No need to see your travel budget fly away.
With solo travel soaring in popularity, long-haul travel specialist TravelBag has ranked the ten best spots for vacationing alone, placing Hanoi in Vietnam on top.
Along with boasting a super high safety score, the Vietnamese mecca has a “low cost of living” that makes “it perfect for independent travelers on any budget,” per the site.
To determine which destinations were ideal for independent globetrotters, Travelbag rated various long-haul locations based on key factors that matter most when planning a solo trip.
These included daytime and nighttime safety, expenses, weather, visitor acceptance and english-language proficiency (provided said destination had a large enough sample size).
Each destination was then given a total score that took all these factors into account.
This list couldn’t have come at a better time. Flying solo is currently the world’s hottest tourist trend with a staggering 76% of millennials and Zoomers planning to set out on their own in the next 12 months.
Meanwhile, the solo travel market is valued at more than $500 billion per year, according to Aquent.
When it comes to globetrotting alone, no place is better than Hanoi, Vietnam, per Travelbag. The vacation experts noted that the Southeast Asian paradise had among the highest daytime safety scores in Southeast Asia (82), and was also super cheap, making it ideal for solo travelers regardless of wallet size.
They observed that travelers can have a pint of beer for less than a dollar, while a one-way ticket on public transport sets tourist back around 30 cents.
“Hanoi’s strength is its rhythm, and there’s a pace to the city that invites curiosity rather than intimidation,” gushed Georgia Thompson, Travelbag’s Destination Executive for Asia. “It’s one of the few Asian capitals where solo visitors can dive into local life with confidence, whether that’s joining a cooking class, exploring temples, or simply getting lost in its food scene.”
She recommended that sightseers “wander the Old Quarter’s labyrinthine streets, where vendors sell steaming bowls of phở at dawn and bia hơi (fresh beer) at dusk.”
Clocking in at number two was Colombo in Sri Lanka, a coastal oasis that’s ideal for wanderlustful lone wolves due to its “mix of safety, warmth, and affordability.”
Public transport costs just under 18 cents (the second cheapest on the list) at this scenic locale, which was lauded for its cosmopolitanism, food, and “laid-back” seaside charm.
“Beyond the urban buzz, solo travelers can find tranquillity in the city’s serene Buddhist temples or join locals for a seafood dinner overlooking the Indian Ocean,” they wrote.
In fact, the Pearl Of The Indian Ocean is a veritable Valhalla for people traveling sans a companion.
Ranking fourth was Kandy, a central Sri Lankan escape with misty hills, tranquil botanical gardens and public transport that costs just 16 cents — the cheapest on the countdown.
Meanwhile, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Grand Bay in Mauritius rounded out the top five. The average temp in Siem Reap is a pleasant 78.8 degrees F.
The top ten best places for solo travelers
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Kandy, Sri Lanka
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Grand Bay, Mauritius
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Male, Maldives
- Phuket, Thailand
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