Vietnam is one of the countries to be found on the backpacker trail through South East Asia, which is also known as the Banana Pancake Trail because of the popularity of that sweet breakfast treat among the backpackers. Over recent years, there really hasn't been a shortage of backpackers keen to explore this country, with the relatively low cost of traveling and exploring, combined with a good travel network helping to make Vietnam a particularly popular option.


Solo travelers may like spending time by themselves, but no man is an island, and when you do find the need to talk to other like minded people, meeting other travelers is usually the easiest option.

 

Stay In Hostels

Hostels are naturally the most social type of accommodation, both because you will usually be staying in a dorm bed with other travelers, but also because you will be relaxing in the communal social areas and even sharing food in the communal kitchen too. This is not usually a chore for most people, as the accommodation is cheap and cheerful, and you will often find people who are looking to share a trip or experience, or people who want to save money by sharing food costs too.

 

Take Walking Tours

There is often no better way to find out about the character of a destination than by seeing it on foot, and there are plenty of options for walking tours, from those that explore cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, up to those that take a tour of some of the most beautiful scenery the country has to offer.

A walking tour provides a shared experience that you can discuss with other travelers, while the type of walking tour that will appeal to you will usually also attract other people with similar interests.

 

Travel On Public Transport

Getting around the country is a vital part of any journey, and solo travelers will want to keep their budget reasonable, which means that the train and bus network of Vietnam will be at the heart of the trip. Opening up and talking to people as you travel will not only help you meet people, but it will also help to make the journey more enjoyable, and because solo travelers will often stick out on public transport, finding someone else to talk to is often straightforward.

 

Join Travel Forums Before You Travel

Social media and online forums are great tools if you are planning to head to Vietnam, and whether you use a site such as Travbuddy designed to help you to meet people to travel with, or those that just help you find a few people that will be there at the same time, it is good to have someone to meet while you are there. This can help you to get to know people a little before you agree to meet them, and may give you an idea about whether or not they are interested in the same things as you.

 

Be Gregarious And Flexible

Meeting new people and making friends will often happen at short notice, and if you get a good vibe from someone and like their idea about a particular activity, be flexible and join them if the invite is available. While this doesn't mean dropping your kayaking experience in Ha Long Bay for a day on the beach, being a little flexible with your schedule can lead to experiences that you may not have been expecting, and help you make some new friends too.

 

Stay Safe And Use Your Common Sense

While making friends is a great thing, try not to be too reckless, and if something doesn't feel right, then it is your option to simply say no, and to return to somewhere you feel more comfortable. Not all people in Vietnam are going to be of a like mind, and getting drunk or doing something foolhardy with somebody you don't know can lead to an experience you will want to forget.