Solo travel in Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム) is genuinely manageable for women, even on a first trip. The country is well-geared for independent travelers—good domestic transport, cheap accommodation, safe neighborhoods for solo guests, and a culture where women traveling alone draws curiosity rather than hostility. This itinerary skips tourist bottlenecks and leans toward places where you can move at your own pace, eat well, and actually meet other solo travelers.
Day 1 — Hanoi arrival & Old Quarter
Fly into Noi Bai International Airport (about 30 km north of the city). Skip airport taxis; use Grab (Vietnam's ride-hailing app, similar to Uber) or a pre-booked hotel transfer. Cost: 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8 USD) vs. 500,000 VND for a metered cab.
Head to the Old Quarter, the backpacker hub where solo female travelers cluster. Dozens of guesthouses cater to solo guests; rooms are basic but clean and cheap (250,000–400,000 VND / $10–16 per night). Two solid picks: Old Quarter View Hanoi (rooftop vibes, social common areas) or Sunrise Hanoi Hotel (reliable, central location on Ta Hien Street).
Drop bags, then walk. The Old Quarter is a tight grid of narrow streets, each specializing in one product (silver street, shoe street, beer street). Grab dinner at Pho 2000 on Hang Manh—famous for its broth, packed with tourists but good benchmark for what proper pho tastes like. Cost: 50,000–70,000 VND. Evening: café-hop on Ta Hien or Hang Quat; join a walking group if lonely (many guesthouses organize free Old Quarter walks at 9 a.m.).
Daily spend: hotel 350,000 + meals 150,000 + Grab 200,000 = ~620,000 VND (~$25).
Day 2 — Hanoi temples & Ba Ho lakes walk
Early breakfast: [egg coffee](/posts/egg-coffee-hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ)-ca-phe-trung) at a hole-in-wall café on Hang Gai Street (30,000 VND). This is a Hanoi institution—sweetened condensed milk, egg yolk, hot coffee. Bitter and creamy; once is enough, but it's mandatory.
Visit the Temple of Literature (closed Mondays), a 11th-century site and Vietnam's first university. Arrive by 8 a.m. to beat tour groups. Admission: 30,000 VND. Walk it solo in 1 hour. Then taxi to Tran Quoc Pagoda on the Red River (oldest pagoda in Hanoi, quiet, free). Grab lunch at a pho (쌀국수 / 越南河粉 / フォー) stall near the pagoda gate: 40,000 VND.
Afternoon day-trip option: Ba Ho Lakes (Two Lakes), about 30 km from Hanoi, a 2-hour Grab ride (200,000 VND). Hike to three tiered freshwater lakes in limestone country. Bring water, wear shoes (trail is muddy). Free. Hike takes 2–3 hours. Return to Hanoi by evening. Dinner: street banh mi at Banh Mi 25 on Hang Manh (20,000 VND), a standing-room-only spot where locals queue.
Daily spend: ~470,000 VND (~$19).
Day 3 — Day-trip to Ninh Binh & Tam Coc
Take the 7:30 a.m. train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (닌빈 / 宁平 / ニンビン) (2 hours, 60,000 VND, sleeper berth but day-trip only). Alternatively, minivan with a tour operator (100,000 VND). Arrive around 10 a.m.
Stay in Tam Coc village (20 km south of Ninh Binh city), a quiet farming hamlet famous for river rowing. Skip the tours; rent a bicycle and cycle the back roads yourself. Stop for lunch at a roadside [com tam](/posts/com-tam-saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン)-broken-rice) stall (broken-rice with grilled pork, 30,000 VND). Visit Mua Cave (320 steps, views over rice paddies). Climb early morning (7–8 a.m.) to avoid heat and crowds.
Return train to Hanoi at 5:30 p.m. (60,000 VND). Dinner back in Old Quarter.
Daily spend: train 120,000 + bike rental 50,000 + meals 100,000 = ~270,000 VND (~$11).
Day 4 — Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Early minivan or bus to Ha Long City (3.5 hours, 150,000 VND). Book a night cruise in advance; budget two nights on a junk boat (400,000–800,000 VND per person for overnight, includes meals). Solo female travelers often share cabins with other women on reputable boats; ask your guesthouse or Viator for recommendations. Standard boats: Signature Royal Cruise, Grey Butterfly Cruise.
Alternatively, skip the touristy junk and stay in Ha Long City as a base. Guesthouse: 250,000–350,000 VND. Rent a kayak or join a private boat tour (you'll meet other solos). Visit Sung Sot Cave (admission 75,000 VND, boat tours included).
Dinner on boat or harbor-side restaurant (bun mam, a southern crab noodle soup, 50,000–80,000 VND).
Daily spend (on junk): transport + cruise (all-in) = ~700,000 VND (~$28); (guesthouse base) = ~400,000 VND (~$16).
Day 5 — Ha Long Bay swimming & caves
Second day on the bay. Swimming stop, cave exploration, quiet beach time. Most junk itineraries include this. If land-based, rent a kayak (100,000 VND for 2 hours). Lunch on boat or picnic from a market. Late afternoon return to Ha Long City or minivan back to Hanoi (3.5 hours).
Daily spend: ~300,000 VND (~$12).
Day 6 — Hanoi to Saigon (fly or overnight train)
Option A: Fly Hanoi to Saigon (2 hours), cost 400,000–600,000 VND ($16–24). Book with VietJet or Bamboo Airways. Depart 8 a.m., arrive midday.
Option B: Overnight train (Hanoi to Saigon, 12–14 hours), cost 400,000–800,000 VND depending on berth. Solo female travelers often book 4-berth soft sleepers; you'll share with other women. Trains are safe, slow, and atmospheric. Arrive early morning.
Arrive Saigon, settle into District 1 or District 3 (backpacker and expat areas). Guesthouse: 300,000–450,000 VND. Two good picks: Sunrays Saigon (cheap, clean, social) or Bunkhouse Hotel (quiet, solo-friendly). Lunch after arrival: bun cha (분짜 / 烤肉米粉 / ブンチャー) at a local spot in District 3 (40,000 VND), grilled pork with noodles and nuoc cham dipping sauce.
Evening: walk Ben Thanh Market, a colonial iron-frame market built 1912. Free entry, browse textiles, souvenirs, spices. Dinner: street-level pho or banh mi (반미 / 越式法包 / バインミー) in Alley 435 (District 1), a pedestrian lane packed with cheap eats.
Daily spend: flight/train 600,000 + hotel 350,000 + meals 150,000 = ~1,100,000 VND (~$44).
Photo by Vietnam Hidden Light on Pexels
Day 7 — Saigon colonial architecture & war museums
War Remnants Museum (formerly "War Crimes Museum"). Adult admission 110,000 VND. Arrive early (8 a.m. opening). Heavy subject matter (photojournalism, Agent Orange, reconstruction galleries). Allocate 2–3 hours. Not a tourist highlight; it's history.
Walk to Reunification Palace (closed to general visitors, viewable exterior only, no admission). Photo stop.
Lunch at Hu Tieu (후띠우 / 粿条 / フーティウ) An Nam on Nguyen Hue Boulevard (hu tieu, a southern clear noodle soup with pork, 35,000 VND)—a Saigon institution.
Afternoon: Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral (yellow colonial building, 1880s, free) and Central Post Office opposite (free entry, browse interior with original vintage post boxes, grab coffee in the café for 40,000 VND).
Evening: sunset at Saigon River promenade (D1). Casual dinner at a rooftop bar or sidewalk restaurant (barbecued snails, grilled squid, 60,000–100,000 VND).
Daily spend: museum + meals 350,000 = ~$14.
Day 8 — Saigon food tour & neighborhoods
Book a half-day street food tour via a local operator (250,000–400,000 VND). These tours move through District 1 and District 3 backstreets, stopping at family-run stalls: bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls, 20,000 VND), bánh xèo (sizzling pancake, 30,000 VND), cơm tấm (broken rice with pork chop and fried egg, 25,000 VND). Tours usually include snacks and a drink.
Alternatively, skip the tour and do it solo: rent a motorbike (70,000 VND / day) or Grab between stalls. Neighborhoods worth biking: Alley 435, Alley 476, Binh Tay Market (western edge of District 1, less touristy than Ben Thanh, better for watching locals shop).
Afternoon: Bitexco Financial Tower, a 68-floor skyscraper with observation deck (150,000 VND entry, decent city views). Or relax at a café—Vietnamese coffee culture is serious. Sit for 1–2 hours, write in a journal, watch motorbikes.
Dinner: try cao lau, a specialty of central Vietnam but available in Saigon—thick noodles with pork and broth (40,000 VND).
Daily spend: tour 350,000 + meals 200,000 = ~$22.
Day 9 — Saigon to Phu Quoc or Mekong Delta day-trip
Option A (easy): Phu Quoc Island, 45-minute ferry from Saigon (ferry port at Bach Dang, District 1). Ferry cost 150,000–250,000 VND. One-night stay on Phu Quoc: beach resort guesthouse 400,000–700,000 VND. Island is touristy but clean beaches, good seafood (grilled fish, shrimp, 80,000–150,000 VND). Evening: night market for street food snacks.
Option B (cultural): Mekong Delta day-trip. Join a tour (200,000–400,000 VND) or hire a private driver. Visit floating markets (Cai Rang Market, Can Tho), sample local fruit, see rice paddies. Tours are heavily touristed but practical for a solo female traveler (guides, set itinerary). Lunch on a floating restaurant (calamansi fish, 60,000 VND). Return to Saigon by evening.
Daily spend: Phu Quoc 600,000 + ferry + meals = ~900,000 VND (~$36); Mekong Delta tour 400,000 = ~$16.
Day 10 — Saigon final day & departure
If returning from Phu Quoc, ferry back early morning. Last-minute shopping at Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi) or Ben Thanh Market (Saigon)—lacquerware, silk scarves, coffee, spices. Budget 500,000–1,000,000 VND for souvenirs.
Late lunch: sit down for a full meal. Try mi quang (turmeric noodles, a central specialty, 40,000 VND) or order a rice plate with sides and share with other solo travelers at your guesthouse.
Grab to airport 3–4 hours before departure (200,000 VND). Domestic flight departs evening or morning; international connections typically require overnight in Bangkok or elsewhere.
Daily spend: shopping 700,000 + meals 150,000 + transport 200,000 = ~1,050,000 VND (~$42).
Total cost estimate
Budget accommodation (guesthouse), eating street food + 1–2 paid meals daily, local transport:
- Accommodation (9 nights): 3,000,000 VND (~$120)
- Meals: 1,500,000 VND (~$60)
- Domestic transport (trains, minivans, flights, Grabs): 2,000,000 VND (~$80)
- Paid tours & activities (Ha Long cruise, food tour, temples): 2,000,000 VND (~$80)
- Contingency & souvenirs: 1,000,000 VND (~$40)
Total: ~9,500,000 VND (~$380–420 USD for 10 days, excluding international flights.)
This assumes mid-range choices. You can cut it to ~300 USD by skipping paid tours and staying in ultra-cheap guesthouses; or stretch to ~600 USD by booking nicer hotels and eating at tourist restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi city center?
A Grab ride from Noi Bai International Airport, about 30 km north of the city, costs 150,000 to 200,000 VND (around $6 to $8 USD). This is significantly cheaper than a metered taxi, which runs around 500,000 VND. Book through the Grab app, Vietnam's ride-hailing service similar to Uber, directly outside arrivals.
What is the cheapest way to travel between Hanoi and Ninh Binh?
The 7:30 a.m. train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes 2 hours and costs 60,000 VND each way, making the round trip 120,000 VND. A minivan through a tour operator is also available for around 100,000 VND. Once in Ninh Binh, a bicycle rental in Tam Coc village costs 50,000 VND and lets you explore the back roads at your own pace.
When should you climb Mua Cave to avoid crowds and heat?
Climb Mua Cave between 7 and 8 a.m. The early start avoids both peak heat and tour group congestion. The climb involves 320 steps and ends with views over the surrounding rice paddies near Tam Coc village, about 20 km south of Ninh Binh city. Mua Cave is best visited as part of a day trip from Hanoi on Day 3 of this itinerary.
Practical notes
Book accommodation 2–3 weeks ahead, especially in Hanoi's Old Quarter and Saigon's Districts 1–3. Download Grab and Google Maps offline (the Grab app works without data, just needs phone location). Carry 500,000 VND in small notes for street food; many stalls don't use cards. Learn "xin chao" (hello), "cam on" (thank you), and "no spicy" ("khong cay") to avoid uncomfortable surprises. Travel insurance for 10 days costs ~$20 USD. Visa-free entry for most Western passport holders up to 90 days; check your country's requirements. This route is well-trodden, safe, and other solo female travelers will be everywhere—you won't feel alone unless you want to.
Last updated · May 19, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
