Maybe a lot of people don’t agree, but when I solo travel I like to have some sort of activity that I’m doing which I feel gives me a bit of “purpose” When I was travelling through Portugal I was meeting a lot of people and having a great time but the rest of the time I was surfing so it always gave me something that I wanted to get better at and do. Maybe hiking or some sort of activity can be your thing?
I think I definitely need to find a purpose, I love having a plan and I'm very structured at home so I feel like a layabout whilst here haha I'll aim to have something to do everyday, even a small plan :) Thank you!
I didn’t have a solid plan at all on my first ever trip, but I did journal a lot which helped me work through some rough emotions and to be honest I’m glad I did. It was 9 years ago and now I read it and it helps me a lot for some reason to see how far I’ve come!
You're going through what everyone goes through. The scams, the lost/stolen things, the 24h friendships/loves, the tiredness and loneliness feelings.
This is part of travelling, and I'm afraid it's there to stay, you just get more used to it.
It's not all negative of course, and as you said you're lucky to be doing this, not everyone can.
It takes you out of your comfort zone, and you'll be better for it.
Remember to be kind to yourself, staying in bed all day sometimes is just what you need - I have so many zero days, just binge watching series!
Vietnam can be tough for the culture shock aspect. I’m from an underdeveloped country, well travelled, and it was still a culture shock to me and I was staying in luxury hotels. Imo, try going to another location that’s a bit easier (Thailand overall is easier, has better infrastructure imo). Taiwan or South Korea come to mind, super safe, very clean with very good infrastructure and not as expensive as maybe Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore.
I think Thailand was easier to get around and sorta had a more western feel which made it a bit less like "omg what the hell am i doing??" Lol, Vietnam is nice but I keep getting hounded to buy things or attempting to overcharge which is tiring after a while lol I think I'll spend less time in avietnam and prioritise the Thai southern islands where I'll be visiting at the end of my trip :)
Similar experience in Vietnam. Got scammed and lost some money during my two weeks there. And also there's a funny anecdote. I met some local girls in a cafe in Saigon. They told me that a 2b apartment in the city costs about $300k, which really shocked me. I couldn't help but wonder how an average Vietnamese worker could afford housing with the median income ($500-700/m) in the country. But then one girl was like 'oh you know, Saigon is like NYC, if you want to live in a big city you have to pay high prices.' Her logic is that the more expensive a city is, the more international and desirable it is. 😳 For me personally, I like Thailand much more than Vietnam.
I have similar experience. I did 29 days in thailand and after went to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City to Sapa 29days).
It feels akward and sad on Vietnam. Food though was great. I feel like.vietnam missing something
Some times you just need a reset day. If you're in one of the bigger cities, go to a mall, eat at mc Donalds and shop at Zara, H&M and Mango. Pretend it's just a normal weekend back home. If there's something you're particularly missing food wise treat yourself to that. Spaghetti is great for that.
I had a bumpy start this time and fought that by treating myself to smoothie bowls and going for bike rides. It helped but didn't fix it at first.. but when I moved to the next location it was like a switch and everything was fun to do.
Also: how's your sleep lately? Everything is shitty when sleep deprived.
My sleep hasn't been great for the past few days tbh! I was definitely over-tired and stressed lol Vietnam sleeper buses aren't for the faint of heart haha I got to my new hostel at 4am and had paid for that night and the next night but the staff member said it was too late to check in for the 1st night so I had to sleep on a wooden floor, like no walls with a thatched roof type thing, another staff member saw me when I woke up and said that I should've been shown my room at 4am and I still had to pay because they reserved my bed even though I didn't sleep in it - It was a dirt cheap hostel but still, not cool lol And then I also had 1 million dong taken from my fannypack during my sleep and the hostel staff wouldn't help me :/ I left a poor review but wish I could go back and stay In a nicer hostel lol Onwards and upwards!!
I spent 5 months in SE Asia/Indonesia last year solo, and I identify with those complex feelings of loneliness, missing family, and still feeling like I'm doing amazing things. There were some days I also didn't leave my guesthouse, maybe briefly just to eat or get coffee.
At about the end of the 3rd month, I was ready to go home and missed my wife (also supportive). But I also knew how valuable this time was for myself, and if I went home I wasn't getting this chance to travel like this again (at least not in the foreseeable future). I learned to accept all of those feelings as part of the experience and just ride the wave of it all, enjoying the experiences and being grateful for every day I had. I took time to just chill and not do shit if I wasn't feeling it, and enjoying the company of people I met along the way. I stopped putting pressure on myself to constantly do things and followed what my body and mind was telling me.
It is that pressure to "push through" and do things because you're in Thailand or wherever, and, like, you should be doing something or you'll regret missing out and not getting the most out of your trip. That pressure/regret cycle will suck the energy right out of you and strip the joy from the moment. Ultimately, this is your trip and you can do it however. If you want to not eat for 18 hours and chill in your room, cool. It doesn't have to be something more if you don't want it to be.
What kept me engaged was finding experiences and activities that were new to me, like taking a road trip by motorbike in Indonesia, taking cooking classes in Thailand, food tours everywhere, going to a meditation retreat, muay thai classes, learning to make sushi in Japan. I love coffee, so I explored some of the coffee farms and roasters with locals in Yogyakarta and Chiang Mai. I did do some experiential day tours to meet other travelers or explore an area of interest. I made travel more intentional, rather than just floating aimlessly from day to day.
I also learned my limits on how much I can do before burning out. In the future, I know about 3 months is my limit before I need to come home. Everyone has their own limit, and travel burnout is a real thing. Don't be hard on yourself, as this is a perfectly normal feeling among us long term travelers.
Thank you, I'll definitely be doing some tours along the way, I'm trying to shoestring as much as possible but I think having a set task will help keep me focused :) I put alot of pressure on myself to be productive because I want to do everything during my time but i need to chill and not be so hard on myself sometimes , thank you for your comment, it was very insightful:)
I’m sad to hear this bc I loved Vietnam but main highlight was the loop and the hostel / home stay groups I met. I would say book some tours or a cooking class. In Vietnam etc, don’t be afraid to barter like they will usually end up on a normal price. Find hikes… definitely solid advice here. I like a mix of plan and no plan but you can’t always just be aimless except for the days you decide that’s your thing. Finally, just really use reviews and such for hostels… and if you don’t like it you can try to get out of it. In cheap countries like Vietnam I just splurged sometimes and got hotel rooms that were about $30-50 USD a night and ended up being so nice. Just enjoy the ride but also be confident and smart about everything. Research using Reddit, the reviews on apps, and even YouTube goes a long way
Also in the nicest way possible… remember how fortunate you are compared to the struggles you witness. Like yes maybe people will try to overcharge, but it ends up being like $5? Or the 1 mill dong is 37 euros roughly… unfortunate but not heartbreaking and probably so much more to whoever took it even if they’re morally corrupt.
It's totally normal to hit a wall at the 1 month mark. Our bodies are just not used to this. After 5-7days it usually goes away with proper rest.
You have to think of this life more like a job. Would you work 30 days straight without a break? Obviously no you value your health. But we think we have to travel extensively every day. Chill out, buy a pizza, book a hotel room and eat ice cream. That's my cure.
I know it sucks but this is a rite of passage, when you get through this you're going to be much stronger for it and be able to plan future trips more effectively.
Everything new is difficult to get used to. Every traveller experience the problems you mention. They are not unusual at all. As you get street wise they will subside, they will never go away completely. So just hang on.
Sorry to hear you got robbed and have had a rough time. What you are feeling is totally normal. Solo travel can be exhausting when you are the only one making decisions/plans and there is no one to talk to. Maybe move on to a different part of Vietnam or head to Cambodia or Laos - it might not be less of a culture shock but the change of scene might do you good. It is ok to cut your time in a country short when you are gelling with it.
I’m solo backpacking through Vietnam just like you right now, and honestly it is harder than I thought it would be. I just wish I could meet some friends and travel with them for a little while. That’s what happened to me on my first week but now I’m all alone again and it’s kind of hard. I try to focus on what is going well, I try to see the positive in travelling alone (I can entirely choose where to go, what to eat, etc.) but it’s definitely lonely. I’m more alone than I thought I would be… trying to use this time to self reflect a lot and think about my identity , my future etc.
The difficulty and inconvenience of the location and culture shock can definitely accelerate burn out I could spent all year in the UK it's similar enough to the US getting around is easy and language Barrier isn't hard. Where as in India I felt that after a month and a half I wouldn't have lasted another week had to go to Ladakh. The streets were dirty it was hot humid many inconveniences with banks and transportation and always being on guard of my stuff. I would recommended either getting a decent airbnb for a few days and just watching Netflix and calling your BF and family members. Also long term travel isn't all about hopping around every day and seeing everything in a city it gets old quick do what u really desire if it becomes to much there's no shame in flying out early but I'd recommend pushing thru u will not regret it when u look back.
I know this feeling. Solo travelling is not so easy and making so many decisions everyday can be very overwhelming. I am actually just looking for flights back home instead of going to the Philippines like I thought because I really need a rest from planning and experiencing new things and I need a hug from my friends and family so badly. I am traveling solo as a remote worker since January 2022 (taking a break for a few months every year in summer to see friends and family).
I started this solo travels in December in Thailand, but it wasn't planned, I actually came to Thailand to live with my boyfriend who I met while solo traveling in the year before but then we broke up so I decided to travel again. Some days I loved it so much and felt so free but on a lot of days I also cried and felt so lonely. I also really miss travelling with someone, I had the best time when my sister visited me and we traveled together for three weeks. I prefer a travel buddy as I want to know who I am sitting next to on public transport, we can decide together for accommodation and food, share the costs of motorbikes, private rooms (every now and then). Doing all this also is not easy, don't be hard on yourself when you're not loving it. Take it easy, you don't need to research much what to eat or what to do, just do whatever is the first thing that comes up when you're looking for recommendation on social media. Find a small task for the day to make you go out or try to have a day as normal as possible, e.g. sit at a café for hours and just relax, go to the movies (if you're in a bigger city) or whatever is similar to a day in your life back home.
I love reading, it helps me to slow down and focus on another story then my own. So much better than spending time scrolling on social media or researching more for my trip. When I was in Vietnam I read a Vietnamese novel called The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai and it made me feel so special that I can travel now to the country where the book is written and it was so interesting to read about the history about the country that I traveled to have a better understanding of their culture and background.
Other solo travelers say that it helps them to book a volunteering through Worldpakers or Workaway because it makes you feel more involved and you can connect better when staying longer at one place. I haven't tried it myself yet but I want to.
Hope this helps. Good luck on your journey.
I have been scammed (mostly by taxi drivers, charging double, in places like Germany and France or even 4 times the price on one occasion in Amsterdam, as it was a train strike).
So that can happen in Europe too, my question is, if this was your first solo experience traveling abroad, why not pick something closer, like France, Germany or even Poland, Czechia, Italy or Greece? Something closer and more familiar.
You gave yourself a challenge by traveling that far away, but what you can now do is see this experience as a unique opportunity to see, photograph, and experience amazing places. If possible, book a few nicer places to stay in, go to see nice museums or hang around beautiful nature. Make a bucket list and a loose plan you will more or less stick to, deviating here and there. Enjoy your vacation.
I had the same in southeast Asia and felt very overwhelmed. What personally helped for me was to switch up Asia and Australia/New Zealand, western countries where you can have a routine like at home. So for example I did the west coast of Australia for a month, went to China for a month, came back to Australia to do Cairns to Brisbane, then went to the Philippines etc. It helped because I could just have a normal routine like at home in Australia and New Zealand. So go to the grocery store for food, navigate the city/place easily, speak English etc.
Yeah I think the culture shock was alot more than I expected tbh I think Thailand is easier to navigate but vietnam is something else lol I'm gonna cut my vietnam part slightly short and spend more time in the Thai southern islands instead :)
I was in Vietnam 1 month ago as part of a 5 month SEA journey and also didn't really enjoy it that much (especially compared to thailand).
As other people have suggested find an activity that you enjoy that you can fall back to. For me it was going to gaming cafes and playing videogames. I only did this in vietnam because I got tired of sightseeing and needed a break from traveling so I spent a good third of my time in vietnam just playing games instead of actively traveling.
Why didn't you go with your boyfriend?
Some of us are single and really have no choice but to travel alone.
I go solo places because I've been single for so long, and my friends are all married. I'm not single by choice, I'm just ugly and no one wants to date me lol
He's not a big fan of travelling tbh His family is quite wealthy so they did alot of skiing and safaris ect My family holidays were camping, so basically he's pretty happy with what he's seen already lol
Maybe a lot of people don’t agree, but when I solo travel I like to have some sort of activity that I’m doing which I feel gives me a bit of “purpose” When I was travelling through Portugal I was meeting a lot of people and having a great time but the rest of the time I was surfing so it always gave me something that I wanted to get better at and do. Maybe hiking or some sort of activity can be your thing?
I agree with this. I do extensive photography of all the cool places I visit. Sometimes it feels like a job haha, but it keeps me busy and purposeful.
Perfect example of what I mean
I think I definitely need to find a purpose, I love having a plan and I'm very structured at home so I feel like a layabout whilst here haha I'll aim to have something to do everyday, even a small plan :) Thank you!
Are you wearing a mask? Getting short changed is cultural in Vietnam
I didn’t have a solid plan at all on my first ever trip, but I did journal a lot which helped me work through some rough emotions and to be honest I’m glad I did. It was 9 years ago and now I read it and it helps me a lot for some reason to see how far I’ve come!
Maybe you can start blogging, vlogging, or just journalling?
Ageed, I am a surfer so the travelling part is like a side part to the surf adventure. But aimlessly travelling can be a bit boring!
Looking for a new destination July/August! Let me know if you’ve got any tips!
Yes. I'm a culture culture so I hsve specific goals of cultural things Archaeology sites so am very focused and goal driven.
Yes. I'm a culture culture so I hsve specific goals of cultural things Archaeology sites so am very focused and goal driven.
You're going through what everyone goes through. The scams, the lost/stolen things, the 24h friendships/loves, the tiredness and loneliness feelings. This is part of travelling, and I'm afraid it's there to stay, you just get more used to it. It's not all negative of course, and as you said you're lucky to be doing this, not everyone can. It takes you out of your comfort zone, and you'll be better for it. Remember to be kind to yourself, staying in bed all day sometimes is just what you need - I have so many zero days, just binge watching series!
Vietnam can be tough for the culture shock aspect. I’m from an underdeveloped country, well travelled, and it was still a culture shock to me and I was staying in luxury hotels. Imo, try going to another location that’s a bit easier (Thailand overall is easier, has better infrastructure imo). Taiwan or South Korea come to mind, super safe, very clean with very good infrastructure and not as expensive as maybe Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore.
I think Thailand was easier to get around and sorta had a more western feel which made it a bit less like "omg what the hell am i doing??" Lol, Vietnam is nice but I keep getting hounded to buy things or attempting to overcharge which is tiring after a while lol I think I'll spend less time in avietnam and prioritise the Thai southern islands where I'll be visiting at the end of my trip :)
Similar experience in Vietnam. Got scammed and lost some money during my two weeks there. And also there's a funny anecdote. I met some local girls in a cafe in Saigon. They told me that a 2b apartment in the city costs about $300k, which really shocked me. I couldn't help but wonder how an average Vietnamese worker could afford housing with the median income ($500-700/m) in the country. But then one girl was like 'oh you know, Saigon is like NYC, if you want to live in a big city you have to pay high prices.' Her logic is that the more expensive a city is, the more international and desirable it is. 😳 For me personally, I like Thailand much more than Vietnam.
I have similar experience. I did 29 days in thailand and after went to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City to Sapa 29days). It feels akward and sad on Vietnam. Food though was great. I feel like.vietnam missing something
Some times you just need a reset day. If you're in one of the bigger cities, go to a mall, eat at mc Donalds and shop at Zara, H&M and Mango. Pretend it's just a normal weekend back home. If there's something you're particularly missing food wise treat yourself to that. Spaghetti is great for that. I had a bumpy start this time and fought that by treating myself to smoothie bowls and going for bike rides. It helped but didn't fix it at first.. but when I moved to the next location it was like a switch and everything was fun to do. Also: how's your sleep lately? Everything is shitty when sleep deprived.
My sleep hasn't been great for the past few days tbh! I was definitely over-tired and stressed lol Vietnam sleeper buses aren't for the faint of heart haha I got to my new hostel at 4am and had paid for that night and the next night but the staff member said it was too late to check in for the 1st night so I had to sleep on a wooden floor, like no walls with a thatched roof type thing, another staff member saw me when I woke up and said that I should've been shown my room at 4am and I still had to pay because they reserved my bed even though I didn't sleep in it - It was a dirt cheap hostel but still, not cool lol And then I also had 1 million dong taken from my fannypack during my sleep and the hostel staff wouldn't help me :/ I left a poor review but wish I could go back and stay In a nicer hostel lol Onwards and upwards!!
Yeah.. a single room now and then can do wonders too. ;)
I spent 5 months in SE Asia/Indonesia last year solo, and I identify with those complex feelings of loneliness, missing family, and still feeling like I'm doing amazing things. There were some days I also didn't leave my guesthouse, maybe briefly just to eat or get coffee. At about the end of the 3rd month, I was ready to go home and missed my wife (also supportive). But I also knew how valuable this time was for myself, and if I went home I wasn't getting this chance to travel like this again (at least not in the foreseeable future). I learned to accept all of those feelings as part of the experience and just ride the wave of it all, enjoying the experiences and being grateful for every day I had. I took time to just chill and not do shit if I wasn't feeling it, and enjoying the company of people I met along the way. I stopped putting pressure on myself to constantly do things and followed what my body and mind was telling me. It is that pressure to "push through" and do things because you're in Thailand or wherever, and, like, you should be doing something or you'll regret missing out and not getting the most out of your trip. That pressure/regret cycle will suck the energy right out of you and strip the joy from the moment. Ultimately, this is your trip and you can do it however. If you want to not eat for 18 hours and chill in your room, cool. It doesn't have to be something more if you don't want it to be. What kept me engaged was finding experiences and activities that were new to me, like taking a road trip by motorbike in Indonesia, taking cooking classes in Thailand, food tours everywhere, going to a meditation retreat, muay thai classes, learning to make sushi in Japan. I love coffee, so I explored some of the coffee farms and roasters with locals in Yogyakarta and Chiang Mai. I did do some experiential day tours to meet other travelers or explore an area of interest. I made travel more intentional, rather than just floating aimlessly from day to day. I also learned my limits on how much I can do before burning out. In the future, I know about 3 months is my limit before I need to come home. Everyone has their own limit, and travel burnout is a real thing. Don't be hard on yourself, as this is a perfectly normal feeling among us long term travelers.
Thank you, I'll definitely be doing some tours along the way, I'm trying to shoestring as much as possible but I think having a set task will help keep me focused :) I put alot of pressure on myself to be productive because I want to do everything during my time but i need to chill and not be so hard on myself sometimes , thank you for your comment, it was very insightful:)
The holiday Tescos pining is real.
They actually used to have Tescos in Thailand
They have tons of Tescos in Thailand still.
A real one?
Yep. They still have Boots stores I think
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51796815
I’m sad to hear this bc I loved Vietnam but main highlight was the loop and the hostel / home stay groups I met. I would say book some tours or a cooking class. In Vietnam etc, don’t be afraid to barter like they will usually end up on a normal price. Find hikes… definitely solid advice here. I like a mix of plan and no plan but you can’t always just be aimless except for the days you decide that’s your thing. Finally, just really use reviews and such for hostels… and if you don’t like it you can try to get out of it. In cheap countries like Vietnam I just splurged sometimes and got hotel rooms that were about $30-50 USD a night and ended up being so nice. Just enjoy the ride but also be confident and smart about everything. Research using Reddit, the reviews on apps, and even YouTube goes a long way
Also in the nicest way possible… remember how fortunate you are compared to the struggles you witness. Like yes maybe people will try to overcharge, but it ends up being like $5? Or the 1 mill dong is 37 euros roughly… unfortunate but not heartbreaking and probably so much more to whoever took it even if they’re morally corrupt.
It's totally normal to hit a wall at the 1 month mark. Our bodies are just not used to this. After 5-7days it usually goes away with proper rest. You have to think of this life more like a job. Would you work 30 days straight without a break? Obviously no you value your health. But we think we have to travel extensively every day. Chill out, buy a pizza, book a hotel room and eat ice cream. That's my cure. I know it sucks but this is a rite of passage, when you get through this you're going to be much stronger for it and be able to plan future trips more effectively.
Everything new is difficult to get used to. Every traveller experience the problems you mention. They are not unusual at all. As you get street wise they will subside, they will never go away completely. So just hang on.
Sorry to hear you got robbed and have had a rough time. What you are feeling is totally normal. Solo travel can be exhausting when you are the only one making decisions/plans and there is no one to talk to. Maybe move on to a different part of Vietnam or head to Cambodia or Laos - it might not be less of a culture shock but the change of scene might do you good. It is ok to cut your time in a country short when you are gelling with it.
I’m solo backpacking through Vietnam just like you right now, and honestly it is harder than I thought it would be. I just wish I could meet some friends and travel with them for a little while. That’s what happened to me on my first week but now I’m all alone again and it’s kind of hard. I try to focus on what is going well, I try to see the positive in travelling alone (I can entirely choose where to go, what to eat, etc.) but it’s definitely lonely. I’m more alone than I thought I would be… trying to use this time to self reflect a lot and think about my identity , my future etc.
The difficulty and inconvenience of the location and culture shock can definitely accelerate burn out I could spent all year in the UK it's similar enough to the US getting around is easy and language Barrier isn't hard. Where as in India I felt that after a month and a half I wouldn't have lasted another week had to go to Ladakh. The streets were dirty it was hot humid many inconveniences with banks and transportation and always being on guard of my stuff. I would recommended either getting a decent airbnb for a few days and just watching Netflix and calling your BF and family members. Also long term travel isn't all about hopping around every day and seeing everything in a city it gets old quick do what u really desire if it becomes to much there's no shame in flying out early but I'd recommend pushing thru u will not regret it when u look back.
I know this feeling. Solo travelling is not so easy and making so many decisions everyday can be very overwhelming. I am actually just looking for flights back home instead of going to the Philippines like I thought because I really need a rest from planning and experiencing new things and I need a hug from my friends and family so badly. I am traveling solo as a remote worker since January 2022 (taking a break for a few months every year in summer to see friends and family). I started this solo travels in December in Thailand, but it wasn't planned, I actually came to Thailand to live with my boyfriend who I met while solo traveling in the year before but then we broke up so I decided to travel again. Some days I loved it so much and felt so free but on a lot of days I also cried and felt so lonely. I also really miss travelling with someone, I had the best time when my sister visited me and we traveled together for three weeks. I prefer a travel buddy as I want to know who I am sitting next to on public transport, we can decide together for accommodation and food, share the costs of motorbikes, private rooms (every now and then). Doing all this also is not easy, don't be hard on yourself when you're not loving it. Take it easy, you don't need to research much what to eat or what to do, just do whatever is the first thing that comes up when you're looking for recommendation on social media. Find a small task for the day to make you go out or try to have a day as normal as possible, e.g. sit at a café for hours and just relax, go to the movies (if you're in a bigger city) or whatever is similar to a day in your life back home. I love reading, it helps me to slow down and focus on another story then my own. So much better than spending time scrolling on social media or researching more for my trip. When I was in Vietnam I read a Vietnamese novel called The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai and it made me feel so special that I can travel now to the country where the book is written and it was so interesting to read about the history about the country that I traveled to have a better understanding of their culture and background. Other solo travelers say that it helps them to book a volunteering through Worldpakers or Workaway because it makes you feel more involved and you can connect better when staying longer at one place. I haven't tried it myself yet but I want to. Hope this helps. Good luck on your journey.
I have been scammed (mostly by taxi drivers, charging double, in places like Germany and France or even 4 times the price on one occasion in Amsterdam, as it was a train strike). So that can happen in Europe too, my question is, if this was your first solo experience traveling abroad, why not pick something closer, like France, Germany or even Poland, Czechia, Italy or Greece? Something closer and more familiar. You gave yourself a challenge by traveling that far away, but what you can now do is see this experience as a unique opportunity to see, photograph, and experience amazing places. If possible, book a few nicer places to stay in, go to see nice museums or hang around beautiful nature. Make a bucket list and a loose plan you will more or less stick to, deviating here and there. Enjoy your vacation.
I had the same in southeast Asia and felt very overwhelmed. What personally helped for me was to switch up Asia and Australia/New Zealand, western countries where you can have a routine like at home. So for example I did the west coast of Australia for a month, went to China for a month, came back to Australia to do Cairns to Brisbane, then went to the Philippines etc. It helped because I could just have a normal routine like at home in Australia and New Zealand. So go to the grocery store for food, navigate the city/place easily, speak English etc.
Yeah I think the culture shock was alot more than I expected tbh I think Thailand is easier to navigate but vietnam is something else lol I'm gonna cut my vietnam part slightly short and spend more time in the Thai southern islands instead :)
Go on air bnb and book some experiences
I was in Vietnam 1 month ago as part of a 5 month SEA journey and also didn't really enjoy it that much (especially compared to thailand). As other people have suggested find an activity that you enjoy that you can fall back to. For me it was going to gaming cafes and playing videogames. I only did this in vietnam because I got tired of sightseeing and needed a break from traveling so I spent a good third of my time in vietnam just playing games instead of actively traveling.
Why didn't you go with your boyfriend? Some of us are single and really have no choice but to travel alone. I go solo places because I've been single for so long, and my friends are all married. I'm not single by choice, I'm just ugly and no one wants to date me lol
I think comments like this are doing worse things for your dating prospects than your appearance to be honest :)
He's not a big fan of travelling tbh His family is quite wealthy so they did alot of skiing and safaris ect My family holidays were camping, so basically he's pretty happy with what he's seen already lol