HCMC named best place for solo backpacking

By Hoang Phong June 1, 2023 | 06:27 pm PT

Foreign tourists pose for photos outside the War Remnants Museum in downtown HCMC where weapons used in the Vietnam War are displayed. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Ho Chi Minh City has been listed by U.S. magazine Money as the best place for American solo travelers thanks to the cheap living cost and low crime rates.

"Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling and affordable city that offers a wide range of attractions for solo travelers, from inexpensive food and accommodations to an abundance of cultural and historical sites," it said.

Backpackers can try some of the mouth-watering street food available in pretty much every corner of the city, especially Districts 1, 3 and 5, do some shopping at the Ben Thanh Market, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral or book a tour of the Mekong Delta to learn more about Vietnam's agriculture hub and rice basket, according to the magazine.

Thanks to political stability and low violent crime rates, HCMC is also an ideal destination for foreigners.

However, U.S. citizens need to apply for a tourist visa before they can be granted entry into Vietnam.

Vietnam offers 30-day e-visas to citizens of 80 countries and territories.

The country received over 300,000 American tourists so far this year, making the United States the third largest market for Vietnam tourism, after South Korea and China.

Montreal in Canada was named best destination for solo female travelers, while Barcelona in Spain was the most ideal place for first-time backpackers.