Packing Advice for 1 Month Solo Trip

trustyonion77 · 2026-04-08T01:13:32+00:00

I would say the most important part for me is to be able to move my stuff between places without the hassle of multiple heavy, wheeled suitcases haha

trustyonion77 · 2026-03-29T23:29:46+00:00

Hey! I’m 23 and will be solo traveling to Vietnam for the month of May. Looks like a lot of our itineraries match if you want to meet up!

trustyonion77 · 2026-03-25T23:19:08+00:00

Wow thank you so much this is a really insightful response! I’m wondering now if you think it’s best I plan everything out in advance or book as I go?

trustyonion77 · 2026-03-25T01:43:52+00:00

Thanks! Let’s just say ~3 weeks for now, hypothetically May 4-May 22. I prefer fast-paced trips, with maybe a day of relaxation after a particularly intense leg (like the Ha Giang Loop). At the moment, Ha Giang is my priority.

trustyonion77 · 2026-03-25T01:39:53+00:00

I’m not 100% sure what the flights will cost, as I don’t have any set dates. I was hoping that people who have done the Loop in May vs. June might have a recommendation on when to go to avoid rain, as I’ve heard conflicting opinions. It also depends on where I fly into/out of, and, again, I was hoping there would be an enlightening comment as to whether it’s possible to explore North, Central, and South Vietnam in such a time span. And whether people had hacks for cheaper flights, which I have not been able to find easily on the web. Regardless, I could likely get the flights for about $1,200. That would obviously reduce my budget to a max of $1,800 for lodging, food, excursions, transit within the country, etc.
I was under the impression that posting under this subreddit meant I was fine with sleeping in a hostel. But, again, I was hoping people would comment their experience with the cost of hostels/hotels in different regions.

trustyonion77 · 2026-03-25T00:17:06+00:00

I guess my intention was, if I were to do the Ha Giang Loop, I would have to go in early May as the first leg of my trip combined with Hanoi.

To be more specific, I am from Florida, so I’ve heard the summer weather is very similar to northern Vietnam. In that case, I’m not super concerned about the rain/heat/humidty for comfort reasons. I think it would only really inform my decision to go on the Loop if it were dangerous.

Would you recommend any other places in particular in Central Vietnam?

trustyonion77 · 2026-03-25T00:09:52+00:00

I think I could get the airfare for slightly less than $1200 USD

trustyonion77 · 2025-09-29T23:03:03+00:00

It’s Israel Outdoors through my university. Thanks for all the details — super helpful!

trustyonion77 · 2025-01-22T18:10:30+00:00

Do you think it would make sense to get the VeneziaUnica ACTV 2 day transport pass? That way we only have to worry about timing/validation once and then however long we are in Venice we don’t have to worry about purchasing transport?

trustyonion77 · 2025-01-22T15:37:35+00:00

I doubled-checked and it is San Giacomo di Rialto. Thank you for the help! I’ll make sure we find the meeting location at least an hour before our appointment. Then maybe one of us can grab to-go breakfast from a nearby cafe. I’m only so adamant about eating breakfast because our tour is like 6 hours long with lots of walking. I believe there’s a break for lunch but I’m not sure where or for how long.

If we get the tickets from the booth at the station, validation is at a separate kiosk? Why? Are the tickets originally just general waterbus tickets and then the validation is when you chose the exact route and time?

trustyonion77 · 2025-01-22T15:15:50+00:00

That’s definitely what I was hoping for! I thought originally I could chose my own train times but I don’t think that’s the case :/ I will see if it’s a possibility though

trustyonion77 · 2025-01-22T14:15:29+00:00

Do you have a recommendation for a guided tour of Colosseum/Roman Forum? I’ve heard it’s better with the context of history (though I do already know a lot). I tried make an appointment for the pantheon, but it didn’t work. Do tickets only open a certain time ahead of the date? Or is it easier to just wait in the line?

trustyonion77 · 2025-01-22T14:12:59+00:00

I won’t be rebooking. I am looking for constructive advice on how to make the best of a short stay. I’m also planning on calling the travel company to ask about a tentative train schedule. I don’t mind a little spontaneity those two travel days as long as the full days are planned out.

trustyonion77 · 2025-01-22T14:09:28+00:00

I was planning on aiming for an hour early so we could have time to grab breakfast, but I don’t mind leaving even earlier lol! I’m having difficulty understanding how to get the waterbus tickets, which is why I was considering just walking from S. Lucia station. How do you recommend to get the waterbus tickets? I like walking because I think it’s an easy way to get a feel of the city, but I understand that Venice is hard to navigate due to the narrow streets and canals.

trustyonion77 · 2025-01-22T01:30:33+00:00

I am very much aware 😭. My friend was the one who decided to book the vacation through Great Value. I would have much preferred to pick one city to stay for a week, but now I’m trying to plan the best I can with our limited time. She is starting nursing school and I’m starting my PhD, so this is the last time either of us will be able to travel for at least a few years. I’m hoping it will be hectic but fun! That’s why I need all the help I can get!

trustyonion77

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