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Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam (born in 1996) is a famous member of the young Vietnamese community who are passionate about traveling.
Tam both travels and works online
In July 2019, after graduating from university in Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Tam decided to explore some Asian countries.
With only 16 million VND, Tam traveled through 7 countries: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India in 8 months. Tam called his journey a “zero-VND tour”.
Thanh Tam shared 14 tips for economical travel that she has learned after 5 years of experience.
1. Volunteer tourism – the most effective form of economical tourism
In 2019, with a small amount of money, to be able to experience many places, Tam researched and decided to choose Workaway tourism - an international volunteer model connecting hosts and volunteers for the purpose of working and cultural exchange.
During that time, Tam did jobs such as teaching English in remote areas; cleaning rooms; taking care of garden plants; leading tours... 4-5 hours/day in exchange for food and accommodation expenses.
Tam said: "Volunteer tourism includes many different forms. For programs organized by the government, non-profit organizations, you do not need to spend any money (or if you do, it is very little) to participate. For programs connected with hosts like Tam participated in, visitors have to pay for their own visa and airfare."
2. Traveling in low season: both economical and less crowded
During peak times such as holidays, Tet..., the cost of airfare, hotels and food is "inflated" very high, even rooms are sold out. Tourists also have to jostle in the crowd, making it difficult to relax or take the desired virtual photos. Therefore, according to Tam's experience, traveling during off-peak times will help save money and have a better experience.
In case you work in an office and have inflexible hours, you should book tickets early, combined with tips for hunting for cheap tickets.
3. Travel and work online
Many young people, including Thanh Tam, are choosing to travel and work online. They can do short-term freelance work for projects (translation, design, social media management, programming...); work remotely for a certain business; sell online products (create a travel blog, tour website, Youtube channel, online course, online shop, podcast channel...).
"Of course, each way of working has its own advantages and disadvantages. To balance work and travel, you must have a specific schedule as well as set principles and deadlines for yourself," Tam shared.
4. Staying at a homestay/hostel
Instead of staying at a resort or a luxury hotel, staying at a homestay/hostel will help you save a lot of money. Tam herself is an active person who likes to talk, so a hostel is an ideal place for her to meet and make friends with other foreigners. Thanks to that, Tam also found interesting companions.
Typically, room rates at homestays/hostels range from VND100,000 to VND300,000 and may include breakfast. "You can book a room through Booking or Agoda," Tam shared.
5. Use Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a global social network that allows you to stay in other people’s homes for free. Not only is it free, but you also get to see the sights, make new friends, eat cheaply, and sometimes the host will cook for you.
But this form also comes with many risks: you can have your contract canceled, your money stolen, or you can be harassed. So consider and research carefully.
6. Smart flight booking
According to Tam, if you have a travel schedule a few months in advance, you should book your flight early. If the trip comes more unexpectedly, Tam often books tickets to fly in the middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday). This time is usually cheaper than the other days.
In addition to choosing the date of your flight, the time of your flight also affects the price of your ticket. Flights departing late at night or early in the morning are the cheapest flights of the day. Of course, that means you have to wake up early or sleep at the airport.
A little tip that Tam applies when taking a connecting flight is to always compare the price of the connecting flight that the website offers and the two separate flights.
7. Sharing – the ideal form of budget travel
If you are traveling alone, you can split the taxi fare or tour fare with other friends. This will save you a small amount of money on your trip.
Some tours only accept groups of 3-4 people or more. “So don’t hesitate to ask people around you if they want to share. If you stay at a homestay or hostel, this is easier,” Tam said.
8. Minimize luggage
Among the ways to save money on travel, it is impossible not to mention the baggage regulations for flights. According to Tam, travelers should learn about each airline’s baggage policy to consider buying a suitable checked baggage package.
Tam believes that people should pack light, only bringing essential items. When she traveled to 7 countries, she only brought 2 backpacks. In the backpack were a few simple outfits including shorts, t-shirts, some makeup, a book, a pillow, a pair of shoes, and a pair of slippers.
9. Make friends with locals
Instead of choosing tours, you should be friendly and make friends with the locals. This way you can have a more realistic experience, learn about the daily life of the locals, and enjoy local cuisine.
They will take you to places that only locals know. And the most important thing is that the cost will be much cheaper than tourists.
10. Smart scheduling
Tam often schedules each day of the trip scientifically, combining points close together or on the same route for a common tour.
11. Hitchhiking – a form of backpacking that saves on travel costs
Hitchhiking means hitchhiking. Although not popular in Vietnam, this form of travel is popular in many countries around the world.
Hitchhiking helps you save on travel expenses. Most importantly, you can make new friends and experience the kindness of strangers. “However, be careful who you hitchhike with because there are many good people but also many bad people,” Tam shared.
12. Take public transport
Instead of taking a taxi or renting a car, you can use tuk tuk, bus, or train to travel. If the distance between points is not far, you can walk, which is both economical and exercise.
Alternatively, if you are travelling from the airport, you can share a taxi to save money.
13. Store dollars (if traveling abroad)
If you travel abroad, keep some dollars on hand as some foreign ATMs charge very high fees for international cards.
14. Buying insurance helps you travel safely and economically
In Tam’s experience, no matter what you do, safety must come first. When traveling, you may encounter unforeseen risks. Therefore, she bought a travel insurance package to prepare for the worst.
According to Vietnamnet
