Trust and Safety: Where is the line?
By: Ervanny Astari
Tags: Safety, Solo Travel, Travel Tips, Travel Writing, Solo Female Travel

I want to tell you a story of when I solo traveled for the very first time last year. I had traveled before but I usually met someone at the destination. I had a backpacking pack and set off to Vietnam where I would travel by myself for a week. I booked a room at a floating house in Cat Ba, the less touristy islands next to Halong Bay, for a few days. I got the bus ticket and instructions from the host which included taking a bus and then finding a boat taxi driver (using only a picture) to take me to the floating house.

With the unexpected modes of transportation, I questioned if I was going the right way the whole time. I got on the bus, got off after an hour and a half to take a ferry, then back on the bus, then I got off the wrong stop so I had to find my way to the right harbor. It was getting dark fast when I made it to the correct harbor and the guy I was looking for wasn’t there so I paid someone else to take me. It was only me and the driver on the boat. 10 minutes into the ride, we were away from the floating village and it was pitch dark.

Before I left, I got so many warnings from just about everyone regarding safety so I was super aware of everything. I get it, though — it’s my first-time solo traveling. The boat motor suddenly stops. My heart starts beating slightly faster but I tried to keep calm. I think about where I put my rape whistle. What good will that do in the middle of the bay with no one in sight?

I can’t help but think, “Is this it? Is this where I die? At least it’s a pretty place to die.”

Then, the phone rings.

The driver picks up and starts speaking in Vietnamese and starts laughing. Still on the phone, he goes to the back of the boat and starts pulling something out of the water. He keeps pulling until he takes out a fishing net that got stuck in the motor. He starts up the boat and we keep going.

I laugh when I look back at this experience. I had only heard negative things about Vietnam before going and I let my negative assumptions overrule my gut feeling and trust in people. I wasn’t in a dangerous situation and if anything did happen, my hosts would know where to look. It’s good to be cautious and take precautions but somewhere along the way, I have to trust my gut and other people.

Taking precautions to ensure safety:

Communicate with your hosts. In this case, there’s no such thing as over-communicating. I updated my hosts each leg of the way. Share your plans and whereabouts with a friend. I actually share my location with my best friend and parents at all times and I share my plans by screenshotting the place I’ll stay and sharing it with multiple friends. Take pictures of the mode of transportation. If you’re alone, take a picture of the driver as well and share it with a friend or host. If it feels awkward, disguise it as your excitement as a tourist. When walking on the street, hold your phone on the hand opposite from the street. Or even better, don’t look down at your phone walk at the same time. Don’t put your phone in your back pocket. It can easily be snatched by a motorcyclist. The same goes for crossbody bags — try to keep it in the front. Search common scams in the country you’re traveling to. If you know them, you won’t fall for them!

I haven’t had anything bad happen to me while traveling (at least not yet). I had such a great time in Vietnam last year that I’m back again for 3 weeks this time. So far, I’ve only received kindness such as being offered food from a random flower lady to a grandpa helping me cross a busy street to motorcycle taxi drivers professing their love to me.

I’m so glad to be back in Vietnam and to learn more about Vietnamese culture.