After my trip from Vietnam, I am constantly being thrown a typical question from my peers and families: You went to Vietnam alone? Yes, Alone. Me Myself. To be honest, being alone is so much fun than with friends. Not because I like to be alone (particularly I’m a super extrovert type of person) or no one wants to go with me but that solo traveling experience is really memorable and I’ll share you why traveling alone is way better than with friends and families.
~ Meeting People ~
Andika (Fei) from Indonesia, met him in Mekong Delta
Moe, Japan / Stan, Taiwan and Andreas, Indonesia
One of the main reasons why traveling alone is so much fun compared to travel with friend is you get to meet lots of people around the world. If you’re traveling with a group of friends, that’s the only circle you will stay in and all the way long, you’re making more strangers or hi-bye friends. Rather than going with friends, going alone really helps you to meet lots of friends around the world. That moment you exchange Facebook contact, you will keep contact with each other through Facebook comments and post. Despite some you may not contact after your trip but at least you did made some contact in future. Who knows in future, I might be asking Fei or Andreas about my upcoming Indonesia trip?
~Flexibility: Do whatever you like and change whenever you want~
Initially I choose to stay in Nha Trang for 3 days when I planned the itinerary months back. When I was in Vietnam, someone advise me to stay Nha Trang 1 day and use that remaining 2 days to Da Lat or Mui Ne. At last, I decided to go Da Lat. Yes, when I change, I just change. I do not have to bother anyone’s interest at all. Imagine if I wanted to change my plan and I’m with friends, for sure there are lots of discussion because what you’re interested might not be other’s interests as well. So flexibility is there!
~No Drama~
The drama I meant here is not the drama we watch on the TV! The drama is between you and your friends. Imagine if I have a friend who likes Mui Ne but I like Da Lat, it will likely trap us in an argument. However, if you’re traveling alone – guarantee there won’t be any drama. Unless, your friend doesn’t mind at all or owns the same interest like you.
~ Train yourself to be more Independent~
No sense of direction or poor in navigation? Traveling alone makes you a good navigator because when you’re traveling alone, you’re truly on your own. You got no one to trust by to trust you instinct and feel. However, sometimes you need to try your luck in asking strangers as well. However, asking strangers would not lead you to an exact location. The only person you can trust is yourself and receptionist in your hostel or hotel.
However, of cause you have to be careful with someone who tried to scam you!
~You’re ready for your next destination~
Generally, if you can survived in a country backpacking alone particularly countries that speaks little to no English or your native languages (Mine would be Chinese), you can survive anywhere in the world. My next trip would be in Laos and I planned to travel with someone important in life in future as we share the same interests towards this country. However, at least once in your life – do travel alone. You will be surprise and amaze of what you find during your trip.
Asian Backpacker 
Well said. I echo most of your points-of-view in the article. Keep travel!
Thank you Sze Soong. Thanks for dropping by and read my post. =)
Well said. I echo most of your points-of view in this article. Keep travel!