 12k steps daily to stay fit, balancing it with water and pomelo slices.
Hanoi: Old Quarter Magic and Street Eats
Breathtaking Views and Culture
Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake was a morning gem—mist curling over red bridges, turtles bobbing near Ngoc Son Temple’s pagoda. The Old Quarter’s labyrinth pulsed with life: silk vendors, cyclo drivers, and pho stalls. The Temple of Literature’s ancient gates whispered Confucian calm amid the chaos, its courtyards a photographer’s dream.
Foods of Hanoi
I slurped pho bo ($2) from a corner shop—beefy broth, tender noodles, and a kick of chili—watching grannies fan coals. Banh mi ($0.50) followed, its crusty baguette stuffed with pate, pork, and pickled carrots, a French-Vietnamese lovechild. At night, bun cha ($3) stole my heart—grilled pork patties swimming in fish sauce, paired with rice noodles and herbs from a chatty vendor who taught me “ngon” (delicious).
Ha Long Bay: Limestone Dreams and Seafood Bliss
Breathtaking Views and Culture
A $40 overnight cruise plunged me into Ha Long Bay’s surreal beauty—thousands of limestone karsts jutting from emerald waters, their jagged peaks cloaked in haze. Sung Sot Cave’s stalactites dazzled, while kayaking revealed floating villages of weathered boats. Locals shared dragon myths, their fishing songs drifting over the water.
Foods of Ha Long Bay
Lunch was grilled squid ($4), fresh from a fisherman’s net, its charred sweetness paired with lime dipping sauce. Dinner brought ca kho to ($5)—caramelized fish in a clay pot, sticky and savory—served on deck as stars pierced the sky.
Hoi An: Lantern-Lit Charm and Culinary Art
Breathtaking Views and Culture
Hoi An’s ancient town was a fairytale—yellow walls draped with silk lanterns, the Thu Bon River reflecting their glow. The Japanese Covered Bridge, weathered yet proud, linked past and present. I pedaled to Tra Que Vegetable Village, its herb gardens fragrant with basil and mint. Tailors crafted an ao dai, their chatter revealing Tet traditions—sticky rice cakes and family altars.
Foods of Hoi An
I ate cao lau ($2)—chewy noodles, crispy pork, and greens, a Hoi An exclusive with a nutty broth. A $15 cooking class yielded banh xeo ($1 each), golden pancakes crackling with shrimp and bean sprouts. At An Bang Beach, com ca nuong ($3)—grilled fish kissed by turmeric—paired with $2 coconuts.
Ho Chi Minh City: Urban Grit and Southern Spice
Breathtaking Views and Culture
Saigon’s Notre-Dame Basilica towered over District 1, its French elegance dwarfed by motorbike hordes. The War Remnants Museum hit hard—photos of resilience amid rubble—while the Cu Chi Tunnels, 60km away, were a claustrophobic marvel, their earthen walls echoing history.
Foods of Ho Chi Minh City
I devoured bun thit nuong ($2) near Ben Thanh Market—grilled pork over vermicelli, peanuts crunching with herbs—and sipped ca phe sua da ($1), iced coffee with condensed milk. Nighttime brought com tam ($3)—broken rice with a fried egg and pork chop, tangy with nuoc cham sauce.
Mekong Delta: River Life and Fresh Bites
Breathtaking Views and Culture
A $20 tour floated me into the Mekong’s watery maze—palm-fringed canals, wooden boats laden with pineapples. Cai Rang Floating Market buzzed at dawn, vendors tossing me a $1 pomelo. Kids giggled “chào chị” (hello, sister), their play weaving into my journal.
Foods of Mekong Delta
Lunch was hu tieu ($2)—rice noodles in pork broth, topped with chives and a boiled egg—from a riverside shack. Cha gio ($1)—spring rolls with shrimp and taro—burst with flavor, dipped in fish sauce by a farmer’s wife.
Fitness and Downtime
I averaged 15k steps daily—Hanoi’s alleys, Hoi An’s beaches—plus yoga on Ha Long’s deck. I skipped late-night bia hoi, favoring herbal teas and fruit. Private time was drone edits and journaling—pho steam, lantern flickers—etched in ink.
Tech, Guides, and Culture
My Canon captured karsts; the drone soared over Mekong bends (permits via local boards). Guides—$10 cyclo drivers, $15 boatmen—came via hostel tips, their stories trumping apps. Food research on VietnamFoodTravel.com led me to pho, cao lau, and beyond, each bite a cultural thread—Tet’s banh chung, Saigon’s street hustle—woven into my blog.
Memories in Motion
Photos froze rice paddies; drone clips framed Ha Long’s majesty. My journal brimmed—fish sauce whiffs, cyclo clatter, a vendor’s grin—fueling posts that pulse with Vietnam’s heartbeat.
Vietnam was a budget traveler’s dream—raw, radiant, and deliciously alive. As a solo woman, I found my stride amid its flavors and vistas, already hungry for more.