The Solo Female Traveler's Guide To Vietnam • The Blonde Abroad

Updated: February 2020

Vietnam is a wonderful country for solo female travelers as there are plenty of areas where women can explore, indulge and relax throughout the region.

Whether you prefer to eat your heart out, embark on an adventure on the back of a motorbike or want to relax at a five-star resort, I’ve got you covered. I spent weeks traveling Vietnam solo, meeting new friends, and learning more about the local cultures throughout the country.

I firmly believe that solo travel for women is one of the best ways to learn about yourself and the world. Taking a solo trip is a fantastic way to grow. And when it comes to solo travel destinations, Vietnam is one of the best places to travel solo!

Here’s my solo female traveler’s guide to Vietnam!

Where to Go in Vietnam

Vietnam is a country that is famous for its spectacular long coastline and there are some amazing spots to relax, as well as explore.

One of the most impressive spas to be found along the coast is the stunning Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, which is located in a superb location with a wonderful beach and stunning views of karst formations similar to those found at Ha Long Bay.

Ha Long Bay is also a popular destination for a truly unique experience. Book your stay on a junk boat cruise and sail through limestone islands that reach for the heavens.

North Vietnam

In the north of the country, the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi is a beautiful city for great shopping and eating. It’s also a great hub between Ha Long Bay and northern towns such as Sapa.

If you’re interested in having clothes made, the best city to go to is the coastal city of Hoi An. The ancient town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and reflects a well-preserved port town from the 15th to 19th centuries.

South Vietnam

If you are heading to South Vietnam, the beautiful bay of Ke Ga has gorgeous beaches and the stylish Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa is a great place to truly unwind.

And definitely don’t miss the hustle and bustle of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), the largest city in Vietnam. With both historical and cosmopolitan areas, there’s so much to explore!

Enjoy the Best of Vietnamese Cuisine

Another reason to travel to Vietnam is to enjoy the local food and, while many areas have a lot of international cuisines, it is well worth seeking out some of the restaurants serving the fresh and spicy tastes of Vietnamese food.

Aside from restaurants, be sure to eat plenty of street food while traveling through Vietnam. Street vendors serve up steaming bowls of Pho and other delicious noodle dishes. Be sure to check out travel blogger, Legal Nomads, who has written extensively about her solo travels in Vietnam and experiences with the unforgettable cuisine.

Helpful Tip: Don’t forget translation cards with you if you have any food allergies, and brush up your Vietnamese cuisine ahead of time so you know what to order.

Experience Vietnamese Culture

After being pampered and tasting the best of Vietnamese cuisine, make sure that you make time to enjoy some of the traditional cultural experiences of the country.

One particularly amazing experience is a 3-day homestay tour in Sapa, Vietnam. With a female guide, you’ll explore the Vietnamese highlands by motorbike, stay with local families and learn to cook traditional meals.

The chance to enjoy some ‘Quan ho‘ singing is also one of the best ways to get a taste of the local culture. It is sung by a quartet of singers, with two girls singing the first line, before being responded to by two male singers.

This is particularly common during Tet, which is the Vietnamese New Year. Watching this performance on the gondolas of Hoan Kiem Lake is a great way to enjoy this cultural event.

Seeing a water puppet show is another cultural experience worth enjoying, where the puppets are held above water and manipulated by long poles beneath the water, which are operated by experienced puppeteers. These puppets are beautifully painted, and the art form is recognized as a key part of the country’s heritage.

Whatever your travel style, Vietnam has something for every solo female traveler!

The Ultimate Solo Female Travel Guide

Solo travel for women can be challenging — I’ve learned so much over the years (and I’m continually learning!). I put together this comprehensive guide to solo travel destinations and taking solo trips so you can better prepare for your next trip!

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Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

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Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

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January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

Sun-drenched mornings, salty air, and the kind of place that makes you instantly exhale @waldorfastoriacostarica ✌️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Our stay at this brand-new property was truly a dream — sweeping ocean views, elevated design, and more pools than I’ve ever seen at a hotel in my entire life.

From award-winning wellness to coconuts by the pool, every detail felt thoughtful and intentional.

🧖‍♀️ The Spa
Recently named Costa Rica’s Best Resort Spa, this sanctuary blends modern wellness with local healing traditions — volcanic mud rituals, rainforest-inspired therapies, and grounding treatments that leave you floating.

🛎️ Amenities
World-class service, beachfront access, a stunning collection of pools (truly — endless), curated experiences, and those sweet elevated touches everywhere you turn. Newly opened, yet already operating like a seasoned 5-star icon.

💦 Kids’ Club
One of the coolest spaces for littles — crafts, games, toys, and outdoor play areas that made traveling with Oliver feel easy (and fun for him, too).

🥥 The Food & Coffee
Fresh, locally sourced Costa Rican flavors with elevated execution. Oceanfront bites, poolside snacks, handcrafted coffee experiences, and yes… plenty of coconuts.

🌿 Sustainability
Proud holders of the Bandera Azul Ecológica for conservation and environmental efforts — luxury and responsibility beautifully intertwined.

We truly cannot wait to come back. ✨

If you’re looking for a luxury, family-friendly escape in Costa Rica — this is your spot.

A huge thank you to @waldorfastoriacostarica for hosting us on this sunshine-soaked getaway.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#costarica #waldorfastoria #luxuryfamilytravel #familytravel

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A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

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A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

My favorite smart features of my old home! 🏠
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
I put a lot of thought and design into my home, so I knew I had to get curated, high-tech window shades to match.

Enter @rollishades — sleek, custom motorized shades that actually elevate the space while solving the very real sunlight problem. From light-filtering to blackout options, everything is tailored to fit perfectly and controlled with the touch of a button (or app). It’s the kind of smart, intentional design that makes a home feel finished. 🪟🤍

I easily installed these in my guest bedroom and let me just say, when guests come over, they’re getting what feels like a hotel experience in my home (minus the room service).
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#gifted #homedesign #interiorinspo #smarthome #rollishades

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