1. Research in Advance
If you want to ensure you don't miss out on any interesting destinations or get ripped off during your trip, researching in advance about your destination and planning carefully is crucial. You need to prepare well for the journey by gathering necessary information beforehand. Where is your destination, which places will you visit, what activities will you do there... all of these you need to plan ahead if you want to have a perfect trip. Tour prices are also a big concern for travelers. You should choose reputable, professional, and well-known travel companies to book your tour for peace of mind, or you can check tours online to be sure about the prices.
There are tours organized without entrance fees included, for domestic tours this is not a big deal, but for international tours, you need to pay attention because entrance tickets to tourist attractions in some countries are very expensive. Some programs may seem very cheap at first glance, but if you participate fully, in addition to the tour amount you have paid, you may have to pay a lot more during the trip. You should check when the departure and return flights are? If you are going far, you need to ask if that flight is a direct flight or if it requires transit, if transit how long is the waiting time? You can ask for information during your trip when you are unsure. You should also refer to the do's and don'ts at your destination to behave better when you arrive there.


2. Pack Your Luggage Properly
Make a clear and specific list of items to bring along. Here are some tips: For clothing: Pack just enough, neither too little nor too much. Research the weather at your destination to choose appropriate attire. Select clothing items that can be easily mixed and matched to save suitcase space. Personal items: If your hotel provides amenities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc., you may not need to bring these items. If you do choose to bring them, consider using small bottles to avoid bulkiness. Remember to pack these items in sealed plastic bags to prevent spills. Keep them separate in a small bag for easy access and storage.
It's a good idea to bring a pair of flat shoes for convenience during travel and a stylish pair for outings or formal occasions. If you pack socks, stuff them inside your shoes to save space. Travel documents: Depending on your flight itinerary and airline, you may need to prepare documents such as passports, visas, ID cards, flight tickets, etc. Keep all these documents separate in a small bag and always carry them with you. Avoid bringing excessive jewelry to avoid theft. Medications, first aid supplies: These are essential items that should not be forgotten when traveling...


3. Understand Your Travel Expenses
For experienced travelers, being overly frugal is not the top priority because you may miss out on many local specialties or regrettable experiences. Exploring breathtaking natural landscapes, enjoying the wonderful feeling of adventure in new and unfamiliar places, being enthralled by the unique allure of delicious cuisine with an optimized budget is what most travelers desire and look forward to after each trip. Money and valuable possessions: You should carry both cash and credit cards for flexible payments. However, it's advisable to bring just enough cash and prepare loose change for easier transactions.
So how do you do it? Travel often involves expenses that you must consider. But how do you spend wisely, save money, and still ensure a complete, joyful, and fulfilling journey? Whether you plan your own trip or sign up with a travel company, you still need to clearly understand the food and transportation costs at your destination. A cheap ticket to the Colosseum may have you queuing for hours. Meanwhile, if you're willing to spend a little more, you can save time and effort.


4. Engage with Strangers
If you always carry the mindset of 'Oh, strangers, don't talk to strangers,' then you're completely wrong. Remember that you're traveling, you're seeking experiences. Stop overthinking safety, especially if you want to learn more about your destination, ask the locals, but never disclose sensitive information to strangers. An incredibly vital aspect of your travel experience is initiating conversations with strangers. Anywhere: bus stops, cafes, airports, local restaurants,... just smile and say hello to them. Life comes with its share of fatigue, occasional work disappointments, or personal relationship hiccups, let's not despair, let's dream of colorful roads ahead, let's think of kind strangers who make us grateful.
They're the ones who teach us lessons about progress, even when the wind blows against us causing occasional setbacks. You'll gather more interesting stories for yourself, especially when traveling alone, this is a very good way and for me an essential part to create unforgettable memories associated with each trip. Technology undeniably helps us connect with strangers more easily, and we're not hesitant to 'connect' with them. However, at the same time, we use those devices to avoid connecting with people sitting right next to us and miss out on many interesting things that life outside the virtual world can offer. Sometimes, strangers can inspire us with something new, perhaps just a suggestion about a local eatery or even a grand story.


5. Strike Conversations with Locals
Traveling is the ultimate way for you to experience the unknown. You must expand your mind and understand the values that the world brings to you. Traveling solo, you don't need to restrain emotions or suppress thoughts. You're free to explore and uncover the undiscovered within yourself. You find confidence in yourself, and that confidence will never falter. To achieve all that the world has to offer, expand yourself. If not, you'll be swept away. If you don't like museums or temples, don't follow the group to places you don't like. Be brave to go solo to places you love or want to explore, a little risky but it will definitely bring you boundless inspiration.
When you travel solo, you're facing all the challenges ahead on your own. That helps you become more confident and trust yourself more. Although sometimes you'll make mistakes or do foolish things during your trip, be forgiving to yourself, and you'll learn a lot. Keep trusting your thoughts and decisions, because then you'll realize that confidence is one of the most valuable assets after your trip. Learn to trust and have faith in yourself, and you'll surely overcome life's challenges more gently. This is a big challenge, but if you overcome it, it will make you much stronger in life.


6. Embrace Public Transportation
If you want to experience the rhythm of the city or the place you're visiting, there's nothing better than using public transportation. Not to mention, it's a very cost-effective way to get around. Buses, subways, and trams are all incredibly convenient modes of transport with low costs, allowing you to save money on travel expenses for other things. By utilizing public transportation, you've already helped yourself save a lot compared to taking a taxi. Plus, you can save even more by buying day passes instead of single tickets. If you're passionate about exploration but not overly lavish with money, don't hesitate to travel by public transport.
On these buses, trains, you'll meet all kinds of people, from the elderly, children, teenagers, working adults, and sometimes even fellow travelers like yourself. Traveling by public transport is a great choice for you to understand more about the local life and sometimes even have the opportunity to start new relationships. It's hard to explore every nook and cranny of a city on a short trip, but thanks to buses and trains, you'll have the chance to see the streets comprehensively. Sometimes, taking the bus will lead you to some interesting places or restaurants that you might overlook. Using public transportation is becoming a common trend, even in travel, as it both protects the environment and brings unique experiences. Why not?


7. Artistic Photography
Of course, traveling wouldn't be complete without taking photos, right? Don't forget to bring your phone, selfie stick, and power bank so you can check-in everywhere. If you've only been taking simple photos as a mark of 'I've been here' so far, then forget about it, dare to take 'so deep' artistic photos, it'll definitely be much more interesting. Travel photos often revolve around landscapes, lifestyles, or the local culture of the place you visit. You should research information about the destination and its culture beforehand. Knowing the characteristics of the subject beforehand will help you see more things to capture. This principle will help you take beautiful photos, especially when you shoot photos with the sky, then the horizon line will lie in one-third of the photo.
The angle of the photo determines its beauty and uniqueness, instead of shooting head-on, you can try a different, more attractive and unusual angle. If you're shooting buildings, architecture, you should shoot from below to see the grandeur and beauty of the architecture. If you're shooting landscapes, you should choose when the sky is clear, with beautiful clouds, sunset, or sunrise… It's hard to capture the best moments if you don't keep your camera ready all the time. Always turn on your camera and carry it with you. Set all parameters at an acceptable level, so if you need to adjust before taking a shot, it won't take too much time. Not all beautiful scenes make beautiful photos. Beautiful photos also depend on meaning, content, and creative ability. If you're traveling and a rainstorm forces you into a cafe or somewhere dry to take shelter from the rain, then don't miss the beautiful moment, take a photo of the rain, the bustling streets, or even just a canopy with leaves and dripping raindrops... don't miss it, grab your camera and capture those beautiful scenes.


8. Experience Named 'Culinary Adventure'
Exploring the culinary culture of different countries while traveling around the world is always an amazing experience. Each region has its own specialties that reflect the unique characteristics of the area. If you're in a completely new place, don't overlook the cuisine; remember, food also reflects a part of the local lifestyle. It's even more special if you're someone with boundless inspiration for food, isn't it? In Vietnamese culture, dining is an art, it not only meets the basic needs of people but also has a close relationship with lifestyle, ethnic traditions, clearly demonstrated through the utensils used in meals, and how people behave while eating. Therefore, dining also proves the history and formation of Vietnam's culture.
Each dish speaks to the life, people of that period, and the land - where each dish originated. Culinary tourism is more than just enjoying a delicious meal, a sip of beer, or a glass of wine during your trip. It's about immersing ourselves in the culture and heritage of a region, creating unforgettable memories in a completely different way. Food tells people about life stories. Cuisine helps people understand the habits of a community. People enjoy the food but also see the soul in it. The feast is just a part of the story; the rest is about how this dish is made, processed. Can you see the regional characteristics in it? Why is this dish served first instead of the other on the table? Why is this dish invited to eat first instead of the other? ...


9. Opting for Crowded Places
Surely, you know that typically, crowded eateries are naturally delicious, and crowded shopping areas will have plenty of items suitable for you and your budget. So, consult with family members or group members about their preferences to agree on a suitable place to ensure everyone is satisfied. Whether traveling alone or in a group, choose crowded places; who knows, you might get to join a fun event, for example. With scorching summer, you can seek out beautiful beaches where the sky above is clear, the sand below is golden, and the sea is full of rolling waves, an exhilarating and refreshing feeling. Beaches are usually crowded places, and you'll also feel happy, excited, and entertained.
To escape the summer heat, for those who are tired of the beach and want to explore cooler places, consider highlands where mountains and forests surround you, green fields stretch far and wide, cascading waterfalls, breathing in the cool, fragrant air is something worth considering for the upcoming summer trips with friends or family. Refresh the air and strengthen bonds with family or friends on summer trips, spend more time caring for each other, enjoying relaxing moments in new horizons, is undoubtedly the best thing and will leave beautiful memories. Seeing the happy smiles of loved ones on trips will give us extra strength in life with many worries ahead.


10. Sharing Experiences
Traveling abroad as well as exploring domestic regions is the best way for you to understand common foundations as well as the evolution of cultures around the world. As you know, culture is an extremely rich and distinctive domain. Different cultures will manifest differences in culinary styles, rituals, and lifestyles. However, regardless of the culture, there are always similarities. Therefore, cultural explorations on the journey will help you compare, appreciate the beauty of culture, and learn to contribute to a better world. Everyone in each of us wants to preserve beautiful images for their journey. It will be even more appealing if we can convey meaningful messages to those who need it.
Exploratory travel always brings more beneficial values to life and your thoughts. If you keep thinking about the difficulties you will encounter on the journey, then you might just sit quietly and watch life go by. For many young people, traveling is seen as a spiritual food that cannot be missed in their life experience journey. Through each trip, you will learn more from the landscapes, people, and cultures you have encountered. Experience, preserve the precious experiences of this journey, and don't hesitate to share with those in need, that's also a way to help you remember memorable moments of yourself!

